The Secret Garden Goa is a lovingly run heritage homestay. Set in the heart of Saligao, this is the perfect location to be 'away from it all' and yet have Goa's famed beaches, restaurants and culture just a short ride away.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
I was in Goa for two weeks and the biggest regret of the trip was that I did not stay here for the entire trip. The stay at The Secret Garden was one of a kind. The amount of attention to detail that has been given to make your stay as pleasant as possible is just incomparable. We had a lovely time, enjoying the beautiful Malabar Room and the company of our lovely hosts Helene and Derrick. Thank you for the hearty breakfast, jazzy music, peaceful vibes, artsy decor, windsurfing lessons and all the fun conversations. Hope to return soon.
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Date of stay: February 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGarden Goa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 29 Jul 2021
Hello there! Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind words, it really was great having you stay! Sooooo, happy that you loved the windsurfing - Derrick is one of the only RYA trained coaches in the country, so if you are going to learn, you may as well learn from the best! Very fortunate that you liked our taste in music too! They were the perfect background to our lovely conversations... hope to welcome you back very soon to TSGG. Be well, Helene and Team TSGG
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The Secret Garden is a wonderful homestay in a heritage house in central Goa. The room are spacious and artistically decorated with old world charm. Breakfast is an attraction in itself and a real treat. Our hosts went out of their way to make us feel at home and provided invaluable advice and help in selecting local restaurants and attractions. We has a truly memorable holiday!
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 19 Feb 2020
Hello Australia! Thank you so much for your kind words and taking the time to write a review for us... So happy that you had a holiday to remember and made the most of your time in Goa. Glad you enjoyed breakfast - the most important meal of the day! Looking forward to your next visit to our little state and welcoming you both back through our gates. Until then take care, warmly Helene
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A very well hidden secret indeed! It is a really memorable stay in Goa - one that you won't forget! This place is more of a homestay than a BnB or hotel - loved the hospitality. The host is more than willing to help with your queries - they even arranged a Vespa on very short notice. Btw if windsurfing is your thing then you can get in touch with Derrick, who is a national champion and has been involved with water sports for decades. And yes, whatever you do don't miss the breakfast, it is a treat!! Would surely love to visit again:)
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Date of stay: March 2021
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Response from TheSecretGarden Goa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 19 Mar 2021
Thank you Vaibhav for your incredibly kind words - a short but memorable stay! So happy that you got to go windsurfing with D and enjoyed your breakfast! Looking forward to your return visit - a longer stay we hope!
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My partner and I stayed at the secret garden for 4 nights of a 3-week trip in India, and would have loved to stay for longer! The home itself is a beautiful and spacious heritage house, and Derrick and the staff were extremely friendly and hospitable and spared no effort to help us feel right at home. There are some great spots to eat a short walk away, and of course the amazing breakfast was something we looked forward to each morning. Thanks again for the wonderful time, and looking forward to our next visit!
- M&R.
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Date of stay: March 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 20 Mar 2020
Hello! Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely review! So glad that you enjoyed your time with us - we love what we do at TSGG and it is always so wonderful to have new guests from new places! Great that you enjoyed our breakfast... still the most important meal of the day for us! Looking forward to welcoming you both back through our gates in the future. Stay safe and well! Thanks again, warm regards, Helene and team TSGG
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We spent 2 nights at the Secret Garden in early January, our last nights after a five week trip in India. What a special place. Helene and Derek were great hosts, making us laugh with Helene's wonderfully quirky sense of humor. They gave us excellent advice on places to go and how to get there. Oh did I mention the most amazing breakfasts! I don’t remember ever having such a spectacular breakfast before. Homemade loaves of bread and majestic masala omelettes. They truly set us up for the day. The house is an old beautiful Goan beauty, decorated with charm and quirkiness, a wonderful relaxed environment. All in all we had the most wonderful end to an unbelievably amazing adventure in India.
Thank you Helene and Derek, may we meet again one day .
