"3 days in Paradise" a Goa Travel Page by jethanand

Personally, for me, there is no such thing as bad time on the beach

Tourist Peak season is Dec 15 thru Jan 15.. the hotel rates are high and the scene is likely to be crowded

Best weather is from October thru March

Hottest months are April thru September

Most difficult time is during monsoon June 10 thru August 15 (approx). Each year the monsoon rain varies in intensity and duration ! Many hotels made of huts on the beach will not be open , but there are others, permanent structures, within walking distance to the beach, these would be open year-round. Transportation can be a problem at times.

Getthing there ...

Goa is well connected by air, road and train.

However, in most cases, train travel is difficult unless you have made advance booking.

By train ... India has a very extensive rail network, so train travel is often the cheapest method of travel, it is also the method chosen by the masses when available. Many trains have un-reserved seats which are made availabe on a first-come first served basis. These seats are cheapest, sitting only, very crowded (usually) and chaotic.
Many trains also have reserved seats, sleeper berths, A/C, 1st class, etc. etc.
Highly recommended - if possible, you should try and make advance reservations for train journeys. Tourists from foreign countries are entitled to "tourist quota" travel on train, subject to availability, so it does not hurt to ask - sometimes this method does work out. In each major city in India there is a "Central station" (meaning principal location), where you can apply for and get a seat based on "tourist quota". Once at the proper train station, you will first go to the "Inquiry window" from whence you will be directed to another specific window, here you will have to show your passport and visa, and if a seat is available, you will be asked to pay in foreign currency, that's all there is to it.

Ordinary buses ..Reservations cannot be made on these buses. More expensive than train travel, these buses are often operated by the state transport corporation from central terminals. The buses are crowded, noisy, slower, not very comfortable, no restrooms, but sometimes these might be the only option. Often, these buses provide a very colorful glimpse of masses in India

Luxury bus .. compared to a train, it is easier to get a luxury bus connection at the eleventh hour, but not always guarenteed. Luxury buses are convenient and comfortable, often with restrooms or with convenient stops, but they are not luxurious. Goa is easily reached by bus from either Mumbai or Bangalore or from other cities in Maharashtra. The difficulty is in locating the bus stop, timings, etc, esp. when the bus happens to be operated by private companies. If the state transport corporation operates the bus route, then the schedule is posted at the "central bus station". If the bus is operated by private carriers, then it is advisable to use the services of "travel agencies" found near the bus / rail transportation centers.

Plane ... Goa is very well served from Mumbai, Bangalore and other major cities. This method is the most preferred method for the business traveller or the professionals. The ticket prices vary greatly depending on timing and capacity

Private taxi and rental cars with drivers.. These are available for a fixed price and the simplest method for finding these is thru travel agents. Not cheap.

On this particular trip, I had very little time so I flew into Panjim arport and from there I took a pre-paid taxi to Palolem beach.

Air fare R/T was INR 6500/-

Pre-paid taxi one way to Palolem beach was INR 1000/-

I did not have much time to make travel arrangements, so I ended up booking my hotel via the internet. Luckily, I was able to find a reaonable hotel on the beach - INR 1059/- per night. (see photo - this is not a plug but its a decent choice)

TIP:During off-season, book for one night and extend your stay upon arrival - you might get a better rate or find a better hotel after you have arrived.

From Panjim Airport, I took a pre-paid taxi to Palolem Beach and arrived at Hi-Tide hotel on the beach. The hotel lived up to the description and I was on the beach - hurray ....

The beach was gorgeous , gradual and the surf was gentle - perfect for children, relaxation and away from the young boisterous crowd

I was able to go into the water at 8.30 pm - imagine !

Swimming, Kayaking, boat rides into the back-water, dolphin watching, specatacular scenery, great food on the beach, unbel ievably low prices, friendly locals, shopping bargains, great weather - just my idea of a vacation