Hard Rock Hotel Goa

The Goa interpretation of the world-famous Hard Rock franchise is spread across nine interconnected blocks, with a lovely pool area/courtyard at the center. The lobby is semi open-air, with marble floors and a drum kit at the center, plus graphic rock 'n' roll-inspired art prints on the walls. A small meeting area/lounge sits off to one side. Decor throughout the hotel is minimalist and you can expect music-inspired decor such as display guitars and quotes of song lyrics emblazoned across walls. The "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" quote from the Eagles song Hotel California might be a little much, but it's all in good fun. The lobby remains relatively quiet throughout the day, when most guests opt to lounge poolside or go out on excursions. The rooms are non-smoking, but there are smoking areas on every floor and a large smoking patio near the pool. This hotel gets a solid mix of domestic and inbound tourists, including the typical mix of Russian and British visitors of all ages. 

Hard Rock Hotel Goa is tucked away on a quiet back road, a five-minute walk from the busy main market streets of Candolim town. Here, travelers will find a handful of primarily Indian restaurants along with shop after shop of cashew nut wholesalers. The nearest beach is Calangute, a 15-minute walk away. It's about a 20-minute drive to Anjuna and Vagator in the north, while the far-north town of Arambol takes an hour to reach. The capital city of Panjim is a 35-minute drive from the hotel without traffic. Popular South Goan beach towns such as Agonda and Palolem are about three hours away by car. Goa International Airport in Vasco takes about an hour and a half to reach.

This hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites, starting with Deluxe King and Deluxe Twin Rooms, some with pool views. They measure up to 32 square meters (345 square feet), but some -- notably those on the floors above the lobby -- are much smaller. Other categories include large open-plan Studio King Suites, Rock Family Suites with two twin beds and a king bed for up to four people, and three Platinum Rock Suites measuring 78 square meters (840 square feet). Contemporary decor is bold, with dark-red mirror frames and desktops paired with rich purple accent walls, rugs, and crushed-velvet upholstered chairs. Printed throw cushions with Goa-inspired quotes are a nice local touch. While all rooms are air-conditioned, note that windows don't open and have slat-style blinds that can be adjusted to let in light, but not actually lifted. Rooms can also get noisy, and those at the back of the hotel near the generator are prone to a loud, white-noise hum likely to overwhelm anyone with good hearing. 

Standard amenities include small safes, kettles with free tea and instant coffee, minibars with beer, wine, and soft drinks, and Lavazza espresso machines (with coffee capsules for a fee). Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. Platinum Suites come with free loaner Fender guitars (and optional lessons, for a fee). Bathrooms are spacious, with enormous walk-in showers and good-quality toiletries. Magnifying mirrors and slippers are provided, but bathrobes are not, and hairdryers are available on request. Note that none of the rooms have balconies. 

Amenities at the Hard Rock are geared toward vacationers. The main entertainment hub is Tonic Poolside Bar & Grille, which offers drinks and food from morning until night, plus concerts and DJ nights most days of the week. Breakfast is included in room rates and served at Sessions, the main restaurant, with a varied selection of international and Indian options. Lunch and dinner are also available, but the selection leans heavily toward typical Indian dishes, with only a few pizza and pasta dishes plus Thai curries. Room service is available 24 hours a day, though late-night options are limited to Indian food. 

At the heart of the hotel is a lovely pool with a mosaic bottom and lots of lounge chairs, plus a small kids' pool off to one side with fountain features. There's also a fitness center with a great selection of Life Fitness cardio and weight-training equipment. At the time of our visit, the hotel was in the process of opening a spa, but it's not likely to be ready until the middle of 2018. Standard for a Hard Rock, this hotel features a gift shop with branded T-shirts and other souvenirs. Wi-Fi is free and fast throughout the hotel. Valet parking is included in room rates.