Holiday in Goa - what to do there?

cundall

you will love Goa!

Try and move away from your hotel as you are in North Goa which is expensive (still cheap) but South Goa is a lot better!

lucid-tentacles

Visit Hampi ( the train ride is a buzz) get your teeth fixed (gums lifted 20 crowns and 2 bridges for £1800 all fine and dandy 18 months on your eyesight tested and new bifocals which darken with the sun (i forget the official term). a complete and i mean complete medical check up (MOT) for between £50 - £100 i forget the priceUnfortunately even goa can't do anything for memory loss and eat at as many of the fine restaurants as you can. If in North Goa get a taxi to beaches such as Arambol, Mandrem Ashvem even little Vagator, watch premier league football and Champions League at 2 am.I'm off again this year this time for 10 weeks its cheaper to live there than here (I'm a landscape gardener so hell who wants to scrabble for work in the middle of winter).

whu

out of interest how long is the train ride to Hampi?

Any

Thank you everyone for your most interesting inputs.
To be honest, I just cannot wait to go, unfortunately I haven't had a chance to travel much in my life so far and I can't wait to see the different world cultures etc.. And I have never been on holiday for 2 weeks before!!! so we will only see how long I can do nothing but relax before I go crazy. That is one of the reasons I keep asking what people do while there:-)
Thank you once again.XXXXXXXXX

lucid-tentacles

whu wrote: »

out of interest how long is the train ride to Hampi?

About 6-8 hours

Pollycat

Any
We've been to North Goa (staying in Candolim) 8 times since 1994, the last time being February 2008.

I feel very safe walking about at night, even on my own.
You just need to be sure you don't leave your common sense at home, just be aware of your surroundings, keep your handabg safely tucked away etc etc.

The food is cheap (unless you want to live on king prawns and lobster) and good, it would be a shame for you not to venture outside your hotel.

I take mainly trousers for night to keep the mozzies at bay.
As for covering up, with the many Russians/Eastern Europeans that have made North Goa their party place, you'll see a lot of skimpily dressed ladies.
This includes topless women wearing tiny thongs on the beach (to be honest, I wish they really would enforce the 'no topless bathing' law).

As well as TripAdvisor, try here for more information, there's a dedicated Goa forum.

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/index.php

From what I've read, submitting your visa application can be a bit of a headache.
I'm pretty sure that the whole application process has been outsourced so you can't apply to HCI London or CGI Birmingham or Edinburgh any more. I've not applied for a visa since the changes so I can't comment but I do know that the subject has been discussed widely on both TA & HT.

The phrase I've heard most from first-time visitors is 'CULTURE SHOCK'.
You will encounter beggars and experience hassle from beach sellers, some shop owners, people giving massages on the beach and taxi drivers, it helps to smile.
Never, EVER say to these people:
later
tomorrow
maybe
perhaps
Anything other than a straight 'No, thank you' is taken as a 'Yes, I will buy something from you' - and they NEVER forget.

You'll see sights (and smell things) you never have before - it will depend on your attitude whether you enjoy your holiday or not.

As lucid tentacles says, the trip to Hampi is great but as you're a first time visitor going to 2 weeks, I'd not consider doing it - it's a 3 day/2 night trip and is very tiring. There's lots of other trips to do.
Here's a link to a tour company based in Calangute run by a Yorkshire couple:
http://www.daytrippergoa.com/index.html
It will give you an idea of what trips are available and prices.
We've used them once for the Mumbai trip.

I do hope you enjoy your holiday - be sure to take an open mind with you.

Any

Thank you very much Pollycat.
I will check out the links you've recommended. I am now logged every day on trip advisor and I keep cut&pasting interesting information into another Word document. I start thinking that 2 weeks won't be enough!:-))

Pollycat

Any
I meant to mention the red dust.
It's at the side of the road and seems to get ground into your clothes and footwear - and is an absolute nightmare to get out, especially from white clothing.
So, I don't wear full length trousers, just crops.
Don't take any footwear that you can't scrub.
I'd leave the killer heels at home, the roads are not that great and there's no pavements to speak of.

Take a torch, some of the hotels are down side roads with minimal lighting.

Shopping is great: fake designer bags, pashminas, sparkly toe-post sandals, fabulous gold jewellery that you can have made to your own design (do your homework if you're planning to buy gemstones), lovely silver jewellery.

You're right - 2 weeks will not be long enough.

walks

:j
Hi Any,
I would really advise you to go on holidaytruths .com I am sad i know but i read it everyday about Goa this will be my 4th time at xmas then i am going again at Easter,but the info i get from there is just fantasic its like talking to youe mates because you get to know them that well. Thats by asking diff questions and there will be everyone trying to answer you back I think the first lot of People flew out this wk end so for the latest news is the time to start logging on now as i say i go on a least once a day for info.

hope this is of some help like you i am not very technical and dont no much about searches and such like but i was shown how to use the HT site and its brill

Have agreat holiday

Pip

novelli

you will have a fab time as long as you are open minded and respectful of the culture.

Lovely people, and a lovely place to relax.

Plenty of ATMS in Candolim and calangute.

mind the cows and elephants wondering around the town and beach!!:beer: