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| Baga Beach near Calangute |
THREE DECADES ago while doughty feminists were burning their bras in the US and all over Europe, tourists by the hundreds were casually doffing theirs up and down Goa’s golden beaches. Wide-eyed Indian tourists poured out of heaving buses to marvel at the sight from a discreet distance, in the local equivalent of a safe-sex tour. No one seemed to mind. Goa resorts were agog with burnished bodies dancing to The Beatles. The erstwhile Portuguese enclave became a haven for flower children. It was the whole enchilada – wild full moon parties, rock concerts, free love, gurus, karma, inner children babbling on in assorted lingo and just about every manner of innocent excess.
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There are still nude beaches, in pockets, at Anjuna and Baga, firmly out of sight of locals, but in truth you won’t find much of that Goa today (see Goa map). The original hippy flea markets have also long gone. Still, partying in the sun under blue winter skies, beside a shack on a sandy beach, with a bottle of beer and two long smokes, is Goa in a nutshell. Now Goa resorts and hotels are mushrooming to cater for top-end demand with the arrival of players like The Leela Goa, the Park Hyatt, Marriott and InterContinental. Our Goa resort review runs through a list of interesting five-star, boutique, spa and offbeat hotels with some safe options thrown in. Yes, most of these are beach resorts or close to the beach. On then with our Goa guide.
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| Imposing Basilica of Bom Jesus |
The state of Goa, on the southwest coast of India, is divided into two zones, with two administrative centres – Panjim (or Panaji) the capital, in the north, and Margoa further inland, to the south. Panjim and its surrounds are more developed. The main attraction of the southern coast is many of the beaches are still virgin territory. Goa’s coast is palm-fringed, dotted with estuaries and coves against a backdrop of hills and paddy fields, awash with small towns, temples, churches and forts. It is a delightful travel cocktail.
Most tourists arrive by rail (on the scenic coastal route from Mumbai), but air traffic is on the rise. Dabolim airport, however, is in dire need of an upgrade. There are plans for a second airport, large enough to accommodate the Airbus 380, but debate takes time coursing through the world’s largest democracy. On a busy morning, you disembark from the plane and march your way into the airport building to join the snaking immigration queue. Expect a 30-minute wait. In India, time stands still. Throw away that watch and switch to Indian Standard Time.
Exit the airport to find friendly people at the tourist information counters, where you can pick up an information booklet detailing accommodation and travel options. Some of the information is exaggerated, but it’s all there: Goa hotel and resort listings, festival dates, places to visit, churches, folk dances, boat cruises, dolphin spotting, adventure sports, shopping and even “health tourism” (Goa’s next big thing).
In 2004-05, the state – with a population of 1.4 million – welcomed nearly three million domestic and 360,000 foreign tourists. That made every second person in Goa a tourist.
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| Saligaon Church/ photo: Nahida Coelho |
Goa is certainly different. “Let’s face it,” says one hotelier. “Barring the state of its infrastructure, Goa is nothing like India.” For one, its culture and architecture is firmly rooted in its Portuguese past. Goa was ruled by Hindu Brahmins and by the Bahamani Muslims too, but none succeeded in changing lifestyle and habits like the Portuguese. Led by the indefatigable explorer Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese arrived in 1510 to exploit its riches and win souls for the Catholic church. After 451 years of planting crosses and building monumental churches, they left an indelible mark on Goa’s culture, people, and food. At very least, just about every Goan worth his salt will know how to strum a guitar, a talent Goa hotels and resorts have seized upon. Prepare for lengthy evening serenades.
No Goa guide would be complete without mention of the state’s most famous drink, the intoxicating, locally brewed feni, of which there are two kinds – one made from palm sap and the other from the fruit of the cashew tree. Local scuttlebutt has it that feni was first introduced about 500 years ago, to control resistance by locals against their foreign masters. As with opium, regular feni intake helped keep the populace quiet, or fast asleep.
Goa today remains largely asleep – with or without the feni – and continues to bask in sunshine, music, and revelry to the accompaniment of crashing surf, lazily strumming guitars and pealing church bells. Money has never been a driving pursuit. Old Goan women are content to make “lots of money” carting lunchboxes. Hoteliers are a bit more alert and climbing room rates will attest to some measure of business savvy.
