Author: Victoria
Remember the advice from the internet on how to cope with chronic fatigue and lack of sleep? Add a slice of lemon, a pinch of cinnamon to your tea, take a ticket to Goa and never return. It's time to use it - Goa in December 2021!
We collected reviews from tourists, weighed the pros and cons: what you need to be prepared for. Spoiler alert: to a full reboot, at least 🙂
Goa beach holidays in December - is it worth going?
What is good about a holiday in Goa in December? Should I go? As Igor Nikolaev sang, here are 5 reasons why, after all, yes:
✓ Inexpensive. Prices in 2021 and were not close to Moscow or Sochi. A tour to a decent 3 stars - from 45,000 rubles per week. Food in a cafe - main course (meat / fish + side dish) up to 180 rubles. Accommodation through Airbnb - apartments for two from 700 rubles per day. The photos are very nice, for the price too, and with our discount up to 4000 rubles - it's generally beautiful!
✓ Excellent ecology, lots of sun and fresh fruits and vegetables in the coldest and most vitamin-poor period in Russia encourages parents to go on vacation in India with their children. However, the country implies a number of difficulties: exotic diseases, insects, unsanitary conditions. It is important to understand this and prepare responsibly for a trip with a child, seriously approach the choice of a hotel and a beach. South Goa is considered a more suitable place
✓ It is as easy as shelling pears to apply for a visa on your own. It is enough to fill out the form. Cost $ 25 (excluding consular fees). If approved, confirmation is sent to the mail
Don't forget to take it with you! Otherwise, Dabolim Airport will not put the coveted stamp. We'll have to live there, like the hero of the movie "Terminal". Joke! Without a document they will not be allowed on the plane
✓ Fun parties and an unusual atmosphere. People come to Goa from different parts of the world. In December, all bars and shops are fully operational. There will definitely not be any problems with your pastime! All the movement is in the north.
✓ Nature. No, seriously: you have to see her with your own eyes. YouTube and Instagram photos will not convey the atmosphere of an Indian sunset to the sounds of folk melodies
Where to look for cheap tours to Goa?
Tours to Goa in December 2021 look extremely attractive now. Hot and hot - from 35,000 rubles! It is convenient to search and buy here:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
Aggregator sites provide offers from all leading tour operators. You can compare the cost and choose the most profitable package. Immediately view information on the hotel, flight and read reviews.
Weather in Goa in December (season in India)
The weather in Goa in December is gorgeous. The dry season in this state begins in the fall, in October, and lasts until April-May. New Year is a great time to visit the country: sunny, warm, even hot.
But it's still better not to give up clothes with long sleeves: there is a great chance to overcook in the sun and turn into Peppa's pig. And in the dark, run into mosquitoes, which not every repellent can cope with! The locals have more chances than those brought from their homeland.
Goa in early December
In November-December, the tourist season in Goa is in full swing. Rains and monsoons no longer disturb vacationers - there is almost no rainfall compared to other months. On average, the air temperature during the day: + 31 ° C ... + 33 ° C (sometimes the indicator reaches + 36 ° C). It gets cooler in the evening: up to + 20 ° C. The sea water temperature allows you to swim at your pleasure: + 28 ° C.
Goa at the end of December
You can go to India, to Goa, in December at least in the 20th, at least at the beginning of January. The weather is invariably good: the sun is shining, the daytime temperature is + 31 ° C, the evening temperature is + 22 ° C… + 25 ° C. There is no fundamental difference for which part of the month to book the tour.
Where is the best place to go to rest in Goa?
North Goa or South Goa: where to rest? To understand who is better off to go, we collected the pros and cons of different parts of the state.
South Goa in December
South Goa in December is a kind of Bounty island with heavenly delight: silence, deserted sandy beaches, clear sea - complete relaxation. You have to pay for the pleasure: tours here are more expensive. What else?
| pros | Minuses |
| + no creepy traffic - mostly everyone rides bicycles + there are bays on the beaches, therefore - there are no big waves + more fully refurbished hotels in good condition | - expensive and rich: for 18,000 rubles per person you won't get here - few clubs and beach discos - you can't feel rave in the south |
North Goa in December
If the plans do not include leaving a lump sum in India, and old furniture and small rooms do not inspire quiet horror on you, go north (winter is coming). Although you can find good hotels here too. The main thing is not to forget to read the reviews of tourists, so as not to round your eyes when you are on the spot.
North Goa in December is a popular destination. If you want to come to the state as a "savage", it is easy to get there on your own, but finding accommodation is already more difficult: the usual refrigerator, air conditioning and hot water are a luxury here.
But he who seeks will always find! There are plenty of options on the same Airbnb. Plus, you can book a hotel for a couple of days (on RoomGuru) and chat with the locals upon arrival, everyone has a friend who rents out a house or condo. And our friends used to live in a tent like that! They liked it 🙂
| pros | Minuses |
| + noisy parties + savings in everything: from guesthouses to food - the best vacation for those who are not used to spending a lot + proximity to civilization | - accumulation of dirt and eternal crowds of people - crazy traffic on the roads - strong waves due to open beaches |
Prices for holidays in Goa
Having plunged a little into the topic of India, you quickly realize that the most budgetary way to get into the country is to buy a tour. Separately air travel from Moscow in December will cost at least 27,000 rubles per person. In a package - 20 thousand (and even less). Many travelers use this life hack: they take the cheapest last-minute tours, and look for more decent housing on the spot or even spend their holidays on the road, changing the location every few days.
