needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Nov 19th 2016 | 2:57 am
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1
needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
needing a holiday in goa, any pointers of do'es and dont's
we have never been there ,would like some information
tia roni
we have never been there ,would like some information
tia roni
Nov 21st 2016 | 12:23 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 60
Re: needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Hi there, In Goa/India there are definitely things to be aware of.
The main thing in India in general is to absolutely avoid ingesting the tap water.
Get your visa you need one to gain entry.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
Get your inoculations at the Doctors.
Use bottled water for everything to be safe.
Do not use tap water for anything, even washing your teeth/close moth when showering.
Check your plate, cutlery, cups, glasses for water droplets and dry them properly.
Don't eat salads, which may have been washed in water.
I have even heard of some recent stories of water bottles being re-sealed with a proper machine so be 100pct on your water source.
If your food does not taste delicious and fresh don't eat it. Better to offend than be ill for 5-6 days or worse of your short holiday.
Take a good sun hat.
Stick with fully boiled/fried foods, personally I avoid any fresh fruit.
Don't get sunburnt.
Don't swim in the sea above waist height unless the lifeguards have the flags up, ask them where it is safe to swim, there are treacherous undercurrents to which 100's succumb every year along the coast.
Have someone watch you ideally.
Don't get bitten by mosquitoes, use 50pct DEET repellent from a reputable source... i.e. Boots at the airport or your high road. Dengue fever is present in Goa and also Malaria. (Malaria is currently low risk)
Cover up in the evenings, long sleeve shirts, ideally white to avoid bites, especially round neck and ankles/shins/wrists and hands.
Watch out for the intense traffic, look both ways and keep your eyes out at ALL times left and right. And be especially careful of motorbikes that seemingly can appear out of nowhere at high speed.
Try and travel in taxi's with a seat belt.
The above has seen us in relatively good shape for the vast majority of journeys.
But don't let this put you off it can be a incredible beautiful and unforgettable experience.
The main thing in India in general is to absolutely avoid ingesting the tap water.
Get your visa you need one to gain entry.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
Get your inoculations at the Doctors.
Use bottled water for everything to be safe.
Do not use tap water for anything, even washing your teeth/close moth when showering.
Check your plate, cutlery, cups, glasses for water droplets and dry them properly.
Don't eat salads, which may have been washed in water.
I have even heard of some recent stories of water bottles being re-sealed with a proper machine so be 100pct on your water source.
If your food does not taste delicious and fresh don't eat it. Better to offend than be ill for 5-6 days or worse of your short holiday.
Take a good sun hat.
Stick with fully boiled/fried foods, personally I avoid any fresh fruit.
Don't get sunburnt.
Don't swim in the sea above waist height unless the lifeguards have the flags up, ask them where it is safe to swim, there are treacherous undercurrents to which 100's succumb every year along the coast.
Have someone watch you ideally.
Don't get bitten by mosquitoes, use 50pct DEET repellent from a reputable source... i.e. Boots at the airport or your high road. Dengue fever is present in Goa and also Malaria. (Malaria is currently low risk)
Cover up in the evenings, long sleeve shirts, ideally white to avoid bites, especially round neck and ankles/shins/wrists and hands.
Watch out for the intense traffic, look both ways and keep your eyes out at ALL times left and right. And be especially careful of motorbikes that seemingly can appear out of nowhere at high speed.
Try and travel in taxi's with a seat belt.
The above has seen us in relatively good shape for the vast majority of journeys.
But don't let this put you off it can be a incredible beautiful and unforgettable experience.
Last edited by Vagatorsunset; Nov 21st 2016 at 12:40 am.
Nov 21st 2016 | 5:02 am
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 268
Re: needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Hi there, In Goa/India there are definitely things to be aware of.
The main thing in India in general is to absolutely avoid ingesting the tap water.
Get your visa you need one to gain entry.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
Get your inoculations at the Doctors.
Use bottled water for everything to be safe.
Do not use tap water for anything, even washing your teeth/close moth when showering.