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| Fishing boat at dusk |
Goan food retains a strong Portuguese influence. Try amotik (sour hot curry), or sorpotel (a pork, liver, chilli, ginger and garlic dish) or chicken xacuti, with a bowl of rice. Add spices according to your taste. Traditional buildings are brightly coloured. Everything goes – with yellow, green, blue, purple and even pink, with starched austere white reserved for the churches.
Goa expects its next travel boom to come from health and medical tourism. While there’s a two-month wait for a cataract operation in the UK, in Goa you can have it done “at your convenience”, by a qualified doctor, in a hospital room overlooking the beach. Cardiac care, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, you name it. Add a massage, some yoga and meditation and you have the makings of an industry. One key player is Apollo Hospitals, with international-standard facilities.
Getting around Goa
If you’ve come to Goa to party, select your beach first and then your accommodation (see Goa map). Transport may have improved over the years, but travel within Goa is still a tad disorganised (and getting more expensive by the day). A one-way taxi trip from Margao to Panjim will cost you Rs600 or Rs3,500 by hotel car. At only Rs10, public transport cuts expenses considerably – but this is not always a kosher option for foreign travellers expecting comfort. The government runs a shuttle service with minibuses and regular buses between the two centres, but you have to buy your tickets at the depot first.
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| Chapel of St Anthony |
If you need to travel anywhere else (and inevitably you will have to), you are at the mercy of the many minibuses run by private operators plying the state’s winding roads, sometimes at a lazy 8km per hour, hoping to take in as many customers as possible. Drivers often choose longer routes, turning a five-minute journey into a 40-minute epic. Don’t attempt to travel in the afternoon either – that is when half of Goa is asleep, enjoying a well earned siesta. And all public transport comes to a halt at 8pm. Fortunately, there’s always the option of hiring a motorbike or scooter at about US$6 per day. Still looking at your watch? Toss it.
Goa Beach Guide
First, look at a Goa map and get your bearings. Goa beaches offer something for everyone. If you prefer crowds and action, try well-travelled Calangute beach, not far from Panaji, which is always packed (Anjuna and Baga are just north of here). Calangute and Anjuna were the original hippy havens. Baga beach (a distant extension of Calangute), just 15km from Panaji, is a touch quieter with fishing boats and the ubiquitous roasting Europeans. Sinquerim is a smallish beach overlooking the majestic Fort Aguada. Both the Taj Holiday Village and the Taj Fort Aguada are situated here. Arambol is one of the northernmost developed beaches, very relaxed, with shacks you can hire right on the sand. Expect bars with music and some good restaurants. There is cheap accommodation for backpackers in abundance. Close by is the Mandrem & Morjim. At Miramar beach is Cidade de Goa. The Dona Paula beach (popularly known as “Lovers’ Paradise”) with a good view of Marmagoa harbour also draws the crowds.
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| Anjuna Market/ photo: Nahida Coelho |
Further south are Majorda and Betalbatim beaches, with beautiful white sand, followed by Colva. Moving down the coast, Varca Beach is a tad crowded, but beyond that at Mobor (where chic The Leela Goa and its exclusive Club are located) and Cavelossim, Betul, Agonda and Palolem (not far from the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary), are quieter clusters of five-star luxury hotels. Many of the beaches in this area are largely untouched, and they are big enough to offer several solitary spots. Vagator is a fairly pristine stretch of white sand, one of the better Goa beaches, but it involves a bit of a hike. Watch for the undertow and currents though.
Vagator beach tends to be quiet, but at peak season in winter, evening revelry is very much on the cards. Agonda is a 3km strip of decent sand fringed by palm trees and casuarinas. It is somewhat off the beaten track and this poses challenges in accessing the beach. It also makes for relative solitude and peace. If you’re on a two-wheeler, getting here is no problem. Palolem in the far south bordering Karnataka State offers a white sand bay nestled between two enclosing headlands. Local fishermen will attempt to offer you a dolphin cruise (haggle madly) and the usual gew-gaws are on offer from t-shirts to trinkets. To give you an idea of the distances involved, Palolem is around 70km from the capital Panaji.
