Goa (Candolim)India things to do & see

[gary r]

Going there next month for the first time, anyone been? good things to see and do? staying in Candolim.Family of 4, Kids aged 13 & 10

 

[Cheddar George]

You need @Dayvo , he's a Goa goer.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Anjuna night market which i think is on Wednesdays, well worth a visit or two.

Also check out the beaches up the Arabian coastline, my favorite was Mandrem which is so vast there are places on it that will make you think you are the only people on earth.

 

[rualexander]

Stay with a local at Palolem beach and experience a toilet consisting of a chute you squat over while a pig's snout appears at the wall opening of the chute ready for a nice meal!
Well, that's one of my main memoties of Goa in 1995 anyway.

 

[Beebo]

Stay with a local at Palolem beach and experience a toilet consisting of a chute you squat over while a pig's snout appears at the wall opening of the chute ready for a nice meal!
Well, that's one of my main memoties of Goa in 1995 anyway.

so dont eat the pork chops then?

 

[Ian H]

Ride a randonnee?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Paging @Nihal

 

[Nihal]

Apart from the beaches,you could visit the churches if you like old architecture and the Fort.Anjuna is worth a visit.The are a few wildlife sanctuaries too.

 

[gary r]

Apart from the beaches,you could visit the churches if you like old architecture and the Fort.Anjuna is worth a visit.The are a few wildlife sanctuaries too.

Thanks, the wildlife sanctuaries would appeal to the children,i will look them up

 

[Dayvo]

Going there next month for the first time, anyone been? good things to see and do? staying in Candolim.Family of 4, Kids aged 13 & 10

Glad to hear that you and your family will be experiencing and (hopefully) enjoying Goa.

Candolim is at the southern end of a long straight coast line, virtually all the way down from the airport (Dabolim). The weather will be HOT (36+) so for white (colour not race) people straight out of a wet English winter, make sure you use high factor sun cream and wear hats in the heat of the day. Sun cream and all toiletries can be bought here in India at prices much cheaper than back home.

The weather will probably mean that most of your time (if you are like me) will be spent in the sea or on the beach. The food is generally excellent and very cheap. Tuk tuks can be used for getting around locally (agree the price first, but try to find out from others how much you should pay: new visitors spend a day or two paying a bit more than necessary, until they become savvy).

If you like temples, spice farms, waterfalls, riding/showering with elephants, wildlife parks, markets etc trips can be booked via hotels or tourist shops/travel agents.

I would definitely recommend you take a day-trip with a taxi and head south to where I stay: the beaches of Agonda, Palolem, Patnem, Ragbaj, Talpone and Turtle Beach are beautiful and safe (Google them), and if you come back to Goa, then you'll more than likely want to stay near one of those.

The locals are very friendly but need to make a living too, so make sure your bartering skills are honed to avoid paying too much for souvenirs, cheap jewellry, clothes, etc.

If you are happy taking large amounts of 20 pound notes, then you'll get a much better exchange rate, otherwise it's no problem using a bank card at a local travel agent. At the moment you'll get about 102 rupees to a pound: last year it was 85!

I am here until March 12th, and if you have any other questions I'll happily answer them before I leave.

Have a great holiday.

 

[gary r]

Glad to hear that you and your family will be experiencing and (hopefully) enjoying Goa.

Candolim is at the southern end of a long straight coast line, virtually all the way down from the airport (Dabolim). The weather will be HOT (36+) so for white (colour not race) people straight out of a wet English winter, make sure you use high factor sun cream and wear hats in the heat of the day. Sun cream and all toiletries can be bought here in India at prices much cheaper than back home.

The weather will probably mean that most of your time (if you are like me) will be spent in the sea or on the beach. The food is generally excellent and very cheap. Tuk tuks can be used for getting around locally (agree the price first, but try to find out from others how much you should pay: new visitors spend a day or two paying a bit more than necessary, until they become savvy).

If you like temples, spice farms, waterfalls, riding/showering with elephants, wildlife parks, markets etc trips can be booked via hotels or tourist shops/travel agents.

I would definitely recommend you take a day-trip with a taxi and head south to where I stay: the beaches of Agonda, Palolem, Patnem, Ragbaj, Talpone and Turtle Beach are beautiful and safe (Google them), and if you come back to Goa, then you'll more than likely want to stay near one of those.

The locals are very friendly but need to make a living too, so make sure your bartering skills are honed to avoid paying too much for souvenirs, cheap jewellry, clothes, etc.

If you are happy taking large amounts of 20 pound notes, then you'll get a much better exchange rate, otherwise it's no problem using a bank card at a local travel agent. At the moment you'll get about 102 rupees to a pound: last year it was 85!

I am here until March 12th, and if you have any other questions I'll happily answer them before I leave.

Have a great holiday.

Thanks Dayvo, really looking forward to it now.

 

[gary r]

well, i was looking forward to going, but the Indian Visa application process in a massive pain in the arse !!! plus expensive rip off £80 each,the website is crap and doesnt work properly and if you try and call a help line its 95p a minute.Mrs R is at the Visa application centre as i type this and has just imformed me they need to see my childrens birth certificates !!!!! why??they have their passports.so thats another trip down there next week, i would be happy to just poke the holiday and not go, and swallow the loss of money.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Don't let it put you off, things seemed to change a few years back when the British Government reduced various bits of funding to India, not sure if that was the actual reason they started to make things harder for us Brits to go there but that's what i noticed at the time.

It is worth it i promise you and not just for Goa either. The whole country is an amazing place to visit.