The best new hotels in India: 2024 Hot List

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Mohsin Taha/Ronil Goa—a JdV by Hyatt Hotel

Ronil Goa—a JdV by Hyatt Hotel

Ronil Goa, a JdV by Hyatt property, is a new boutique resort in Calangute that is an unlikely bridge between the old laid-back Goa and the new buzzing one. Once a 125-room, budget-friendly hotel, the property, which goes back over 35 years, is now a 135-room JdV (short for joie de vivre) by Hyatt resort this year—the first such Hyatt property in India and Southwest Asia. Its entry on the Calangute-Baga Road is easy to miss, but once inside, the resort unfolds into two separate blocks, divided by two pools and the in-house restaurant. In true Goa fashion, I'm welcomed with a coffee-rum shot, an apt teaser of the resort's energy. Check-in is not at the reception, but at the lobby bar Patrão's, which is open 24/7. The heart of this property is "the hub", the central area featuring a pool with a swim-up bar, cabanas, and sunken beds, and a wood-fired oven, where music plays almost all day and night. Rooms in this block are for those craving a high-energy holiday. The pool is open till 2am for spontaneous midnight swims. If you prefer a quieter holiday, book a room in the second block with the property's second "tranquil" pool, which is open until 10pm and meant for a relaxed dip. Rooms feature several smart design elements—a sliding mirror which acts as a minimal door to the wardrobe, walls with monotone textures in place of the standard abstract paintings found in hotel rooms, door handles shaped like seashells, and more. Night owls can crack open the complimentary Maka Di lager in the minibar. I could easily get used to the prawn curry, rice, kismoor, and eggplant pickle at the Ronil Bistro for lunch, and the fresh, fluffy sourdough pizzas by the pool for dinner. Don't skip the ice cream, which comes from Goa's well-loved Cream Choc. Ronil Goa is ideal for travelling with friends as the property can arrange bonfires, barbecues, floating breakfasts, and poolside picnics. As new as the property is, it unknowingly holds within it a sense of nostalgia. While the staff can arrange for bar crawls and Chapora Fort visits, if you are visiting to recreate old memories, you could just stay within the nostalgic cocoon that Ronil Goa offers. Doubles from Rs16,200*; website —Arundhati Ail