Firefly looks out from a green and forested hill over the Revdanda River to the sea.
My love for the view, simple charms of rural Maharashtra and the constant breeze, inspired me to design Firefly as a big open convivial space, hugging nature but never bereft of comforts. Filling one with joy and her peacefulness.
Firefly has seen our children grow up and much fun and laughter with family and friends over the years.
I hope you enjoy her as much as we have done and still do.
Sagarika
The space
Firefly is our holiday farmhouse set on a 4 and half acre hill overlooking the Revdanda River & Estuary a few hours south of Mumbai.
The Farmhouse is in a rural, historic part of Maharashtra 30 minutes inland from Alibaug Town, except immediately post Monsoon when the road from Alibaug is not at its best and adds an extra 20 minutes.
There are 3 ways of getting to the property :
... a 1 and 1/2 hrs drive from the Mandwa Jetty which is across the Bay - by the RORO Ferry, the 50 minute PnP / Maldar Ferry, or a 20 minute speedboat - from opposite the Taj Hotel in Colaba.
... or a four hour drive South of Mumbai.
We are within 30 minute drive of Kashid Beach, 20 minutes from the Revdanda 16th Century Jesuit Monastery ruins and fort, the remains of Shivaji's Temples, the sultanate style palace ruins, historic fish market and loads more to explore in the area!
Guest accommodation and tariff at Firefly :
The price displayed is for 6 guests on a sharing basis ( minimum number of guests), in 3 en-suite air conditioned bedrooms in the upper cottages by the pool side area.
We have 2 more air conditioned bedrooms with en-suites through a bougainvillea path a minute’s walk away, making it a total of 5 bedrooms.
Each guest more than 6 guests, pays INR 4000 per night, on sharing a bedroom basis. We do not have single rooms.
We only accept a minimum booking of 2 nights and a maximum of 10 guests including kids or staff , in 5 bedrooms with access to the whole property.
The Cottages :
- The Poolside Cottage with two double bedrooms and two bathrooms.
- The Glass Cottage with views over the Revdanda Valley is a large, double bedroom and bathroom and a sit out.
- The Gatekeeper Cottage, which is down from the pool area , has 2 connecting bedrooms with separate entrances, two bathrooms , verandahs and a tree shaded and very private sit out and garden.
Firefly has a 12.5 by 6 metre infinity pool (3 to 5 ft deep) with a view over the valley and Creek to the Revdanda bridge and the sea beyond it. There are many books, along with games and an open kitchen & barbecue beside the pool for guests to use.
There's fibre-optic wifi in the top area of the property.
The Poolside terrace includes an open-air wood fireplace for December / January nights, our main outdoor kitchen, an open to sky Poolside bathroom, a living room with a terrace above and a semi-open dining room with gorgeous views.
Food/Catering options:
Self Catering - you would have full access to the large fully equipped poolside kitchen to prepare your own meals.
Cooks :
You could opt to have our 2 cooks prepare some fabulous local style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for an extra fee of Rs. 5000 plus the cost of ingredients for the day. You can discuss your menu with them in advance.
You would have to book them at least 4 days prior to your booking date, by messaging me on Airbnb.
It is mainly local and coastal cuisine of the region : Fresh vegetables/ fish/ chicken /seafood/mutton curries, dry preparations, crisp fried sides, daals, rice/chapattis etc.
And do not miss out on their excellent BBQ !
Chandu will keep a count and present a bill at the end of each day, or at the end of your stay, whichever works best for you.
Order in :
We have restaurant menus you can order from and our staff can pick it up for you with at least two hours notice.
Or, if you do want to cook for yourselves, feel free to use the kitchen the staff will help you find all the pots and pans you need in the kitchen.
They can also source the produce available locally for you and charge you a travel fee.
Fresh coffee, herbs, olive oil, decent wine and imported spirits just aren't available locally, best to bring them from Mumbai. We use a Nespresso Coffee Machine (bring your own Nespresso Pods - we don't keep any at Firefly), French press and/or a Bialetti stove top cafetiere at Firefly, and please do bring your own Nespresso Pods and / or ground coffee with you.
There is a washing machine on site and fresh towels and sheets are also provided.
We'll mail through a Manual with more details, directions and phone numbers once you book.
There are dogs at Firefly but they're very good natured in case you're wondering). Don't hesitate to ask Chandu to keep them at the bottom of the property if you're nervous with dogs. Otherwise, they're both great with kids and other dogs.
Pets are very welcome, as long as there is no likelihood of any damage to the place and property. Please make sure they are not in the pool or on the beds and sofas.
Please also bear in mind that we have a very relaxed attitude towards the frogs and lizards that are a part of any countryside property in Maharashtra. Professional Pest control of the rooms and surrounding area of the cottages are done regularly and the staff also try to keep them out of the rooms without harming them, but sometimes not terribly successfully. Frankly though, they help keep mosquitoes and other insects under control whilst being completely harmless themselves. Obviously if you have any sort of phobia about them, or you're not really used to living in the countryside please don't book Firefly !
There are a couple of lovely blogs online by guests that have stayed that will give you more info and loads of photos from their perspective. If you search for our own website for Fireflyalibaug or for 'Chuzai living Firefly' and 'the trippy mom firefly' or the cntraveller story on firefly-this-villa-in-alibaug-is-a-green-getaway..
Finally, do please have a read of the 'House Rules' here on the Firefly Airbnb page before you book.
Enjoy it.
Guest access
The Downstairs Cottage with 2 bedrooms and garden is a minute’s walk down from the pool area is only available for groups that are more than 6 people and 10 or under 10 people.
Other things to note
The price is for 6 guests or less. Bookings are only taken for groups paying for a minimum of 6 people on a 2 night basis, with full access to the main upper area with private entrance and the pool in a 4 acre area.
Groups of more than 6 people but are a maximum of 10 people , pay Rs.4000 per extra person after 6 guests.
They have an additional access to the gatekeeper's cottage and surrounding area of another acre of garden area. In other words, the whole property.
PLEASE NOTE: Firefly is designed in Rustic Mediterranean style. Please do not expect a modern , glossy looking place. It is set in the midst of semi-wild nature, in rural Maharashtra. You can expect to see frogs, lots of birds , dogs, squirrels and a variety of beetles and insects. If that idea DOES NOT appeal to you. We would request you to not book.
Thank you.
