How to get to Goa: by plane, train, bus or car. Current prices, useful tips, all the nuances and details of the route to Goa from the "Subtleties of Tourism".
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India is not the place where people go to relax with a "vegetable" - lying on the beaches and drinking cocktails. There is something to be surprised and why stay. If you have a vacation of no more than two weeks, the best way to save time is to go to Goa by plane with a direct flight. But there are plenty of other options as well. Often tourists choose a slightly more time-consuming, but much more scenic path via Delhi and Mumbai: there - by plane, and then by train or taxi.
And a completely extreme, but quite feasible option is to spend several weeks (or even months) on the road and get to Goa by land, visiting Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Pakistan at the same time.
By air
By taxi
This option of transportation is convenient if you are traveling with a large company, you want to get to your destination among your “friends” and in comfort. A taxi ride from Mumbai to Goa will take 8-12 hours and will cost from 10,000 INR. Iron rules when communicating with a taxi driver in India:
- agree on a price in advance and do not give money up front;
- indicate the destination, arrival time and the fact that you will not pay extra money if the driver "gets lost";
- find out if you have to pay for luggage separately.
Theoretically, you can also get to Goa from Delhi by taxi, but this mode of transportation, to put it mildly, is not very popular among tourists. A trip of almost 2,000 km will not only tire you out, but also cost you a lot of money. Moreover, the driver may demand to pay for his stay at the hotel.
By rented car
This option, judging by the reviews of tourists, is almost never practiced. The fact is that when renting a car in Mumbai, you will have to return it there. It is inconvenient to constantly travel by car in Goa because of the chaos on the roads, there are almost no parking lots, and besides, the car can simply break down, which will create difficulties when returning it to the agency.
Goa is the smallest state of India and is very different in terms of infrastructure and hygiene from other places in this multifaceted country. He is among the best resorts planet, where tourists are offered both high-class elite service and a budget vacation option. It all depends on the location of the resort, and there are more than forty of them in Goa.
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110 kilometers of beaches can be divided into North and southern part. This is a conditional division, since the warm sea, air temperature and nature on the coast are equally beautiful. The difference is expressed only in the "stars" of hotels, the public and prices.
These resorts are preferred by wealthy tourists, for whom comfort and luxury during their holidays play an important role. Comfortable hotels, high level of service, comfortable beaches, spas, Ayurvedic schools, luxurious green parks and so on. The hotels are located at a considerable distance from each other, so vacationers can fully enjoy the silence and find a secluded corner where you can meditate or just contemplate the splendor created by nature.
north goa
For those who prefer budget holiday Suitable North Goa. This place attracts young people who come here to actively relax, make new friends and have fun in full. This tradition has been going on since the late seventies, when the first hippie companies arrived here, and since then its character has changed little.
The level of hotels here is represented by one or two stars, the prices are low, the food is of good quality. It is worth noting that tap water is not recommended to drink in either cheap or expensive hotels. Tourists are offered only bottled water, which also needs to wash fruit. The beaches are located at a short distance from each other. They have numerous bars, nightclubs and noisy discos.
Hotels in Goa 4 stars - an overview of the best options.
How to get to Goa
As a vacation in Goa can vary significantly in its cost, so the way to India can be fast and expensive, or it can be less expensive, but not so comfortable. Let's consider both options. Let's make a reservation right away that the reduction in travel costs is presented within reasonable limits, so rail, road transport and hitchhiking are not considered.
Convenient option
Dabolim is the only airport in Goa that accepts international airliners and charter flights. The flight time from Moscow to Dabolim is from seven to ten hours. Given this factor and the carrier company, the price ranges from 15 to 23 thousand rubles one way. It is best to purchase tickets one and a half to two months before departure. This makes it possible to find a cheaper option and save a lot. Also, various tour operators periodically offer their customers discounts, and whoever is lucky - "last minute" tours. About a month before departure, tickets may rise in price.
A significant advantage of this method of movement is the absence of transfers. For those traveling with small children, this is of great importance.
A budget option
It is very logical to assume that tourists choosing a vacation in North Goa choose a cheaper and more affordable flight option. It implies a flight from Moscow to Mumbai. This is an Indian airport, located about five hundred kilometers from the resort. There is also a transfer to the planes of local airlines to Dabolim. You can also use New Delhi Airport for this. In time, such flights can take from eleven to twenty-six hours, but the price will be about ten to eleven thousand rubles one way.
It is worth knowing in advance one nuance, which is that there are two airports in Mumbai. international Airport accepts and sends aircraft of international companies, but the domestic airport serves only domestic flights. A bus runs between them, which is easy to find, focusing on the signs with the inscription "shuttle". If you need to get there quickly, you can use the services of local taxis by ordering them directly at the airport at the Prepaid taxi counter.
