Whether Goa’s balmy, humid climate makes it too uncomfortable for you to venture out and explore, or the monsoons leave you rained in, you can be sure that when you stay at the Grand Hyatt, Goa, or even just visit the property for a day, you’ll never be short of things to do to fill your days with. Over my past several visits to this pristine 28-acre beach-facing haven, I’ve experienced a slew of activities that locals and tourists can partake in. There’s something for the adventurous, the wellness enthusiasts, the kids, and of course, plenty of things for the foodies to do!
Things to do at Grand Hyatt, Goa
Take an Italian Cooking Class at Verandah
If you’re the kind of traveler who goes to Delhi just to eat at Indian Accent, or to Toronto just to eat at Langdon Hall, and who ‘fills in’ the rest of the itinerary later, welcome to the club! A quick cooking class on your holiday may be just the thing for you. Learn a recipe or two from Chef Dinesh Rana, Chef de Cuisine at the Verandah, one of Goa’s finest Italian restaurants.
He’ll tell you about types of pasta you never knew existed and he will teach you to make, not only the actual pasta, but also the dish that he’s perfected, from scratch. Best part of the class? Apart from picking up a cooking tip or two from him, you get to eat his soul-soothing food once it’s over!
Indulge in some self-care at Shamana Spa
There are good spas dotted around Goa, and then there’s Shamana Spa at Grand Hyatt Goa, in a league of its own. Offering spine-tingling-ly good massages that bring life to locked shoulders and stiff necks, the effectiveness that these therapies offer is astonishing! Here, their treatments are inspired by the season – the relaxation of summer, the freshness of the monsoons, and the invigoration of winter.
Every couple of months, the team at Shamana Spa puts together different therapies using seasonal ingredients like mango and cashew during the harsh, humid months, papaya and lemongrass during the rains and so on, to give your body the rejuvenation it needs.
Post a quick spell in the steam and sauna rooms, I had the longest, bliss-inducing ‘Monsoon Ritual’ massage EVER! The sound of the rain outside, the gentle music, the scent of lemongrass and the gentle prods and strokes on my tightly wound limbs until my mind and body were lethargically one… priceless!
I returned to this serene spa the next day for an Olivier Claire facial, an elaborate 90-minute treatment that involved the therapist applying around a dozen premium creams and serums on my face (and hands)! So calming was it, that I almost drifted off to sleep within the first 20 minutes. If brighter, clearer skin is a struggle, you’ll definitely see instant (and long-lasting) results, like I do, even 15 days after my facial is over. My skin also feels so much softer to touch, and who doesn’t want that?
Be prepared to be converted, because I can guarantee that once you try Shamana Spa, there’s no looking back. I wanted to book my next appointment with their fabulous masseuses before I left!
Go Sailing, Windsurfing or Kayaking
That story-book summer holiday can never be complete without a day of family water sports in Goa and this luxury resort offers that, too!
Apart from the monsoons, when AquaSail at Grand Hyatt Goa is closed for the season, you can enjoy near-perfect sailing conditions all year through. Book a 45-minute kayaking experience, go sailing and take in Goa’s rugged beauty from afar, or take a certified course in windsurfing, a beginner-level class where you can learn to windsurf within 8-12 hours, spread over 2 days.
From learning to balance, steer the board and control the sail, this exciting activity is a fun new skill for adventure enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors. If you’re one of those who hate missing out, choose the 90-minute package, where you get 30 minutes each of kayaking, sailing and windsurfing!
From offering you sunscreen before you set out on the water, to having another boat zip past your own, to click photographs of you riding the waves with family and friends, you’ll find that you don’t have to concern yourself with anything other than having a great time.
Yes, you don’t even have to reach for the phone for that sun-kissed selfie! At Aquasail, safety comes first, and the life jackets, helmets, and gloves are washed after every use (a fact I couldn’t help but appreciate, after having to wear stinky-sweaty life jackets while going jet-skiing along the beaches of North Goa).
