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Goa Travel Guide

Precaution is Better than Cure! To make your Goa tour convenient and comfortable, there are some travel tips and precautions to be taken by you, which are as follows :-

• If traveling by the train, attach your baggage to the berth with a chain to save it from theft. Do not accept any food item from strangers in the train/bus.

• Keep your money, passport-visa and other travel documents (preferably wrapped in plastic to avoid dampness) in a Money Belt tied to your waist to avoid its visibility.
   
• Prefer traveler's cheques/ATM cards to money in liquid form as money exchange and ATM centers are available at most of the locations in Goa.
   
• Carry a voltage adapter for your personal electric appliances. Also check the voltage before using any electric appliance, as the voltage/power is quite low in Goa.
   
• Always keep an identity card handy; mentioning your name, age, blood group, other relevant details and contact phone numbers for use in case of emergency.
   
• Beware of touts and never keep your articles unattended on the beaches.
   
• Always go for mineral water, fresh seafood dishes and wash hands with soap before having your breakfast/lunch/dinner.
   
• Never go for money exchange through private dealers, instead; prefer banks or government/authentic institutions. Similarly hire a metered taxi/motorcycle taxi/auto rickshaw to avoid wastage of money.
   
• Keep in mind that possession and trade of drugs (hard or soft) is totally illegal in Goa. If caught red-handed, 10 years rigorous imprisonment in jail and Rs 10,000 fine is imposed on you by the Goa Police without any scope for bail.
   
• Purchasing articles made from animal skin of rare and endangered species is banned in Goa so avoid buying such articles from roadside shops or sellers.
   
• Always consult a lifeguard while venturing into the sea. Remember that nudity on beaches and public places are prohibited in Goa and punishable under the law. Avoid going for even permissible sex through sex workers due to high risk of AIDS.
   
• Keep your driving licence, passport, visa and other necessary documents with you while driving and follow the traffic rules to avoid mishaps and inconvenience.

Medical Precautions

Due to the change of water and climate, the tourists may suffer from chronic/acute stomach upset so they are required to take the necessary precautions and ensure that the required vaccinations are done. It is advisable to plan your vaccinations well in advance, consulting a doctor, before starting your tour to Goa. In India you also require essentially, the yellow fever vaccination especially when you are entering India from an infected area. Keep your feet clean and dry and prevent walking barefoot to prevent fungal and parasitic infections.


Passport and Visa

The tourists can go for any of the six visas available with them - Business Visa (issued for a month or six months), Student Visa (valid for one year or the duration of opted course in India), Conference Visa (for attending international conferences in India), Transit Visa (issued for maximum 15 days with single/double entry facilities), Journalist Visa (issued to professional journalists/photojournalists) and Employment Visa (issued to the foreign professionals working in Indian organizations).


Getting the Indian Visa

Requirements :-

• The visa application with pasted passport size photographs should be submitted along with a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India.

• The foreign nationals should submit a proof of long-term stay (at least three years)/ permanent residence) in the country from where they are applying for Indian Visa. References are also to be produced in addition to the residence proof.

• The visa fee/charges and the processing duration depend totally on the nationality of the passport holder and the type/duration of visa applied for. The charges are refundable only if the visa already issued is cancelled thereafter.

Registration Of Foreigners

Foreigners visiting India with a visa valid for more than 180 days should register themselves at the nearest foreigners' registration office in Goa within the fortnight following their arrival in India. They have to undergo registration only once during the validity of Indian Visa. They can leave and re-enter India as many times as they want, only if their visa is a multi-entry visa. They can also extend their tourist visas for a maximum of three months at the foreigners' registration office at Panaji. They have to surrender their registration certificate, which is mandatory, at the time of their final departure from India.

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Useful Articles by real travelers:

The Debate on Malaria Tablets & Vaccinations...

The most pesky holiday pest: mosquitoes - Goaby JessH

Luggage And Bags: Goa is relatively safe, but in crowded "touristy" areas such as the markets - we found it useful to have deep pockets with zippers or bags that we could hold close to our bodies. We avoided rucksacks/backpacks simply because they're too easy to open & steal the contents.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: A good pair of sneakers/walking shoes is recommended. As soon as you venture away from the beaches and the main road, the paths are rocky & bumpy.

Toiletries & Medical Supplies: There's a lot of confusion, conflicting reports & split opinions about whether or not Malaria tablets are necessary when travelling to Goa. It's everyone's personal decision, all I can give you is the facts & info from personal experience: The risk of malaria in Goa is very low compared with the rest of India. It's such a low risk because you are near the coast. The general rule stands in all tropical countries: the further inland you travel (the more "jungle" there is around you), the higher your risk of catching Malaria. So it really depends on how high-risk the area you are visiting is. The side effects of the Malaria tablets make many people feel very ill. Apparently, the weekly tablets make you feel worse than the daily ones (but I cannot speak from personal experience as we opted for sprays & creams, and didn't take the tablets).

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Mosquitoes are of course most active at night, but dusk is the most dangerous time as they literally "swarm" when the sun sets. We sprayed ourselves with mosquito repellent every night, and most hotels provide mosquito nets if you want to sleep with the windows open

Miscellaneous:  Before we went to Goa, we got our VACCINATIONS for: > Tetanus > Polio > Hepatitis A Some also advise getting immunized against Typhoid/Cholera, but this is not compulsory. You may need to declare if you have been in a known yellow fever area prior to entering India. But the actual Yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required. The bottom line is: Malaria is not a disease to play around with: ask or your doctor's advice, and take it. Not taking anti-malarials where they are indicated will put you at greater risk. Fact is: Malaria is a killer and should not be taken lightly. The symptoms of malaria can appear many months after leaving the malarious region. Any flu like symptoms, especially within the first few months after returning from the region should result in you visiting your doctor and mentioning where you have travelled too to rule out malaria.

Updated By JessH on April 18, 2006

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What you need and don't need

Bring the largest hand luggage you can and pack the heavy stuff in there on the way home. We bought so much we had to buy new hand luggage bags just to fit it all in!

Girls don't take your high heels, the roads are very uneven and there is no such thing as a pavement. I lived in flips flops for the whole forntnight. Take a pair of the cheap plastic ones for daytime as the ground is the colour of chilli powder and will ruin anything nice. Then buy the fancy ones when you get there for night time. They have hundreds everywhere you look in every colour you could want. Also don't take trousers because if they touch the floor they will be stained with the red dust. Skirts and flip flops are the best bet. Daytime whatever you wear will end up filthy, the dust from the ground coats your skin and you clothes so take things that are easy to wash. But pack light as there is so much to buy.

Wet wipes are a must, take as many as you can carry and keep some in the fridge. It gets so hot and dusty you will want to wipe your face down about 50 times a day and the result will be a very brown wet wipe when you're done. Also take something for your stomach if you're planning on eating lots of local food and not used to the spice or the malaria tablets may upset your stomach.

Take sterling. i was advised by my travel company to take US$ which was completely wrong. You can even pay with sterling in some places and in the airport you will be bombarded for pound coins.

By majallen on November 21, 2004

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Ice bags

As most hotel rooms have a fridge in them with a small freezer compartment, ice bags come in handy. Just fill them with bottled water and then you can have a nice cool drink in your room, with ice cubes, without fear of spending the next day in the bathroom!

By Cat1976 on August 20, 2005

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