Accommodation in Goa for 2013

If you're planning to come to Goa for a holiday with your friends or family and want clean, comfortable and affordable vacation apartments, you can go through this blog.

This blog is about our two comfortable 2BHK apartments located side by side. One is an ac apartment and the other is a non ac apartment.

BHK stands for bedroom (s), hall (sitting room) and kitchen.

For seeing our other properties, both budget and premium (deluxe), you can visit our website:
http://www.ashirwaadholidayaptsgoa.com/

We've got 1BHK / 2BHK / 3BHK apartments and 2BHK / 3BHK / 4BHK / 5BHK villas located near Colva, Benaulim, and Varca beaches in South Goa.

We are not a resort.

We have service apartments and villas in different residential complexes near Colva and Benaulim beaches. Some of our houses and villas are independent, and have their own compound walls.

We've also got two properties in North Goa (near Baga, Calangute and Candolim beaches) which you can check here:
http://serviceapartmentsinnorthgoa.weebly.com/

Whether you choose our budget or premium property, you can rest assured of a good night's sleep.

We'd love to have you here.

- Rommel Peter Fernandes, Ashirwaad Holiday Apartments and Villas, South Goa -
3rd May, 2013

Read More

Where to stay in Goa?

If your budget is tight, you can stay in the Ashirwaad Holiday Apartments complex.

This is a nice budget property offering convenience, privacy and space near Colva, Benaulim and Varca beaches in South Goa.

It has two clean furnished 2BHK vacation apartments which can take up to 6 people in each apartment.

"Ashirwaad" in Hindi means "blessings." We put this name for our property because God Almighty has blessed us.

If you want to take a look at all our apartments and villas you can visit our website.

All the apartments and villas under our umbrella are referred to as "Ashirwaad Holiday Apartments and Villas."

Rommel, with his little girl (Daniella). All are welcome to come and stay.

Rommel with his guitar. Goa is all about enjoying tasty food, affordable drinks and nice music!

Read More

Exteriors and interiors

Outside view of the Ashirwaad Holiday Apartments complex

Back side view

Side view

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.1 (Property 2A)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

2BHK apt no.2 (Property 2B)

Read More

Advantages of staying in a service apartment

The advantages of staying in a service apartment during a holiday are that you:
1. Get more space
In a service apartment you get a bedroom or two and a sitting / living room plus balconies. There will be a cupboard where you can keep your clothes or a loft where you can keep your baggage so the place doesn't look messy.

2. Get your own kitchen
By cooking meals yourself, you can save a lot of money.

3. Get privacy
There is no one to disturb you. When you check in, the Property Manager will tell you when the housekeeping person will come for cleaning (if you stay for more than 3 nights on our properties) so you won't hear a knock when you are about to change your underwear.

4. Get your laundry done at an affordable price
In a serviced apartment, the housekeeping lady (in a place like Goa) will be happy to wash your clothes for you by the bucket. The cost will be much less (Rs.75 for a medium sized bucket. Yea, and you can stuff as many clothes as possible in that small bucket till the rim level).

5. Get a homely ambiance
In a service apartment you'll feel as if you're at home with all the necessary household items and furniture. Except that you may get a stern look if you keep dirty feet on the sofa when the owner is around :-)

6. Get to stay together with your friends and family
Up to 8 of can stay in a service apartment which brings the cost down by a lot. You can sit in the sitting room bonding together by watching a movie, having beer or cold drinks or simply chatting.

Read More

Facilities and Tariff

Each 2BHK service apartment on the first floor has:
* A double bed in each of the two bedrooms
* A sofa and a table in the sitting room
* A color TV set with DTH connection
* A steel cupboard
* A kitchen with a refrigerator, dinnerware (plates, cups, forks and spoons), cooking utensils, a mixer, a pressure cooker, and a gas stove with two burners. You can cook food on your own. Cooking gas is free. You'll only need to get raw materials and ingredients for cooking from the grocery stores nearby.
* One bathroom with a commode (European toilet) inside the bathroom. Water for bathing gets heated via solar panels. Water for bathing can also be heated using a handi (vessel) from the kitchen

NOTE:
This particular pink colored apartment complex has only one floor. Two 2BHK apartments are on the first floor and on the second floor is a covered terrace where you can put your clothes (both inner and outer wear) to dry after washing.
The sheets covering the terrace deflect all the rays of the sun making the apartments remain cool without air-conditioning even during the summers. So one can get to breathe, cool natural air coming from the 4-5 windows and doors in each apartment (every room, and even the kitchen has a balcony). There are fans in every room.

