Travel India Info

Goa touring & travel guide The state of Goa is located on the western coast of India. The scenic beauty, architectural splendors of its monuments, churches, temples and old houses have made Goa a favorite travel destination for travelers from all over the world. Fun, relaxation, sunshine, adventure or relaxation, Goa is the place where you get it all.

OLD GOA

If you get a chance then visit Old Goa and the wonderful temples just outside Ponda followed by the spice plantation. As the spice plantations are shady they are usually nice and cool and after all that wandering around the temples and buildings is a pleasant change. Spend an evening going on one of the local sunset/moonlight cruises on the Mondovi River and enjoy the lively music and dances. Try and also visit the flea marked in Anjuna on a Wednesday when you will find loads of stuff that you can shop for at bargain prices depending on how good you are at bargaining. This is a popular place on Wednesday’s and feels like a carnival.  Goa airport is called Dabolim Airport and is near the city of Vasco. Goa is well connected by Air from all major cities in India. The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline Goa is famous for. The tourist season in Goa can be divided into two seasons. The winter season ranges from mid September to March and the summer season from April to August. The peak season for Goa is said to be from the last week of December to January 2nd.

 How to get the best holiday package tour

deal for Goa:

Tour packages are offered by: 1. Hotels. 2. Airlines 3. Tour operators. Many hotels usually offer holiday packages through travel agents and tour operators. The tour operators also tie up with various airlines.

The most popular packages

Best deals are available usually for a 3 nights/4 day’s duration. Prices for such a package ranges anywhere from Rupees 12,000 per person for a three star hotel to Rupees 45,000 in a five star hotel. Rates would also depend on the time of your visit. The majority of packages come with a perks like pick-up and drop off facility from airports and some of them even include extra perks like sightseeing, cruise etc. Tour operators also give options of upgrading hotels for slight additional charges. Generally when selecting a package you have the option of either opting for a bed and breakfast package or an all-inclusive one.

 What’s the best option for tourists?

So what does one choose? An all inclusive package or a simple bed and breakfast one? Does one buy form the hotels or is it better to go to the tour operators. What is the better option? Are all inclusive deals the better way to go? If you are traveling on a budget and like the freedom to set your own schedule then I would suggest you opt for the bed and breakfast deals and stay away from all inclusive packages. All inclusive deals sound good but I doubt if they are worth the extra cost. Some may wonder if it is cheaper to book directly with hotels and think that they would get a better rate as the hotels save the commission they normally pay the tour operators. However this may not be the case. Hotels may not give you the discounted price that the tour operators may be able to offer you. The hotel will save the commission they would have paid the tour operators or travel agents but usually may not pass the savings to the customers. So is it better to stick with the tour operators and travel agents packages? Something travelers need to decide for themselves. If you have a choice to buy a package form an airline company travel agency or a tour operator, then I would suggest buying it from the airline agents as in such cases there is always the possibility that you may get some additional savings on airfare. Some tour operators may have airfare discounts included in their package deals. Do check out the various deals offered before deciding.

Bargain airfares to Goa

If you want to get discounted tickets to Goa then be flexible in the days of your travel. As is usually the case for most tourist cities, there is a huge demand to arrive in Goa on Fridays and Saturdays. Similarly demand to leave Goa is high on Sundays and early Mondays. As an example consider the airfare from Goa to Mumbai. A regular priced ticket on the weekend costs Rupees 5000 approximately where the price drops to almost half for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. So with a little bit of prior planning you may be able to save on your airfares.

Alternative accommodation for Goa

If you choose not to go in for package deals then you also have the option to rent a flat or cottage in Goa. Many travel agents offer such rentals as an alternative to hotels. Getting a flat is a good alternative if you plan to spend some time in Goa. Sea facing villa’s can be rented from Rupees 1500 to Rupees 20,000 depending on the size and exact location.

Low Season Hotel Rates in Goa

April to mid September is considered to be the off season for visiting Goa and hotels slash their rates by almost 50%. Several tour companies as well as hotels offer bargain rates during this low season period. Monsoons start by the first week of June. Cottages and flats are mostly closed during the monsoon months. If you are visiting Goa between November and early January make sure you have confirmed reservations. This is the busiest time for tourists to visit Goa and hotels are fully booked. December 24 to January 2 in Goa is the place to be during Christmas and New years eve. If you can get a booking during this period then go for it. There are of course no deals available for this time frame. If you enjoy beaches then Goa is the ideal destination in India. Goa has a number of beaches. Some of the well known beaches in Goa are: • Colva Beach • Dona Paula Beach • Varca, • Cavelossim Beach • Palolem Beach • Anjuna Beach • Arambol Beach • Calangute Beach • Miramar Beach • Agonda Beach,   Details on some of Goa's beaches are provided on the Goa beaches page. >> For some currently advertised package deals by hotels for Goa, Please check the listings on our hotel bargains page. 

Facts and Figures for Goa √ Area 3702 sq km √ Population 1,343,998 (2001 Census) √ Annual Rainfall 2,800 - 3,500 mm √ Maximum Temperature34C √ Minimum Temperature20C √ Capital Panaji √ Languages Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English √ Best Time To Visit October to February