Traveling with kids has changed since the pandemic began and we love properties that go that extra mile to make family travels safer. For my birthday vacation, we were looking for a place that was near the beach yet not too far from Bangalore. After some research, we narrowed down on Pondicherry and chose Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay for our holiday. And we made the perfect choice as our luxurious villa with a private swimming pool at Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay was just the place to unwind after the lockdown days at home.
Welcome and Check In
The drive from Bangalore to Pondicherry is a pleasant one with great road condition. The resort is located near Eden Beach, a beautiful blue flag beach that is clean and less crowded. Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay has recently opened and everything looks new and shiny. They follow a 20-step hygiene and safety protocol to ensure that their guests and their team remain safe.
After a warm welcome with welcome drinks and some conversation, our check-in was quick and safe. And after our temperature check, we were asked to show our vaccination certificates. The luggage bags were sanitised too. During the check-in process the team maintained social distancing and other covid protocols. We felt at home at once experiencing their wonderful hospitality.
The Villa
We took the buggy from the reception and after a short tour reached our villa which had a separate entrance. Upon entering through the gate, we discovered the villa also had a cute little garden and an amazing swimming pool making it a pretty safe stay especially during current times.
The rooms were kept vacant for more than 24 hours between the last check-out and our check-in and everything was meticulously sanitized. Items like remotes, tablet, cutlery etc that are the most common touch points were specially sanitized and packed.
The spacious villa has a beautiful living room with ceiling to floor windows that open into the garden and the adjoining plunge pool. The bedroom is well thought of with a work station, king size comfortable bed, a huge TV panel and ceiling to floor windows with the view of the pool and the lagoon outside.
Another amazing thing is that everything from the lights, fans and curtains in the villa can be controlled by the bedside tablet that is like your virtual assistant inside the villa. You can also place an order at the restaurant and book an appointment at the spa through it.
Experiences
There are so many things to do at the resort as a family. For those who wish for a laid back holiday and some private time, they have beautiful villas with plunge pool and private gardens, a sundeck with a view of gorgeous sunsets and romantic dinner setups. For those who love some pampering, their Bodhi spa has some amazingly replenishing massages and treatments.
And for those who like to stay active and explore they have a well equipped gym, indoor play area with chess, pool, foosball volleyball nets, a beautiful salt pool and a nearby beach. And for kids they can spend hours in Le Infante amongst books and toys, splash in the kids salt pool, play in the playground or try their hand at board games. So basically there is something for everyone at Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay.
Franco Tamil Food
The dining experience are crafted to the next level in Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay. We loved the floating breakfast in our plunge pool, the picnic at Eden beach, sundowners at the sunset deck, the intimate dinner in the boat lit up with fairy lights and our private dinner in the villa garden on the last night followed by stargazing.
And coming to the soul of each of these unique dining experiences, the food was marvelous. The Franco Tamil food that we tried were authentic and had the essence of recipes handed down generations. The beauty of Franco Tamil food is that it is the perfect blend of French and Indian cooking styles and ingredients making the dishes well balanced with novel flavours. The seafood served was really fresh and delicious.
Our Overall Experience
Our overall experience was truly wonderful. Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay is the perfect stay for a beach holiday in Pondicherry. The resort is very welcoming and the amenities are really well maintained. You can also see how dedicated the staff and housekeeping team is and they keep everything clean and maintained.
The common spaces especially the restaurants abide by all covid norms to ensure safe dining. Also the resort has a lot of open space and activities making Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay an ideal and safe holiday stay in Pondicherry while traveling with family.
