Holidays in Goa - 2021: reviews of tourists, prices and our advice

Once, when choosing where to spend my coming vacation, I realized that I wanted something exotic. Tours to the Caribbean and Africa were expensive and my limit was limited. Asia came to the rescue. I heard from friends that a very cool beach vacation is in Goa. I decided to make sure of this personally, which I have never regretted!

Why Choose Goa?

There are a number of reasons why you should choose a vacation in Goa.

➢ I'll start with the most prosaic one - the cost of the trip. Goa tour prices make the Indian state the most affordable winter destination. If you do not take into account the New Year holidays, in 2021 a week's rest together costs from 60,000 rubles!

➢ It is not only the ticket that attracts with the price. Car rental, massage, food - in general, allow you to keep within a very modest budget.

➢ But people go to Goa not only because it is cheap here. Those who dreamed of touching the world of Ayurveda and extraordinary energy, admiring nature, different from European, and lounging on the beaches in the midst of the Russian winter, describe a vacation in India as the best vacation in life.

➢ Another plus of Goa is that this state in India is the cleanest and safest in the country (North Goa is a little dirty compared to South, but compared to the rest of India it is really clean).

Holidays in Goa in 2021 are possible for Russians with a visa. Visa to India is issued: At the visa center Or online - the so-called e-visa. You can do it yourself on the Consulate website. Upon arrival, a printed confirmation and passport are presented. The cost of a visa evokes associations with traffic in the same country - everything is confusing. Prices depend not only on whether an electronic visa or a regular one, but also on the period for which it is issued, one-time or multi. Range: $ 25 (for 30 days, good for a trip) to $ 80 (for 5 years).

When is the best time to go to Goa? Weather

Goa has a subtropical climate. It is dry here in winter, there is no rain. But in the summer they last 20 days. It is for this reason that the country is a paradise for winterers.

When is it better to have a rest in Goa, and when is it not worth taking a ticket so as not to run into showers? The holiday season lasts from late autumn to mid-spring... By month, everything looks like this:

* designations, as in verses:
Red - no access (rainy season),
Yellow - be ready for the journey (moderate rains, prices for tours are even more moderate),
Green color - roll! (fly, crawl, etc.).

The air temperature in the country is + 30 ° С all year round. The sea is about + 28 ° С. The most favorable time to relax:

• in April: because the price of the tour goes down to $ 10, and the rains are still rare;
• and in October: no longer pouring, but prices for food, scooters and excursions are moderate due to lack of demand.

Closer to the New Year, tours become more expensive: if at the beginning of autumn for 60,000 rubles for two you can get to a good hotel, then in the season it comes out to 80,000 rubles (and then, if very much in advance).

Where is the best place to relax in Goa? Resorts

Contrary to common misconception, Goa is not an island, but an oblong coastal state, conditionally divided into two regions: North and South. You can get to both sides from Dabolim airport, near Panaji.

The main question that haunted me for a long time: which resort, in fact, to choose?

North or South Goa?

To decide where to go to Goa, you need to understand the goals of your vacation.

➢ Those who like relaxation in silence, unrealistic beauty of sunsets on the sea and deserted sandy beaches should head for South Goa - it is cleaner, more pretentious and ... more expensive! In exchange for additional costs, you will receive better accommodation conditions: the rooms here are larger and, frankly, not so killed.

➢ North Goa is more cheerful in terms of leisure. The cost of rest here is very low, but you can't count on luxury accommodation!

Yes, yes, if the balcony door does not open to the end, because it rests on the bed, this is normal. Tip: before deciding where to check in in Goa, read the reviews of tourists about the hotel (for 2019). Perhaps the reality of wow is as different from the pictures.

On the other hand, although sometimes more expensive hotels do not attract their stars, they are quite suitable for a vacation, even with children. By the way, if you are planning an independent vacation in Goa, it will be much easier to get to the northern part. Therefore, I personally vote for the north 🙂

Pros and cons of each of the parts:
(I'll talk about sub-resorts and beaches below)

The cost of tours to Goa - 2021

Tours to Goa are more profitable than independent travel. Experienced travelers often catch last minute deals (which cost less than airfare) to get to India. And there they are already acting according to their own plan, ignoring the hotel included in the package.

