Goa and changing money anyone help?

mystic_trev

novelli wrote:

how likely is it that i will get stopped if i bring in mor that 200 fags?? need to stock up?? and what happens if i do get caught??
should i put them in suitcase or hand luggage??

They escort you to a small room and then put on rubber gloves!

cundall

No it's where you land, IE manchester / london that will check you. First time is normally a warning though if you abuse it then you will have to pay the duty and vat on it or leave it. Just dont walk through customs with a big bright yellow duty free bag! Dont abuse it as they will take it all, if you buy them at goa duty free then it can only go in your hand luggage as you would have checked in your luggage all ready.

I dont think i abuse it, i normally take 2l of vodka (1 allowed) and fags about 400 (200 allowed) so i should hopefully be let off, though if the duty was lower in the uk there would be no need to have duty free!

Just take what you want to and know the risks as you can loose it all!

billlew

We usually stop in the Calungute/Baga area.
Money changing, as we stop in North Goa, we take a hundred in sterling then use our normal bank/cash card in the ATM machines in the calungute area. We always use a taxi for the transfer, less hassle, quicker and only 600 rupees to Baga.
The following is what I jotted down for some friends who went for the first time last year.
Goa is 5hrs 30mins ahead of GMT.
Don’t book Transfers with holiday company, its cheaper getting a taxi to & from the airport. Reliable Taxi Driver Sebi 00 91 9850463710 it’s a mobile so you can text.
If you get flight only, Sebi can arrange accommodation. You can get A/C hotels for around £18/£20 per night.
If you’re bringing duty frees into Goa, put them INSIDE your hand baggage, their customs are keen. Be firm with the little men in brown suits (porters) say NO NO NO. Good day trips are the Dudsaghar Falls. Go early, take swimming gear, bananas & peanuts For the monkeys.. Can combine with Spice Plantation. Old Goa for churches & Temples.
Markets!! Anjuna Flea Market Wednesdays, Boat trip from Pedro at Boscos Beach shack is a good way to experience it. Saturday night Bazaar has a good atmosphere. Mapusa Market Fridays. You have to Barter, never pay more than a third of their opening price & let them name a price first. Sarongs are generally 50 rupees but they’ll try for 500.
Our Favourites in Baga
Beach Shack Boscos, Ask for Sunni or Alex, both good friends give our regards. Sunni hires his bike/scooter out for 150 rupees a day.
Chinese Restaurant Kim Faa
Indian Restaurant Indian Impact
English Breakfast Bernards Place
Italian Restaurant Little Italy
Chill Out for watching the world go by. Pintos General Store
Fruit Lady Green shirt, red baseball cap. Names Subhita, always fair & cheeky with it.

I hope this helps. If you want to Talk (can you send emails via this site?) contact me.

chudies

take a conversion plug
and also a 1 to 4 multi plug set, that way you get 4 plus sockets out of the use of on

fags you can buy for 50-80 ruprees (the western ones, e.g. malboro lights etc) just get the "pawn waller" at the end of the street to sort you out, give the bell boy 20 ruprees and explain to him what you want, and he will happily translate

just to give you an idea of monies, a driver gets 1200 ruprees a month
a meal can be from anything 50-400 ruprees

no one tip, HAGGLE!!!! its expected
just walk away if you want it, and they will still follow you....dropping the price every 5 steps or so!

buy foreign booze and its expensive
buy local and its cheap! not too bad either

excursions will rip you off, but its still cheaper by UK standards!

hair dressers etc, they have a foriegn price, but its still cheap

dont give anyone the "thumbs up", some parts of india regard it as abuse, especially if you are swivling the thumb at the time!

on that note, thumbs up is the local coca cola, just as good, but they have the "real" stuff too

take sterling, easy to change, and at good rates
also trav cheques

unless you are spender, dont bother taking too much dosh with yourself

take valium! it will help with the taxi journeys, though goa i hear is chilled out

you can get internet access for about £1 an hour

if you want some more, please let me know, been to india plenty of times, not to goa mind you

have a safe trip
i assume you are upto date on your jabs
but take out private med insurance, well worth it
dont drink the local water, buy bottles, like frizzy stuff
wouldnt risk the mineral water unless they open it in front of you, in fact insist they do, they will know why you are asking and not offended
i stuck to hot drinks or frizzy

stellagypsy

Drink lots of Limca - a sharp lemon drink which rehydrates you (tip from Indian friend - it works)

If you take ill, the doctor is only about 50 rupees, medicines are even less,. Do not suffer, get the doctor - most hotels will have a doctor who will visit.

Lovely beaches but at Cavelossim there were lots of crabs on the beach and also the beach women who sell goods are VERY persistent.I know they are only earning a living but they really annoyed me to the point where I refused to go to the beach any more.

Re customs - at Dabolim airport they were very dilligent in searching EVERYONE - they even had a women only frisking booth) and we were all searched 3 times before being allowed on the plane. Son's luggage label fell off his hand luggage and I had to find it before they would let him on the plane. They take cigarette lighters off you also.

It is so cheap, you can eat out for less than a tenner for four with drinks.

It was too hot for me, but the others loved it.

HTH, Stella xx

Vibein

Good read will pass the info on to my friends that are going in a few weeks, I am trying to find some hotel accomadation out in Goa as well for them. Any recomendations please?

TIA

novelli

thanks for all your advice guys. I am packed any ready to go tomorrow.
I feel much more prepared thanks to all oyur advice, thanks i will let you know how it goes when i get back in a couple of weeks.

bye for now

billlew

"Good read will pass the info on to my friends that are going in a few weeks, I am trying to find some hotel accomadation out in Goa as well for them. Any recomendations please"
Accomodation is plentiful, except at New Year & Xmas when its harder to find vacancies. It all depends on your budget and what you want,& where in Goa you want to visit. I like the hustle & bustle of Calungute/Baga but escape up North,for a few days, to Aswan Beach & the very simple palm huts for around £3 a night For example heres Casa Aleixo http://www.casaaleixo-goa.com/ I have the number of a taxi driver in Baga if that's where you want to go who has an apartment to rent for around £12 per night, finished at Xmas. Let us Know

novelli

well just returned today from Goa, what can i say!! FABULOUS!! already seeking some cheap flights to return ASAP!!!
Wonderful people, excellent hotel. We were thoroughly pampered and looked after throughout.
we were two women on our own, and nearly were arrested on beach at 4aM, cops need to earn their tips!!! luckily driver was with us aND PAID THEM TO GO AWAY!!! TWO hospital visits and one doctor call out due to couple of accidents!! (we are blond)!! LOL, hospital was faultless, quick and friendly, also very cheap, not worth claiming thru insurers!!
cant wait to return prob in November.
i have hotel/driver details if anyone needs them. I would say if you are on package hol dont use the transfer, just get taxi, less cramped, cooler, and quicker, less than a tenner from airport to baga/calangute!!
very corrupt governemnt tho, u really need those locals with u as much as posible, and u can just hire the driver for the whole day to take u anywhere you want and stay with you, we took ours everywhere!! even shopping, as when they are with you the sellers etc leave you alone.
We were treated like queens everywhere we went.
U need a couple of days to get over the culture shock, but we loved it and will def return ASAP.
Very jetlagged now, but anyone needing info on hotels and drivers etc, just ask and i will pass on details!!
Dont go on any of the holiday co excursions, just take the driver!
Anyone going make sure you go and bath with the elephants, wow what an experience, still giggling bout it now!!
off to bed now to reminisc!!

alison74

Glad you had a wonderful time