Goa is a famous tourism place & one of the few states in India which rely heavily on tourism. When corona has closed most of the international borders, people are stuck at home to find some alternative. Goa is one of the coolest & calmest states in India. Goa ticks all the boxes & thus
makes it the most favorable place to visit. Goa vibes can relieve one from all the stress & while in nature's abode one can enjoy some peaceful time. Goan style is famous for all the good reasons. Apart from its unique architecture, the most breathtaking part of this place is its beaches. Beaches are a synonym of Goa, at least in India.
99% of the crowd either from India or outside India, visits Goa only for its beautiful beaches. Goa has some of the best beaches in India. So, visiting them is a must for anyone. This blog post is to give you a glimpse of Goa & to get you excited about it. Read about a comprehensive Goa travel guide here.
How To Reach Goa:
Goa has an international airport which makes its connectivity easy. Goa international airport connects most of the major airports of India. One can book flights through the online portal to get some discounts & one of the best sites to book flights is Kayak, Skyscanner, etc.People looking to travel via trains can book trains through IRCTC (official train booking website). India's train connectivity is fabulous & one can easily find a train to Madgaon or Vasco Da Gama (two of the major railway stations in Goa).
Things To Do In Goa:
Goa has many options to explore. However, most of the people only travel to beaches which never disappoints.Beaches:
Goa is home to some of the best beaches in India. Most of the crowd heads to beaches like Baga & Calangute, these beaches are too crowded to the liking & also robs one from the best of Goa. Many first-timers visit only these beaches for the crowd & the famous toto lane. However, if one dares to cross these beaches, there are many more in the huts. Many other beaches, which will sweep one from its feet. Some of the great beaches which area are beautiful, pleasant, serine & amazing area Arambol, Morjim, Palolem, etc. So, before going to Goa, do take time to read the post on the best beaches in Goa. This will help you plan your trip in a better way.
Parties:
Another amazing part of the place is its parties, during its season, one will find the best places to party. There is no limit & one can enjoy it to the fullest. From sunset to sunrise, one or the other place will be throbbing with the young crowd dancing in loud music. This part of Goa is what attracts young couples & young people. North Goa is famous for its parties & thus most of the people only visit North Goa. One can check with locals during the season to find the best of the parties. Hilltop, Agoda are few places that host the best of parties.
Churches:
One can find the most beautiful Churches here & many people visit them. Many movies have captured the beauty of the Churches through their lenses. Some of the well-known churches are the Church of Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception, Church of St Cajetan, Chapel of St Xavier, etc. These are beautiful structures with a great backstory. So if anyone who is looking to visit some beautiful Churches can explore some of them.Forts:
The moment Dil Chahta Hai released, "Chapora Fort" took all the attention & is one of top reasons to visit Goa. After this film, many people learned about Goa & started visiting forts. Chapora is one such example, although there are many such places in Goa. Some of the best forts to visit are Sinquerim Fort, Aguada Fort, Corjuem Fort, etc.
Best Time To Visit Goa:
Without any doubt, the best time to visit Goa is from Nov to Feb. The temperature is pleasant & all the best places are open. Though too much rush may be uneasy for some. All the good beaches are crowded & the prices of everything is tripled from the off-season. However, during the off-season, the beaches are free from people, less crowded & no rush in best properties. The only drawback is climate. During the off-season, the place is humid & hot. Yet, the beauty remains intact. So, based on the travel itch one can plan the visit to this beautiful state.How Costly Is Goa:
The cost in Goa will largely depend on which season are you planning to visit the place. During the offseason, the cost of things is pretty dearer compared to the season. The season is from Oct to Feb when the climate is best to visit. Advising on the cost will be tricky in the tourist place. The average cost of a meal will cost around 500 -600 for two persons. Further, the internal mode of transport is pretty ineffective in Goa. The only way to travel is through cabs & these cabs are costly. However lately a cab booking app "GoaMiles". It is the most effective place to book a cab. The stay will be most costly during season time. During this time, the cost of a night on the beach will cost around 3000 per night. While the same will cost around 1000 during the offseason. To make the calculation simple, the cost of utilities will be 3 times that during the off-season.Is Goa Safe To Travel Solo:
Goa is safe to travel solo. Though, like any place in India, girls will find it difficult to travel solo. The people are helpful & they will go to any extent to help you. Yet, certain elements will be looking to take advantage of one. So, one should be aware of its surroundings & make sure nobody make out of fool of them. Still, all is not bleak, many people have traveled safely & made lots of memories. Just make sure one is aware of the surroundings so that one can enjoy this beautiful place.Handy Resources:
Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.Club Mahindra: Club Mahindra Varca property is one of the club mahindra properties to stay. A private beach is waiting for you here. You can use my code "2860606" in the member ID for offers.
Amazon: I am a member of Amazon affiliate programme. Amazon is probably the biggest market place there is. Buy your trip essential from this link
Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.
Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.
Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.
Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.
Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.
Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.
A trip is incomplete without the pics.Buy an iphone to click some breath taking pics. Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click high definition photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.
So, these are my trip essentials.