Try Aerial Yoga
On entering the gorgeous yoga studio at Grand Hyatt Goa, the first thing you’ll want to do is to go up close to the walls to admire them, rather than to roll out your Yoga mat. Made using Pink Himalayan salt and illuminated from the back, these glowing bricks exude warmth and radiance and emit negative ions that purify the air, calm allergies, raise energy, and enhance mood, among other things.
Take an aerial yoga class in Goa and learn how to strike poses while hanging several feet off the ground while working your arms, legs, core and strengthening your spine. Once you get past the initial fear of falling or getting tangled up in your hammock-like swing, you’ll soon be doing flips, Cirque-de-Soleil style, like a graceful acrobat.
I must admit, I was pretty scared of flopping and could barely manage to do any of it, but there are so many folks who get into it right away! A good thing though, is that it wasn’t one of those “I’m-never-doing-that-again,” experiences. I can totally see myself doing those flips with a little practice.
P.S. Grand Hyatt also has regular Yoga classes, if this Spiderman-style yoga isn’t for you. There’s Aqua Yoga, too, so you can practice those Asanas in the pool!
Spend a day at the Adventure Park
It’s not often that you hear of an adventure park in a hotel in Goa, and I’m pretty sure no other hotel offers activities like these on the premises. Go zip-lining between coconut trees with the wind from Bambolim Beach sending you hurtling to the end even faster!
Test your upper body strength with a bit of wall-climbing, master the art of archery, test your balance on the high rope course and try a bit of sky cycling…. that entails riding a cycle on a tight rope suspended from the ground! While these activities are well suited to kids and adults looking for a bit of thrilling action, for the younger ones, this luxury resort in Goa has a large kids playground, complete with swings, slides, a trampoline and more.
Brunch!
Grand Hyatt’s Wicked Liquid Brunch adds a touch of vivacity to an otherwise lazy Sunday. Perfect for seekers of a long-drawn meal with a view of the ocean, pop into the Dining Room for a smorgasbord of food every Sunday from noon to 3:30 PM.
Dive into an extravagant menu spanning Indian, Continental, Italian and Goan fare, all cooked in small batches to prevent food wastage. This unlimited brunch in Goa offers everything from breakfast items like waffles, pancakes, bacon and eggs; nibbles like chaat, salads, mezze, grilled meat/seafood/veggies and cold cuts, and a bountiful offering of desserts, presented so creatively to have you wanting a plate that’s double the size to accommodate them all.
Pro Tip – don’t leave without trying out their tarts! Of course, there are mocktails, cocktails, and spirits to go with your meal as you soak up the ambiance and tap your feet to fantastic live music.
Book a Daycation at Grand Hyatt, Goa!
While only a staycation at Grand Hyatt Goa would let you do justice to the innumerable amenities they offer, you can also book a daycation, which means you can spend the day at this luxury resort in Goa without having to check in to a room. Luxury doesn’t always mean crazy expensive and Grand Hyatt makes it easy for the budget-conscious and those pressed-for-time to have a memorable day full of thrilling activities.
Get the best of everything – a little adventure, some beach or pool time, a cooking class, lunch buffet and high tea, discounts on spa treatments, and more – all rolled into great daycation packages that start from Rs. 2000 and go up to Rs. 6000 (incl of taxes), depending on how much action you’d like packed into your day.
Woah! That seems like a lot of things to do in Goa, just at the Grand Hyatt, right? Would you believe me if I said that this blog post merely scratches the surface of what you can do when you visit or stay at this Bambolim Resort? You can also marvel at the gorgeous vine-covered 17th-century chapel, visit the casino that they have on the property, and head over to Confetaria, their coffee shop (that does an excellent cappuccino)…
I can’t wait to tell you all about my extravagant staycation at The Grand Hyatt in my next blog post! I’m still at a loss for words on where to begin! Until then, if you’d like to book any of the activities mentioned in this post, give them a phone call and set it up!
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Note: I was a guest of Grand Hyatt Goa, but as always, the views mentioned in this post are my own.