For fans of photography there is a special warning. The fact is that Dabolim Airport, in addition to civilian airliners, also accepts military aircraft. Tourists should not be photographed against their background, as this can lead to serious and rather unpleasant consequences.
Rail connection
From Mumbai to the beaches of Goa can be reached by train. This is a very economical option that also allows you to get to know the local sights and customs.
It all starts with the purchase of a ticket, during which you must indicate your age and gender. These criteria are taken into account when choosing a seat, and it is possible that the husband and wife will end up in different cars. Before departure, it is worth checking the presence of your last name in the lists posted in the station building, as well as on the train cars.
There are such classes of wagons as: 1. 1 AC can be compared to a Russian compartment car.2. 2 AC is a kind of reserved seat, which has air conditioning.3. 3 AC is similar to the previous version, but the sleeping shelves are arranged in three rows, which is a total of six places instead of four.4. Sleepper is a shared car with bars instead of glass on the windows. They are mainly used locals, therefore, it is not worth buying tickets for this class.
Bus transportation
From Mumbai or Delhi to the beaches of Goa can be reached by bus. Tickets for them can be purchased at Indian Travel Bureaus located near the bus stations.
There are two types of buses - night and day.
With daytime buses, everything is clear, since they do not differ from the usual buses. But the night option implies the ability to sleep lying on a kind of shelf. Here it must be borne in mind that the shelf is double and you will have to sleep next to a fellow traveler. To avoid this, it is worth buying two tickets at once, especially since their price is not high.
Most often, tourists do not fly to Goa on their own, but turn to travel companies and buy the appropriate tour there. This site discussed the question of what is more profitable to travel on your own to Goa or buy a package tour, and most agreed that it is better to buy a tour, since India is too far away and the lion's share of the funds will have to be spent on flights. In any case, you must understand that the flight time starts from seven hours (in the case of a direct charter flight from Moscow) and can reach 36 hours in the case of a flight with transfers.
Of course, first of all, you should pay attention to charter flights, which are very popular, as they save time in the first place. Usually flights to Goa are carried out not only from Moscow, but also from other major cities. During the season, such flights are carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the influx of tourists. Direct charter flights rarely exceed 9 hours. The cost of such a flight starts from 400-450 dollars, but usually the flight is already included in the tour price. But there is one very interesting nuance here, which is that when buying tickets for a charter flight for $ 1,000 (both ways), you will most likely be given both hotel accommodation and insurance for free. You did not indicate which city you are planning a trip from, but nevertheless, it makes sense to monitor the websites of airlines operating both regular and charter flights from your city and it is possible that there will be some interesting options and offers. Usually, a 2-3 * hotel with breakfast, a swimming pool, modest living conditions, but generally not bad, comes with a ticket as a gift.
Such offers appear when there are several days left before departure, and there are plenty of empty seats on the plane. Buying a ticket for a charter flight to Goa a few months before departure is almost impossible - only as part of a package tour.
Sometimes people fly to the same hotel on the same plane, only the amount paid for the ticket can differ by up to 30%.
Now consider the options for a flight with transfers, although in this case it is unlikely to work out cheaper. Most often, combined flights to Goa take place with a transfer in the UAE. First, a 5-6 hour flight to Abu Dhabi with Aeroflot or Etihad, and then waiting for a transfer from 2 to 6 hours. It is better to fly with Arab airlines, as their service is at the highest level (if the transfer time is more than 6 hours, then passengers are provided with a hotel and a snack for free). The flight from Abu Dhabi to Goa is another 3-4 hours in the air.
You can find other options, but in terms of time it is unlikely to turn out faster. My advice to you is that it is better to look for charter flights, since independent flights with transfers are simply unprofitable and physically difficult (when traveling with children, apart from a charter, you should not even consider other options).
I would like to write some useful tips for those who are going to GOA as a savage for the first time. No matter how long, these tips are valid for everyone)
1. Pets. For some time now, the import of pets has been banned in India, so no matter how hard you try, you cannot bring your pet with you.
2. Vaccinations. Everyone's business. I have been living in GOA for six years, I travel around India calmly, and all this without a single vaccination. But if you want to play it safe - it's your personal choice.
3. Hygiene. Wash your hands! This is the main rule, following which, any gastrointestinal disorder will bypass you) And, of course, do not drink tap water, wash fruits and vegetables before eating. But most importantly, wash your hands!
4. Tickets. The season in GOA starts in the second half of October, charter flights start flying around the same time. You can buy tickets on your own, for example, through skyscanner.ru or aviasales.ru, or at a travel agency. Charter flights are not sold online, only through intermediaries. But sometimes, if cost is important to you, you can find a regular flight at a low price. True, the route, most likely, will be with several transfers.