Where to look for deals on the price of air travel (and even cheaper):

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

Prices for tours to Goa in the season 2020-2021:

✓ For two for 7 days (accommodation + flight)

✓ For 10 days and 2 people

✓ Family tour (dad + mom + child) for a week

✓ Don't worry about anything in Goa: all inclusive vacation for 7 days for two

Prices in high season (which is, for example, January) are certainly higher. If the tour also includes New Year, it will come out so-so on a budget: from 115,000 rubles for a week for two. But still much cheaper than the same dates on any other coast.

You can fly to Goa very cheaply in the summer, but it pours incessantly! Therefore, it is better to wait for drier times. Monthly inexpensive and dry enough in May-April and September-October: from 45,000 rubles for two for 7 days.

And if you do it yourself?
When you travel on your own, the prices for a vacation in Goa look something like this (we take the minimum, as in the tour):

➢ The cheapest air tickets for two - from 55,000 rubles (we search on aggregators).

➢ A hotel or guesthouse in North Goa - from 3000 rubles (a week for two, yes), in South - from 4500 rubles (RoomGuru can help here).

➢ Transfer by taxi from Dabolim airport and back - about 3000 rubles to the north, 3200 rubles to the south.

➢ Insurance for a week - in the region of 1000 rubles for two (for this - on Cherehapa).

Total: North Goa - 62,000 rubles, South - 64,000 rubles.

Goa prices in 2021

The indisputable advantage of Goa is the price. Everything is inexpensive: food, transport, entertainment.

The exchange rate of the Indian rupee to domestic money is approximately 1: 1.

Of course, in the old days, when the ruble was more expensive, India and the rest in Goa, in particular, came out quite budgetary. But even now it will be cheaper to live in the country for a month than in Russia.

Food prices - where to eat?

Losing weight in Goa will not work: the goodies here are sheer trifles! Traditional cafes are called shaki. There are them on every beach (not counting the very wild ones), and on some of them there are also several. All of them are not much different from each other: the menu is practically the same, as are the prices.

• The cafe has a special morning menu. On average, I gave from 50 to 100 rupees for breakfast.
• National cuisine - from 100 to 300 rupees.
• Traditional soups - from 5 to 100 rupees.
• Freshly squeezed juices start at Rs 80.
• Beer - from 100 rupees, a portion of rum - from 70 rupees *

* It is better to go to the nearest store for alcohol, it will be several times cheaper.

Advice: before ordering something, make sure that there is at least a hint of sanitation in the kitchen of the establishment, otherwise there is a great chance to spend a few days not on the beach, but in the restroom 🙁

If you don't want to risk your health, here is a list of trusted establishments based on feedback from tourists.

About shops.
They, of course, are, but most often tourists take mineral water, alcohol and various snacks there - they rarely cook in Goa. The prices for food in the markets are more than democratic. For example:

• 1 liter of milk will cost 40 rupees
• Panir cheese (local homemade) - 130 rupees
• 1 kilogram of pasta - from 80 rupees
• 1 kg of rice - from 90 rupees
• Local beer Kingfisher - from 70 rupees

The cost of food in the south and north is almost the same, but food in shacks in the southern part of the state is 10-30% more expensive.

Get hold of food - mainly seafood and fruits - and you can in the markets:

• Shrimps, kg - 250 rupees
• Medium papaya - 60-70 rupees
• Mango, kg —100 rupees (depending on the season)
• Watermelon, kg - 20 rupees
• Mini bananas, pcs - 5 rupees

Best hotels for vacation in Goa

Reviews of tourists decide when choosing where to eat and where to live, when it comes to India. The risk of running into a place where cleanliness and safety are concepts on the verge of fantasy is very high. In our list of hotels that have been praised by guests who have visited them.

The tour price is indicated for two for 7 days.

