This is a place you will stay either because it is popular with "firangs" or because somebody tried to make some quick money out of you. We reached Calangute without any booking and first checked Govt run calangute Residency which is right on the beach. The hotel was awful and badly maintained, so we got a brain wave and checked with a sardar hotel opposite calangute Residency and he suggested Awantika and insisted that "best quality. cheap rates".

We fell for the bait and went to Avantika. There is a pool and that was not of much use to us. Actually, I guess, Indians do not need pool in the hotel. The room boy suggested we take first floor rooms and we said yes. I guess that was a good advice.

Rooms are nothing great to write about - it is average. Staff at the hotel are also good.

What put me off was the fact there are better hotels , guest houses in goa which come for ridiculous rates - around Rs.500 if you negotiate. Avantika is more expensive than that but I am not so sure whether the premium is worth.