Vacation Calling!!!
Goa is undoubtedly one of the best vacation destinations in India. It has been everyone’s favorite for ages especially when its a beach vacay time. So here are a few tips to plan your next Goa trip.
Commute/Travel
So for planning any trip first thing is to get your gang ready and of course choosing a perfect destination. By choosing Goa you are already halfway to your perfect plan. Now if you have your friends/family/partner ready, it is just the perfect beginning.
It is important to choose a suitable mode of commute as early as possible. It helps you book your flights/train tickets at a reasonable cost. Of course you need to be sure with the dates before getting your booking done. And yes if you are planning to drive all the way to Goa with your own vehicle, that is just another best way and you need not even worry about travelling within the city if you are already taking your vehicle from your city.
Now for those travelling without their own vehicle, getting to your hotel from airport or train station can be quite a task because you have your luggage with you as well. If you can really afford a cab, just for this drop from airport/train station to your hotel then go for the Goa Miles app – https://www.goamiles.com/. Believe me this app is very convenient for a one time drop to your stay, it is a prepaid service and it let’s you add just the right amount into the app wallet from any UPI wallet or online payment source.
The local cabs or private transport will definitely charge you more than this.
Also, another way is by taking the public transport but that can be a hassle because the buses are not very well connected.
You may have to switch between the buses and need a bit of research on that.
Here are a few articles for reference –
https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/KTCLRouteTime.pdf
https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Operational-Plan-For-Transporation-Of-Government-Servents-Kadamba-Transport-Corporation-Limited.pdf
Another option is to rent a bike/car right from the train station/airport but make sure you bargain because the rentals at the airport/train station are usually more than what you find in the city.
Travelling within the place if you haven’t got your personal vehicle is not a problem, because you can easily find bike/car rentals and can roam around as per your convenience. Make sure you get rentals from a authorized and trusted shop to avoid any issues at the time of returning the vehicle.
Goan Food
You will find plenty of food options here, there are so many restaurants for every budget in both North and South. If you are a non vegetarian, then there is even more variety of food be it fish, chicken etc. Do check the google reviews before going to any resto so that you choose the best for yourself. Also, for vegetarians there are good food options. There are also a plenty of street food options here.
Hotels & Stays
Be it North or South, there are again a lot of options when it comes to stay, be it luxurious stays or budget hostels. You can book any of them from online websites like MMT, GoIbibo, Agoda etc. Offline booking especially during holiday season is not recommended as there may be no rooms available and it would be a struggle to find rooms at your favorite locations. Preferably, if you can book a hotel/stay near beach it would be the best as it gives you more leisure time to spend on the beach without any transport required. Because the parking at the beaches nowadays can be really annoying.
Goa’s Sightseeing
North or South, both offer a varied range of sightseeing places. Be it beaches, forts, museums, churches, temples, islands, wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls etc. Make sure you create your day wise itinerary that cover the nearby places at a stretch as per your interest.
There is also a newly introduced bus service for sightseeing that covers the major attractions, you can find more details on their website – https://hoponhopoffgoa.com/
Majorly, you can cover North Goa in 2-3 days approx. again that depends on the places you have chosen for sightseeing. For South, you need another 2-3 days. Again this depends on the places you have chosen to visit and also the time spent at each place.
Also tourists can opt for dinner cruises and casinos in the evening to enjoy the nightlife.
If you are looking for peaceful beaches at the North, there is a long list – Arambol, Morjim, Mandrem, Ashvem etc. They are not only quiet but also clean and can help you for a relaxing trip. But if you are looking for a party atmosphere and nightlife like most of the people do, you should visit Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna etc. The vibe of these places is awesome.
When it comes to sightseeing in North, the names like Chapora fort, Bascilla of Bom Jesus church, Reis Magos fort, Shree Mangesh temple etc. are the favorites. While there are some new attractions which are also quite popular these days like the Divar/Chorao islands, Parra road etc. You may find many influencer reels for them on Instagram.
In South, the most popular beaches are Palolem, Patnem, Agonda etc. But nowadays we have more names to the list – Rajbagh, Cola, Varca, Cabo de Rama etc.
One popular tourist destination in the state is the Dudhsagar waterfalls, one can plan a day trip to this place when here, but also make sure you plan one day extra if you want to cover this.
Also you will find popular wildlife sanctuaries like Netravali wildlife sanctuary here. Tourists who love to spend time in nature love to visit here.
Clothing
Goa can be hot and humid for most of the times in the year, so light clothing is recommended. Also beach clothes and footwear are a must have while travelling here. Easy to dry clothes are the best thing for your beach vacation. But if you are planning to visit around December/January, it can get cold and you may need to carry some warm clothes as well.
Shopping
There are a lot of shopping options here be it fashion wear and accessories or spices and condiments. When it comes to fashion you will find a lot of beach wear options, for men you will find beach shirts, shorts etc. Similarly for women you will find beach dresses, shorts, crochet tops etc. Also you can buy spices, tea and other stuff to take it back home, but make sure you check the quality and authenticity of these products before buying them.
Other activities/water sports
You will find a lot of options for water sports like banana ride, jet ski, parasailing etc. at the famous beaches like Baga, Anjuna etc. here. Make sure you check all details like ride time, number of rides in the package before booking it.
Kayaking at Cola beach in South Goa is also very popular these days.
For casinos and dinner cruises also you will find a lot of packages in Panjim, if interested make sure to book from a trusted source for these. You can also enquire at your hotel/stay about these. They may provide you offers while booking.
Yup that is what we have for you. Do let us know in comments if we can add anything more. Also you can share your personal tips in the comments. Happy Travelling Everyone!!!