Villa Rivercat
438/1 Junas Waddo 438/1 Junasawaddo, Mandrem, Mandrem 403527 India
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#10 of 77 Specialty lodging in Mandrem
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Villa rivercat is a unique guesthouse situated beside the beautiful long mandrem beach. The rooms are artistically decorated some with private bathrooms on the top floor and first floor and also a few with shared bathroom. There is a terrace overlooking the riverside gardens where there are tables for breakfast and other meals. The house is suitable for families, single travellers, couples of all ages and also for group retreats. Rinoo and Anne-Maria are the managers, your hosts and owners of the house who will be happy to welcome you to this corner of Goa!
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Property amenities
Public wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Beach
Massage
Room features
Air conditioning
Tile / marble floor
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Romantic
Location
81Good for walkers
Grade: 81 out of 100
20Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
2Attractionswithin 0.5 km
438/1 Junas Waddo 438/1 Junasawaddo, Mandrem, Mandrem 403527 India
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Villa Rivercat is a fantasy place … that pleases my sense of beauty … where I can be alone , or chat with Renoo the owner, where I can stay all day in the privacy of my beautiful room ..in the big garden ..on the roof , or I can walk 2 minutes to the immense beaches of Mandrem! Highly recommend from a very experienced traveler like me.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Sightsee626271 wrote a review Jan 2023
I have travelled the world and keep coming back to this place year after year! I missed it so much these past 2 years so I am very happy to say I am still in love with Villa Rivercat! The owner Rinoo is a slightly eccentric character and very entertaining, his knowledge of the area is extensive and he can suggest many things for you to do during your stay. Staff are friendly and the resturant offers a simple and affordable light menu. You can even have a massage! Perfect when you arrive after your journey or yoga! The house is riverside to the rear and seaside to the front which makes it an ideal location. You can eat breakfast or practice yoga overlooking the river in the morning and spend your days enjoying the beach and perhaps even go kitesurfing or paddle boarding with a lovely chap called Robin during the day. The beaches from Arambol to Morjim are all within walking distance! Rooms are unique and boutique, decorated with traditional Indian furnature and artefacts repurposed in a comfortable and contemporary way. The whole place feels like home and I have met several guests over the years that also return around a similar time and are now firm friends. As a lone traveller this is a bonus for me! Thank you Rinoo for creating such a wonderful space, I look forward to my next visit, see you soon!…
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A friend of us recommended Villa River Cat, so we had high expectations which were not met. It is very close to the beach which was dirty (although there were people that did some kind of "cleaning"). The rooms we have seen are nice, but…
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Date of stay: October 2019
Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A friend and I came to Villa Rivercat on the earnest recommendation of an artist friend. We stayed in the winter of 2011. We were asked to prepay 50% at booking time, by bank transfer. We found Rinoo appearing to build up a spiritual ambiance about the visit by talking and talking a lot, about himself and about India. In time we found he is pointedly focused on getting the money - which quickly becomes exhausting for the visitor. The staff seemed stressed and terrified. After the first night we rearranged our plans to leave early, and decided to slip a staff member an enormous cash tip, away from the house as he toiled in the garden. And, just like in a horror movie, we got caught by Rinoo. It was a very creepy moment. Of course our last minute change in plans became a negotiation. I don't remember what additional money we needed to pay; but we did not enjoy the experience of negotiating with the proprietor. His technique is to first describe the goal as impossible, and then to change positions it seems dozens of times, and then finally to come to an agreement while we were paralyzed with exhaustion. He used this technique not only to negotiate the final payment, but also with the simple matter of providing advice on purchasing train tickets. It was an interesting place; he was a very interesting man; but I would not choose to do business with him again.…