5. Charters. By current rule, if you arrived at Dabolim Airport, GOA, on a charter flight, then you can fly ONLY on a charter flight of the SAME airline. There were precedents when people were simply not allowed on the plane. Now GOA has an electronic passenger tracking system, and control has become even stricter. If you arrived on a regular flight, then you can fly on any regular flight. To figure out which flight you have, look at its number - charters have 4 digits in the flight number (for example, UN 1234), and for regular flights - three (for example, UN 123). Transaero Airlines flight UN 542 has been REGULAR since 2013.
6. Money and taxis. I strongly recommend not to succumb to screaming taxi drivers at the airport, they will probably skin you three times. At the exit there is a Prepaid Taxi counter (prepaid taxi), which has a list settlements, and a fixed price to each of them. Payment is made at the counter, you are given a ticket, at the exit a taxi driver picks you up and takes you where you need to go. Regarding currency exchange - in no case do this at the airport! The course there is simply predatory. There are a lot of exchangers in GOA, and it is better to stop near one of them on the way, or use an ATM (there are no ATMs at the airport). Note - on weekends, the exchange rate falls, it is not profitable to change. Better wait until Monday.
7. Housing. If you already have a place to live, if friends or acquaintances are waiting for you, great. Otherwise, being with suitcases without an overnight stay is not the most the best way. Therefore, I recommend that you think about it in advance, and even in Russia book your accommodation for two or three days. There are many services for this, but I personally prefer Airbnb.ru, because there you can rent not a hotel, but an apartment in which it will be cozier and more comfortable. The undoubted advantage of this service is that there is no direct transfer of money from the tenant to the owner, all payment is made through the site. Considering that any Indian considers himself obligated to deceive a white man, this will save you unnecessary nerves. During the time you live in a rented apartment, you can either find suitable housing for yourself for a long time. Or you can stay in a rented place if you like.
8. Food. Never forget that Indian kitchen- very sharp! Spice lovers will love this, but those with sensitive stomachs will not. Therefore, if you are in the latter category, never forget to remind the waiter not to put hot spices in your dish. Just say "Know spicy!" and you will be understood. By the way, when choosing places to eat, never focus on appearance. As a rule, in the most outwardly unattractive eateries, in which only local and rare English people sit, the most inexpensive and delicious food is served. Just remember correctly #3 - wash your hands!
9. Shopping. The main thing here is one - bargain. Before you buy something, divide the seller's price by three, you get approximate price that can be paid. Bargain like it's the last time in your life! Note: never buy anything on the beach. No pareos, no fruits, no massages, nothing! Merchants on the beach are very bad at discounting prices, which are many times higher than in other places. Don't settle for offers from girls on the beach to give you a head or foot massage for free. It's NOT free! At the end (not the most high-quality massage, by the way), they will start extorting money from you, and it will no longer be possible to bargain.
10. Ways of transportation and insurance. There are several ways to travel in GOA. The first is taxis and tuk-tuks. Convenient, but very expensive. If you decide - bargain. Just a little, but the driver will drop the price. The second is to rent a scooter or bike. If you have never sat behind the wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle before, but still decided on this particular method, then I strongly recommend that you train in a quiet, deserted place. Long practice. Until you feel like you are ready to hit the road with crazy traffic and a complete lack of rules. Again, a matter of choice, but I would take out insurance before driving. There were precedents when it helped a lot, treatment in GOA is not cheap. And, of course, you shouldn't drive drunk, it's really dangerous. In addition, I strongly recommend that you bring either driver's license(category B is also fine) or at least a copy of them, this will help to avoid problems with the police. If you carry the original license with you, under no circumstances should you hand it over to the police, show it and hold it tight.
Well, the third way of transportation is buses. Buses run everywhere, anywhere in India can be reached by this type of transport. Buses plying GOA cost from 7 to 25 rupees, depending on the distance to the destination. Bus stops are not marked in any way, so here you need to navigate the area or ask the locals. This method of transportation, as they say, is "cheap and cheerful."
That's all, if there are any questions that I could not cover, then I will be happy to answer everyone! Of good)
What is better - a tour in Goa or organize your own trip? This important question often arises before everyone who is going on vacation in Goa, and deserves a detailed discussion.
Each of the three options has its pros and cons, and everything ultimately depends on the budget, length of stay and preferences of the tourist.
Price question
Usually, the first question is about the prices for tours to Goa, and it is somehow generally accepted that traveling on a package tour is cheaper than traveling wild. But it is not always the case.
Often, tour operators offer tours exclusively for favorable prices, we must not forget about the so-called "burning tours".
On the other hand, if you organize a trip to Goa on your own, you can choose from thousands of offers the most suitable for yourself - according to your budget and taste. Here you also need to think about what to do: go to Goa as a “classic” savage and look for housing on the spot or, before leaving, familiarize yourself with rental offers and book in advance with a suitable agency. If you are driving to long term, then this third option is sometimes the most reliable and profitable.