North Goa Resort Guide
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| Bright Siolim House/ photo: hotel |
On to our Goa resorts review and guide with a smattering of Goa spas and spa resorts. Choosing accommodation is tricky. In Goa there are a little over 2,000 hotels that are government-graded in categories descending from A, B, C to D (more than 1,500 fall into the D category). Goa also has 78 star-rated hotels and resorts, with a total of nearly 6,000 rooms. If you expect good service, a rule of thumb is not to go for anything below four stars. Dropping lower in your quest for a Goa budget beach resort will invariably lead to leisurely, unpredictable lunches served by beach boys in scruffy shorts and sandals. All this with a smile, of course.
Starting in the north (see Goa map), the Laguna Anjuna is situated close to Anjuna beach, famous for its flea market. The resort’s cottages are constructed from thick laterite stone (a soft rock used extensively for Goan buildings), with pillars and domes. This is one of the few three-star establishments in Goa that can be recommended. It has a large swimming pool, and two restaurants.
About 4km from Anjuna Beach is Siolim House, a 300-year-old, Portuguese-era manor house that once belonged to a governor of Macau. The house is a fusion of European and Indian styles. The owners describe it as a private home with an "oversized overflow pool and exceptionally friendly service". Don't expect a reception desk, air-conditioning, bellboys, coffee shop menus, uniformed waiters or checkout times here. The key word is relaxation. The boutique “house” has 24 rooms and seven suites on offer. Mandrem, Morjim, Arambol and Ashwem beaches are close by. Restless souls can rent the house-owned boat, the Jabuticaba, which can take up to 50 guests on day or overnight tours along the Goa coastline. Indian residents should try booking at its “silent auction” off-peak periods, when rooms are available at a discount.
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| The boutique Nilaya/ photo: hotel |
At Baga beach, up the Arpora Hills, you’ll find Nilaya Hermitage, a boutique resort overlooking the paddy fields below. Its menu blends Eastern and Western flavours, comprising fresh, local produce and plenty of seafood. Guests can dine alfresco by the pool, wrapped in a sarong in the dining room or privately in their own rooms. Don sunglasses – the colours are blinding, if entirely refreshing. This is among the more popular Goa boutique resorts.
Further down at Calangute beach is the 13-room theme resort Pousada Tauma, which in Portuguese means “the resting place”. Almost every Indian travel magazine has published rave reviews about the place. Its suites, scattered around the pool, all have different themes, such as the sea, fields, mountains and castles. It claims to be the only Goa boutique hotel built along the lines of traditional architecture using exposed masonry.
Calangute also has the three-star Kamat Holiday Homes Resort, which comprises 140 cheap apartments. It also has a swimming pool and a multi-cuisine restaurant, and offers poolside barbeques. Try the four-star, 135-room Sun Village resort on the slopes of the Armora hills, at Baga beach. It has open-air discos, a flea market and beer gardens. The resort furniture is made of teakwood and wrought iron. The Sunflower buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An Aztec-themed indoor restaurant serves Mexican, Continental and Indian food.
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| Cidade de Goa/ photo: hotel |
For an upscale Goa resort experience, head for the Taj. The Taj Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village nestle beside each other, separated by a moat around the Fort Aguada, a 16th century Portuguese structure. They share a common tennis court, spa and fitness centre. Fort Aguada has villas and cottages, and every room is at least a superior. Terrace Sea Facing Suites, with renovated rooms, have open-air beds for relaxation. A now-abolished Indian law used to limit the amount of space a hotel could utilise for bathrooms. In some older Goan hotels, the bathrooms are still economy-sized. The Taj Holiday Village also underwent renovation recently, and all its cottages now face the sea. Expect beds with six pillows, and 25-inch plasma TV. All cottages are brightly coloured, and the “streets” are tiled. Choose between standard and superior rooms. If you go for the suite you’ll get a private garden with hammock too. The Taj runs some of the best Goa resorts in the area.
For a cheaper and cheerful Goa hotel option, try the 52-year-old, three-star Mandovi bang in the middle of Panjim city, opposite the Caravela, a casino boat popular for its evening cruises along Mandovi river, tracing Da Gama’s journey on his arrival in Goa. Book in advance; the hotel runs full during peak season. It has four restaurants and a pastry shop.
