A Swish Homestay For Those Who Like Goa In High Gloss

Only a 15-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of beaches like Candolim, Vagator and Anjuna, "Sunbeam" is a century-old restored Portuguese home is tucked away amongst trees and rice paddies. Welcome to your home away from home.

Sleeps: Three couples, in three suites. All three rooms are decorated in individual styles and have en suite bathrooms; two bedrooms are situated on the ground floor while the third is across the courtyard and has a terrace with direct access to the pool and gardens.

Meal plan? Krishna, the very able cook at Sunbeam, whips up fantastic Goan, regional Indian and fusion cuisine. Breakfasts are included in your tariff, while other meals can be organised with prior notice, and for a charge. Meals can be taken either in the courtyard or up on the terrace, while tea, coffee and biscuits can be brought directly to your room. If you fancy stepping out, Ciao Bella, a great Italian eatery, and Villa Blanche, a casual bistro-style caf? that serves light lunches and quiche and other baked goods, are a short walk away.

The glam factor: Owned by flamboyant stylist Jivi Sethi, Sunbeam?s interiors are fittingly glamorous. Split into two blocks, the cooler, darker Old House (with bedrooms one and two), and the brighter, whiter New House (with bedroom three, also Jivi?s own room when he?s in-residence), Sunbeam?s most distinctive feature is its sexy swimming pool, coloured red, black and turquoise and starring a delightfully theatrical fountain.

The low points: The rooms in the old house, while charming and playful, aren?t as bright as the rest of the house, although this is only a minor sticking point. The entire village of Assagao, where the house is situated, suffers fairly frequent power cuts, although there is a generator for power backup.

The bottom line: It doesn?t come cheap, but it sure is pretty. Sunbeam will delight design-lovers who?re prepared to spend a little extra for a homestay that?s both welcoming and warm as well as doused in high gloss. In peak season (December 1 to January 31), you?ll spend Rs12,800 ($250) a night for any of the rooms.

Sunbeam, E-13 Saunta Vaddo, Assagao, Bardez, Goa. Tel: 083222 68525.

?For more information visit Justjivi.com.

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