Having successfully completed an all-girls friends trip to South Goa this December, I often introspect what could have been better if I had known some things in advance. Well to save you the hassle, I have taken into account my experiences and curated a list of lesser known tips.
#1 Always use Buses
Taxis and autos charge exorbitantly, and Goa has a vast network of local and state transport buses which can take you everywhere at just a fraction of cost. Time-tables of state buses is available easily on Google Maps. Local buses sometimes take different routes than usual so ask before you hope in, also they wait until the bus is full so it can be time consuming sometimes.
#2 Walk the Last Mile
Buses don't take you to your destined spot directly, so you will have to change many buses. Also they drop you a mile or so away from the beaches and tourist spots. So be prepared to walk those extra stretches. Carry sturdy, comfortable shoes which will motivate you to walk. We for instance, walked 1.5 km from Madgao Railway Station to Navelim for catching bus going towards Canacona instead of taking auto in the opposite direction towards the Margao Bus terminal.
#3 Download Offline Maps
Due to dense forest cover many areas don't have mobile network as well as GPS. The roads are devoid of people for stretches, so asking someone for directions also is not an option. Be prepared and download your routes. Maps.me is a good app for downloading offline maps if you want to go hiking.
#4 Check before renting scooters
Check for any damage and whether the necessary registration papers are there. Insist on renting a vehicle with yellow number plate and ask for the helmet(traffic laws are strictly followed in here). If possible get a test drive.
While returning from secluded Cola beach one of our scooters ran out of petrol and we had to go find a shop 3km away to bring back some petrol.
#6 Return to known surroundings before dusk
Roads along the Leopard Valley in South Goa are narrow, winding ghat roads with no road lights and numerous blind spots. Its better to be safe than sorry and return to known territory before sundown. Also prevent going to secluded beaches on scooters if you have no off-roading experience or are a novice. The roads there are mud tracks with steep inclines and it can be a problem if your vehicle breaks down there. My friend's scooter stopped on the way to Cola beach but luckily for her a couple came along and helped her in restarting the scooter.
#7 Beware of Dogs
I have noticed that due to close contact with humans, stray dogs here are less fearful of humans and thus more aggressive. One of us got bitten by a dog at Agonda beach and had to be rushed to a clinic. So keep your distance.
#8 Carry Medicines for Nausea
Traveling on Ghats in a bus makes you sick. Carry proper medicines to deal with this. Also eating less before the journey and looking straight ahead and not out of the window helps in preventing nausea.
#9 Ask neighbors in bus about the fare
Local buses don't give you tickets and can charge you a bit more if you look like a tourist. So ask people around for the current rates and argue with the conductor if he tries to charge you anything more.
#10 Carry Mosquito Repellents
Absolutely none of the blogs or videos I saw as a part of my preparation strategy mentioned this important bit of information. Humidity and dense forests make this place a hub for mosquitoes. So come equipped with Odomos if you want to sleep well.
#11 Refill your Water Bottles
Instead of buying packaged water, refill your bottles at your hotel or at restaurants you stop for meals. These places have aquaguards and the water is filtered. It helps you save the environment and also some money. Only do this if you are Indian or have fairly good immunity.
#12 Ladies, carry your Swimsuits
Beaches like Palolem, Patnem and Agonda are sparsely crowded, and most of the people there are skimpily clad foreigners. No one will give you a second glance if you wear a bikini. I myself wore a bikini here despite having body confidence issues and not once did I feel uncomfortable. My friends on the other hand were regretting their decision of not carrying along a swimsuit.
#13 Buy Food from Local Markets
We purchased fresh fruits from markets and cooked our breakfast everyday instead of eating out every time. This helped in lowering our expenses.
#14 Stay in Hostels & avoid going in Big Groups
Staying in a hostel gives you an opportunity of meeting and socializing with like minded people and making new friends. You can also cook your own meals and do your laundry here. But going in a group prevents people from approaching you and you get stuck up with your own group. So travel in groups of two's or three's, or better yet solo.
We stayed at The Lost Hostels.
#1 Always use Buses
Taxis and autos charge exorbitantly, and Goa has a vast network of local and state transport buses which can take you everywhere at just a fraction of cost. Time-tables of state buses is available easily on Google Maps. Local buses sometimes take different routes than usual so ask before you hope in, also they wait until the bus is full so it can be time consuming sometimes.