Near Dona Paula on Miramar beach is Cidade de Goa. Reception is a five-minute ride from the gate. Cidade is packed in peak season. Rooms range from standard to suites. The quirky cubist hotel has a small beach, Vainguinim. Many big resorts in Goa have large spaces reserved for golf courses between the hotel and the sea, but the Cidade is actually close to the sea. Among Goa resorts, this place has a reputation for friendliness.
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| Airy Marriott room/ photo: hotel |
For slightly larger Goa resorts, start with the three-floor Goa Marriott Resort on Miramar beach – with its 155 superior rooms and 10 suites – has a lovely infinity pool, and a casino, which (like most Goan casinos) is outsourced to a British company. It has three restaurants: one offering a range of cuisines, one offering Chinese food and a third specialising in seafood. Blu, its lounge, is packed on weekends. Rooms are large and many are sea-facing. The third floor is reserved for business travellers.
A new and cheerful 39-room Goa boutique resort is the Lazylagoon Sarovar Portico Suites in the Arpora district in the north next to a lagoon that runs on to Baga Beach. The resort offers a wellness centre and suites with twin Jacuzzis, teak furniture, private terraces and Italian marble flooring.
South Goa Resort Guide
The Ramada Caravela at Varca beach is a 202-room hotel spread over three floors, with 12 villas and a large swimming pool. Guestrooms and suites have high ceilings and private balconies. The room safes cannot manage a laptop. The Raddisson White Sands Resort, Goa, is another 154-room resort in Varca, among the few in Goa with a bowling alley and an outdoor Jacuzzi. This Goa resort offers parasailing, banana boat rides, jet and waterskiing and windsurfing. Rooms come with 25-inch plasma TVs.
About 8km from the airport is a row of hotels along a beautiful, long, white sand beach. The Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa is a top-drawer player. Set on a 45-acre property, it has 250 guestrooms and suites set in Indo-Portuguese-style pousadas. Rooms have sunken bathrooms (a trademark of the Hyatt) and some of the resort rooms have outdoor showers covered with foliage. Try a massage at the Sereno Spa, and a swim in the pool, which the resort claims to be India’s largest. This is one of the best Goa resorts and the spa is a major plus.
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| Park Hyatt interior/ photo: hotel |
Beside the Hyatt is Kenilworth Beach Resort. In peak season it sets up tents beside the beach (as does the Taj Exotica). Deluxe rooms at the107-room hotel have sea views. There’s a “swim up” bar, and a poolside café. Groups can enjoy theme dinners on the beach, complete with local dance performances.
Next in row is the Majorda Beach Resort, spread over 20 acres and with 120 rooms and 10 cottages. Each room has a sea-facing private balcony. Try the massages here, or opt for the “hydrotherapeutic” Jacuzzi. The hotel also has a disco and mini casino. But in the afternoon, you’ll find a large crowd in the pool, basking in the sun or parked beside the shacks on the beach.
The Bogmalo Beach Resort is a 123-room five-star hotel. Only 4km from the airport, it has positioned itself as a business hotel, with large conference halls. Nautilus restaurant serves Indian, Continental and Chinese food, and there is a casino, live music and dancing every night. This is a popular package tour destination, but you can “put in a request” if you plan to drop by in peak season. Hotel staff promises to get back to you.
The plush, award-winning The Leela Goa is, at 75 acres, one of the largest resorts in Goa. It is 47km from the international airport. Safes are regular-sized and the minibar is well stocked. There’s a casino, and a 10-hole, par-3 golf course. You’ll be pampered here, for a price. The resort's architecture combines Indian and Portuguese elements to create an engaging ambience firmly rooted in a Portuguese past. A delightful blend of Eastern and Western influences is also evident in The Spa, which offers a wide array of Ayurvedic treatments, Western spa therapies, massage and yoga.
