A SLICE OF SUSEGAD

AINDRILA MITRA discovers a new side of Goa post the lockdown, one that involves private villa stays, nature walks with physical distancing, and socially conscious food choices.

- AINDRILA MITRA

THE PANDEMIC HAS changed the way we think. But the passion for travel remains unchanged. So, the first chance I get to escape the shackles of virtual travel, I have my bags packed—with sanitisers, face masks, and Vitamin C supplements. I hop on a Vistara flight after being grounded for eight months in the capital city. I am on a trip to Goa— the au courant flavour for workstations and extended staycations—with Airbnb.

Not only has the frequency of travel changed, but the way we holiday is also witnessing a dramatic shift— towards a more conscious lifestyle. So, instead of a swanky five-star hotel room, I check in to a GoanPortuguese heritage villa. With five rooms, a private swimming pool, and vanity rooms the size of my Bandra pad, the 400-year-old Casa Tina in Vagator, North Goa, is wrapped in a garden of frangipanis and chikoo trees. It is emblematic of the state’s contented lifestyle. Jijesh Ramachandran and Amarendra Kumar, my super hosts from Airbnb, catch up with me over breakfast. A part of Iksha (iksha.co.in), wherein Jijesh and his partner manage 12 such villas across Goa, Casa Tina is the perfect place for an extended getaway with family or friends. “We’ve been booked for the past four months,” Ramachandran smiles. But what about the pandemic? You can only book the entire villa, and not individual rooms. So, the stay is bound to be private, with physical distancing and Airbnb’s strict sanitisation guidelines ensuring safety, the hosts assure me. Unlimited wi-fiand friendly caretakers make sure that I am comfortable and always on time for my Teams meetings.