I had heard my friends in college raving about Goa and the Goan spirit of ‘Sussegado’, which means timeless fun. I could never tear myself from their tales about the stunning beaches, cold beers, the liberated spirit of the foreigners and eager explorers! So when my husband asked me where I wanted to go for a honeymoon, it didn’t even take a fraction of a second to scream out ‘Goa’! For a few days the resounding mantra to all whom I could lay my hands was “we are going to Goa”!
Of course this promising journey started from the beaches and the bohemian spirit jolted us! It was fun to see bikini-clad foreigners flaunt their skin, alcohol flowing freely and vendors selling their wares. The sun-kissed beaches in North Goa like Baga, Calangute and Anjuna stole my heart and we were happy that time or budget did not stop us from visiting Goa!
It was not just fun, frolic and enjoyment but it literally changes the state of your mind and every moment I spent here can be labeled under “Happy Hours of my life”! The friendliness of the people here is also infectious and I was dumbstruck to see unknown strangers greeting each other and all of them sported an attitude “life is just to celebrate and no worries whatsoever!”
The experience was nothing like I ever imagined and I really did not expect to fall in love with this place headlong! Let’s take a peek-a-boo on some good hotels and the things you should do when you visit in Goa. A crash-course on how to maximize the merriment, cheer and the joy of your Goan trip and of course some not-so-pleasant experiences that should be taken with a pinch of a salt!
- Bogmallo Beach Resort: I wanted to know what’s so special of this resort when our guide recommended it but when I stepped into its lounge I was mesmerized by its beauty! This hotel is right on the sea and when we had our candlelit dinner in the open-air restaurant, we could see the waves lashing on the parapets and hear the drone of the restless sea!
We had chosen the Beach cottages as these quiet and private hideaways with the cozy balconies and king-size bed was perfect for our honeymoon! The restaurant ‘Coconut grove’ was superb and it was designed like a beach shack…With soft music in the background and delicious Goan dishes on the table, it was really an awesome dining experience except when the bills were presented to us! My hubby’s eyes popped out seeing the price of the coffee and I couldn’t stop laughing my guts out!
- Alila Diwa Goa: When we started our rounds to South Goa, we shifted our bag and baggage to Alila Diwa Goa in Majorda, South Goa. Can tell you it was a perfectly romantic experience with the beautiful sea views, champagne, strawberries, chocolate and the complete works! The Spa here was an affair to remember with outdoor patio, private Jacuzzi and the chill shower was really awesome after a day spent in the beach! But what I couldn’t fathom was though they had said that they had back up for power …there was complete black out for a few minutes …and that really gave me the creeps in a new place!
- Tucked Away Hidden Beauty spot! I have heard of the adage ‘beauty and the beast’ but when I visited the tucked away beaches like Morjim, Ashwem and Manderm I could coin a new term ‘beauty and the beaches’! It is great to enjoy a picnic and there are some great seaside delicacies that you can enjoy from the beach side shacks here…it will surely etch a mark in your memory! The best thing is that it is not commercialized and only very few tourists come here.
- Night life in Goa! A Goan trip is not complete without experiencing the night life and much fanfare is always made of the parties in sandy beaches under moonlight! So we decided to go to Club Antoos Disco. The huge and pulsating dance floor, the large pub and the party lovers jiving to the wonderful music beats was a great experience!
I enjoyed to my heart’s content and it is rightly said the first time you come to Goa its satiating an urge, but after the second visit, it becomes a life-long tradition! So if you plan a trip to Goa book some good hotels in Goa and set aside a few days from your busy schedule as you cannot tear yourself away from its beauty and pampering!
About the Author : Aakesh Adhikari is an Independent travel consultant and blogger who loves to explore new destinations. Check out his travel portal to learn more. It is about the things that are cool about travel, that inspire us to travel.