My India Vacations

I bumped into a group of avid travelers like myself a few years back. It must be a good 7 years by now. And we make it a point to visit at least two travel destinations every year (budget permitting or not…we don’t mind just strapping our backpacks and setting out with the most incredulous balance in our pockets!) Our last trip was in India, and we covered Goa extensively. We had a safe trip and a good time. But it would not have been possible to get a good deal on Goa hotels without knowledge that most locals have. It’s not in my nature to keep handy information to myself, so I am sharing some real info on Hotels in Goa.

Before deciding on a hotel in Goa, consider a few points. Why would you go to Goa? For the beaches, right? You wouldn’t want to trudge a couple of kilometers to reach the beach. Well, here’s a fact most of us who’ve traveled to Goa know. Not all the Goa hotels are on the beaches. If you want to be close to Dabolim (the airport) it is a drive of atleast 4 kms to the nearest Bogmalo Beach. Most of the famous beaches are in north Goa, while the hotels close to the Dabolim airport are in the south. So I would advice that you do a little research about the location of your hotel, so that you don’t have to spend too much time on traveling if you are on a tight schedule.

Again, even though you might get a good hotel by the beach, you may not get a sea facing room – so ask for one, if you are crazy about the sights and sounds of the beach. Some Goa hotels do not have any sea facing rooms at all. I would also advice you to carefully go through the hotel facilities before deciding to check in. Some hotels in Goa provide mini bars in the rooms, but charge for the drinks. Clear all doubts before checking in. Check if the hotel has a bar that stays open all night, or the airport transfer is by a coach or car. You may have to wait in a Coach for other passengers, so insist on a car, if you are not in a charitable mood. Ask the hotel staff if they have a safe deposit box, and see if you are convinced about the safety of your valuables. I’ve seen some Goa hotels charge much more than the public booths for calls. Before booking, ask the reception to give you an idea about the booths in the vicinity.

The liquor in Goa is cheap, especially in the countless nightclubs and bars. You can forget to bring your own liquor and not curse yourself, because hotels in Goa don’t allow it anyway. Also, be prepared to dish out a lump sum if you are booking a hotel any time between October – March. It is the peak season. You might want to go for the many budget hotels on the beach. Another thing about booking a Goa hotel in peak season - The packages most often include a ‘compulsory Christmas dinner’ or ‘New Year Buffet’. With the rush in this season, you would have little choice, so make you bookings well in advance.