Each 2BHK apartment can take up to 6 members of a family or group comfortably. 4 can sleep on two double beds and 2 on mattresses arranged on the floor. We'll provide linen (bedsheets, pillows and a sheet to pull over the body) to all.

We can take max 8 persons in each of these 2BHK apartments. In other words, 16 persons totally.
Hence, they are ideal for groups or families coming down to Goa for a holiday.

NOTE: If you book a 2BHK apartment for 2 people, one of the bedrooms will be locked so it'll turn into a 1BHK apartment.

About the surroundings: There is a pub (Fiplees Pub) with which we share a boundary and one of our 2BHK apartments (Property 2B) faces it. Many a times, especially during the weekends, live western music is played even past midnight. This may not be the right apartment for guests who want to go to bed early. In the other apartment (Property 2A) the music is not very audible inside.

For the time being, the pub has been closed for renovation.

You can see a freshly shot video of 2BHK apt no.1 on YouTube by using this link:
http://youtu.be/QBdr_YCaL0A

You can see a newly shot video of 2BHK apt no.2 on YouTube by using this link:
http://youtu.be/tDMlpH1wx4c

Tariff (From 20 Dec - 05 Jan, 2014):
For 1-6 people: Rs.6000/- per night (non ac) and Rs.7000/- per night (ac)
This means that if 1-6 members of your family or group come during this peak period the cost is fixed at Rs.6000 per night for the non ac option and Rs.7000 per night for the ac option.

Tariff (From 06 Jan - 31 May, 2014):
For 1-2 people: Rs.2000/- per night (non ac) and Rs.2500/- per night (ac)
For 3-4 people: Rs.2500/- per night (non ac) and Rs.3000/- per night (ac)
For 5-6 people: Rs.3000/- per night (non ac) and Rs.3500/- per night (ac)
This means that if 1-2 persons come during this period the cost will just be Rs.2000 per night for them if they choose the non ac option and Rs.2500 if they choose the ac option and they'll have the whole apartment to themselves. If 3-4 members of a family or group come, it'll cost Rs.2500 totally for the non ac option and Rs.3000 for the ac option and if 5-6 members come, it'll cost 3000 totally for all of them for the non ac option and Rs.3500 for the ac option..

If you use Google to compare these rates with hotel rates you'll discover that they are much cheaper. And you get two bed rooms, a sitting room, a kitchen and a covered terrace to yourself versus just one room in a hotel!

They are ideal for families, honeymoon couples, long married couples, company employees, backpackers, groups of friends or for groups of students looking to come down here for a vacation.

Check in and check out policies:
- The check in time is 11AM and the check out time is 9AM on the next day.

- If you arrive in Goa in the morning and if there is a booking on the previous day, you'll be able to check into the apartment / villa at 11AM only. This is because the guests staying in the apartment / villa will check out at the official time of 9AM and the house keeping people will need two hours to get the place ready for you.

- If there is no booking on the day before you come (you can call to ask this just before you leave your town for Goa), you can come directly from the bus depot, railway station or the airport and check into the apartment / villa in the morning before 11AM (provided it's after 6AM).

- If you need to check in at an odd hour (before 6AM in the morning), you can pay the full day charge for the previous day so we can keep the apartment empty for you to come directly from the station to rest.

- If you arrive in the afternoon or evening, you'll still need to pay the whole day charge as the apartment / villa will be kept empty for you starting from 11AM.

- If you continue after the check out time of 9AM, and leave in the afternoon or evening, you'll again have to pay the full day charge even if you don't spend the whole night in the apartment / villa.
This is because we won't be able to put other guests in the apartment / villa in the afternoon or evening as most trains and buses reach Goa in the morning.
You can avoid this charge by keeping your luggage in a storage room we'll provide at 9AM and go for sightseeing till you have to come back and collect your luggage to catch your train, bus or flight.

Driving distance from our property in Benaulim / Colva to:
Dabolim airport - 26 kms (45 mins)
Madgaon town / Railway Station / Bus Depot - 8 kms (12 mins)
Benaulim and Colva beaches - 1 to 2 kms (3 mins)
Varca beach - 7 kms (10 mins)
Cavelossim / Mobor beaches - 14 kms (30 mins)
Palolem beach - 41 kms (45 mins)
Ponda town / Bus Depot - 25 kms (45 mins)
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary - 35 kms (1 hr)
Dudhsagar Falls - 102 kms (3 hrs)
Panjim town / Bus Depot - 39 kms (45 mins)
Mapusa town - 49 kms (1 hr)
Calangute / Baga / Anjuna / Vagator beaches - 50 to 54 kms (1 hr)

How to get here:
* From Dabolim airport - Take a taxi

* From Madgaon Railway Station - Take a taxi or an auto rickshaw
A government prepaid taxi booth and an auto stand are located just outside the Southern entrance of the railway station near Platform 1.

