OYO 10169 Santiago Beach Resort 2

Santiago Beach Resort is a mid-range, three-story property that caters largely to Russian and British tourists, many of whom are on package tours. More couples than families stay here --  though the hotel caters to both groups -- and it gets its fair share of repeat guests and long-term travelers, some of whom stay upwards of three weeks. Guests enter via a semi-open reception area that separates the main entry from the hotel room and courtyard. This pleasant area has a long faux-leather bench seat and lovely touches such as potted plants, a deep turquoise accent wall with matching throw cushions, and a couple of sculptures. Just beyond the lobby is the main pool area with a poolside restaurant and lots of lounge chairs for those who don't want to venture out to the beach, which is a bit of a trek from the property. During our visit, music was playing, but at a moderate level. The three stories of rooms are situated around the pool and just beyond the water. Ample trees and tropical shrubs combined with a smattering of Portuguese tile work to add lots of character to the space. However, the lack of elevators and steps throughout make this less than ideal for those with compromised mobility.

Don't let Santiago Beach Resort's name mislead you: while it is in a beach town, it's not on the beach, and getting down to the sand at Baga requires a 15-minute walk, much of it along a busy road. However, the location is still pleasant. It's tucked away in a quiet tree-filled back area, a three-minute walk off the main north-south thoroughfare that runs along North Goa, a quick jaunt to plenty of clubs, restaurants, and shops. It's a 10-minute drive south to Calangute, while getting to Anjuna takes about 20 minutes in the opposite direction. Factor in around an hour to reach Panjim or 90 minutes to get to the airport in Vasco de Gama.

Santiago offers two room types: Standard and Superior. They're more or less the same, except that Superior Rooms face out over the swimming pool. Decor is bright, with polished marble floors and dark-wood fixtures and doors plus solid colored curtains and cushions and the odd piece of colorful artwork on the walls. Each unit has a separate living and sleeping area and either two twin beds or a double bed, plus a bench-style sofa in the living room that could easily double as a bed for a child. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, kettles, mini-fridges, and wet bars. Flat-screen TVs are found in the living rooms (and in the bedrooms in the case of Superior units). Bathrooms are more or less the same in both categories, with walk-in showers separated from the main area by shower curtains and tiled floors. Only soap is provided, so travelers should pack their own shampoo and conditioner. All rooms have covered balconies furnished with plush patio chairs. Some rooms have nice pool views. 

Features at this hotel are abundant for a mid-range property and include a largish lagoon pool surrounded by lounge chairs, plus a small spa offerings massages and treatments (but no fitness facilities). La Masala is located by the pool and serves all sorts of Indian and international food for all three meals, with full- and half-board plans available. Free breakfast is also served here, with a standard variety of Indian and continental dishes on offer. There's also an a la carte Thai restaurant, Thai Bazaar, which is open from November to around the middle of April depending on the rainy season. There's an activity center with table tennis, foosball, and a pool table along with a handful of boardgames. For groups, the hotel offers a conference room for up to 50 people and a board room that seats 10. Basic business services such as printing and photocopying can be arranged through reception, as can airport transfers and laundry services. Wi-Fi is free and reliable throughout the property. There's a limited amount of free parking out front.