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| Leela Goa Villa/ photo: hotel |
The Club at The Leela is a bit of a treat. It is an exclusive enclave with separate check-in for its 15 private villas, some with their own pools. Club guests enjoy breakfast, snacks, cocktails and dinner at the Club Lounge, that also features a 25m lap pool. Meanwhile, if you’re one of those who jetted in, privately, try out the 418sq m Presidential Villa for size. It boasts a grand master bedroom and two additional bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a sizeable living room, dining room, kitchen and spacious sun terrace with pool and Jacuzzi. The recreation menu includes a generous lagoon pool, water sports, jet skis, a golf course and a children’s activity centre. At the end of the day, The Leela is a Goa spa resort, kids getaway, golf resort and beach resort all rolled into one. This too is among the best Goa resorts along this stretch of coast.
The five-star Holiday Inn nestles beside The Leela, but caters to a more cost-conscious clientele. It has 187 rooms, many of which overlook the sea. It is also among the very few Goa hotels that are expanding room numbers – although many hotels are undergoing renovation work. Pool-facing rooms have two beds, and the mini-bar is filled on request. The hotel has time-share units, too, though the concept has yet to take off in India. Dine at one of the hotel’s four food and drink outlets. The hotel also has a casino and a discotheque. Hotel Hathi Mahal, a three-star close by, and the Royal Goan Beach Club also offer time-share.
The Dona Sylvia, some say, exists against all odds. Apart from well-established players like the Taj, this four-star hotel is the only stand-alone Indian brand in Goa. The Mediterranean-style club resort has 176 rooms spread over 26 acres along the Cavelossim beach. There is a dining and large shopping area outside the hotel. If you’re here on an “all-inclusive” holiday, you get unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic house brands), breakfast, lunch and dinner, and free run of the facilities.
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| Upscale Taj Fort Aguada/ photo: hotel |
In Goa’s south, the Taj Exotica has a 56-acre property. Like the Holiday Village, it has villas and suites on offer. Ask for the in-house magician’s performance at dinner at its Goan restaurant, or be at the Lobster Shack at 8pm on Sundays to watch fire-eaters in action. Sunset Pool Villa rooms come with private plunge pools. Guests can expect a bottle of wine, and fruit, in their rooms on arrival. When the hotel is packed, tents – complete with amenities – are set up along the beach. The hotel also has an ayurvedic massage centre, but the Balinese massage comes particularly highly recommended.
Far south, about a kilometre from Palolem beach, is the InterContinental The Grand Resort. Built on 85 acres, the property includes a nine-hole golf course, beside a kilometre-long beachfront. This is an all-suite resort, divided into 14 “casas” and 255 suites, with 25-inch TV sets in each room, and safes large enough to hold a laptop. The resort has an upmarket Champneys Spa. Palolem beach is also popular for dolphin cruises.
If you’re looking for a Goa budget hotel, try the 85-room, three-star Hotel Nanutel in south Goa. It has fruit and light snacks on arrival, safes and a doctor on call, and everything else you might need at a reasonable price. Or opt for GTDC Hotels. The rooms are cheap, and the tariffs are fixed every three months, so that they don’t fluctuate according to demand. There are 12 GTDC resorts across Goa. Rooms are large and air-conditioned with double beds – and surprisingly the bathrooms are large too. There’s no ironing allowed in your room, though. The properties are well maintained, but the buildings themselves are nothing to write home about.
Goa spa treatments
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| The azure coast |
For authentic spa treatments, independent operators like the Ayurvedic Natural Health Centre in Goa may not offer five-star frills but they do have musclebound, die-hard ayurvedic practitioners versed in the five classic treatments called panchkarma. These include vamana (emetics), virecana (laxatives), basti (medicated enema), nasya (nasal cleansing), and rakta mokshana (blood letting). That’s right, blood-letting. If your knees are knocking violently at all this and you are not convinced, head to the Centre’s New Age aura imaging centre which will take before-and-after snapshots of your chakra colours to make the point that ayurveda can and will boost your energy levels. There is also a nice resort operated by the group.
Goa Shopping, Music, Dining
There are small bazaars all over Goa where you can buy touristy souvenirs. The Wednesday Flea Market at Anjuna used to be a place where backpackers and hippies sold unwanted belongings before they returned home. That doesn’t happen any more, but you’ll find everything else: trinkets, t-shirts, belts and jewellery. At Marinha Dourado, a 10-minute drive from Calangute, is Mackies Saturday Night Market. Apart from colourful clothes, you’ll also find small restaurants here with live Goan music.
