After running a 48-seater restaurant Zuperb in Calangute, Goa for five years and 14 homestay apartments in the northern part of the sunshine state for two years, entrepreneur Mani Vazifdar now owns and manages a home stay in Assagao. "We retained the name Zuperb… it has brand equity,” she told Parsiana on January 22, 2022. "Due to Covid-19, we had to give up the other apartments I was running… We rented this place in November 2020,” she said. It is close to the central Goa beaches of Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator and Morjim which Vazifdar says "are within a 10 to 25-minute ride away” from their homestay facility.
Clockwise from 1st row: Entrance to Zuperb homestay; Sohrab, Zubin,
Mani and Jamshed Vazifdar; the villa, bedroom, living area and pool
The home is a villa where Mani and her husband Zubin, her mother Villi Wadia and sons Sohrab and Jamshed live on the ground floor. The storey above is available for letting out. "We can take in up to eight guests at a time. On the first floor, with separate entrances are two self-contained apartments, each with two bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and an equipped kitchen.” There are three balconies in each apartment, she mentioned. A pool is available for guests, with appropriate Covid-related protocols in place. Mani believes that the uniqueness of the property lies in the fact that she and her husband "are excellent hosts.”
Tariff is tailor made depending on number of guests and is available on request. "We provide cleaning services on alternate days, but not on Sundays. There is an additional charge of Rs 350 if the guest wants their linen changed. While there is a kitchen where guests can prepare a meal, Mani says, "We have specialty and local restaurants all close by.” Goan and Parsi meals, and a few Continental and North Indian dishes are available on request at the homestay. "Also, desserts like baklava…Zubin makes fresh bread, croissants, khari biscuits… The cooking is all his work…I am not involved in this as I don’t like any kitchen work,” Mani told us. Toiletries and in-room tea and coffee are available on arrival but not replenished. "We have five adopted dogs in our home, but they are never left loose in the compound…so no worries.” She cautions that network connectivity is poor.
Originally from Bombay, the Vazifdars have been in Goa for the last 10 years. An erstwhile travel agent for 15 years, Mani has worked for Travel Corporation of India, Cox and Kings and the Bahwan Group in Muscat. "Zubin was in the merchant navy and in 2006 he left sailing and joined my business,” she informed us. Sohrab is preparing for entrance tests to law school and Jamshed is finishing high school.
On the lookout for a resort with a minimum of 15 rooms, Mani told us they have had very few Zoroastrian guests so far.
The homestay is available at Blue Villa, House no 67/18, Khorlim, Assagao, near Mapusa, Goa 403507; mob: +91 95521 70386.