My First Taste of Goa

My First Taste of Goa by Caroline Johnson

For a long time Goa has been somewhere on the wish list to visit, when the opportunity came up to go on a travel agents trip I jumped at the chance! Mixed feelings of what to expect I went with an open mind.

Goa is known for a mixture of Portuguese heritage and local flavour which gives it an exquisite culture.  From Cathedrals and Hindu Temple to beautiful beaches, colourful markets and much more.

Arriving in Goa I was eager to see what it is about this place that makes people come here many times...and to talk about it with such love. I was soon to find out!

My first real impression was on the transfer coach, looking out of the window there were dusty roads and locals going about their daily routine, selling from little stalls along the roadside and not to forget the cows roaming free, they are sacred here and are free to do as they please!  Such a different culture I was keen to see more than the tourist areas and get a feel for this place and its culture.

First we were to see North Goa, the main areas and resorts here include Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Arpora and Anjuna.  We were booked into the Fortuna Regina select, situated in a quiet location within easy reach of Candolim beach, a bright and modern hotel with good facilities I would recommend as an ideal base for this resort.

Coming out of the hotel for the first time and seeing the resort of Candolim I can tell you of this resort that it is a lively bustling area with a beautiful, broad golden sandy beach. There are plenty of things to catch your eye here, walking down to the beach there are lots of stalls selling all sorts of trinkets, Indian sarongs and jewellery. The people were so friendly and although I had imagined them to be pushy when selling goods surprisingly they weren’t at all although still enjoyed a good barter for a bargain! Night time comes alive here with lots of lively beach shacks, or you could chose to eat at one of the many restaurants, let me tell you the food here is amazing....if you love a good curry or seafood, you will not be disappointed.  Calangute has a similar feel and Baga, the original hippies 1960’s hang out has a buzzing vibe and plenty of fun beach shacks, one memory I will  treasure was sat at one of these shacks one evening  with a drink and experienced the most stunning sunset. I was starting to understand why people love this place.

The hotels I visited while here ranged from 2 * to 4* standard. Whether you want a clean and comfortable base, close to the beach, and resort facilities, a high class hotel with luxury spas and service or a mixture of them both you have it all here. There is something for all budgets, the cost of living here is well how can I put it ....CHEAP! I could not spend my money, and that is not normally difficult! Another tick for GOA!

We visited the capital of Goa Panjim and the Portuguese influence from the buildings to cathedrals is visible, against the temples such a contrast was interesting.  Worth a visit there is a lot of history here alongside a bustle of activity and local markets.

One excursion I got to try was the Jungle book tour, amazing experience, at the Elephant Kingdom you get the chance to ride, bath and even experience an elephant power shower! There is an elephant show and for those who want to feel nature you can stay overnight in a mud hut (they are comfortable!) and rise early for a walk and yoga session. Well recommended.

South Goa

For the last three nights we moved onto south Goa, staying at the DONA SYLIVIA BEACH hotel. The name gives it away and being footsteps from the beach it is ideal for beach lovers. The beaches in the south are beautiful, paradise is the feeling here. Laid back and more of a relaxed pace of life, noticeably less traffic and bustle, this is the place to relax!

The hotels in the south are mainly focused around the beach, larger feel, layout and high standard. Resorts in the south include , Varca and Benaulim.  

Having free time to relax here was heaven and I could not resist a Spa treatment at the hotel, for cheaper options just pop to the beach and for less than three pounds you can have a lovely massage while shaded under an umbrella from the glorious sunshine.

At night there is a relaxed feel with lovely beach shacks for drinks under the stars, you can still find a beach party for not only a drink but a dance under the stars if you wish!

Outside of the hotels you will still find those colourful stalls, some boutique shops and quiet fishing villages, there is a much more relaxed and laid back feeling here compared to the north.

On my last day I remember being lay on a sun lounger and watched a heard of buffalo walking along the beach in front I knew I would come back to this place. From beaches to nightlife, the history and diversity of Cathedrals and Temples this place is an Indian Jewel, and now I understand why so many people spend their holidays here every year.

Caroline Johnson is a senior sales consultant here at JLM Travel. Give her a call to find out what fantastic Goa holidays she has to offer.