* From Madgaon Kadamba Bus Depot - Take a taxi , auto rickshaw or board a local bus
From the Madgaon Kadamba Bus Depot, you can sit in a bus going either to Cavelossim beach or to Colva beach (There are buses running to Cavelossim or Colva every 15 mins) and get down at Maria Hall. The fare is just Rs.10 per person. Maria Hall is a famous landmark in the whole of South Goa.

Other important things near the complex:
- Medical shops
- Medical clinics
- A supermarket
- Grocery stores
- Scores of affordable restaurants.
- Souvenir shops

Booking your train tickets:
For searching for trains from your home station to Madgaon Railway Station in Goa check the site:

http://www.erail.in/

Booking your bus tickets:
For searching for buses from your home town to Madgaon Bus Depot in Goa check the site:

http://www.redbus.in/

Booking your flight tickets:
For searching for a flight from your home town to Dabolim Airport in Goa check the site:

http://www.makemytrip.com/

Our address is:
Ashirwaad Holiday Apts and Villas, Near Maria Hall, Benaulim-Colva beach road, Salcette, Goa - 403716

This is how you can plan your trip...
Day 1 Going to the beaches nearby (Benaulim or Colva)
Day 2 South Goa tour
Day 3 North Goa tour
Day 4 West Goa tour
Day 5 East Goa tour (trip to Dudhsagar Falls)
Day 6 South Goa - Palolem beach
Day 7 Shopping in Madgaon town

Read More

Contact us

How to book:
You'll need to send 20% of the total amount in advance to get a booking confirmed. The balance amount will need to be given in cash on the day you arrive (when you check in and sign the register; when we hand over the keys of the apartment or villa to you). You can send the advance via a bank transfer.

For certain properties (we've indicated which ones above the pics of those properties), you'll need to send 50% or 100% of the total amount to confirm a booking.

Travel agents have to send the full amount in advance for all our properties to get a booking confirmed.

Groups have to send 50% immediately and the balance 50% on arrival.

NOTE: For a booking made between 20th Dec, 2013 and 5th Jan, 2014, a booking of minimum 4 nights is required. The full amount will have to be sent in advance for a booking made for this period.

You can send an email to us or call us up to get our bank account number.

Refunds:
Cancellation done within 1-30 days before date of arrival: No refund of the amount sent in advance (under any circumstances)
Cancellation done beyond 31 days before date of arrival: Full refund of the amount sent in advance with a deduction of a service charge of Rs.1000
Cancellation for bookings made between 20th Dec, 2013 and 5th Jan, 2013: No refund of the amount sent in advance (under any circumstances) even if the property is booked and cancelled months in advance. Only those who are serious about coming are requested to book during that period.

You can book an apt or a villa by calling Rommel Peter Fernandes or Jovita Fernandes on 09270530781 / 09270698554 / 0832 2770135 (between 8AM and 10PM) or by sending an email to rommelfernandes1977@gmail.com or to jovitafernandesgoa@gmail.com or to ashirwaadholidayapts@gmail.com

A xerox copy of an election card, a diving license or a passport (or a college ID card if you're still in college) and a company visiting card (if you have one) of one member of your family or of all members of your group will need to be given when you check in.

- Memorable n affordable holidays for couples, families and groups -

Read More

Frequently asked questions

Are meals included in the tariff?
No. A gas stove with two burners is available in each apartment which you can use to cook by getting food stuff from grocery stores nearby. You don't have to pay anything extra for using the gas cylinder. If you don't want to cook, no problem. There are lots of affordable restaurants nearby. Here's a tip (for those who don't care for ambiance): The tastiest food is found at road side joints! It's cheap and hygienic too.

Is there a pool on this property?
No, there isn’t. The ones with a pool will have a note telling about pool access.

Is there a geyser in the bathroom?
No. The water for this budget property gets heated through solar panels placed on the roof. There is also a big handi (vessel) in the kitchen to heat water to take a hot bath.

Do we have to get sheets to keep us warm at night?
You don't. You'll be given a blanket which you can pull over your body when you sleep at night.