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 3 Mar 2020
Hello! How very sweet of you to take the time to review us on TA... it really was our pleasure to host you both, our very first guests from South Africa! How lucky we were that you chose to stay at The Secret Garden at the end of your tour. We will keep great memories of the time you spent in our home - you were both such great fun. Thank you for your kind compliments about your breakfast - it really was a pleasure to cook for you - especially after seeing how much you relished the spread! You are both welcome anytime through the gates of The Secret Garden - till then take excellent care! Warmest regards to you both, stay safe and happy! Helene & Team TSGG
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Oh my goodness, this is idyllic!!! A perfect place for a rest and recuperation. There's nothing I could fault here! Derrick was an amazing host and their two helpers were so lovely and polite. Helen wasn't there , but despite going through a family tragedy, she was still in touch on WhatsApp, sending regular messages. They all went out of their way to assist and the facilities were all amazing. I would thoroughly recommend this place for families, couples or singles.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 12 Mar 2020
Hello there, So sweet of you! Thank you, firstly for your understanding of my absence from home - very difficult times. However, I am so happy that D and the team looked after you and you had such a fabulous stay with us - the wonder of whats app meant that I was able to be on hand throughout your stay and co-ordinate things from the other side of the world with those left holding the fort unexpectedly! Looking forward to meeting you on your next visit and welcoming you and your family through our garden gate, till then take very good care. Thank you for selecting us for your staycation in Goa. Warmly Helene and team TSGG
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Just returned from the most amazing stay at The Secret Garden Saligao. What a totally fabulous time we had! The accommodation and gardens are exquisite and the hosts delightful. If you are looking for a beautiful retreat in glorious surroundings, this is the place for you. Cannot rate highly enough - its a total must if you are in Southern Goa xx
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Date of stay: March 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGarden Goa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 23 Mar 2021
Such a pleasure having you stay, thank you so much for choosing us and for your kind words. Looking forward to your next visit with much anticipation. Warmly Team TSGG.
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If you want basic this place is not for you ! If you want luxury, a beautiful spacious bedroom with crisp white linen consider it :) If you want loud music, a huge TV, no sunbeds and to be surrounded by the world and his wife, don't go! If you want peace and tranquility a crystal clear private swimming pool in a magical setting and your every need considered you won't be disappointed :)
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Date of stay: March 2016
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â They are all stunning !
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 29 Mar 2016
:) Thank you so much for your fun review - we are so pleased that you enjoyed your time with us & hope to welcome you to The Secret Garden Goa again in the near future.
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We spent a week here in late January 2016, along with a friend visiting from the U.K. All of us are senior citizens and found Helene and Derrick to be ideal hosts. The Secret Garden is indeed a well kept secret. Away from the noisy parts of Goa in a very serene quiet location, yet close to all the happening places. It is a very elegantly and beautifully restored old Portuguese ancestral house Rooms are large,very well furnished with attached wet rooms. Helene's breakfasts are a treat. She had also baked a very tasty chocolate cake for our friend's birthday. We got excellent advice from Helene and Derrick about the places to visit and things to do during our visit. This made it so much easier to go around and absorb the best of Goa. It can be just great to relax by the pool in the house. Have stayed in the best hotels of Goa earlier, but this is by far a much nicer place to stay in and relax. Thank you, Helene and Derrick for making our stay so enjoyable.
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 5 Feb 2016
Dear Arvind Thank you so much for your kind words, it was a pleasure to have you all stay with us at The Secret Garden Goa. We are so pleased that you took the time out to share your experience with other travellers & give us your valued feedback. We trust you enjoyed the rest of the holiday in Delhi as much as you did in Goa. We look forward to welcoming you back to our home, you were all wonderful guests. Warm Regards, Helene & Derrick
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what a secret garden this is, found this little gem on our recent trip to goa, your hosts Helene and Derrick are the best, the rooms are beautiful, peace and quiet, a fabulous pool and poolside shower, and the BEST omelettes in the world, I would urge you to seek this wonderful at home stay, we will be back next year
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Date of stay: November 2015
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 9 Jan 2016
Dear Maggie & Bruce It was great fun to have you stay with us. Merlot and Diver loved all the attention you gave them & anyone who appreciates my cooking as much as you two are welcome anytime at all. Looking forward to seeing you in March - hope the winter is not too cold for you. Best, Helene
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Hi there
Firstly apologies for the delay in responding - I have only just seen this message as for some reason I do not know the alerts have been turned off....
The nearest beach is Calangute and it is about 8 minutes by scooter. Goa has many beautiful beaches further North but there are some lovely spots along that stretch. Warmest, Helene
There are 3 rooms. Two of the rooms can accommodate two people, one is a single room. Children/third person may be accommodated in the double rooms but it'll be a stretch.
There are more places to choose from in the Saligao area.
LOCATION
IndiaGoaNorth Goa DistrictBardezSaligao
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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