Check your plate, cutlery, cups, glasses for water droplets and dry them properly.
Don't eat salads, which may have been washed in water.
I have even heard of some recent stories of water bottles being re-sealed with a proper machine so be 100pct on your water source.
If your food does not taste delicious and fresh don't eat it. Better to offend than be ill for 5-6 days or worse of your short holiday.
Take a good sun hat.
Stick with fully boiled/fried foods, personally I avoid any fresh fruit.
Don't get sunburnt.
Don't swim in the sea above waist height unless the lifeguards have the flags up, ask them where it is safe to swim, there are treacherous undercurrents to which 100's succumb every year along the coast.
Have someone watch you ideally.
Don't get bitten by mosquitoes, use 50pct DEET repellent from a reputable source... i.e. Boots at the airport or your high road. Dengue fever is present in Goa and also Malaria. (Malaria is currently low risk)
Cover up in the evenings, long sleeve shirts, ideally white to avoid bites, especially round neck and ankles/shins/wrists and hands.
Watch out for the intense traffic, look both ways and keep your eyes out at ALL times left and right. And be especially careful of motorbikes that seemingly can appear out of nowhere at high speed.
Try and travel in taxi's with a seat belt.
The above has seen us in relatively good shape for the vast majority of journeys.
But don't let this put you off it can be a incredible beautiful and unforgettable experience.
The main thing in India in general is to absolutely avoid ingesting the tap water.
Get your visa you need one to gain entry.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html
Get your inoculations at the Doctors.
Use bottled water for everything to be safe.
Do not use tap water for anything, even washing your teeth/close moth when showering.
Check your plate, cutlery, cups, glasses for water droplets and dry them properly.
Don't eat salads, which may have been washed in water.
I have even heard of some recent stories of water bottles being re-sealed with a proper machine so be 100pct on your water source.
If your food does not taste delicious and fresh don't eat it. Better to offend than be ill for 5-6 days or worse of your short holiday.
Take a good sun hat.
Stick with fully boiled/fried foods, personally I avoid any fresh fruit.
Don't get sunburnt.
Don't swim in the sea above waist height unless the lifeguards have the flags up, ask them where it is safe to swim, there are treacherous undercurrents to which 100's succumb every year along the coast.
Have someone watch you ideally.
Don't get bitten by mosquitoes, use 50pct DEET repellent from a reputable source... i.e. Boots at the airport or your high road. Dengue fever is present in Goa and also Malaria. (Malaria is currently low risk)
Cover up in the evenings, long sleeve shirts, ideally white to avoid bites, especially round neck and ankles/shins/wrists and hands.
Watch out for the intense traffic, look both ways and keep your eyes out at ALL times left and right. And be especially careful of motorbikes that seemingly can appear out of nowhere at high speed.
Try and travel in taxi's with a seat belt.
The above has seen us in relatively good shape for the vast majority of journeys.
But don't let this put you off it can be a incredible beautiful and unforgettable experience.
John
Nov 22nd 2016 | 2:22 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 234
Re: needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Glesga is beautiful, this time of year.
( As you probably know !!!! )
Davie.
( As you probably know !!!! )
Davie.
Nov 23rd 2016 | 10:36 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 60
Re: needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Goa is fine when you are well, one of the most beautiful places on earth, better to make sure you are in a fit state for it. If you are going for just a holiday it is just as important to keep well unless you want you and your spouses hard earned break ruined.
Ultimately you make your own choices as did someone who I gave this info to. They came back with e-coli after the British asian person they traveled with said "It'll be fine" Clearly it was not fine.
Goa is not the Costa del sol and people for their own well being should clearly understand that.
As I say make your own choices but so far and that is no guarantee I have not succumbed to more than a bit of heat exhaustion and 1 day of the trots, I have been 12 times and my advice comes from a hardened traveler who lived in India for 3 years.
Ultimately you make your own choices as did someone who I gave this info to. They came back with e-coli after the British asian person they traveled with said "It'll be fine" Clearly it was not fine.
