"Candolim" Goa by Tracyden

April is right at the end of the Goan tourist season and is getting very very hot. We stayed in candolim at an all inclusive hotel.

Candolim consists of one long main road featuring lots of bar/restaurants. there are some roads leading off this o hte beach.

Our first day in resort we took a stroll down the nearest road apparently leading to the sea - the beach when we got there featured an abandoned ship and lots of greasy oil on the beach - not the place for bathing.

Also the beaches are full of traders selling their wares - it was difficult to read even one page of my book for the constant interuptions. Even pretending to be asleep didn't work.

Private beach

It is far better to hire a taxi for the day and go to one of the private beaches- these we found to be very quiet and service the best paneer tikka ever. You'll find on your restaurant bill a small charge for the beach loungers.

This beach was so beautiful and clean with white sand. You cross a river over a wooden bridge to reach it - this is how imagined all the goan beaches would be.

the taxi will just wait for you in the car park and take you back to your hotel (or whereever) when you are ready.

temple elephant

I really enjoyed our holiday in India - we spent the first 5 nights on the golden triangle tour and the rest of the fortnight mainly lounging on beaches in goa. Even though the hotel was all inclusive eating out at the many beach shacks is inexpensive and we found the food to be better. despite getting the dreaded dehli belly twice i still went home three pound heavier!
Driving around Goa you will see the incredibly decorated temple elephants and for a donation you are welcome to take a picture.

• Pros:White sand, beach shacks
• Cons:hassle
• In a nutshell:Good to relax as long as you travel outside of the main resorts