Ingos’s Night Bazaar on Arpora hill between Anjuna and Baga offers an eclectic mix of Indian and Western stuff. Look for Kamasutra, Baga, which is good for fine dining options. Britto’s, also in Baga is a great choice for breakfast after a late night out, after which you can grab a beer and lie on the beach to continue the party.
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| Francis of Assisi/ photo: Ryan Rodrigues |
Stop by at Curlies (South Anjuna) and sample the mojitos, On the same road from Curlies check out Munchies. For interesting Italian with a tad more ambience, there’s Casa Nostra with its enticingly aromatic pizzas. Little Italy offers Italian at mid-range prices. Or do Zuris at Anjuna for dinner. Tony’s Shack (also called Fisherman’s Paradise) serves up lip-smacking grub for those on a budget. Pyramid Beach shack on Baga is a spot where you can literally spend the entire day watching the world go by, slowly.
For more live music, try Bom Sucesso (tel: [91] 989 041-9041) at Candolim beach, which has karaoke nights on Tuesdays and Saturdays. East Meets West (tel: 227-6211) at Baga has a band playing every evening from 6.30pm, and jazz on Saturday nights. Fiplees Restaurant (tel: 277-0123 or www.fiplees.com) on Benaulim beach serves a variety of foods and has a live band playing every evening. Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia (tel: 277-7054) has karaoke every Monday. You’ll find Felix the trumpeter here on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Agnelo on the saxophone on Thursdays and Sundays. The Mango Tree Bar and Café at Vagator is worth a look-in.
The Flying Dolphin Beach Bar (tel: [91] 982 212-5850) in Calangute has karaoke, a barbeque and fireworks every evening. On Sundays there’s pop, blues and country. At Sweet Chilli in Sinquerim (tel: 247-9446), you can try Goan, Continental, Chinese and Mughlai food too. For Goan seafood – steamed, grilled, fried or baked – try Martin’s Corner (tel: 288-0413) at Betalbatim beach.
A must stop is the Infantaria Bakery, in Calangute. Great cakes and seafood.
Goa Sightseeing and Churches
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| Lazylagoon Sarovar/ photo: hotel |
Goa has eight museums. The Goa State Museum, with its bronze statues, art and sculpture galleries, is worth checking out. So is the archaeological museum at St Francis d’Assisi church in Old Goa. There are also smaller art galleries at Margoa, such as the Yemanja Art Gallery, and the Art Chambers at Calangute. The striking and characterful Basilica of Bom Jesus built in 1605 (in Old Goa) is famous for containing the tomb and remains of St Francis Xavier, while the Se Cathedral, not far from here is built in Tuscan style with staggering proportions and heavily gilded central altars depicting the martyrdom of Saint Catherine. It also contains the “Cross of Miracles”, said to have healing properties. Se Cathedral is touted to be the largest church in Asia.
The Santa Monica Launch (tel: 222-4132) departing from the Panjim jetty offers full-moon cruises starting at 10.30pm. There’s a cultural show and live music too. Or go for an hour-long sundown cruise starting at 7.15pm. Dolphin cruises, also departing from the jetty, cost Rs250 (about US5) per person.
A must-see is the Saligaon Church, which is beautifully lit up at night. The ruins of St Augustine, at Panjim, offer just the 46m tower built in 1602. It would have been the biggest church in the world in its heyday. Just 30 minutes away from Panjim the Tropical Spice Plantation, is about 150 acres of walks with some typically hot Indian food thrown into the bargain.
Also check out Butterfly Island. Take a banana boat or regular craft from Palolem beach. This is a secluded cove with a good chance of dolphin sightings.
Goa Nightlife and Bars
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| Nilaya music room/ photo: Nahida Coelho |
There aren’t too many discotheques in Goa, but in north Goa you might try the popular Tito’s (tel: 227-9895) at Baga if you’re in the party mood. International dancers occasionally perform there, and the music is hip-hop. Baga also has Mambo’s (tel: 227-9895) with its resident DJ, Nanu. On the Rocks (tel: 245-3144) at Dona Paula has theme nights on Saturdays. Gatsby’s (tel: 278-9745) is the only stand-alone pub and disco in south Goa, with a 24-hour coffee shop and ample parking space.