How often are the bedsheets changed?
The bedsheets and pillow cases are changed and the floor scrubbed twice a week. Rubbish collection is done everyday. So if you come on a vacation for 3 nights, you'll get fresh sheets on the day you come and they'll not be changed throughout the duration of your stay.

If you book for 4 to 7 nights, you'll be entitled to one change of linen, scrubbing of the floor, and cleaning of the bathroom.

Here's a tip to keep the service apartment / villa clean: You can use the tap on the ground floor to wash feet after coming from the beach so that grains of sand don't enter the apartment / villa. You can also leave footwear at the door.

Do you provide toiletries?
We provide towels (they are for indoor use only and are not to be taken to the beach). You'll need to bring your own soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, deo, mouthwash, shampoo, talcum powder, razor, shaving cream, after shave lotion, skin cream, etc.

What's the provision that you have for drinking water?
We provide mineral water (one standard 5 litre Bisleri pet bottle per property) only at the time guests check in (to quench thirst after a long journey). Once it gets empty, guests have to buy water from grocery stores in the neighborhood themselves.

How can we spend our days while in Goa?
This is what most of our guests normally do:
Day 1: Resting in the apartment after a long journey, waking up and watching TV, going out for a walk in the neighborhood, buying groceries for the evening meal from neighborhood stores (Many of our guests like to prepare food themselves in the kitchen instead of eating out), and spending time on the beach taking part in water sports or simply wading through ankle deep water and then coming out and building sand castles or having chaat / pani puri / shev puri etc from the many stalls there or sitting in a beach shack listening to live music while filling the stomach.

Day 2: South Goa tour

Day 3: North Goa tour

Day 4: Shopping trip to Madgaon town in the morning and going to the beach in the evening.

Day 5: Departure in the morning

Can you arrange sight seeing tours?
Yes, we can arrange for a car or two (depending on the number of people in your group) or a mini bus to take you on North or South Goa tours.
4 seater car (Maruti Omni) sightseeing charges are as follows:
North Goa trip - Rs.2500
South Goa trip - Rs.2000

7 seater car (Tavera) sightseeing charges are as follows:
North Goa trip - Rs.3300 (ac) and Rs.3000 (non ac)
South Goa trip - Rs.3000 (ac) and Rs.2700 (non ac)

14 seater Tempo Traveler sightseeing charges are as follows:
North Goa trip - Rs.3300 (non ac)
South Goa trip - Rs.3000 (non ac)
West Goa trip - Rs.3300 (non ac)
Dudhsagar Water Falls trip - Rs.4300 (non ac)

17 seater Tempo Traveler sightseeing charges are as follows:
North Goa trip - Rs.4000 (ac) and Rs.3500 (non ac)
South Goa trip - Rs.3700 (ac) and Rs.3300 (non ac)

27 seater minibus per day sightseeing charges are as follows:
North Goa trip - Rs.4500 (non ac)
South Goa trip - Rs.4500 (non ac)
West Goa trip - Rs.4000 (non ac)
Dudhsagar Water Falls trip - Rs.5000 (non ac)

You'll be picked from the accommodation and dropped in front of the accommodation.

The cost may go up or down depending on the season.

The North and South Goa tours start at 9.30AM and end at 6PM. If you need the vehicle after 6PM, you'll need to pay the vehicle owners extra.
For example, since the boat cruise on the river Mandovi starts at 6PM and ends at 7PM, if you decide to go on it, you'll reach the accommodation only by 8 or 8:30PM.

What are the places covered by your vehicles?
South Goa tour: Big Foot Ancestral Museum / Old House with antiques in Lotulim village, Shri Shantadurga Temple at Kavlem, Shri Mangeshi Temple at Priol, Churches in Old Goa (Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral), lunch in Panjim city, Miramar beach, Donapaula, Fish Aquarium in Verna and Colva beach

North Goa tour: Fort Aguada, Sinquerim beach, Vagator beach, Anjuna beach, lunch at Calangute beach and Fish Aquarium in Verna.

West Goa tour: Mormugao Port, Japanese Garden, Naval Museum, shopping in Vasco town, Bogmalo beach and Fish Aquarium in Verna.

The fish aquarium in Verna can be visited on any one of the tours. There's a horror show which also takes place in the Fish aquarium.

You can go on a Sunset boat cruise on the river Mandovi after any of the tours (between 6 and 7PM).

You can skip going to places that have paid entries which are listed below if they're not in your budget.

