[unoczar]

I'm planning a budget trip to goa in the last week of december + first week of jan. Booked train tickets. Its not actually a vacation, but kind of.

Well, you'll know when i write in T-logs.

Total budget might come around to 10k for 10 days plus 2 days traveling (includes everything!)

[krish_go]

Another Best option for good stay in Goa- Ginger hotels. Book in advance and its very good and in Heart of city.
Park your car there, hire a bike and Goa is all yours.
http://www.gingerhotels.com/HotelSea...s/Default.aspx
Please do your booking always through Ginger Helpline (call center) and never through email.
I have once tried through email and got a reply "sorry all booked" the same day when called the ginger helpline, rooms were still available and they confirmed my booking.

[subs]

Guys

Has anybody details of beach resorts in South Goa i.e. palolem, mashen etc., I am looking for a 2 days holiday with family during mid November. Any suggestions welcome.

Cheers
Subs

[rock75]

It reminds me of our Goa trip three almost four years back! As it was our first trip to goa and didn't know anyone who's been there recently, I did a lot of search on internet and chalked out the schedule.We wanted to cover both north and south therefore stayed at calangute for two days, miramar at one day and colva for two days. My observations are quite like the thread starter's.

1. For first timers North goa is the best. Period. If you are going near high season, as we did, you will find a party like atmosphere. Calangute is not called the queen of beaches for nothing. This is the best bet in north goa if you want to be near the action. We stayed in Chalston which is right on the beach just around 5 mins walk from main entry to calngute beach, so a little away from the mad rush as well as near enough to join the action in the evening.You'll find watersport activity in this beach,and a lot of shacks to eat and drink.
2.Baga is also crowded and happening, mind you it is hardly a few km from calngute so you can stay at either places. We went by bus and walked down from baga to calangute via beach!
Anjuna ,vagator are so called 'foreigner beach' as reported by a local. Hell I could even see what he means in baga on a beach bed at a shack!

3. You can skip staying at panji or miramar (we stayed at GTDC hotel miramar residency) Just visit for boat ride on mandovi in the evening, it is worth it for first timers. You can also roam around in the market, buy cashew or feni.Miramar beach, if you can call it like that, is a waste.

4. Colva is the Calangute of south. Though much less crowded than Calngute it is still having more activity than other south beaches and you can find more budget options and a few shacks on the beach for food. The beach here has whitish sand.

5. My take after this trip is that stay in north goa and visit south goa on a tourist bus ride which is an everyday affair. Enjoy the beaches and stay in a hotel near them; go there early in the morning,after breakfast, in afternoon, evening, lol, maybe after dinner too.

If you are not going in peak season,i.e., 25th Dec to 1st Jan. you need not do advance booking. There are plenty of decent and clean budget accomodation at walking distance from beaches atleast on popular beaches. Even GTDC hotels are good and well priced. Best season is anything except the summer and monsoons.

[JVH]

Last week, we stayed at this place which is located between Candolim and Calangute for 3 nights and 4 days.

Goa Holiday home

It is a lush green holiday home and very well maintained. Don't go by the website which is outdated.

Highly recommended.

Inspite of the generous time we had, couldn't visit South Goa. We parked the car inside the house and rented a bike for Rs.200/day and freaked out like there is no tomorrow. Really enjoyed the rides and must say an awesome weather welcomed us. Have to say, this is the first time I experienced such a beautiful weather there.

Will look forward to next year and will try to make it South.


Edit - Forgot to mention the most exquisite Tiger prawns we ever tasted. Out of the world right next to our place :-)

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by unoczar

I'm planning a budget trip to goa in the last week of december + first week of jan. Booked train tickets. Its not actually a vacation, but kind of.

Well, you'll know when i write in T-logs.

Total budget might come around to 10k for 10 days plus 2 days traveling (includes everything!)

Is that cost for one person? If yes, then you can barely manage as room tarrifs hit the roof during that period

Simple example: A Rs.700/day room tarrif during offseason will command a price of minimum Rs.3000/day during Dec 24-Jan 3rd.