NORTHERN GOA

• 3 * The Grand Leoney Resort (Vagator) - walk a few minutes to the beach, has its own pool and sun terrace. You can quickly get to the Chapora fort.
  Tour cost: from 77 000 rubles
• 3 * Capital O 558 Hotel Meraden Opus (Anjuna) - only 700 meters from the hotel to the beach, there are many places for parties around. The chip is a panoramic rooftop bar and pool with a good view of the nearby jungle.
  Tour cost: from 75 000 rubles
• 3 * Rock Water Resort (Morjim) - to walk only 300 meters to the beach, guests live in houses.
  Tour cost: from 75 000 rubles
• 2 * Ticlo Resorts (Calangute) - it takes 7 minutes to walk to the beach, but the rooms are spacious and large by the standards of North Goa.
  Tour cost: from 70,000 rubles

SOUTH GOA

• 5 * The LaLiT Golf & Spa Resort Goa (Canacona) is a sophisticated spa resort hotel for golf lovers. There is a private beach (4 minutes walk to it) and a swimming pool. Full board is possible - i.e. Breakfast lunch and dinner.
  Tour cost: from 120,000 rubles
• 5 * Caravela Beach Resort (Varca) is a good option for a newlyweds' holiday: the hotel is hidden among a palm grove.
  Tour cost: from 145,000 rubles
• 3 * Lotus Beach Resort (Benaulim) - 5 minutes to the beach, has its own pool. The hotel has been operating since 2016, and therefore all the furniture inside is still new. Possible food options - BB, HB, FB.
  Tour cost: from 85,000 rubles
• 3 * La Grace Resort (Benaulim) - a hotel with an outdoor pool 10 minutes from the beach.
  Tour cost: from 85,000 rubles

Hotel prices have clearly increased in 2021, but vacations in India in Goa are still quite affordable. You can take a chance and use the Fortuna system, but you really have to be very lucky to get to a good hotel. By the way, if you are not aware of what kind of system it is, let me remind you: when booking a tour, you do not know either the specific name of the hotel or its region. All that is known: stardom and type of food. We flew like that to Greece and loved it. But Greece is still not India :) 😊

What to see in Goa? sights

In Goa, you can not only sit in shacks, tasting Indian cuisine, but also develop. Simply put, take excursions! There are very interesting places in this state. So, the main attractions of Goa:

➢ 310-meter Dudhsagar waterfall - surrounded by a nature reserve with wild cats (tigers, panthers) and cunning monkeys. The tour takes all day, and the cost varies depending on whether you are taking a taxi on your own or through an agency.
On average, you have to pay from $ 30

➢ Murdeshwar city Is another cool place to have fun with a giant statue of the god Shiva. You will also have to allocate a whole day to visit it. After a 5-hour bus ride, you will see firsthand the ancient sculptural complex.
The price of a sightseeing trip starts at $ 40

➢ Humpy - a small settlement in the state of Karnataka, which has preserved stone complexes, temples and singing columns, protected by UNESCO. In two days (this is how much the excursion takes) you will immerse yourself in the world of the ancient empire and explore all the architectural monuments.
Cost - from $ 100.

➢ Fort Chapora - a dilapidated fortress with beautiful views of the coast and the sea. A check mark in the list of each tourist.

What other interesting excursions are there in Goa?

➢ Through the jungle to the ancient Goan temple of Mahadeva - 3 km through the jungle, swimming in the Surla waterfall, not as advertised as Dudhsagar, but no less beautiful. The duration of the hike is 8 hours.
Cost - $ 60 per person

➢ Sightseeing in Goa - go around the state in jeeps to understand where you got to and what to do with all this. Duration 9 hours.
Cost - $ 40 per person

Holidays in Goa with children

The question of whether it is possible to go to Goa with children worries many families. Each parent decides for himself. But, strictly speaking, this is not the best place to travel with very little kids.

On the other hand, this is an affordable destination, and there are quite a few Russian families in the country who come for the winter with children of all ages. Conclusion: if you are careful, a vacation in Goa with children is quite possible.

It is worth noting that it is better not to go to Goa without vaccinations and good insurance. The chance of catching something is too high. Sending your child on vacation with your grandmother / godmother / sister? Do not forget about the permission to travel abroad if the baby (or not quite :)) travels without parents.

Where is better?

Suitable option for families with children - South Goa... The hotels are cleaner and bigger. And the sea is calmer. This means that there is a chance to swim normally without waiting for the absence of waves.

From the resorts it is worth looking at Mandrem, Morjim.

What will children like?

Children's leisure time in Goa is tight. The best thing is to sunbathe, swim, build sand castles. If you are really tired of:

• Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary - a zoo with interesting animals, a train, a game room and elephants to ride.
  Adult ticket - Rs 20, children - Rs 10
• Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary - Monkeys, tropical birds and, if you're lucky, other animals.
  Price - 20 rupees
• Splashdown Waterpark (North Goa, Anjun) - several slides, swimming pool. Nothing fabulous, but without fish ...
  Adult ticket - 520 rupees, child up to 120 cm tall - 420 rupees

Which hotel to choose?

