Courtyard by Marriott Goa

Marriott just opened their first courtyard in Goa! I am always on the hunt for family-friendly hotels, so three days after the Courtyard by Marriott opened, I went to check them out. Apart from the size of the property, it was hard to believe it was a courtyard. This hotel is full service with a spa, gym, pool, kids club, dining options, car service, bellhop, etc. The standard rooms are generous, but the real gem of the property is suites for families. A dining table with seating for 4, a large sofa, and a second half toilet are all great for family travelers. The attached balcony overlooking the pool was also lovely. If you have a large family, the suite with a connecting room is a 2-bedroom apartment sans kitchen. This hotel is not beachfront. It’s a short stroll to the nearest beach. A shuttle service between the hotel and the beach is not provided. 

 **Adventures With Children does NOT accept sponsored stays in exchange for reviews. AWC is proud to offer candid, unbiased reviews for families that you can count on.**

The Beach ★ 1/5

The closest beach was an easy walk away in a local fishing village. I am sad to say that it was the most polluted beach I have ever seen in Goa, actually all of India. I visited during the monsoon season, which often brings some pollution from the ocean as Mother Nature purges herself, but that is usually not a high amount of pollution in south Goa. The ocean itself and lower shoreline were beautiful and clean, just as we’ve come to expect in South Goa.

The upper shoreline, however, is heavily polluted. Being the only 5-star hotel in the vicinity, the hotel absolutely has to play a new role in setting a new standard for a clean shoreline. The hotel also told us that we should have walked further away to the crowded public beach, but that was not desirable either for multiple reasons. 

For now I would say avoid monsoon season if your priority is a nice beach nearby. Hopefully, by the peak tourist season, they will have sorted out a way to keep the shoreline clean. 

Kids Club ★★★★★ 5/5

The kids club was fabulous! I have seen many wonderful kids’ clubs, and I would say this is one of the top 10. It was well stocked with so many things to enjoy. Aside from everything that was set out, they had family board games, air-dried clay, art kits, and even a kid’s nail and tattoo set. However, unlike many other kids’ club programs, they do not allow you to order room service to the kids’ club. There are no scheduled activities at the moment, but given how well-stocked it was, we didn’t find that to be a big deal. 

Spa ★★★★★ 5/5

My spa service was great. There was easy availability. The rooms were small but clean. The ensuite bathroom shower was converted into a private steam room to be used after the service. I also enjoyed the post-massage herbal tea that was offered. For the price of the hotel and services, I was happy. 

Family-friendly rating score ★★★★★ 5/5

Each child was given a coloring book and a crayon pack at check-in. Restaurant staff went out of their way to make the kids happy, offering special mocktails and chocolates. The pool had a separate fenced toddler area and fun floaties for all ages! A lifeguard was always on duty. Hygiene standards were good. Plus, the fantastic kids’ club makes this a very family-friendly hotel. 

Accessibility ★ 1/5

The main entrance has a ramp that takes you to all the rooms. However, stairs are required to reach the dining area, pool, and kids’ club. Doorways and shower thresholds in standard rooms are too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair. It is not recommended for those in a wheelchair or mobility stroller. 

Dining ★★★ 3/5

There is one main restaurant on site. The food was good, but nothing to write home about. The baby/toddler menu was disappointing and priced very high. Many hotels in India actually provide baby/toddler meals free of charge, so this was a stark contrast. We did not have the best customer service either, but overall, it was positive. I think a lot of it was new hotel opening pains, which I am confident will be sorted out later. 

Food allergies ★★★ 3/5

We were asked during check-in if our family had any allergies or dietary needs, which was fabulous. Like most upscale hotels in India, the restaurant was happy to make things totally off the menu to accommodate any needs. The menu had allergen labels next to every item. I did notice that one item was missing the gluten label despite it containing gluten, so it would be best to make allergens known and double-check everything through the chef on duty. 

 Final Notes

We had a nice stay at the Courtyard by Marriot Goa. Because of the shoreline issues, I would recommend staying in a different hotel if your budget allows. That is assuming that you want to spend a lot of time at the beach. Otherwise, it is a great stay for families for the price. You can always take an auto to a nicer, maintained beach a very short ride away. The hotel itself was pretty great!