Need advice relocating to Goa

Chris08

Hi

My parents are considering relocating to Goa. They are South African, Indian. They have passports for India so that wont be a problem and they have been to Goa on holiday last year.

My question is, as they are in their late 50's how good is the health care, which are the best places to rent a flat,and what is the monsoon like, will they be able to handle that at their age.

Also if they have around 40,000 rupees per month, would that ensure them a comfortable life? What are the estimated rental prices for a one bed room flat?

Im am just a concerned child. Please help.

arunganpath

Chris,

You may get proper response if you post in Goa forum.

theyyamdancer

Mod Note:

I've shifted this query to "Moving to Goa" forum.

Welcome to IndiaMike, Chris, hope you get some answers here. Speaking as an over-fifty-year-old person myself, it is not so very elderly that one should be overly concerned!!

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johnny five

Chris,
I am a 56 year old Brit and at present am living in Goa, inc through the monsoon. To be honest, the hot humid times are more stressful but not a problem. We bought a mobile A/C in Bombay in anticipation of needing it April/May and didnt use it at all.
Rs40k per month? We live on a lot less! We rent a large detached 3 bed house with large garden and double garage for Rs11k per month and probably spend another 10-15 on everything else. Building up infrastructure is costly, but a one-off. Electrical goods are more expensie than UK and furniture very costly. We do not live in the centre of tourism, but only 15 mins ride to lots of beaches. If they are daft enough to want to live in the middle of tourism they will pay our sort of rent for a one bed flat and it will be a ghost town throughout the down season, like now.
Believe me mate, and I really admire your concern, they will not be feeling old yet assuming they do not have health issues.
My main concern is their choice of Goa? I hope they have spent serious time here and are not just relying on its (outdated) reputation. In the last few years standards have really fallen here with too much garbage, corruption, crime, rip-off prices and too little infrastructure, decent government, or concern for the citizens.

Chris08

theyyamdancer and Johnny Five Thank you for the reply. Your comments really help.

Johnny Five - My parents have only been to Goa on holiday once and just for a few days. Although they are used to situations that you have mentioned. the main reason they want to leave South Africa is because the crime is really getting out of hand and the fear for their lives is greater than their love of South Africa.

johnny five

Yes Chris, I suppose coming from South Africa does put Goa in a different light, even though a lot of people call this place Zimbabwe on Sea these days!
I still think they should spend an extended period here before making a decision and any serious financial commitment. We have seen so many people make a spontaneous decision to move here, based on a short holiday or two, and not a single one of them has stayed long term. I think you need to know the place, warts and all, before committing.............

birds

Although I agree with you, I guess we are living proof that it does not have to be like that . We came on a weekend and moved here six months later. We have been here now 3 years and still love it, with all its warts.

However, J5 is still right, most people do not really like it out here. We probably do because we came from Bangalore which I personally hated and we have lived in India for many years so we know how to deal with many issues.

Compared to South Africa crime is minimal here and I think if you are a returning NRI Goa is actually a nice place compared to many other locations in India. I think for an NRI it is also easier than for a westerner, so perhaps Chris's parents will be all right. Of course it will not be as they experienced on holiday but it can still be good. There are many other NRIs here too so social life might be quite nice for them.

With regards to health care, there are many options and several of them are good, some even very good. All are easily accessible if you have money.

Lastly, if they end up here and would have a stand alone house I would recommend a local dog (or 2 )as the best protection against unwanted visitors.

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Chris08

Thank you all, your advice and experience living in Goa has helped answer many of my questions.

I think the best option for my parents is to stay there for two or three months and then decide if they would like to make it their permanent residence.

capt_mahajan

That is the way to do it- stay for sometime in a rented place and decide. Can burn bridges later, if they want to.

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Outside the machine

bjp

Chris08, I wish them well. It's good to see some people that aren't illusioned and are prepared to move like that.

namaste_cat

Chris08 - a 2-3 mo trip sounds like a good idea. On my past visits to India, I never considered moving back but in the last 4-5 yrs I have, and as a result I started paying closer attention to things w/ an eye toward getting a sense of what life would be for me were I to move there.

Goa has always been at the top of my list of locations for living in India. Anyway, on recent trips, I started picturing myself grocery shopping, dealing w/ various people and situations, etc. and generally taking a critical look so I could get an accurate picture of what to expect.

Your parents on their holidays to Goa might have been like me in the past, and now w/ this longer trip can really start to see themselves there to gauge how/if they fit.

I have several NRI friends who have moved back to India, mostly Bangalore and 3 to Goa. All the ones who went to B'lore came back, but the Goa folks stayed. I do feel Goa is a softer landing, and Indians even NRIs have an easier time there than non-Indians (due to the attitudes of some local types).

Hope your parents love it, and eventually move there. All the best!