Splendid Goa – The Sights & Sounds. Review on Goa

If you are planning to visit Goa for the first time, you must be a little puzzled about which airlines to pick, where to stay, which places to visit and how to impress your partner by planning a ‘perfect’ trip! Okay, let me see if my recent experiences are of any use to all you prospective Goa visitors.

How to reachGoa: Plain and simple – by air. Do not waste precious time trying out the trains or buses, unless you are of the ultra adventurous kind. The same applies for returning from Goa. You may save some moolah by opting for trains, but you may end up ruining your mood if they run late. Moreover, the abysmal food packets served in most of the trains would probably be rejected even by hapless flood victims! As far as the airlines are concerned, you do have a great choice today. If there are two flights to Goa by the same airline on the same day, try to book a seat in the first flight – it will be on time. The second flight is more likely to get delayed – don’t ask me why…I may say practical experience. Also it is not necessary to book the same airlines for connecting flights. You may very well fly from New Delhi to Mumbai by Jet / Sahara / Indian/Deccan/Spice and then choose Kingfisher/Go Air for Mumbai-Goa. Hunt for the best prices.

Where to stay: Now please understand this clearly. Goa is no Manali, Mussourie or Dalhousie where honeymooning couples may snuggle up in comfy blankets and spend three day/nights coochie-cooing sweet nothings in each other’s ears. Goa is a sun n’ surf extravaganza - with all those D’Souzas and Anthony Briganzas!! You have to immerse yourself in the soul of Goa to be able to imbibe its natural beauty. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to opt for fanciful beach side resorts having no means of public transport where you would be virtually imprisoned and at the mercy of private cab owners. You will be bored to death seeing the same beach over and over again for 3 days & nights. The same applies for all those 5 star properties situated far off from Panjim. Panjim is Goa’s heart and soul. You will simply miss out on a precious and heart warming experience if you are not able to spend some quality time in Panjim. Advice: STAY IN PANJIM. There are a number of excellent 3 or 4 star hotels and restaurents in Panjim, information on which is available on the internet. Everything is accessible from Panjim. Taxis, cabs, bikes, boat cruises, cashewnuts, beaches, butter chicken, vindaloo, cakes & pastries, casinos, crabs – ask for it and you will get that in Panjim. The most happening beaches – Dona Paola, Calungute (with Tito’s Bar & discotheque) and Baga (with all those wonderful water sports) are not that far from Panjim. Search the Municipal Market for fab discounts. Prowl the 18th June Market for some decent shopping. Roam the beaches in the day, shop and dine in the evening, enjoy a movie at the INOX until late in the night and then return conveniently to your Panjim hotel for some refreshing sleep (or otherwise). Now can you even think of doing so many exciting things if you are, say, tucked 40 kms away on a forlorn beach having no means of transport! However, if you have made up your mind to stay in a 5 star resort, it is up to you!

Where to eat: Take your breakfast wherever you are staying. Fill yourselves up in the morning and fly out only to come back at night after a day of total masti. If you a diehard ‘punjabitarian’, then Sher-e-Punjab at Panjim’s the place for you. I mean, where else can you lay your hands on that delectable, creamy butter chicken for just 98 bucks! Or that spicy and yummy paneer peshawari, or the melt-in-your-mouth gulab jamun with rabri etc. etc. However, if you wish to attack authentic goan cuisine/seafood, try Britto’s (at Baga), Ritz Classic (Panjim) or Tito’s (at Calungute). Do not be put off by the prices, they are slightly on the stiffer side (since they are generously patronized by foreigners of all shades & hues – all of whom wine, dine & wash their spines at Baga). Don’t forget to visit Mr. Bakers in Panjim. You will find a sweet elderly lady there who bakes a variety of delightful pastries, pies, donuts and biscuits, all by herself.

Which places to visit: This is the trickiest part. Mark my words – you will be able to cover most of the important tourist places in Goa ONLY if you stay in Panjim. This will free up precious hours which you will otherwise have to reserve for visiting Panjim. If you have full three days – plan it like this (in any order). Day 1 – Dona Paula (with water scooters), Miramar, Mangeshi temple (avoidable if you do not have a religious inclination), Old Goa Church, Museum, Panjim Church, Sunset cruise on Mandovi river and Panjim city (night). Day 2 – Fort Aguada, North Goa beaches – Calungute, Baga (may take a shallow bath at the beach), Vagator, Anjuna, Chapora fort etc. Return to Calungute in the evening for having a ball at Tito’s. Day 3 –South Goa beaches (Majorda, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Palolem etc), Margao, and if time permits, Vasco da gama. You may reserve all the three evenings for exploring Panjim. You may hop to the casino at Vanquerim Valley in Dona Paola (free entry) or the Caravella (entry Rs. 500) but keep a strict eye on how much you lose. If you are visiting Goa in the off season, you may not be able to take those fabulous dolphin cruises or paragliding sessions, which are available only from Oct – March.

And Finally, Some Useful Tips: Try to reserve your hotel by contacting the hotel directly. You may end up getting a better discount. But if you ‘don’t want no botheration’ seek an online travel agent’s help. While selecting a package, do not opt for an all meals plan – unless of course you intend go out after breakfast only to return to your hotel everyday at noon, have your lunch, then go back to the beach or elsewhere, and then come back to the hotel for dinner. This is simply not practical. Instead take the CP (breakfast only) plan. You will have enough good places to eat wherever you go in Goa. Try to go in a group (2 or 3 couples). If you are traveling alone or with your partner only, try to team up with other couples in the same hotel who have checked in the same day as yours. It is always great to have company – the feeling of camaraderie is quite infectious…trust me. And you get to share your cab tariffs so very conveniently. Plan your trip one day in advance and start really early in the day. Try to hire a taxi driven by a native Goanese. They are generally jovial, helpful, accommodating and love to entertain tourists. And finally, do not forget four things – your swimming costume, mosquito repellant, your driving license and your credit card! Enjoy.

Thanks for reading my review. Please rate this review and recommend it to others if you have found it to be useful.