Visit Dreams before you head into Tito’s and look out for Paradiso and Primrose on Anjuna. The 9 BAR, (Vagatore) is a bopping choice for electronic and trance music. Guest DJs and visiting artists perform often, and the music is eclectic. Open during season time.
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FAST FACTS
Room stays attract a collective luxury and value-added tax of 10.5 percent, while there is 12.5 percent tax on restaurant bills and 13 percent tax at spas. Tax rates are revised yearly. All prices listed are peak season (November to February) rates. Many hotels double prices over Christmas, and rooms tend to be hard to find during January.
The exchange rate is roughly US$1 = Rs40. Panjim, the Goan capital, is also called Panaji. IDD code: [91-832].
Useful Goa holiday and travel information websites include the excellent government-run www.incredibleindia.org and www.goa-tourism.com while some travel agency sites include www.gogoa.com, www.goahub.com and www.goatrip.com
Ayurvedic Natural Health Centre Pvt Ltd also operates a resort. Tel: [91-832] 240-9275, 240-9036, fax: 240-9127, (e-mail: info@healthandayurveda.com or www.healthandayurveda.com).
Bogmalo Beach Resort Goa . Tel: [91-832] 2538-2222/35, fax: 255-6236, 253-8236, (e-mail: bbrtwhl@saucharnet.in or www.tulipstar.com or www.bogmallobeachresort.com). Standard and Deluxe rooms at Rs19,000 and Rs24,000, respectively. Includes all meals, a boat trip, and transfer from airport to hotel.
Cidade de Goa. Tel: [91-832] 245-4545, fax: 245-4541/42, (e-mail: sales@cidadedegoa.com or www.cidadedegoa.com). Standard rooms from Rs12,500 (US$313).
Coconut Grove, The Goan Beach Retreat. Tel: [91-832] 288-0123/125, fax: 288-0124, (e-mail: cgrove@sancharnet.in or www.coconutgrovegoa.com).
Club Mahindra Varca Beach Resort. Tel: [91-832] 274-4555/60, fax: 274-4666, (e-mail: reservations.goa@clubmahindra.com or resv.goa@clubmahindra.com or www.clubmahindra.com).
Dona Sylvia. Tel: [91-832] 287-1888, fax: 287-1320, (e-mail: info@donasylvia.com or www.donasylvia.com). Rs32,000 (US$800) all-inclusive, for three days and four nights, or Rs19,000 (US$431), including taxes and hotel transfer to the airport.
Goa Marriott Resort. Tel: [91-832] 246-3333, fax: 246-3300, (www.marriott.com). Rs7,400 (US$165), Bay-view rooms. Executive garden view, US$275, Executive Bay-view, US$348. All prices include taxes, buffet breakfast, and airport coach transfer.
GTDC Hotels. Central booking office, tel: [91-832] 243-6666, fax: 242-3926, (www.goa-tourism.com). Rates vary by location. Calangute Residency double, Rs1,000 (US$22), not including taxes and airport transfer.
Holiday Inn. Tel: [91-832] 287-1303-13, fax: 2871333, (www.holidayinngoa.com). Plaza rooms Rs14,000 (US$350), including all taxes, and airport transfers.
Hotel Linda, Goa. Tel: [91-832] 227-6066/6599/9686/9685, fax: 227-9102, (e-mail: lindagoa@hotmail.com or www.hotellindagoa.com).
Hotel Papajolly’s Goa. Tel: [91-832] 224-4113/14, (e-mail: papajolly@saucharnet.in or parajollysgoa@yahoo.co.in or www.papajollysgoa.com).
Kamat Holiday Homes Resort. Tel: [91-832] 227-7226-8/227-7009, fax: 227-4958, (e-mail: sales@hotelnovagoa.com or www.kamatholidayhomes.com). Reservations can only be done at Nova Goa (apartment-style rooms). Phase I, Rs3,000 ($75), phase II, Rs2,700 ($68). Includes airport transfer and breakfast.
Kenilworth Beach Resort and Spa, Goa . Tel: [91-832] 669-8888, fax: 275-4183, (e-mail: kenilworthgoa@kenilworthhotels.com or www.kenilworthhotels.com). Rs9,300 ($210), single; Rs10,000 ($225), double. Rates applicable only from 3 January to 10 January 2006; including all taxes, and airport transfers.