Hope you have done your hotel bookings. If not, then be prepared to pay exorbitant prices for below average hotel rooms.

[unoczar]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Is that cost for one person? If yes, then you can barely manage as room tarrifs hit the roof during that period

Simple example: A Rs.700/day room tarrif during offseason will command a price of minimum Rs.3000/day during Dec 24-Jan 3rd.

Hope you have done your hotel bookings. If not, then be prepared to pay exorbitant prices for below average hotel rooms.

Whew! finally somebody noticed!

Well, avi bhai, its the budget for a couple. Surprised?! hehe, its a different sort of vacation, as we are never into partying and not at all for new years.

Its something else, and no, i'm not going to reveal just yet.
All da best for your 13th meet.

[Ranga]

South Goa beaches now do have all water sports . Suggest Utroda beach on the back of Royal Orchid Hotel .

All Water sports are available , less crowded , best beach in town . More in my Travelog of my recent visit to Goa ( South & North Goa )

[New.Novice]

The OP's post on this thread is of very high quality. Helped me get a lot of answers for my maiden Goa trip that I will either take in Jan'12 or Sep/Oct 11. Why so early? well, I want to ensure I get cheapest air fare and hence planning so much in advance.

I am sure there are people here who have either been to Goa very recently or during the period I am planning to go. Can you please help me get answers to following questions.

1. Is it okay to visit Goa in last week of September? Got two kids (2 and 5) and am sure for them holidaying does not mean being inside the hotel room while rain outside washes away all fun. Also, would fun activities like Jet Skies and Banana boat ride etc. would even be available in September?

2. If you recommend we take it a week or two forward to October. Would there be a huge difference in hotel tariffs?

3. It sure seems that North Goa would be a better place both by cost as well as by fun quotient. Is that assessment correct still or South Goa has opened up as well on both these parameters for someone who wants a maximum 3500 INR room per night? +/- 500?

4. I am planning to take a flight one way and train from other to catch scenic train views people have recommended. Does Trvndrum Rajdhani take that Konkan rail route to Madgon? If not, is there any other train from Delhi which take that route?

5. Is 3 days stay sufficient? reaching Madgon 5:30 PM by train and taking a 4 PM flight on 4th day of arrival.

6. Would be great if you can tell us a hotel which offers sea view from balcony in our budget, beach in itself could be a few minutes walk.

7. Given we have two kids, we cant take a bike/scooter on rent, can we?

8. Since we have practically only two clean days (given we indeed take a 3 night stay), which places you suggest we strictly visit and what we can ignore. Honestly, it is going to be a fun visit so we are not too keen of old architecture and places of historical importance.

Thanks in advance to all of those how come to my rescue.

PS – I may add more questions if there is a need

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by New.Novice

The OP's post on this thread is of very high quality. Helped me get a lot of answers for my maiden Goa trip that I will either take in Jan'12 or Sep/Oct 11. Why so early? well, I want to ensure I get cheapest air fare and hence planning so much in advance.

I am sure there are people here who have either been to Goa very recently or during the period I am planning to go. Can you please help me get answers to following questions.

Here my inputs point-wise :-

1. August to Oct would be quite heavy rains in Goa. If your lucky, it will just drizzle the days your there. If unlucky, it can be pouring cats and dogs and you will not even be able to get out of the hotel. Your plan in Jan'12 seems fine for a nice holiday. Though, i personally love goa during monsoons.

2. No difference in tarrifs until end of November which is un-season for them.

3 NG is a fun and party place with full of night life. SG is a place for peace and proper relaxation by the beach. Take your pick!

