Holidays in Goa

Goa stands out from the crowd in India as it was a Portuguese colony until 1961. It's the country's smallest state and is situated halfway down the west coast. It's got a carefree vibe and cheap holidays to Goa used to have a reputation for a hippy party culture, although other attractions are now coming to the forefront with Goa renowned as a beach holiday destination and its 25 miles of golden sand rivalling many more established destinations.

Getting to Goa

The increased availability of cheap flights to Goa has made cheap Goa holidays a reality for mainstream visitors from the UK rather than just for the intrepid travellers who stop off there on backpacking tours of India. The large variety of Goa hotels means that the cost of a two week trip is only marginally more than one week, so take the plunge and explore!

Where to stay in Goa

Goa holiday makers can stay in one of five main resorts, Anjuna, Calangute Beach, Baga Beach, Colvo or Palolem. The actual town of Old Goa was once the state capital and a city of great splendour with hundreds of thousands of residents, but is now virtually abandoned. However, while those on holiday to Goa wouldn't stay there, Old Goa remains the state's most notable cultural attraction and has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Perhaps you could arrange cheap car hire in Goa Airport to see the cultural attractions as well as the beaches.

What to see in Goa

The annual Goa carnival is set to be huge again in 2012 and 2013 so book early to be part of it! Other visitor attractions include the Anjuna Flea Market which has developed into a huge shopping adventure where traders from all over India come to sell their goods. If you're after non-beach activities on cheap holidays to Goa, visit Panaji which is the state capital. The town retains many of the features of a small Portuguese colonial settlement with many architectural treasures dating back centuries.