InterContinental The Grand Resort. Tel: [91-832] 266-7777, fax: 264-3287, (e-mail: goa@interconti.com or www.interconti.com). Garden View Room specials from , Rs9,760 (US$244).
La Calypso Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Tel: [91-832] 227-5777, fax: 227-5877, (www.lacalypsohotels.com/index.php).
Lazylagoon Sarovar Portico Suites. Sarovar Hotels & Resorts New Delhi. Tel: [91-832] 228-1520/1526, fax: 228-1527(e-mail: gpo@sarovarhotels.com or www.sarovarhotels.com).
Majorda Beach Resort. Tel: [91-832] 668-1111/ 288-1111 to 1113, fax: 288-1124/ 288-1121, (e-mail: resv@majordabeachresortgoa.com or www.majordabeachresort.com). Rs7,000 (US$175).
Mandovi. Tel: [91-832] 242-6270-73, fax: 222-5451, (e-mail: info@hotelmandovigoa.com or www.hotelmandovigoa.com). Rs1,900 (US$48). Includes all taxes, and airport transfers.
Nanutel Margoa. Tel: [91-832] 273-6701-05, fax: 273-3175, (e-mail: nrpl@nanuindia.com or www.nanuindia.com). Deluxe room, Rs1,450 (US$36). Tax and airport transfers not included.
Nilaya Hermitage. Tel: [91-832] 227-6793, fax: 227-6792, (e-mail: reservations@nilaya.com or www.nilayahermitage.com). All rooms US$490 approx. Includes Continental breakfast, three to four-course set menu dinner, airport transfers, access to wellness and sports facilities. Tax as applicable. The Hermitage remains closed in June and July during the monsoons.
Park Hyatt Goa Resort. Tel: [91-832] 272-1234, fax: 272-1235, (e-mail: india.reservations@hyattintl.com or www.hyatt.com). Park King rooms from Rs15,000 (US$340), including all taxes, and hotel transfer to and from the airport.
Pousada Tauma. Tel: [91-832] 227-9061/62/63, fax: 227-9064, (e-mail: neville@pousada-tauma.com or www.pousada-tauma.com). Standard suite from Rs13,020 (US$328). Tax and transfers not included, but low-season tariff includes tax and breakfast.
Radisson White Sands Resort. Tel: +[91-832] 272-7272, fax: 272-7282, (www.radisson.com/goain). Superior Rooms from RS11,000 (US$275).
Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort. Central reservations office, tel: [91-832] 564-5858, fax: 664-5868, (e-mail: fortaguada.goa@tajhotels.com or www.tajhotels.com). Cottage rates from Rs17,500 (US$438).
Taj Exotica. Tel: [91-832] 277-1234, fax: 277-1515, (e-mail: exotica.goa@tajhotels.com or www.tajhotels.com). Deluxe villas from Rs18,000 (US$450).
Taj Holiday Village. Tel: [91-832] 664-5858 (central reservation office), fax: 664-5502, (e-mali: village.goa@tajhotels.com or www.tajhotels.com). Cottages from Rs14,000 (US$350). Tax not included; airport coach transfers usually included.
The Leela Kempinski Goa. Tel: [91-832] 287-1234, fax: 287-1352, (e-mail: reservations.goa@theleela.com or www.theleela.com). The Club at Leela Goa – Pool Suite from US$550. Not including taxes.
Siolim House. Tel: [91-832] 227-2138, 227-2941; fax: 227-2323, (www.siolimhouse.com). Rates from Rs3,150.
Sun Village Resort. Tel: [91-832] 227-9409-14, fax: 227-9415, (e-mail: sun-village@desouzahotels.com or www.desouzahotels.com). Aircon room, Rs6,600 (US$150). Superior room, Rs7,920 (US$180). All meals, airport transfers included.
Vainguinim Valley Resort. Tel: [91-832] 245-2201/02/03/04, fax: 245-2205, (e-mail: reservations@vainguinimvalleyresort.com or www.vainguinimvalleyresort.com). Superior Room from Rs9,000 (US$225).
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