Leoney Resort

This pleasant boutique resort feels quiet and tucked away, despite being on one of the main thoroughfares running through town. The reception area features a mix of wood furniture and neon-pink sofas on a polished brown marble floor. Shelves full of books in multiple languages, many left behind by previous travelers, are a nice touch. The rest of the common areas here are outside: the central pool area and open-air covered restaurant are clustered together and expansive grassy grounds feature lots of ferns and tropical shrubbery. Rooms are housed in off-white stucco buildings with terra-cotta tile roofs, a nod to Goa's Portuguese heritage. The hotel gets a mix of guests, including lots of Indian and Russian vacationers, and the vibe is serene most of the time, making it popular with couples and families in town to relax rather than to party.

Leoney Resort is located at the bottom of a sloping driveway right off of one of the main arteries that runs through town, a seven-minute walk inland from Ozran Beach in Vagator. There are plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance, and the famous Hill Top music venue, a sort of outdoor nightclub popular with electronic music fans, is under a 10-minute walk away. It's a 15-minute drive to Anjuna and its weekly Wednesday open-air market. Busy Calangute is a half-hour drive away. Factor in about 90 minutes to get to the Goa International Airport in Vasco de Gama, depending on traffic.

Leoney Resort offers rooms across three categories, all of which have air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and kettles on request. Most have flat-screen TVs, though tube-style units still remain in a few units. Decor is simple but elegant with wooden furniture and terra-cotta tile floors. Entry-level Deluxe Rooms are the smallest, and these have terraces that face the swimming pool. The slightly larger Deluxe Cottages are more private, and open up onto the hotel's grassy gardens. These units also add four-poster dark-wood beds accented with white lace. Also in the garden area are five One-Bedroom Villas, all with separate, high-ceilinged living rooms furnished with sofas and TVs, plus large bathrooms with four-poster king-size beds. Bathrooms are consistent across categories, with walk-in showers sectioned off by curtains and dark granite countertops, though Villa bathrooms are notably larger and some have tubs. Soap is provided and hairdryers are available on request. Note that while rooms lack safes, there is a safe-deposit locker at the front desk. 

At the heart of this hotel is a large outdoor pool with a sectioned off shallow kids' splash area. It's flanked with lounge chairs, and while the space doesn't get a lot of shade, umbrellas are available for guests who don't want to take in too much sun. Poolside food and beverage service is available, or guests can head straight to the covered poolside bar/restaurant, which offers Indian and a few international dishes for all three meals. Breakfast is included in room rates and includes hot and cold items served buffet style. Room service is available throughout the day. There's also a bar with a decent selection of spirits, beer, and wines on offer. There's a small privately owned gift shop at the top of the hotel. The Ayurvedic spa features traditional therapeutic treatments and massages. Books and boardgames are available for guests to borrow, and there's a small game pavilion with table tennis and billiards. Leoney also offers assistance in arranging taxi services, bike rentals, and laundry. There's plenty of free on-site parking for cars and motorbikes. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.