Goa is not the Costa del sol and people for their own well being should clearly understand that.
As I say make your own choices but so far and that is no guarantee I have not succumbed to more than a bit of heat exhaustion and 1 day of the trots, I have been 12 times and my advice comes from a hardened traveler who lived in India for 3 years.
Jan 17th 2017 | 12:04 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Re: needing a holiday in goa, any pointers
Just come and enjoy, Goa is much better than most places in India for hygene andas long as you're sensible I don't think the majority of people would have a problem. A few things i generally go by is, don't drink tap water, I still brush my teeth with it and biol it for coffee, but don't drink as is.
Food wise I generally would eat anything, although always good to go for piping hot food if bought from street vendors.
some people might get the runs, but this can often be just from the change of diet, rather than tainted food. I have noticed occasionally the same thing happen when I go back to the UK now. I am sure my mums cooking wasn't to blame!
Becareful of the sun, make sure you wear protective clothing / sun block as it is strong, you might not always notice it on a bike etc, but burns are no fun!
Try and use local transport, buses might be a bit sweaty but they are so cheap and it gives you time to meet people and see the scenery.
Motorbikes are great to ride (you will need an international licence from the AA or RAC), the traffic is ok, but very different from the UK. Make sure to spend a good half hour examing what the locals do (especially at junctions/roundabouts etc) as some of it still confuses/amazes me after 13 years! (I still can't get over the time I saw a car reversing around a round about! - It's a bloody roundabout - why are you reversing????????
Mosquitos, most of the time I don't notice them at all. Best advice is to keep windows and doors closed as much as you can especially early evening / shaded parts of the day. Mossi's don't like sunlight so much so they stay in the shadows. You can also buy cream / plug in adapters that help and having a fan on you while you sleep also helps. When going out at night then its good to go a little later 8pm onwards as mosi feeding time should have passed, 6 - 7.30 is when there are more mosi's active.
Dehydration.. Drinking lots of alcohol and being in the sun all day is not really a grest combination so make sure you rehydrate, you can get a fresh lime soda from most shacks, get it with salt/sugar and that will help (try it, it take a little getting used to but they are so good once you are used to the salt). You can also buy proper rehydration salts, the WHO formula green and white packets are the best tasting in my opinion. Also wise to drink this if you have loose motions.
Hope this helps
Food wise I generally would eat anything, although always good to go for piping hot food if bought from street vendors.
some people might get the runs, but this can often be just from the change of diet, rather than tainted food. I have noticed occasionally the same thing happen when I go back to the UK now. I am sure my mums cooking wasn't to blame!
Becareful of the sun, make sure you wear protective clothing / sun block as it is strong, you might not always notice it on a bike etc, but burns are no fun!
Try and use local transport, buses might be a bit sweaty but they are so cheap and it gives you time to meet people and see the scenery.
Motorbikes are great to ride (you will need an international licence from the AA or RAC), the traffic is ok, but very different from the UK. Make sure to spend a good half hour examing what the locals do (especially at junctions/roundabouts etc) as some of it still confuses/amazes me after 13 years! (I still can't get over the time I saw a car reversing around a round about! - It's a bloody roundabout - why are you reversing????????
Mosquitos, most of the time I don't notice them at all. Best advice is to keep windows and doors closed as much as you can especially early evening / shaded parts of the day. Mossi's don't like sunlight so much so they stay in the shadows. You can also buy cream / plug in adapters that help and having a fan on you while you sleep also helps. When going out at night then its good to go a little later 8pm onwards as mosi feeding time should have passed, 6 - 7.30 is when there are more mosi's active.
Dehydration.. Drinking lots of alcohol and being in the sun all day is not really a grest combination so make sure you rehydrate, you can get a fresh lime soda from most shacks, get it with salt/sugar and that will help (try it, it take a little getting used to but they are so good once you are used to the salt). You can also buy proper rehydration salts, the WHO formula green and white packets are the best tasting in my opinion. Also wise to drink this if you have loose motions.
Hope this helps
