This was our first visit to India and we were apprehensive, especially after reading about the 'culture shock' and the bureaucracy of the airport. Needless to say we experienced both! But, it only took us a couple of days to settle in and we had a fantastic holiday. All in all, we found Goa to be a wonderful charming place.
The food is delicous and Baga has some fantastic restaurants with menus to suit all tastes. If you came to Baga on an all inclusive holiday you would be missing out. Our favourites were Lucky Star Shack at the bottom of Tito's Lane whose BBQ night is a must, The Ritz Shack in Calangute/Candolim, Fiesta Restaurant on Tito's Lane, Cavala, East Meets West, Kim Faa Chinese and The Hot Plate on CSM Lane. All great food and service at unbelievably cheap prices.
After exploring the resort, I would say that our hotel 'The Ronil Beach Resort' appeared to be one of the better hotels in Baga, although the decor in the rooms is tired this is the only downside - there is room service, laundry service, fresh towels daily and free air con! The staff are brilliant, always smiling, polite and very hard working. It is true about the power cuts, they are frequent, but only last for a few minutes. You have a candle and matches in your room but get a small torch for when you are out and about after dark as the whole resort can be plunged into darkness.
Taxis are reasonable, we paid 600-1200 rupees a day (£7.50-£15) and tended to use the same taxi driver for all our trips. We visited the 'Tropical Spice Plantation' in Ponda, which was about and hour and a half away and home to two elephants. There is herbal tea on arrival, a tour around the plantation, lunch served on a banana leaf, fresh melon and a feni toast, all for £3. There are numerous beaches dotted along the coast worth a visit, our favourite was Ashwem, very very quiet in comparison to Baga and only two sellers. Coco Beach is worth a visit, if only for the hour long dolphin spotting trip, where you will see the Prison at Fort Aguada - spot the Englishman arrested for carrying drugs, waving his flag through the bars!
One unusual evening was Casino Goa in Panjim. It's on a ship which cruises the Mandovi River and a smaller boat shuttles people to and fro hourly. We met some fantastic people in our hotel and all went in taxi convoy to Panjim. There is a dress code aboard, which we were not aware of and a few of us were not dressed appropriately. This resulted in a dash around Panjim for new trousers and shoes!!! The entry fee is about £15 which includes the entertainment, all food and drinks. We stayed on board until 4.30am and our taxi drivers waited for us. A really good night out if you fancy doing something different. I didn't see this advertised anywhere in resort so just ask you taxi driver to take you.
In the resorts and towns be prepared to see a few beggers with disabilities and stray animals - most of the dogs on the beach are owned by the shacks as 'guard dogs', but aren't cared for like our pets.
Also, be prepared to haggle - they expect it. On the beach, everyone wants to sell you something, but a firm 'no thank you' and a 'I've been here a week' tan will keep them away. Saying that, I did buy LOTS of gifts from the sellers. They are very friendly and inquisitive and are only trying to earn a living. Have fun haggling!
Overall I would highly recommend Baga and the Ronil Beach Resort. If you choose to visit India you must expect things to be a little different. It is a poor country, but the Goans really do work so hard to welcome you.
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very good first review, we visited Goa in 1995 (Our Silver wedding trip), really enjoyed it and still get Birthday Cards from family we met there. As you say wonderful food and the time of your life, unforgettable. regards Steve.
headcase44 17.07.2008 11:14
Hello and welcome to Ciao...a very good first review.. The floating casino sounded good. When I lived in Sweden I frequented a floating nightclub on my nights off... At least I think it was a floating nightclub or it may have been because I was under the influence on my nights off !!! Thanks. J.
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