Holiday Jewels

India

Why spend the winter in the U.K. when just nine hours away there is a paradise? A stretch of costline where, between October and April, the skies are unbelievably blue and the days long, warm and sunny. Where dolphins leap out of the Arabian Sea in the morning, and where beyond the long, sandy beaches, lie tropical gardens of flowers and coconut groves caressing hotels of great charm. This paradise is Goa and Kerala.

Anjuna

Anjuna Beach is a continuation of Vagator around the rocky headland and an interesting place for meeting people or just watching the world go by. There are two sections to this beach, one is very small and rocky below a cliff top with small restaurants and stalls selling curios. The other is a sandy, walkable bay and this is where the famous Wednesday flea market is held. This is not to be missed. Anjuna, in a sense, is where East meets West. You get hippies selling their wares, Indian ladies selling their colourful sarongs and bedspreads, alongside fruit and puppet sellers. This is one of the most interesting markets in Goa, but don't forget, to get bargains, you must barter....

Arossim

Arrossim Beach, just south of Velsao, are also very quiet and signify the start of the beautiful, continuous beach that finishes 15 miles away by the River Sal. The beach here is wide, beautifully sandy and extremely picturesque. The Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa is located on this stretch, and it's here where watersports are available, followed a little further down by the Kenilworth Hotel with a handful of shacks on the beach. At the Arrossim end of the beach, in an elevated position is one of the most popular shacks called 'Zeebop' which is the best place to sit with a cold beer in the afternoon whilst enjoying the superb sunsets. Well worth a visit....

Arpora

Arpora is a village inland of Baga. It has lots of hotels which tend to be very good value for money. There are lots of small bars, restaurants and shops within the coconut plantations. Most people, who stay in Arpora, take a taxi to either Baga Beach or Calangute Beach, which is pretty inexpensive....

Baga

Baga Beach is the most northerly of this more 'commercial' part of beach life in Goa. Early afternoon it's one of the busiest beaches we've seen. The sunbeds are lined up like soldiers in front of the endless string of beach shacks and amidst the hustle and bustle and throng of tourists you'll see a cow or two lying peacefully in the sun or slowly ambling along the beach. The Goans have a way of sharing life with the fauna around them and it's great to see this love being shared by visitors. Despite the wonderful hustle and bustle, the fishermen still fish as they have always done. In Baga the beach shacks are relatively sophisticated with electricity and tablecloths. It's wonderful to sit in a shack late in the afternoon swapping tales of the days exploits with fellow holidaymakers. It's also easy to get distracted by the little tailor shops amongst the shacks. This is also the place for nightlife including 'Kamaki', 'Tito's' and 'Mambo's' bars....

Benaulim

Benaulim Beach can be identified when you spot 'Johncy's' and a car park signifies the end of the beach road leading from the 'Royal Palms'. There are usually quite a few people as you initially step onto the beach and several shacks with sunbeds and umbrellas. Once a pretty quiet beach we found it much busier with shacks and sunbeds now extending pretty much along the whole section of beach and watersports are also available....

Betalbatim

Betalbatim Beach is the beach directly north of Colva, an approximate 15 minutes walk, and dominated by the Nanu Resort. The beach here has several beach shacks (we counted 8 on our most recent visit), increasing as you get closer to Colva. This is still a relatively peaceful beach and is great for an afternoon stroll along the shore. Dolphins and birds of prey are often sighted here and everyone is friendly, that's why it is so popular with our guests and people visit year in and year out....

Calangute

Calangute Beach has become nearly as popular and busy with holidaymakers as Baga, with miles and miles of sandy beach but with fewer coconut trees. Walking along the beach you reach a busier section by some big, wide steps which lead to the souvenir shops and iced beer stands near the Calangute roundabout. As you continue past the steps in the direction of Candolim, it becomes more quiet and relaxing....