Trip to Goa on a tour
The main advantage of buying a tour in Goa is convenience. All worries about organizing a tour, processing documents and visas, buying tickets, choosing accommodation and other technical issues are taken care of by a travel agency. In addition, the travel agency is responsible for the execution of the contract, and in case of dissatisfaction with the services offered, you can file a claim against it.
The main disadvantage of a package trip to Goa is that the room you get at the hotel may not be what you imagined it to be, and the hotel itself does not always meet expectations. Here we must also take into account the crowded hotels and places where most of them are located, noise, sometimes inadequate behavior of the staff and inadequate food in quantity and quality (when choosing an all-inclusive package or a package with incoming meals).
Ride to Goa as a savage
Advantages of the savage trip to Goa: we choose everything in a real situation, you can see and “feel” everything, if you don’t like something, we go further. Cons: loss of time and energy in search of housing, the inability to accommodate and relax immediately upon arrival, the inability to calculate the cost of housing in advance.
If you prepare well, study features of goa and choose your place of stay in advance, then the disadvantages of traveling as a savage can be significantly reduced. However, this option is not recommended if you are traveling with a child or if you simply do not want to spend time and nerves on resolving technical issues.
Self-guided travel with pre-booked accommodation
The advantages of the third option - pre-rental housing in Goa are obvious. Firstly, we choose the most suitable accommodation for us, whether it be a hotel, villa, apartment, guesthouse, bungalow. Secondly, we choose a place - North Goa or south goa, by the sea or in the hinterland, in a quiet village or in a lively resort. We provide ourselves with comfort and individual conditions, escape from "package" tourism. In addition, you can negotiate with a travel agency about additional services: booking tickets, issuing visas, renting vehicle. If the travel agency is good, you will have a personal manager and you will be offered a transfer from the airport in a comfortable car, the necessary equipment for babies: an armchair, a stroller, a crib, as well as a number of other pleasant and useful services.
The disadvantages of this option for organizing a trip are that you choose accommodation from photographs. But if the catalog is well compiled, all the premises of the housing you have chosen are shown and you receive all the necessary information from the agency, and the reviews of those who have already visited this place are positive, then the minuses are practically reduced to zero.
Let's try to summarize and supplement the characteristics of all three options in the following table.
|
Parameters |
By ticket |
savage |
Self-guided travel with accommodation booking |
Travel organization |
The travel agency takes care of the entire organization of the trip: hotel booking, air tickets, visas, document processing, on-site transfer, animation. You receive a ready-made travel package. |
Everything needs to be organized by yourself: travel planning, visas, ticket purchases, airport formalities, transfers, accommodation reservations, all the problems that arise on the spot. |
You apply to a travel agency for specific services of your choice: booking accommodation, assistance in obtaining visas, insurance and other required documents, transfer and accompaniment on site, individual services. |
Place of rest and housing |
Binding to one hotel and to the same group of tourists. |
Rental housing on the spot, in real conditions. You can change housing, beaches, surrounding places and move around without restrictions |
Binding to pre-selected housing. The choice of the type of housing, the degree of privacy, ways of eating, transportation, service. |
Property |
You have to move around with all your possessions and look for ways to keep it safe |
Your property is safe |
|
Term |
You are driving for a certain period of time and it cannot be changed |
You can go for any period and change it depending on the circumstances |
You need to specify for which period you are going, but it can be extended on the spot |
English proficiency |
Useful and sometimes necessary to own English language at a decent level |
No English proficiency required. Basic English will be useful in case you want to do some excursion on your own and to communicate with local staff |
|
Reliability |
Everything you need is provided: accommodation, food, transfer, luggage safety, no need to look for anything on the spot |
There is a risk of being left without suitable housing or becoming a victim of fraud |
Depending on your agreement with the travel agency |
Price |
On the short term may be cheaper |
Depending on preference. Under normal conditions of residence for a short period, it can cost more. |
Might be more expensive in the short term, better in the long term |
Time saving |
Saving time on travel preparation and search for accommodation on the spot |
You may spend a lot of time preparing your trip in advance, looking for accommodation and services on the spot. |
Saving time on paperwork and finding housing on the spot |
Vehicle rental guarantees |
No additional guarantees are required to rent a vehicle |
You will be required to provide additional guarantees when renting a vehicle (ticket, personal documents, deposit) |
Depending on your agreement with travel company |
Connection |
Internet at the hotel, buy a SIM card yourself or with the help of a travel agency representative |
You rent a house with or without Internet, you buy a SIM card yourself |
Internet - depending on the accommodation you choose. You buy a SIM card yourself or a travel agency gives you |
Who will suit |
Suitable option for those who is going to Goa for the first time; Who is traveling for a short time (a week or two); Who has no time or no desire to prepare a trip; who likes staying in hotels and in crowded places; who does not speak English. |
