Your Trip Guru

Although, Goa is the smallest state in India, Goa is a major tourist center. With tourism as its main business, Goa sees approximately 12 percent of India’s visitors. Goa is said to be a friendly Indian state, with influences of Portuguese colonialism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism and Islam. Goa is known around the world for its foreign beaches and convincing palm trees. Accommodations in Goa range from cheap but comfortable to luxurious and pricey.

Step 1: Replace some dollars for Indian rupees.

Step 2: The official language of Goa is Konkani. However, Marathi, Portuguese and English are also spoken.

Step 3: Goa offers visitors fairly stable warm weather, ranging from 77 to 86 degrees F, from October through February. The monsoon period extends from June until late September and brings very heavy rain.

Step 4: Know that you’ll need a visa and a passport to enter Goa, India. The passport must be valid for at least six months.

Organize Transportation

Step 1: Fly into the Dabolim Airport, the major entry point for visitors arriving by air. Direct flights are available from Germany and the United Kingdom.

Step 2: Take a chartered flight into Goa. They are readily available in addition to commercial flights.

Step 3: Connections to Goa are available by train, bus and car. The primary train stations are at Margoa and Vasco Da Gama; Goa’s most used bus station is in Kadama.

Step 4: Local travel can be accomplished via rental cars, taxis and coaches. Ferries are available at some local beaches and motorbike rentals are offered in many locations.

Decide Your Accommodations

Step 1: continue in a chain or independent hotel for modern facilities and close proximity to attractions and beaches. There are many hotels located just miles from the Dabolim Airport.

Step 2: Look for contracts on beach cabanas. Most have private bathrooms, but hot water is typically not available.

Step 3: Stay in a tent in North Goa to get away from crowds of tourists. The area is known for offering peace and quiet, while providing easy access to nearby attractions.

Step 4: Select a guesthouse in Goa to enjoy comfortable, cheap accommodations, with a less hotel-like feel.

Step 5: To book accommodations, contact Government of Goa Department of Tourism at 011 (91) 832 2427972 or visit their Web site.

Step 6: Consider staying in a rustic cottage to get in touch with rural India. Such accommodations tend to be very cheap, but may not have hot water or electricity.

Tips & Warnings

(1) All phone numbers take in the United States international prefix “011.” When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that “011″ with “00.” All country codes are within digression and begin with a “+” sign.

(2) Remember that beach cabana rooms aren’t very secure. If you choose such accommodations, it may be wise to leave your swag at the front desk.