Finally I visited Goa...it is like a pilgrimage compulsory for the youth. If you had been on a holiday in India and not been to Goa..well you have not had a real holiday at all! The relax and joyful environment that you get there is unmatched. Its just in the air..you feel as if you are in a different country...(not to be taken otherwise..India is a beautiful country but the environment in Goa is altogether different).
My Goa trip was a mix of traveling and holidaying. But 4 days seemed too less. And I learned a lot about how could have I made better of these four days. So i am sharing some simple plan and some learning for my and your next trip to Goa. Remember, No one can visit Goa only once...and if you have not visited it again..you have not really got the feel of Goa....it just can't be.
North vs South Goa : well it's not that great of a confusion. North is full of crowd , always in a festival mode. If you want to stay on a calm beach, why would you visit Goa, you can go to Kerala as well. So to get the real spirit of Goa. I would recommend North Goa. If you have a plan for more than 4 days. Then may be you can take a car or taxi and go to Palolem beach.
In North Goa, Candolim and Calangute are the most popular beaches. Anjuna is also good but i could not get time for that. Better stay nearby a beach to enjoy morning and night there. But remember, the whole of coastline is beach but the real fun area is the main designated beach site. So follow the road signs. Try to cover the whole beach , and not just a corner of it. Initially I made this mistake assuming the beach was the area near my hotel while just a few hundred meters away the scene was totally different. And every beach is different. Don't assume a beach is just a beach.
I was under the impression that morning and evening are the best time for the beach. In feb, when I visited, it was too hot in afternoon so i though of traveling instead of going to beach. And this turned out to be the most stupid decision and i wasted one day. Next day I accidentally visited the beach in afternoon and it was awesome. The cool breeze has made the sunshine's effect redundant. Beside, at Candolim beach, you get a bench for 200 Rs, you can bring your own food and drinks. Just lay down, get a massage, go for some water sport..have fun..you can spend whole afternoon on one beach.
The sunset is awesome at the Calangute beach. Try to be there between 6 to 7 pm . Water sports are available on all main beaches.
Aguada Fort is a must visit place. "Dil chahta hai" movie scenes were shot here. It's good place for photo-shoot. You can get cheap hats from here. Its hot there so be there at morning.
In South Goa, Palolem is the best beach. Colva, that is midway from north to south, is also a calm beach. Palolem is about 80 Km from Calangute and takes about 3 hours to get there. So you should start latest by 10 am so that you can have lunch at Palolem and come back by night.
Panjim is famous for casino and wine shop. I could not visit but next time I plan to.
Now some tips:
Time to visit: Between October and February. Try to be there at the time
of Carnival but make sure to have advance bookings in you are having a
family trip. For bachelors, there is ample space in Goa.
Booking: you can use websites www.booking.com and www.airbnb.com . It would be better to make a call to hotel/Guest house to inquire in detail.
For bachelors, Book a guest house, you will get a place to sleep but no room service. In about 1500rs you can get a decent guest house.
For family, if you are a honeymoon couple, or have kids with you, go to a resort. you will get in around 5-6k. Rates depends on location and season.
Food: Goa is a non-vegetarian state. Now a lot of vegetarian restaurant have come up. Specially south Indian ones. Vegetarians, Don't even think about vegetarian food from the beach shacks. Vegetarian is good only in proper restaurants on main part of beach or main road. In shacks, you will get smell of sea food in everything.
Traveling: Roads and traffic is good. You can easily get scooty or car. For car there are two types, private (illegal) renting with white plates and no bills. And yellow official rent a cab service. I took few numbers , try them. Make a call for proper details and do more google.
Private:http://gogoacarrentals.com/
Official: http://www.goa2u.com/carrental.htm
Mr. Dev: his number is 96 eight nine 58 04 three one. ( He is a chauffeur at a taxi service).
Caution: Be careful, In case of accident you might have to pay full damage. Clearly talk about terms and conditions before booking.
Airport drop: From Calangute, Its Rs 1300. Try to book self-driven car that you can drop at airport. From airport you get a taxi for 900 rs to Colungate but if you are booking a self driven car, it would be better to get it at airport or at least you will a pickup from airport in Rs 500 by that guy.
Airport: Reach at least two hour before flight time. Goa airport is too crowded and poorly managed. It will take at least an hour from Baggage screening to check-in to security check before you can finally go for boarding.
Dress: Its beach..so always have beachwear and swimwear when go to beach. Keep one extra if you get too wet and its not too hot to try soon. You can easily get cheap short pants (200-400Rs) and swim suits (200-600Rs) and t-shirts there. Take a cover/polythene for you phone, purse and camera.
Itinerary : Try to land before 2 PM. It takes 2 hours from Dabolim airport to reach Calangute/Candolim. If you come late, you will miss your evening and no point in paying for night stay only. And on west coast , its the sunset that's more beautiful. Best time to swim at beach is morning and afternoon.
Come at least for 4 nights. Stay near Calangute or Candolim beach. Calangute residency is right at the main beach area, its owned by Goa Tourism.
At least one day, spend whole day at one beach . Chill out.
Second Day: visit second beache. Go to carnival. Visit Agauda fort.
Third day: Rest of beaches.
Fourth day: Go to Palolem. keep whole day for it. You can go to casino while coming back but you might need to arrange for stay and travel accordingly.
Fifth day and so on: do whatever you like.
There is something for everyone in Goa. For tourists (specially foreigners), they come to chill out with cheap stay and cheep beer and ample sunlight. Spend whole day idling at beach.
For Family/couples, beautiful beaches, water-sports and carnivals.
For lone travelers, lonely beaches to stay in a lap of nature with serenity of the sea.
When I left Goa..the feeling was Go ..Goa..Gone!!!