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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villa rivercat is not a hotel it is a home !!! it has a lovely selection of rooms from simple rooms without bathrooms , to lush ones on the top floor with bathrooms and ac. good breakfast and especially good coffee ! rinoo the owner is charming and knows goa like the back of his hand . he took me on a secret day out to a magical place in maharaschtra but iam not allowed to say where ...we had the best chillie pakoras by the roadside. i have been coming here for 18 years and mandrem village got a lot busier. but the rivercat is still a calm haven. check out the back garden first thing in the morning and have your coffee by the river. the house is the perfect place to relax there are good yoga facilities very close by, and in the garden is andre a russian masseur and therapist who has the best energy and has helped me feel whole again. don't just sleep at the villa, make sure you go and use the many hammocks and chairs to read , or just to unwind. go to maps market but avoid the main day on friday , amazing spices , teas etc. look slowly and you find many portugese influenced delicacies. lots of good food around. the house is cool, and very clean ! my home from home…
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Date of stay: March 2017Trip type: Traveled solo
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip: top floor very romantic
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We loved to stay there. The children(7 and 9 years) enjoyed all the swings, Cats and dogs. Close to the beach, Beautiful rooms, Clean and big, and full of nice antiques. A very good atmosphere. Free drinking water and nice breakfast. It is not a cheap place, but it is worth the money if you stay there for a couple of days.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip type: Traveled with family
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Just stayed over Easter at Rivercat for 5 nights and it was a haven after staying in hot beach huts. Immediately when we walked in we loved the eclectic mix of art and sculptures, the cool music playing and the effusive and welcoming nature of out host Reeno. The beautiful gardens overlook the river with relaxing chairs and hammocks to chill in or there are numerous terraces to read a book and just 2 mins walk from the beach. His staff are wonderful too and very accomodating.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
Rooms
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I spent a week in one of the tents and it was just great! The owner Rinoo is so charming, friendly and we had many good discussions with other guests. Travelling alone, I met other guests, we went out together and chatted over coffee at breakfast exactly what I needed. The tent was pretty and very clean and cleaned on demand. I had hot water and A/C. The ambience is like a home from home. Situated on the rivers edge a few minutes walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa, yoga, great restaurants like Nu café and Da Souzas...Loved it and will go back!
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: The Tents are great
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Delighted to return to Villa RiverCat after a few years to enjoy its magic again. The rooms are large, clean and beautifully furnished. The balconies look out into the trees and down to the river. Rinoo is the perfect host and his staff friendly and attentive. I look forward to our next visit.
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Date of stay: November 2015Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Top floor honey moon room and room 4
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We stayed at Villa Rivercat in early September which is completely out of season and so we were fortunately the only two guests at the villa. From the moment of arrival we were treated as friends by Rinoo and his assistant. The house was built by Rinoo himself and every room was decorated so beautifully and really reflected the Indian culture. Our room was spacious and contained everything we needed including two lovely chairs which we later learned were designed by his daughter. Food was always made for us whenever we wanted it and fresh watermelon juice was always brought to us by his friendly assistant. There were two dogs there at the time of our stay (Sandy and Blacky) who always accompanied us to the beach and also lots of cats! The surrounding area is very green with lots of plants and flowers and it's also just a 2 minute walk to the beach. On one of the days Rinoo took us out for the whole day in his car showing us the places he loves and the 'real Goa'. We even stopped by one of his favourite beachfront restaurants and enjoyed a delicious fish curry with him. Rinoo is honestly the kindest host we have ever had and we can't recommend Villa Rivercat enough!!…
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
US$55 - US$55 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
villa rivercat hotel mandrem
LOCATION
IndiaGoaNorth Goa DistrictMandrem
NUMBER OF ROOMS
13
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Frequently Asked Questions about Villa Rivercat
Which popular attractions are close to Villa Rivercat?
Nearby attractions include Mandrem Beach (0.3 km) and Chintamani Alchemistry (0.3 km).
What food & drink options are available at Villa Rivercat?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Villa Rivercat?
Conveniently located restaurants include Chique Shanti, Cafe Nu, and Cafe Junas 9.
Are there any historical sites close to Villa Rivercat?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Fort Terekhol (6.7 km).