4. No idea about the train route. But, by logic it should go via the konkan route to enter Goa state

5. Since your coming all the way from Delhi. I would recommend minimum 5 nights

6. Plenty of them in that budget which is high for offseason and probably low for season ( Dec 1st to Jan 5th). Just check the hotels on Makemytrip or Cleartrip

7. Ofcourse, you can take an Activa on rent and go about the state. Rs.300 during offseason and Rs.500 during season/day excluding petrol cost. However, a two wheeler with 2 kids is not recommended. Its ok for closer destination sightseeing but, if you want to travel from North to South Goa which is 40kms away, its not really safe. Hire a 4-wheeler during that day which comes for Rs.1000/day

8. In Old Goa, Basilica of Bom Jesus and Mangeshi Temple can be the only two archetictural places you can visit though you seem against it. My recommendation is start from north tip (Vagator beach) and go up to Palolem beach in south. You can easily cover 2-3 beaches a day.

The best beaches being Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Colva, Palolem.

Cheers and hope that helps!

[mayankjha1806]

Nice thread, very useful for me. We are planning Goa trip post Leh in July. Is Aug/Sept a good time to be in Goa?

[New.Novice]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Here my inputs point-wise :-



Cheers and hope that helps!

That certainly does. Thanks a lot. I think I was being over enthusiastic, should stick to January 12 plans or probably look for November middle.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by New.Novice

The OP's post on this thread is of very high quality. Helped me get a lot of answers for my maiden Goa trip that I will either take in Jan'12 or Sep/Oct 11. Why so early? well, I want to ensure I get cheapest air fare and hence planning so much in advance.

I am sure there are people here who have either been to Goa very recently or during the period I am planning to go. Can you please help me get answers to following questions.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Here my inputs point-wise :-

1. August to Oct would be quite heavy rains in Goa. If your lucky, it will just drizzle the days your there. If unlucky, it can be pouring cats and dogs and you will not even be able to get out of the hotel. Your plan in Jan'12 seems fine for a nice holiday. Though, i personally love goa during monsoons.

Cheers and hope that helps!

To add to what Mobike has written

a) The sea in Sept will still be rough. You can not enter the sea for swim. You can only wet your feet. The sea will be good for swimming only in the second half of Oct. The sand pattern under water will be very uneven and hence dangerous to walkdeeper in the sea. Most of drowning happens during Sept. It may not rain heavily in Sep but can not rule out some spells.

b) The tourist season in Goa starts 01 Oct and rates get revised on 01 Oct. But generally, hotels give you old rates till 15 Oct which you can negotiate. On an average the hotel cost go up by 20-25% each year. I would recommend that you plan the trip in second week of Oct, say around 10th to get the benefits of rate as well as weather.

c) As Mobike clearly said, NG is party place and SG is peaceful. That does not mean you can not have peaceful time in NG as well. NG has more options to stay in budget category compared to SG.

d) Yes. Trivandrum Rajdhani does come on Konkan railway. I Would highly recommend you to fly from Delhi as it is cheaper and save time.

e) Since you are travelling all the way from delhi, suggest three full days apart from Arrival and departure days.

f) Take a look at this cute hotel "Cavala" in Baga. Book sea view room. The tarriff is not high.
cavala

g) With two Kids, bikes are No-No. Hire a cab. Do sight seeing in one day - Old goa, Panjim, Dona Paula, Santa Maria cruise, shanta durga temple and Aguada and beach hopping on other day where in you can start from Harambol - Vagator - Baga - Calangute - Anjuna - Colva - Benaulim - Varca - Cavalossim. Ideally if you are staying in NG, i would recommend you to visit - Colva, Varca - Cavalossim beaches. Have lunch/cofee in Leela just to enjoy the beauty of hotel. Keep the third day just to laze around.

h) If you are a sea food lover dont miss eating best sea food in Ritz Classic in Panjim and Mum's Kitchen close to Miramar beach!!
If you are foddie, take a look at this link
travel.outlookindia.com | Home Fires

[mac187]

At the risk of sounding like a Great Gambler, For Zara Hatke experience, I would recommend Casino Royale in Panaji. Entry is Rs.2000 per person, includes beverages, food and entertainment (song and dance). Its open for 24hrs a day, your entry ticket is valid for 12hr only.