Candolim

Candolim Beach is the longest part of this northern stretch and is quieter than Calangute but still is getting busier every year. At this point the beach is as deep as a football pitch, and the beach bars and shacks are set back on the sand dunes. The shacks here have become more sophisticated, each trying to outdo the other with a more interesting design. One of the most innovative has to be Stringfellos which is designed like watchtowers with seating on several levels and is a great place to watch the world go by whilst enjoying the late afternoon breeze. Amidst the sunbeds and beach shacks the fishing community have their huts on the beach and still fish as they have always done, most locals eating fish curry and rice on a daily basis. The only difference from their Grandfather's day is the fact that they have an outboard motor on the back of their ancient craft!...

Cavelossim

Cavelossim Beach has really become very popular during the last four years. As more hotels have been built, the area has developed into a village with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. If you're looking for a bit of life but nothing too hectic then it's absolutely fantastic. Mike and Edwin (cousins), remain popular with their restaurants in central Cavelossim, 'Mike's Place' and 'The Goan Village', as well as offering beach parties with fireworks at their shacks on the beach. There are many shacks to choose from and many guests befriend the locals in this area and come back to visit good friends....

Colva

Colva Beach is quite a busy beach with shacks on stilts, 'Kentuckee's' open 24-hrs, and a few bridges leading to the Colva roundabout, the main hub where you will find transport, shops, stalls, bars, restaurants, and the main road into Margao. It has got busier over the last few years and is very popular with day visitors; best to go on a week day if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle....

Majorda

Majorda Beach is one of the most famous of the southern beaches. This is due to the Majorda Beach Garden Resort, which is a very well established and popular hotel. There are many beach shacks and even the hotel's own is competitively priced. A couple of the shacks were proudly advertising the fact they now sell Cider, the latest addition to an ever growing drinks menu. There is a nice breeze in the afternoons and a 15-20 minutes walk to the left will take you to our brochured Nanu Resort....

Mobor

Mobor Beach is the last section of beach, separated from the next stretch by the River Sal as it meets the Arabian Sea. The beach is wide, the sand yellow, and there are beach shacks for sustenance. A couple of 4 hotels are located here including the 'Holiday Inn', as well as 5 'The Leela' and it is a walkable distance (quicker by beach) from Mobor into Cavelossim. This area attracts lots of dolphins and most of the trips taking holidaymakers to spot them set off from here. If you are into the local wildlife, do go up the River Sal to see the bats, their wing-span can reach up to a metre. This area is stunningly beautiful and should be high on your agenda of places to visit....

Panjim

Panjim is the largest town in Goa. It is full of hustle and bustle with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. The main market is definitely worth a visit, with everything from fruit and vegetables to every manner of objects. Panjim is on the Mandovi River but it is not possible to swim due to a strong tide....

Sinquerim

Sinquerim Beach is the longest established and more 'sophisticated' end, where the Fort Aguada Resort, Taj Holiday Village and Aguada Hermitage are all situated. It's a little more expensive and a little more international. The view from above the Hermitage up the coast is really quite spectacular. During the season water sports are available here including jetskiing and parasailing, one of the few beaches where you can enjoy water activites. The large bulk carrier 'River Princess' that ran aground more than five years ago is still here. It's become a recognised landmark and we fear that everyone has got so used to it now that it will never be removed!...

Tamborim

Tamborim is just north from Cavelossim beach and at this part of the beach is covered with coconut trees. The village of Tamborim is about 500 meters from the beach and the Indian Navy owns the land in-between the village and the sea. Occasionally the navy use the area for basic training exercises, it’s great to watch....

Vaiguinim

Vainguinim’s great claim to fame is the fact that it has the Cidade de Goa, which is one of the oldest and longest established hotels in Goa. This area is very much a residential area with the Cidade de Goa fronting the only beach in this location....

Varca

Varca beach is just north of Tamborim and it is a beautiful sandy beach ideal for just strolling. It’s a very wide beach and is often full of sea birds looking for small crabs. The area behind the beach is covered by paddy fields and the occasional coconut grove...