Visiting Baga!

GxMx

Hey everyone!

i am new here am 29 y/o,Male and Indian born and living in Bangalore,India,I just stumbled upon this forum the other day!great to know there are soo many people out there who love Goa!
i visited Goa first 9 years ago and since then have been making it a point to visit at least once a year! i was there in February this year and plan to go again in October/November! and stay for maybe a week( thats what my job permits me to)i just love the place and plan to eventually settle there when i retire!
i am a laid back sort of guy who just loves to drink his "Kings" beer and eat Tandoori Fish and sit in a shack and watch the day go by! am not a party kinda person and not into the rave/techno music scene,i like the shacks which are less noisy and not play loud blaring music, all these years i have never explored much and stuck around to the Baga area! earlier a small shack called 'Allis Klar" and the past 4 years a shack called "Spliff's" which then changed its name to "Bobby's"!
i would like to know if any of you here would like to reccomend any other beach for me other than Baga this time? i look to stay in good clean hotels and not keen on it having swimming pools and other attractions but it should be safe,clean and friendly and the WC should be working fine! or should i stick to what i have been doing all these years and stay at Captain Lobo's and hang around at "Bobbys" shack
any suggestions would sure be great! hope to post more on this forum!
Cheers,

Vicky

GxMx

hey all!

my trip to Goa is almost finalized! i think i shall be going there on 8th November for a week! i will stay at Baga itself cos i didnt get any suggestions from anyone on the board and i feel i shall play it safe and stay and hang around at a place i know a little!

there is this hotel called "Ancora" near Titos, i had stayed there couple of years ago, is it still open and is it any good( it sure should be better than before cos then it was almost a pigsty) i plan to stay there as its close to the beach!

also any suggestions for good chinese restaurants in Baga? have tried out Kim Faa and The Pagoda on the main road, anything else?

cheers and hear from someone i hope!
Vicky

GxMx

is this forum for only foreign tourists visiting Goa? from what i have seen, everyone has loads of suggestions for them but non for the low budget Indian holiday maker!

Ashish Agrawal

Hi GxMx

I visit baga, every alternate year. I am completelty in love with place. I segregate people who like Goa in 2 catogeries, one who like north goa & palolem & the others who like south goa.

Baga, palolem & anjuna is the best place to be.

I was at Baga this february too.

Budget hotel in baga are just 100 mts away from the beach & shouln't be a problem.

I have stayed at Cavala ( opp La Calypso ). It is one the best hotels on baga beach, not too cheap not too expensice.

Nice small bar. Colonial styled rooms & owned by a british. Their restaurant is owned by a french guy and serves authentic french cuisine.

There is a small lane next to Cavala, where there are hotels without pools, with just a caretaker & no staff. One common refrigirator. But, surprisingly neat & clean accomodation with attached bathroom. Rates Max Rs 500 per day for a double room, might be less for single.

In goa, one can always negotiate on the published room tariff.

meriyaslounge

__________________
“Let us learn from the past to profit by the present and from the present to live better in the future”

- William Wordsworth

GxMx

Hello Ashish!
thanks for your reply and suggestions, much appreciated!
i have been going to Goa the last 9 years and i have stayed in the South just once,at Cavalossim! i am more cut out for the North i think even though am not into the Rave/Party thing!i usually try and go during the early part of the season to avoid the mad rush at Baga!
cool to know you were at Baga this February!just cant get enough of it, can you? its addictive like nothing else on earth!

thanks for the suggestion on Cavala! i have already stayed there last year when i was there in September for a week!your right, its a real nice place and not too hard on the pocket too!
thanx for the other info as well! its nice to interact with someone who loves Goa as much as i do!

GxMx

Hey! thanx for the messsage and info! yes i do love peace and tranquility and i am not at all into the party scene and the types who likes to watch the day go by leaving me where i am!(thats one of the reasons i just dont fit into the rat-race lifestyle of Bangalore!)
like i was telling Ashish in my earlier post, i have been going to Goa at least once the last 9 years and i have stayed in the South just once!(at Cavalossim) for some strange reason i preffered Baga maybe cos thats the first place i stayed at when i went to Goa and lot of old style nostalgic thoughts about the good times i have had there! i have visited Colva and Majorda beaches on day trips but never stayed over for a overnight.
i have heard/read about Martins Corner and maybe when i visit this November i shall try and give it a shot for sure!not cos Sachin likes it but cos you recommended it! thanx again!