#2 Walk the Last Mile
Buses don't take you to your destined spot directly, so you will have to change many buses. Also they drop you a mile or so away from the beaches and tourist spots. So be prepared to walk those extra stretches. Carry sturdy, comfortable shoes which will motivate you to walk. We for instance, walked 1.5 km from Madgao Railway Station to Navelim for catching bus going towards Canacona instead of taking auto in the opposite direction towards the Margao Bus terminal.
 |
| Walking while beach hopping |
#3 Download Offline Maps
Due to dense forest cover many areas don't have mobile network as well as GPS. The roads are devoid of people for stretches, so asking someone for directions also is not an option. Be prepared and download your routes. Maps.me is a good app for downloading offline maps if you want to go hiking.
#4 Check before renting scooters
Check for any damage and whether the necessary registration papers are there. Insist on renting a vehicle with yellow number plate and ask for the helmet(traffic laws are strictly followed in here). If possible get a test drive.
#5 Carry Extra Petrol
The fuel meters of most rental vehicles are tampered with and don't work. Petrol Pumps are also far and between. Local shops sell petrol in Bisleri bottles in quantities of 0.5ltr and 1ltr which you can buy in advance and carry along. This prevents you from getting stuck anywhere and also ensures that you don't fill more petrol than necessary thus saving your money.While returning from secluded Cola beach one of our scooters ran out of petrol and we had to go find a shop 3km away to bring back some petrol.
#6 Return to known surroundings before dusk
Roads along the Leopard Valley in South Goa are narrow, winding ghat roads with no road lights and numerous blind spots. Its better to be safe than sorry and return to known territory before sundown. Also prevent going to secluded beaches on scooters if you have no off-roading experience or are a novice. The roads there are mud tracks with steep inclines and it can be a problem if your vehicle breaks down there. My friend's scooter stopped on the way to Cola beach but luckily for her a couple came along and helped her in restarting the scooter.
 |
| The winding ghat roads |
#7 Beware of Dogs
I have noticed that due to close contact with humans, stray dogs here are less fearful of humans and thus more aggressive. One of us got bitten by a dog at Agonda beach and had to be rushed to a clinic. So keep your distance.
 |
| Stray Dogs in Goa |
#8 Carry Medicines for Nausea
Traveling on Ghats in a bus makes you sick. Carry proper medicines to deal with this. Also eating less before the journey and looking straight ahead and not out of the window helps in preventing nausea.
#9 Ask neighbors in bus about the fare
Local buses don't give you tickets and can charge you a bit more if you look like a tourist. So ask people around for the current rates and argue with the conductor if he tries to charge you anything more.
#10 Carry Mosquito Repellents
Absolutely none of the blogs or videos I saw as a part of my preparation strategy mentioned this important bit of information. Humidity and dense forests make this place a hub for mosquitoes. So come equipped with Odomos if you want to sleep well.
#11 Refill your Water Bottles
Instead of buying packaged water, refill your bottles at your hotel or at restaurants you stop for meals. These places have aquaguards and the water is filtered. It helps you save the environment and also some money. Only do this if you are Indian or have fairly good immunity.
#12 Ladies, carry your Swimsuits
Beaches like Palolem, Patnem and Agonda are sparsely crowded, and most of the people there are skimpily clad foreigners. No one will give you a second glance if you wear a bikini. I myself wore a bikini here despite having body confidence issues and not once did I feel uncomfortable. My friends on the other hand were regretting their decision of not carrying along a swimsuit.
 |
| Walking along the Patnem Beach |
#13 Buy Food from Local Markets
We purchased fresh fruits from markets and cooked our breakfast everyday instead of eating out every time. This helped in lowering our expenses.
#14 Stay in Hostels & avoid going in Big Groups
Staying in a hostel gives you an opportunity of meeting and socializing with like minded people and making new friends. You can also cook your own meals and do your laundry here. But going in a group prevents people from approaching you and you get stuck up with your own group. So travel in groups of two's or three's, or better yet solo.
We stayed at The Lost Hostels.
 |
| Hostel we stayed at |
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