Paid entries:
Big Foot Ancestral Museum: Rs.50 per person
Old house with antiques: Rs.100 per person
Fish aquarium: Rs.50 per person
Horrow show: Rs.50 per person
Sunset boat cruise on river Mandovi: Rs.150 per person
Naval museum: Rs.20 per person 

How much does it cost to hire a two wheeler for a day?
Here's what it costs to rent a two wheeler for a day:
Activa: Rs.250 to Rs.300
Pulsar: Rs.350
Enfield Bullet: Rs.450

You'll need to put fuel. Carry your driving license.

The cost may go up or down depending on the season.

Can you arrange pick up and drop from the airport or railway station as we don't know the place?
Yes, we can do that. However, if your flight or train gets delayed, the car owners will charge you a waiting charge.

4 seater car (Maruti Omni) pick up / drop day charges are as follows:
- From Madgaon railway or bus station (Distance 7 kms) - Rs.400 (non ac)
- From Dabolim airport (Distance 26 kms) - Rs.700 (non ac)

7 seater car (Tavera) pick up / drop day charges are as follows:
- From Madgaon railway or bus station (Distance 7 kms) - Rs.700 (ac) and Rs.600 (non ac)
- From Dabolim airport (Distance 26 kms) - Rs.1200 (ac) and Rs.1000 (non ac)

14 seater Tempo Traveler pick up / drop day charges are as follows:
- From Madgaon railway or bus station (Distance 7 kms) - Rs.800 (non ac)
- From Dabolim airport (Distance 26 kms) - Rs.2000 (non ac)

17 seater Tempo Traveler pick up / drop day charges are as follows:
- From Madgaon railway or bus station (Distance 7 kms) - Rs.1200 (ac) and Rs.1000 (non ac)
- From Dabolim airport (Distance 26 kms) - Rs.2400 (ac) and Rs.2200 (non ac)

27 seater minibus pick up / drop day charges are as follows:
- From Madgaon railway or bus station (Distance7 kms) - Rs.1200 (non ac)
- From Dabolim airport (Distance 26 kms) - Rs.2800 (non ac)

The cost may go up or down depending on the season.

Do you know of any Government organized tours?
Yes, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) organizes daily tours which start from their offices in Madgaon and Colva beach.

North Goa tour:
Covers: Mahalsa Temple, Abyss Aquarium at Verna, Coco Beach, Aguada Fort, lunch halt at Calangute Annexe, Calangute Beach and Panaji Handicrafts Emporium.
Day:          Daily 
Timings:  Dep: 9.30 am - Arr: 7.00 pm                      
Rate:        Rs.200/- Non AC and Rs 250/- AC
If you go on a North Goa tour and decide not to go for the boat cruise (more details about if below) which costs Rs.200 extra, you'll need to wait near the jetty from 6 to 7PM (when other passengers will be on the boat).
By the time the bus reaches, Madgaon, it'll be 8:30PM.

South Goa tour:
Covers: Colva beach, Ancestral Goa (Big Foot Museum) at Lotulim, Shri Shantadurga Temple at Kavlem, Shri Mangeshi Temple at Priol, Old Goa Churches (Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral), Wax World Museum, lunch halt at Old Goa, Dona Paula Bay, Goa Science Centre and Miramar beach.
Day:          Daily 
Timings:  Dep: 9.30 am - Arr: 6.00 pm                      
Rate:        Rs.200/- Non AC
You can't go on a boat cruise after a South Goa tour.

Sunset Cruise
This is an hour long cruise which takes guests out on a leisurely sail down the River Mandovi from the Santa Monica jetty in Panaji. While you sail down the river, local boys and girls treat you to some Goa's best known folk dances. They sing and finally give over centrestage to live musicians or a DJ and the guests can then sing and dance and generally make merry. This cruise is a huge success with people of all ages, men, women and children.
Timing: Dep 6.00 pm (1 hr duration)
Rate:     Rs.200/- per head

Tickets can be booked on the spot at the reception counters of their hotels in Madgaon and Colva.

Links to sites with dramas written by Rommel Fernandes:
If you like dramas, here's the link to a story about a Goan family:
http://rommelfernandes.wordpress.com/

Here's the link to a story of a boy and a girl and their romance before and after marriage:
http://2indianlovebirds.blogspot.in/

Some quotes from The Holy Bible:
- Pile your troubles on God's shoulders - He'll carry your load, He'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin (Psalm 55:22).

- If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath (Psalm 34:18)

- The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22,23).

- Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

- I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34)

Read More