Goa - Palolem/Arembol New Years - too crazy?

GoanCanuck

The problem that you will face is that because you want to book a beach hut over New year, the price that you will be charged will be extortionate.

You are going to be quoted prices of Rs 2500-Rs 3000/night. Some places do not accept reservations for this period and those that do will ask you to pay the entire amount in advance.

My advice would be not to book anything. Just arrive have a look and then decide for yourself. The last season in Goa was not good and rooms were easily availble even in late December.

Mary Poppins

^ Thanks for your advice. I agree with you but as this is my first time in India, and I will be travelling by myself, I'm a little bit nervous to leave it so open ended...

ananda2193

Agree with GC. You'll be charged outragious prices then, and also if you do it over the net. Best is to just show up. You'll find something. There's beach huts and regular places in Patnem. Not too many beach huts in Agonda, their more concrete style lodgings. And if worse comes to worse, I'm sure a family would rent you a room in their house. But you should find something.
Btw another nice place in Patnem is the Seaview. It's at the crossroads to the beach. Though not on the beach it's a 1-2 minute walk. It's I think 4 stories high so you should get a room there I would think.
If you go to Agonda, theres a place called the Sunset on the south end of the beach up on the hill which has a restaurant and rooms. The restaurant has a great view. Great to be there for the sunset sipping a cold one.

Mary Poppins

Thanks for your help. I'm just put off by reports I've read everywhere else that you're crazy if you turn up at New Years and don't have something booked. I suppose I could ring ahead though anyway and that Agonda is not going to be as bad as the more tourist dense beaches.

GxMx

if you visit Goa, Panjim is a sure must, lotta people miss out on this place but it has some great places to eat out at as well some nice bars!can reccomend you some great places if your intrested,get in touch if you are! cheers

Mary Poppins

Thanks for your advice but I did the "stupid" thing and have booked to stay at Madhu Huts. The rate is 1,500 - 1,800rps per night - which I'm happy to pay even if it is extortinately more for the security of knowing I've got somewhere to stay.

I wanted to stay at Madhu Huts anyway so I'm happy it has all worked out - Shekhar sounds really nice

GoanCanuck

Since you are going to be alone, I will advise you to be very very careful. Palolem these days is not a safe place for single women especially those who stay in the beach huts. Watch what you eat and drink to avoid being drugged.

Mary Poppins

Wow, thanks for the tip. I'll definitely be careful.

I'll be in Agonda - hopefully this will be quieter and possibly a little safer?

ananda2193

Agonda will be much quieter. Good choice IMHO. Do go for a drink and watch the sunset from the Sunset RRestaurant at the southern end of the beach up on the hill. Great view.

Just curious, but how do you plan to get to Agonda?

Mary Poppins

Aaah....good question

I'm flying in from Mumbai and hope to arrive around 3pm...

I think Madhu Huts offer an airport pickup service so I might ask them about this...

GoanCanuck

You do not need any airport pick up service. There is a prepaid taxi counter at the airport run by the authorities from where you can get a taxi to Agonda. The prices are fixed by the government and are displayed on a board outside the counter.

Nikos

I will be flying to Goa on the 6th of November and will be returning to the UK on the 3rd of April 2009.

After reading this thread, i now feel that i will be better off spending the festive period in a different area to Goa, purely because of the costs involved.

Does anyone have a recommendation of where i could stay over xmas and new year? I am open to pretty much anywhere in India, and would be booking my trains in advance to secure i can get to that specific city, town or resort during the mad rush.

Mary Poppins

The other place I was considering was Varkala in Kerala, which sounds cool too...similar to Goa in some ways. The places I contacted seemed fairly reasonable. The main reason I decided against it was that it was too far for me to travel in the time that I had.

tantradeva

I spent last Christmas and New Year at Palolem beach and regularly went over to Patnam beach as well. As a single female, I had no problems at all on either beach day or night and made loads of new friends while I was there. Also, there was tons of cheap accomodation to be had from £3 to £25 per night depending on how fussy you are! Patnam especially has some great beach front accomodation. The whole place felt very safe to me especially after having been in Northern India for the Autumn and had loads of hassle from men there despite being properly dressed and behaved! On Palolem on Christmas Eve there was a fairly loud Trance party that went on till about 6am and the same on NYE. Patnam was very quiet in comparison and apart from a few bonfires and firworks at midnight, NYE was a bit of a non event there. I'll be back in Goa this season with my partner and we're planning a 6 month stay this time. Anyone who has any info on long term house rentals, especially in the North, PLEASE do get in touch.

GoanCanuck

I do have a few places that I can recommend in Anjuna, Siolim, Morjim and the surrounding areas. The rules of this forum forbid me from participating in any kind of commercial activity and as a result I am not able to post the details publicly. If you give me your email then I can contact you.