Is it worth going to Goa to India with children? Recommendations

For those who regularly take an interest in popular travel destinations, Goa is unlikely to be a novelty. In our area they talk about it quite a lot, considering it a rather popular and at the same time not the most common resort. Another thing is that usually it is not considered an ideal place for a family vacation, however, some reviews indicate that children can be brought here to rest.

Is it suitable for children?

Goa is located in India, so the general idea of it is usually quite negative, because potential tourists are afraid of the spectacles of shocking poverty and unsanitary conditions, poisonous snakes and wild animals.

This is not to say that in the case of Goa this is not at all true, however, the situation here is still much better than the national average, especially if you are vacationing in the southern part of this state (many mistakenly consider Goa a city, although in fact it is a state ). The situation here is somewhat different for the better, since for a long time (actually until 1961, and officially - until 1974) it was considered part of Portugal.

There is a large percentage of Christians among the local population (about a quarter of all residents), so at least the famous cows should not wander in the middle of the streets. Not in favor of perfect cleanliness is the fact that Goa is a world center of hippie pilgrimage, but the very fact of the influx of tourists makes the locals care more about the appearance and quality of life in the local cities, so you can bring a child here - many do so.

Which season to choose?

It is not recommended to go to Goa in any season, because the local climate is characterized by serious seasonal differences. For instance, tours from November to March should be booked many months in advance, since this is the so-called high tourist season, and at its peak it is almost impossible for a tourist to settle here. But the conditions also meet all expectations - while it is cold and snowy in our area, there is constant sunny weather here, and the heat is not felt due to the dry air and tangible sea breeze.

A storm for this time is also a completely uncharacteristic phenomenon, so it is best to bring children here exactly when we have winter.

Some tourists come here in April, May or October. At this time, it is much cheaper, and much easier to settle. This is no accident, because the air becomes humid, and it is already quite difficult to endure the heat, the likelihood of storms and storms increases. Perhaps only a teenager should subscribe to this, and even then if he realizes all the risks and voluntarily agrees. There is nothing to do here from June to September, because this period is characterized by a huge amount of precipitation and strong winds.

Preparation of documents

For a short trip to India for tourist purposes, you can apply for a so-called electronic visa (eTV) without visiting the consular offices of this country. You must apply for a visa no earlier than 3 months before the date of arrival in the country, and no later than 4 days before departure from home. Usually, this type of visa is made within two days, however, it should be noted that we mean working days, not calendar days.

To apply, you need to go to the Indian Visa Online website, and then open the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) page. Then you need to click the Apply online button to start filling in the numerous fields with information about yourself or your child. You should prepare yourself to do all this in English!

The following documents should be prepared in advance:

Scanned or photographic copy of the main page of the passport;
an electronic photograph, similar to the one in the passport, square, no more than 1 MB and no more than 1000x100 pixels;
information about the flight and place of residence in Goa with the contacts of the hotel administration (of course, pre-booking is implied);
a bank card with enough funds to pay for the registration (as of 2018 - $ 75 per visa plus $ 2 commission).

For the baby, you must separately have a copy of the birth certificate, photographs, and in the case of a trip with only one of the parents - also documentary evidence that the second parent does not object to the child's departure from the country.

Housing

Although the whole of Goa is considered a resort, it is difficult to call this state homogeneous. Judging by numerous reviews, all the best hotels are located in the southern part of the coast - many of these establishments operate on an all-inclusive basis, offer all the necessary children's infrastructure and services of hired nannies, and qualified children's animation. It is expensive, but at the same time the European level of comfort is provided.

In the northern part, it is recommended to stay mostly in the guest houses of local residents, and it is worth focusing on citizens of European origin, because the indigenous Goans do not have many of the amenities we are used to in their homes.

Such a vacation will be much cheaper, but you should take care to stay away from the noisy companies that are traditional here.

Nutrition

The first thing to say to visitors to Goa is a warning about the serious danger of drinking tap water. She does not have any standards here at all, so it would be better for children and adults to drink exclusively bottled water. Parents of youngest children should be prepared to always have a certain supply of baby food on hand. - it is not a fact that it will be easy to find it here, especially since it is not always easy for a child to switch to unusual food.

