The Secret Garden Goa
Estrelas e Sinos, Saligao, Bardez 403511 India
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About
#1 of 36 Specialty lodging in Saligao
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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.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Beach
Bicycle rental
Highchairs available
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Private pool
Yoga classes
Bar / lounge
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Casino and Gambling
Diving
Hiking
Windsurfing
Bicycle tours
Patio
Walking tours
Board games / puzzles
Airport transportation
Taxi service
Chapel / shrine
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
First aid kit
Umbrella
24-hour check-in
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Refrigerator
Radio
Extra long beds
Walk-in shower
Safe
Seating area
Separate dining area
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
iPod docking station
Sofa bed
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi
Location
54Somewhat walkable
Grade: 54 out of 100
1443Restaurantswithin 10 km
188Attractionswithin 10 km
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+1
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 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
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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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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.
Helpful
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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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
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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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
After three weeks of touring, The Secret Garden provided the perfect antidote. This beautiful house and garden became our home and dream hideaway for 6 perfect nights. The garden was a haven for butterflies and wildlife and we whiled away the hours in the pool or just relaxing in one of the many shaded areas. Our room was just perfect with a large cosy bed, comfy lounging areas and air conditioning. Helene was an amazing hostess and her breakfasts were superb with home cooked specialities, freshly baked bread and homemade jams. We will definitely return again, hopefully soon.
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Date of stay: November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 5 Dec 2019
Dear T&M Thank you so much for taking the time to write your wonderful review of your recent stay with us- what lovely kind words. :) You two were an absolute delight to host - you really did make the most of your stay at TSGG which was so gratifying to see - so happy that you were really able to unwind and totally relax. You guys are most welcome back through our gates anytime at all. Hope it is not chilly back in Blighty - take care and stay warm till we meet again. Love Helene
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I revisited India after 50 years to make contact with some old friends. Goa was the place to meet and The Secret garden was recommended. I was there for 5-6 days. it all went too quickly. It was like a home away from home without the housework! The place was amazing. Like a big stuffed cushion. You could relax anywhere- in your airconditioned room, in the large lounge area overlooking the daily attended pool or the large well-groomed gardens with abundant with plants and birdlife. More importantly, was the informality of it all. We Australians are a pretty informal lot and Helen and Derrick are just so welcoming. Her breakfasts are to die for. Souffle omelettes from heaven. Helen is a pommy (can't play cricket mind you) and has had the most interesting life. She always has…
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Date of stay: November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 23 Nov 2019
G'Day Mate! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 11/10 - wow that's humbling!! A special thank you to Anita to introducing you to us - it is always lovely to have guests through a personal recommendation. So happy that your return to India after so many decades turned out to be everything you wanted and more. We really enjoyed having you to stay - the hounds are missing you! Glad that you enjoyed the breakfast spread - I love to cook and it is such a pleasure when it is enjoyed with such relish. Fabulous that we could help with the onward part of your journey down memory lane - it was fascinating listening to your tales of the good old days in Bbay at clubs we go to now! Not much has changed as you could see from your visit but they must have been such fun in those days. Thank you for your kind words - stay safe and stay in touch - welcome back as soon as you like! Helene, Diver, Merlot and Luna and all the rest of the team say hello!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Secret Garden Goa is a sprawling Portuguese styled villa homestay. Located in the village of Saligao, it offers a unique experience with a perfect blend of the old world charm of a bygone era and modern amenities and a swimming pool. It provides seclusion and yet is close enough to Calangute & Baga beaches and it's night life. Run and managed by the lovely Helene Menezes, it is the perfect getaway for the discerning traveller.
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 8 Oct 2019
Hey Arti Thank you for your kind words! So happy to have you at TSGG for your mini staycation! Looking forward to many return visits!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
If you’re the kind of traveller who likes sterile, homogeneous hotel rooms with 24hours room service in a hotel chain with 100 other guests and multi-cuisine restaurants, The Secret Garden is NOT for you. The Secret Garden is tucked away from the main road and the narrow approach does not prepare you for the surprise that this beautiful old house is. The three rooms that the property offers are an extension of the home of the owners- Helene and Derrick. The entire place is a labour of love and each room distinct in its decor and vibe. The common areas are comfortable and invite you to feel at home. We were lucky to have booked all three rooms so we had the place to ourselves. The highlights for us adults and kids were definitely the delicious breakfast cooked by Helene and…
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 8 Oct 2019
Wow! What a really wonderful review to read this morning. Thank you so much. You really summed up the kind of guests we dont want at TSGG in your opening line! And of course, you guys are exactly our kind of people and the perfect sort of guests - those that feel at home enough to be super comfortable but spoilt enough to know that you are on vacay and can relax and indulge! It was my absolute pleasure to feed you all - great appetites and clean plates are a cooks best friend! Looking forward to seeing you all again - the gates of The Secret Garden will always be open for you... much love Hx
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had an absolute amazing holiday with friends at the secret garden. Starting off with a breakfast which can only be explained as a big hearty healthy breakfast. A pool which spent alot of time in and the most gracious hosts in H and D, who made it even more special.
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 8 Oct 2019
So happy that you had the holiday you so wanted and that it all happened at The Secret Garden. Special friends are worth cherishing and nurturing - you guys all got on so well and had a great balance between you - was lovely to see. Glad that you appreciated the details - I can't stop finding other bits and bobs that our home 'has to have' - quite funny for someone who doesn't like to shop! Thank you so much for enjoying the food with gusto! It was our absolute pleasure to host you.... till next time! Love to you and the family, Hx
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Helene and Derek are amazing hosts who made us feel right at home. A beautiful house tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Goa. Helene's breakfast were to die for with fresh, hot bread served every time. Its a place that you would keep going back to...there's something for everyone.....a cupboard full of thoughtfully picked toys for all ages, a beautiful, clean pool and the lovely rooms.
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 8 Oct 2019
Hello! Awh! Thank you so much for taking the time away to write a lovely review of your stay with us - you are very kind. Glad that you enjoyed your time with us. I love to cook and when guests love to eat it is the perfect combination! So happy that the games cupboard was enjoyed - you guys had a lot of fun and that is what makes what we do here worthwhile! Looking forward to your next visit! Thanks so much, Helene
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Secret Garden. - The description of the name pretty puch sums it up. A beautiful curated home stay with each room tastefully decorated. The rooms and the living/ dining room open into the Secret Garden. With its tropical green plants, surrounding the perfect pool. This was our second stay here, and the best thing.. Nothing changed from the first time. The hosts Helene and Derrik are fabulous. Helene's breakfast is legendary, with home made bread, fruit preserves, cereals to choose from, eggs, omletts, fresh fruits,coffee, tea, juices .. And not to mention our daughters favourite the pancakes with chocolate sauce. She also offered us other options of traditional Indian breakfast.. The secret garden is located perfectly in North Goa, tucked away from the tourist madness that…
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Date of stay: October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from TheSecretGardenGoa, Owner at The Secret Garden Goa
Responded 8 Oct 2019
Hello there! I am so happy that you love TSGG as much as I do. It is always so encouraging when guests return and have an awesome stay with us. A lot of love has gone into my home and it is wonderful that by return it gives it out by the bucket load, and better still when it is appreciated and our guests feel at home too! The kids had such fun in the pool (as did the big kids) and of course, as always it was my absolute pleasure to feed you all. #perfectguests Thank you so much for returning to The Secret Garden and getting the break you all needed, a mix of fun, relaxation, adventure and great Goan food! You will all, always be welcome through our gates... Till next time! Love Hx
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LOCATION
IndiaGoaNorth Goa DistrictBardezSaligao
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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