Food: Tour operators offer travel on the bed & breakfast system, but vacationers stubbornly ignore breakfast - no one wants to get up early for a bun with jam. To put it mildly, there is no need to go hungry in Goa. The blame for the pounds eaten entirely lies with the sheks (local cafes) with very low prices. Overeating for 300 rupees (the rate is almost 1 to 1 with the ruble) - it's easy! Fruit is sold on the streets: 1 kg of papaya will cost 27 rupees, oranges (6 pcs.) - 90.
The best way to get around Goa is scooter, the rental of which will cost 200-400 rupees / day. In your free time, you can drop in for a massage or stroll around the market, buying spices and cheap knitwear for 100 rubles. By the way, if you didn't manage to exchange money, don't worry: the Goans will gladly accept dollars.
Prices for tours to Goa
Prices for Goa in December are slightly higher than in other months - high season and frenzied excitement. Nevertheless, a week-long tour from Moscow to Goa in December 2021 can be snatched for 30 thousand per person per week, or even cheaper.
You need to understand that a hotel for such an amount is very, very far from perfect. We try to pre-select more or less normal and track all changes in the price of the tour (on Travelata or Onlinetours) in order to be able to book it with minimal losses.
In the beginning of December vacation will be a little cheaper. Tour for 14 days in a 2 * hotel for two:
➢ in the northern part of the state - from 62,000 rubles
➢ South Goa - from 70 thousand
As the New Year approaches, prices rise, but the party North is still more budgetary than the South. Travel cost for 2 weeks after December 16:
➢ to the north: from 72,000 rubles for two
➢ to the south: from 80,000 rubles
A tour, imposed on 10 days of New Year's holidays, is very difficult to find cheaper than 100,000 rubles.
What to see in Goa? sights
Lying on the beach in Goa for an entire vacation is a crime. There are a lot of interesting places around. You need to visit at least a couple of excursions.Both tour operators and local residents will be happy to take them to them (and another question is who has these services more profitable). Or you can rent a scooter and go on an independent voyage. Several points to visit:
✓ Spice plantation - a reserve in which there are almost all types of plants growing on the territory of India. As a rule, the price of the excursion (about 500 rupees) includes a tasting of national dishes and an alcoholic drink made from cashew apples (this is what nuts grow on) - give a damn
✓ Murdeshwar - no longer Goa, but still nearby. The road to the fishing village with a sculptural complex on Mount Kanduka will take about 5 hours. What's here? The 1542 Murdeshwar Temple, decorated with life-size elephants, and the 184-meter Raja Tower with an observation deck. There is a village nearby Gokarnawhere, according to legend, Shiva revealed himself to the world
✓ Fort Aguada from the 17th century served faithfully to the Portuguese. Despite the shelling, it is well preserved. Tours among the arches and cannons run from 10 am to 6 pm. Free admission
✓ Night market in Arpora opens at the end of December, before the New Year. Here you can find a lot of interesting things. Bargaining is not just appropriate, but obligatory!
✓ Dudhsagar waterfall surrounded by a nature reserve, which is home to tigers, panthers, snakes and very impudent monkeys. Although he himself occupies the 5th place in India in height, he leaves a double impression: in fact, he is not that tall. The entrance to the reserve is free, but you need to rent a jeep to get to the waterfall
✓ Shiva's face - The statue by Antonio Giuseppe Caroli is located on Vagator Beach (North Goa). If you get a bike, take a look. Looks very impressive
Best hotels in Goa
Traditionally, South Goa is considered more beachfront, and hotels are more comfortable:
- 2 * Lotus Beach Resort - close to the beach (5 minutes), you can rent a room with a kitchen and a refrigerator, there is a swimming pool on the territory. You can book in December only as part of the tour. For 7 days - from 60,000 rubles for two
- 3 * The Golden Crown Colva - the hotel has a fitness center, massage can be done right on a sun lounger by the pool. Voucher - from 63,000 rubles
- 5 * Caravela Beach Resort - green area, clean beach. Week tour - from 105,000 rubles for a double room with breakfast
In the north of the state, life is in full swing. For immersion in the atmosphere of India - here. It is difficult here with hotels of the quality familiar to Europeans. They simply do not exist. Optimal places price-quality:
- 2 * Naga Cottages - hotel near the beach (10 minutes), has a swimming pool. Price for a tour in December for a week - from 52,000 rubles
- 3 * Adamo The Bellus - 10 minutes to the beach. Rooms are not new, but spacious and clean, good buffet breakfasts; from 60 000 rubles per ticket
- 3 * Paradise Village Beach Resort - from 55,000 rubles for two. Clean, overlooking the beach
Reviews of tourists about Goa in December
India is not a pop direction. Here either hooked or not. And you won't be able to find out in advance. Cons:
- many hotels include a festive dinner in the cost of the December New Year's tours, which is quite possible to do without
- long flight
- not the cleanest rooms
- differences in mentality
Now for the good:
+ reviews about Goa in December are mostly positive - everything is overshadowed by nature and an unusual atmosphere, infecting with tranquility
+ in the north everyone will find entertainment to their liking
+ beaches with white sand creaking underfoot, sun and sea