Feeding older children is also relatively easy. Local dishes are very spicy, which may simply not be liked by kids, so the menu should be carefully selected, or even limited to European restaurants. Self-cooking is also not so simple, for example, experienced tourists do not recommend buying meat here, even in stores, confining themselves only to farms where the animal will be slaughtered in person.

Seafood, including fish, should be eaten only if you know exactly how it was caught and prepared. For children, vegetables and fruits will be a great bonus, of which there are a lot, however, you also need to wash the gifts of the local flora exclusively with bottled water.

Acclimatization

The conditions in Goa are radically different from the domestic ones - both the weather and the peculiarities of the local food are meant. As a result, a number of complications are possible, among which the following are most common:

diarrhea;
vomiting;
high temperature.

In babies, the first symptoms may appear within a few hours after arrival, and since it is difficult for the body to cope with unusual intestinal infections, the first week upon arrival may be completely ruined. In this regard, it is recommended to fly to India on vacation for a long time, otherwise the whole impression of a tropical vacation will be purely negative.

Manifestations of acclimatization in a baby can take on frightening proportions, but one should not rush to radical treatment - remember that all our compatriots go through this and this is normal.

Call a doctor only if the high temperature cannot be brought down for a certain time.

Beaches

The coast of the Indian Ocean, to which the state of Goa, is replete with numerous sandy beaches, well suited for relaxation. However, families with children usually do not like to rest "savages", so you need to pay special attention to the presence of a minimum beach infrastructure.

Tourism in general is much better developed in the south - this is where you should go to use the pools and babysitting services, playgrounds and even children's restaurants right on the beach. The majority of tourists, both with children and without, come to Palolem, Cavelossim and Benaulim.

It is worth going to the north of the state if the child is already quite an adult to appreciate not only commonplace amenities, but also elementary adventures. It is worth going to India not only for the beaches on the shores of the Indian Ocean, maybe just a trip to a completely different world, for the sake of which you can give up some of the usual amenities.

If we are talking about a teenager, and he shares a similar line of thought, you should pay attention to resorts such as Morjim, Mandrem, Ashvem, Calangute and Candolim.

The absence of any bonuses, by the way, will significantly help to save the family budget.

Entertainment

It has long been impossible to lure tourists in large numbers to a resort where there is no entertainment, except for the beach itself. The trip should also leave some really vivid impressions. This is especially true for children who are bored of wallowing in the sand and swimming when the environment is completely unusual. In addition to gastronomic experiments with a huge amount of local fruits, most of which do not have a Russian-language name, children can be offered a number of other unusual activities.

Elephant trekking is a must-see travel destination in India. Such entertainment will be remembered for a lifetime not only by children, but also by adults!
A trip to the Kotigao nature reserve will help you get acquainted with Indian nature in its original form. If the kid loves programs about wild animals, here he can see his favorite characters live.

The ruins of ancient Portuguese and Indian forts can even throw their guests into an old oriental tale. Even those who are not very interested in history will definitely like it here because of the picturesque nature of such ruins.
There are aviation museums in Goa, which will surely please the boys who love airplanes.
For those who do not need specific Indian entertainment, but want something more familiar, an ordinary water park has been built in Anjuna.

General Tips

It is simply impossible to have a rest in Goa without special information training - this is too specific a place. It is worth paying attention to some interesting and useful facts, the knowledge of which will help to avoid trouble.

Although Goa is cleaner than the rest of India, there are still an amazing number of bacilli and viruses here. An adult can still take the risk and come here unvaccinated, but for a child, such a decision will necessarily end in illness.

A significant part of local infections are carried by the numerous local insects, which are not only dangerous, but also simply unpleasant. The remedy for them will be another thing that should always be at hand in India.
Leaving densely populated areas in Goa is wary - in the tropics, nature, even in the 21st century, is able to provide significant resistance to humans. Poisonous snakes and dangerous predators can meet on the way, so it is better not to go far from the habitat.
Goa is not the most densely populated state, there are no megacities, and with them there are no supermarkets. Most of the trade takes place in small shops and markets, where they love to bargain, so be patient and learn this difficult art.