You have to pay for entry at the shore and a speed boat takes you to the anchored ship off river Mandovi. There is no fixed time for this, the boats make round trips as per requirement of customers. First floor is casino floor, entertainment and food is on the second floor. There is a card room for the poker faces, I mean players. Although the ship is huge, I guess more than half of it is VVIP area and rooms. Deck area is prohibited to avoid the wannabe Jacks and Roses!

Non-alcoholic beverages like fruit juices, breezers, energy drinks etc. Best part is you can make cocktails with your own selection of juices. If you are on the table (playing) then a waiter takes your order and gets it to the table. Else you have to walk up to the counter.

Entertainment is your usual song and dance routine by a supposedly Russian dancer (I would never play roulette with her!). You can come here to relax from all the permutation and combination your mind would be doing.

Food is your standard buffet, the spread is good. Can't comment on the taste, as I had one to many drinks!

The casino floor is crowded with tables, On the casino floor there is
1. Slots - best avoided
2. Black Jack - if you are smart!
3. Money Wheel - for the lazy, timepass types
4. Roulette - my personal favorite (tables vary with minimum bets of Rs.100 to Rs.1000)

Chips area avialable in demonimations starting from Rs.50 to Rs.10,000(?)

All in all, its a different experience, if you have around 4k to blow my guess is you can last 12hrs (with winnings). If you are lucky, you will come back with some money in hand.

www.casinoroyalegoa.com

There are other water based casinos (Kings Casino) and land based casinos where entry fee is lesser.

Note: I do not work for this place! I work in an IT company
These are my personal views, anyone who ends up losing money cannot blame me. Anyone who wins is obliged to take me out for a drink atleast!


Team-BHP Support: Discussion of alcohol is NOT permitted on Team-BHP. Please read rules before proceeding. I edited your post to adhere to our rules. Thanks for your cooperation.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by Fauji

To add to what Mobike has written

b) The tourist season in Goa starts 01 Oct and rates get revised on 01 Oct. But generally, hotels give you old rates till 15 Oct which you can negotiate. On an average the hotel cost go up by 20-25% each year. I would recommend that you plan the trip in second week of Oct, say around 10th to get the benefits of rate as well as weather.

f) Take a look at this cute hotel "Cavala" in Baga. Book sea view room. The tarriff is not high.
cavala

g) With two Kids, bikes are No-No. Hire a cab. Do sight seeing in one day - Old goa, Panjim, Dona Paula, Santa Maria cruise, shanta durga temple and Aguada and beach hopping on other day where in you can start from Harambol - Vagator - Baga - Calangute - Anjuna - Colva - Benaulim - Varca - Cavalossim. Ideally if you are staying in NG, i would recommend you to visit - Colva, Varca - Cavalossim beaches. Have lunch/cofee in Leela just to enjoy the beauty of hotel. Keep the third day just to laze around.

h) If you are a sea food lover dont miss eating best sea food in Ritz Classic in Panjim and Mum's Kitchen close to Miramar beach!!
If you are foddie, take a look at this link
travel.outlookindia.com | Home Fires

1. Yeah, the tarrifs change in October until Dec 1st. But, the tarrifs dont change that much. I was able to get a Rs.1000/night room in August and also end of october in North Goa. The actual hike starts from Dec 1st till Jan 5th where the same room goes for 3-5 times its price.

2. Cavala is a nice place. Its also popular for the club atmosphere in the night and I visit them whenever i am there. Also, Brittos is a stone throw's away

3. Another cheaper option is there is a NG and SG day trip in bus. The tarrif is approx Rs.200/person and they cover all important beaches. Only drawback is they stop for 1 hour at each place and you cannot stay back even if you wish too. Probably, you can do this trip and next day visit the beaches which you like the best

4. Additional to that list, Martin's Corner near Colva is also a great place for seafood lovers. Sachin Tendulkar goes there regularly. Also, Brittos is a MUST visit in Baga and the popular breakfast joint (forgetting name of restuarant) on the Baga lane is also a MUST for a lovely continental breakfast experience. Also, Chilly's at Fort Aguada is a great place for a nice evening out and good food.