If you want to introduce the kids to India, take a more expensive hotel: adults will survive in a small closet without hot water, and the younger generation is unlikely to like this.

You can stay in hotels in South Goa, which we wrote about above. Or choose one of the following options:

➢ 5 * Radisson Blu Resort Goa Cavelossim Beach
Tour for 7 days for three: from 175,000 rubles

➢ 4 * Club Mahindra Varca Beach
Tour for 7 days for three: from 135,000 rubles

The best beaches in Goa

How well you spend your vacation depends a lot on the beach you choose. Some of them leave much to be desired: instead of sand, mountains of garbage. More details about each of them.

A sun lounger on the beach can be rented at a nearby shek. You can not take anything from food and drinks, but just negotiate for 100-150 rupees for the whole day. Masseurs also walk along the beaches with dogs and cows. The average price tag for a foot massage is 250-300 rupees. But! Do not let skillful pens go beyond the agreed upon, pay three times more.

Transport

Another Indian question: how to get around Goa if there is no public transport? Answer: Long live bicycles and taxis! But seriously, much more often tourists choose rented scooters and cars. What kind of transport is better?

Rent a car or bike

Scooters and bikes are the most popular form of transport in Goa. Having saddled them, you can easily drive along narrow country paths.

Rent price the bike depends on the season: when there are more people, prices go up. But on average, for the right to ride a simple scooter, you will have to pay 200-550 rupees, for a motorcycle - 650-900 (price per day). Two-wheeled friends are given out at rental points near the roads and in some hotels.

Rent a Car short term starts at Rs 1,500. If you need a car for a few weeks, there is a chance to negotiate a good discount. But keep in mind: it can be problematic to move by car - the car will not go to many places.

Petrol sold at gas stations, as well as in stores - it is poured into ordinary bottles - 65-80 rupees per liter. Do not be surprised, this is done in many Asian countries!

Reviews of tourists about the rest in Goa

Here's my honest review: when I first saw Goa, I was a little shocked. Real India is not like tourist countries like Montenegro or Italy. And it is only partly similar to the marvelous reserve from Roerich's paintings.

Rooms in Goa are predominantly tiny, breakfasts are scarce, and rubbish is scattered along the highways. Not a bad start, isn't it? Even Pattaya seemed like paradise to me 🙂

After a few days, I was drawn into the atmosphere and began to enjoy the world around me. Even the brazenly taking pictures of the Indians were no longer annoying. By the end of my vacation, I dreamed of returning here again and searched the Internet for recipes for the famous tomato soup to cook at home in Moscow. So do not be afraid of adventure - it is better to choose your travel time and location carefully!

What to bring from Goa?

And finally, I want to share with you a list of things that I and other travelers consider it necessary to bring from Goa.

• Rum Old Monk - Goa's main alcoholic drink is outrageously cheap and tastes great. Unfortunately, you can only take 2 liters of this potion with you to Russia!

$ 2.5 per bottle 0.75 (within 200 rubles). At Perekrestok the same bottle of 1,300 rubles!

• Red Toothpaste - it contains spices, and therefore it is ... ahem, spicy.
• Coconut oil - sold everywhere: in shops, in markets, along highways. If you meet someone from the local, find out where to get this product specifically in your area.
• clothing - T-shirt for 50 rupees, pants for 200 and backpacks for 250. All this pleasure can be purchased in the markets. The colors are traditionally ethnic, but the quality is quite decent. Just check the material for strength.
• Leather products - you will also have to go to the market for them. Belts, bags, wallets can be found at low prices.
• Spices - bargain, be sure to bargain, otherwise they will cost no less than in Russia.
• Cosmetics and medicines - hair oil, face cream, healing ointments and herbal vitamins - all this must be taken with you.

But these things I will tell you for sure do not recommend buy:

• Tea - you can find a good one, but most often a low-grade drink is sold in a beautiful package.
• Bijouterie - bracelets and earrings break only in this way.

Well, if after reading you are ripe for a trip to Goa, I wish you a rich trip and a profitable tour 😉