HOW TO GET AROUND GOA

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

There are no high resolution maps for Goa - for instance, some popular isles are not shown in many maps on Goa.While consistent efforts are being made by the Goan tourism department to be tourism friendly there are still many parts of Goa where there are no sign-boards, so finding your way around can be challenging. So whenever in doubt just asking local people in Goa for directions to a place or for information about a place is the best thing to do as the local Goans are very helpful people.

Don’t expect traffic rule obedience to a tee in Goa. Cattle on the roads or freely criss crossing is common place. Also bikers flouting rules and lights is frequent in Goa. You may also encounter unmarked speed breakers , speed bumps etc on many Goan roads.

Getting through Goa on a motorbike
Tourists coming to Goa often prefer to scan the place on their own and therefore hire motorbikes which gives them an independent view on the Goan landscape. You have various kinds of bikes in Goa for tourists to pick up from various points especially from the beach areas. There is the choice of geared and un-geared motorbikes and scooters which can be borrowed on rent. Helmets are compulsory to be used on Goan highways barring the cities and if you want to stay away from the local Goan cops you should also hire a helmet while traveling in Goa. Those planning to stay for long periods can consider buying them too.

Rentals for bikes in Goa are around Rs 300 per day on a Honda Activa scooter or a Suzuki Access two wheeler and can be a little more if one is looking for a geared motorcycle. The fuel should cost you extra and is available at the various petrol pumps in the cities of Goa or along the highway at Verna and Siridao on NH 17.

If you are staying in Goa for a long term you should always consider seeking a good bargain for the rentals of the motorbikes or should in fact buy a new one. Eventually if your stay in Goa is a long one the cost should work out for you. If not, a bargain of Rs 100 a day should be a good deal for you.

Also do ensure that you have all the ownership documents of the bike with you while you travel with the bike as you can be questioned by the traffic cops at various locations in Goa . Also, avoid taking motorbikes with yellow number plates out of the Goa state, as it is a punishable offense.

Hiring a bike with white number plates is ok for local travel in your immediate vicinity wherever you reside in Goa but if you want to travel further afar, then it is always better to rent bikes with yellow number plates as these bikes are authorised to ply as hired bikes. Wearing a crash helmet is compulsory when you go on any major roads, or highways in Goa. If you default, the Goa traffic cops are bound to penalize you. The current penalty as of October 2011 is Rs 100 for not wearing a helmet.

Also if you are a foreigner driving in Goa you will need an International Driving Permit (Convention 1949) and this is the first thing the police in Goa are bound to ask you for, if stopped for a violation. You should also carry your normal driving licence with you.

Traveling inside Goa by bus
Traveling in Goa by bus can often be a harrowing experience was the buses in Goa are packed to capacity and can cause much discomfort. However the bus service in Goa is pretty good and there are buses connecting almost anywhere in Goa. The fares range from 5-30 rupees for a travel from 1 – 40 kms travel. The Goa government service of Kadamba transport corporation is pretty efficient and has recently infused its fleet with brand new Volvo buses which make for pleasant traveling.

Discovering Goa by car
There are several options available if you want to explore Goa bay car. Available on rent are the likes of Mahindra, Willy’s or the popular Maruti Suzuki Gypsy which is similar to the long wheel base version of the Suzuki Jimmy. Some of these jeeps are open roof or with a soft top. Rentals per day could be around Rs. 1,200 - Rs. 1,500.

There are many car rental companies available in Goa to help you get a good bargain.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

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David John said...

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