Ashish Agrawal

hi again,

basically i am traveller & a complete adventure freak, not a tourist who would typically go in a 3 / 5 star hotel stick around to the food they serve & their itineraries.

I really getpissed off, when people go to places of goa & kerala & still wanna eat the typical DAL & RICE & ROTI & SUBZI stuff, what they eat in their homes everyday.

Infact, the typical Indian tourist when they go abroad - like US / UK / Italy etc, still prefer eating indian food rather trying their authetic cuisine & discovering new aspects of life.

I understand this thing when it come to china / thailand / korea, since the non veg - food out here dosen't appeal to most of the people in the world.

I goto goa, since i can relax & take a break. Discover a secluded shack & lie down there & enjoy. Hire a bike & roam allround North Goa.

In the night, baga is the most happening thing, The Tito's lane,
The lounge's in Baga, they are out of the world.

Mackey's market - fun.

Club Cubana - arpora hill - awesome.

Plus, the last time I went for a beginners Scuba Dive By Paddi.

We went around 30 to 40 feet in the sea, saw a 2nd world war time wrecked ship, the whole acquatic life.

This december i am going to Lakshwdeep ( kadmat island ) one of the finest beaches / lagoons / coral reefs in the world.

rearedup

Head to Sher-E-Panjab in Panjim if u can make the 20 minute ride or drive from Baga / Calangute. They serve u an absolutely wicked lip smacking tandoori & mughlai cuisine. No Kings beer though. I dont know why no establisment (may be wrong here)...leaving those in North or South goa dont serve Kings beer.

Try Brittos at Baga Beach. Lovely stuff. Good fish, good music, chilled kings and great deserts. Try the shortcakes amd the cheesecakes there.

Souza Lobos at calangute is good...but i find it overhyped.

If you are in the mood for soem local goanese food....then do in goa as the goans do....hed for one of the best locally acclaimed joints in northgoa.....Florentine...in saligao. Have the chicken cafreal......with round bread...amazing.....but its not for the weak hearted..if u know what i mean.....coz you'll be breathing fire equivalent to 10 green chillies in a whole portion of chicken.

But then you always require an excuse for beer....right !!!

GxMx

hey Ashish!

yea, the 5 star thing is not my style either!i like to stay local and mix as much with whats happening around than stay in some hip and hype kinda place!but then its a matter of taste i think!
i have seen alot of people who come to Goa and look for the food they eat at home!its really strange, i dont experiment too much but then i dont want to eat what i eat at home when am on holiday thats for sure!
i go to Goa for exactly the same reason, relax, unwind and take my mind off all the pressure! also this time i think i shall be staying in a hotel on Tito's Lane!

am not much of an adventurer but am sure you will have a great time at Lakshadweep!cheers and keep in touch!

shilpaks

i love the goan sunset at susa lobos(its a fenny based cocktail) n if u r a fenny lover its a muuuuust try!
last time i went , we tried to check out paradiso, not sure abt the crowd coz we were thr too early(11:00ish) but i loved the ambience at the place..the lounge area is just above the sea.

lez

Vicky.

I feel this fourm is for everyone But you have been going to Goa for a long time, much longer than most.

With respect, it is you who should be the advisor and it is your decision what you do on your holiday, how can I, who has been to Goa twice, advise you?

Lez

GxMx

hi Shilpa!

strangely am not at all into Fenny!am a pure Beer and Vodka drinker and of course dont mind a couple of Breezers when it gets too hot!also thanx for the recco about the lounge bar but am not much into that scene and preffer to chill out in a shack ! thanx for the suggestions again!

rearedup

please try the sangria too...it rocks

GxMx

Hello Lez!

when i joined this forum i thought i have little knowledge about Goa/Baga and felt i could get some tips/advice from people who have been there more often/stayed longer and discovered the place better!
of course its my decision on what i want to do on my holiday(i never asked what i should do activity wise)i was just asking about other beaches which are similar to Baga and shacks/restaurants which are quiet and having friendly people and good food, thats all!
well from the looks of it, am already a Goa vetran myself!

if i have any views to share with you or anybody else i sure will give my best advice!