Ahilya By the Sea

The three main villas – Sunrise, Sunset and Leela – are mini galleries in themselves. Adorned with restored antique furniture, exotic trinkets and artworks, they are truly unique yet incredibly homely. Two swimming pools look over the bay (Sunrise for morning laps and Sunset for G&Ts under the frangipanis) and the tropical gardens are just the right amount of manicured. Then there’s the food; inventive and with exceptional care and attention lavished upon everything from breakfast fruits to evening thalis, it’s a real treat to enjoy the creations of the chef in residence.

Each villa has its own rooms that can be booked individually or together, and picking a favourite is near impossible. Choose Sunset for sage-coloured plantation shutters and pretty balconies, or Sunrise for high, brick ceilings and the most interesting ornaments. The Trinidade Suite (the only room in Leela) is ideal for honeymooners, and Arjun’s Tree Tower, a rustic, multi-tiered tree house, is the simplest and most adventurous of them all. But what really matters is that all have wonderful vistas, enormous beds and crisp linens, you'll feel like royalty.

The adventures and activities of Goa might feel a million miles away, but if you’re craving something to do, they’re really not far from Ahilya. Walking tours of ‘old’ Goa and its colonial forts and churches are always fascinating, especially when contrasted with the newer art galleries and flashy museums. There are plenty of markets to peruse – night or day, clothes or antiques – and if you fancy a good, old-fashioned day at the shore, head up to Turtle Beach for creamy sands and azure waters.