The question of what to take with you to Goa can be answered simply - nothing superfluous. The most necessary things on vacation in the Indian resort state are beach accessories, light clothing, a first aid kit and a flashlight. The latter may come in handy on dark Goan evenings - street lighting is not available everywhere.
To spend time on the beach, first of all, you should take care of sunscreen with a high degree of protection. Be extremely careful, you can get burned in two hours, thereby ruining your vacation on the first day. It is also worth taking a hat with you.
In terms of clothes you need to take with you to Goa, you need light things, because it is hot in these parts all year round. If you are traveling to Goa between October and January, you should take a warm jacket or windbreaker with you, as the nights at the beginning of the season can be chilly.
You should take minimal shoes on your trip, because there is a high chance that you will be wearing sandals or flip-flops the entire time. There are no sidewalks in Goa - there is nowhere to walk in heels. If you plan to move around the resort on a moped/motorcycle, you can additionally take sneakers or sneakers with you (although you can limit yourself to strong sandals).
Any clothes can be bought locally for a reasonable price: local shops have everything for a relaxed Goan holiday.
What medications to take in Goa
In a traveler's first aid kit you need to put: remedies for intestinal and stomach disorders (Smecta, Immodium, Linex, Mezim, activated carbon), miramistin, hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or other antiseptics, remedies for headaches (citramon, nurofen or others) and heart pain (Valocardine, Validol, Carvalol are not available in Goa), elastic bandage (ordinary bandages are sold at every turn in Goa), iodine, plaster, sanitary antiseptic napkins, personal hygiene products for women. As a last resort, in local pharmacies you can find a variety of drugs at reasonable prices; pharmacists themselves will select the right medicine for you if you can explain what problem you have with your health.
If you are going to stay in a guesthouse, the list of what to take with you to Goa can be supplemented with a door lock and bed linen.
I recently wrote, in the same article I promised to prepare a small reminder for independent travelers, which should make packing and living in Goa a little easier. It's time to keep the promise.
I want to start with what is correct to say in Goa, since it is a state, not an island, surprisingly, not everyone knows this. Thus, I advise you to get rid of the grammatically incorrect “holiday in Goa” as soon as possible and boldly go to this curious area. The northern part of Goa is a very populated tourist area, with a lot of Russian-speaking tourists, winterers, long-stayers and businessmen. Local Indians (Goans) already understand Russian quite well in markets, shops, cafes and the beach, so you shouldn’t worry too much. When you need it, they will understand you.
I came across a lot of similar articles on the Internet, and they really turned out to be useful, unfortunately, many were written quite a long time ago and have partially lost their relevance. However, having trusted them, we rather “played it safe”, so they did no harm. On the other hand, I didn’t find a single complete manual; in the end I had to work with many sources, the information in which was also duplicated. Therefore, I will try to cover as much as possible the most important issues related to a trip to Goa, but at the same time I will write concisely and to the point.
A general article on all the necessary aspects of a holiday for a traveler going to India may also be useful:
Packing our bags for India in Goa 2016
I want to start with the fact that it is possible and advisable to prepare at home in order to less overshadow your long-awaited and so:
- Backpack. Or something similar that would be convenient to go shopping on a bike or take things to the beach. A practical and useful thing in Goa, and throughout Asia, if you prefer to travel on a two-wheeler without a trunk, and it’s more convenient to carry your belongings without having to carry them in your hands
- Copies of documents for a trip to Goa. Be sure to make several copies of your civil and Indian visa, driver’s license, travel insurance if you decide to buy it, electronic tickets. Carry one copy with you, including in, in case you lose your main luggage. You can take photographs of these documents on your smartphone, at least with a driver’s license the local police will do just fine, as long as you have an open category A (a motorcycle is drawn). By the way, we were advised to simply add a motorcycle to the image of our license in Photoshop, and tell the police in Goa that the original is at home and we are afraid of losing it.
- Travel insurance to India. Safety and health come first, so don’t skimp on insurance. A timely purchased insurance policy will allow you to receive compensation for a vacation that was spoiled due to no flight or loss of luggage, will help you get back the money spent on treatment and will be stored like a real talisman. Before applying for an Indian visa, we took out insurance in case of refusal, because by that time we had already purchased tickets. Therefore, I recommend not skimping on security.
- Photos. Most likely, you will still have photographs after, so you can take them with you, take them separately - there is not much point. Since we didn’t need them, but the circumstances are different, they are needed to purchase a tourist SIM card, as well as some copies of documents, but this is easily done, more on that later.
- First aid kit for the road. WITH Take with you, with a main focus on antibacterial and digestive products. If you are afraid of malaria, then a week before your trip and throughout the trip, as well as one or two weeks after, you can take one doxycycline tablet per day. This is a weak antibiotic that will not cause much harm to your health (if taken along with any probiotic), but it will help malaria bypass you. Although, when traveling to Goa during the high season, you are unlikely to face this disease. In any case, consult your doctor before taking antibiotics. By the way, a lot of medicines are produced in India, the prices of which will pleasantly surprise you, so, perhaps, it’s not worth recruiting a lot from dear Russia, but on the contrary, it makes sense to think about it.
- Cosmetics and protective equipment. In general, all this can be bought on the spot, but in order to immediately run to the sea upon arrival, it makes sense to take sunscreen with protection of at least 25, and a small cosmetic bag to touch up your makeup in the evening. Although very soon, having imbued with the spirit of Goa, the need for all this will disappear. Cosmetics, again, are much cheaper in India, and the quality is high, so don’t overstuff your suitcase.
- Insect repellents in Goa. There is no need to bring large quantities, since India has its own good products, which sometimes work better than proven domestic ones, but you can buy them for the first time. However, you will have to buy the remedy for termites and ants on the spot almost immediately upon arrival.
- Flashlight. The road from the beach, and in many places in Goa, at least in the northern part, is dark and unlit, so to save your feet, it is best to have a small LED flashlight and a supply of batteries or rechargeable batteries. In addition, by illuminating your path, you can calmly avoid all sorts of unpleasant animals that you don’t want to step on.
- Change for the road. Be sure to prepare some dollars in small bills, they will come in handy both on the plane if you want to buy lunch during the flight, and when changing at the airport upon arrival, at the extortionate rate, on the way to your vacation destination in Goa.
- Padlock (like a barn lock). The door locking system in India was a little surprising at first, but it is easy to explain, because... allows you to lock the house with your own lock, and the owners do not have to change the keys after each vacationer. As they say, the sheep are well-fed and the wolves are safe, or vice versa, here who feels like who.
- Products that are missed in Goa. Officially, the import of meat and dairy products, as well as cereals into India must be declared, but no one does this. But many tourists, especially winterers, bring delicacies: cheese, sausage, seeds, herring, caviar, buckwheat, chocolate, vermicelli - i.e. those products that cannot be found here in the usual quality and at reasonable prices during the day
- Things and suitcases. Usually people arrive with empty bags and take trunks home, including clothes. So take the essentials or your favorite ones, but still buy a lot of things. If you take a large empty suitcase, you will have something to carry your gifts back with. You can also buy it on the spot - I remember the story of one of my friends, how he bargained for two days in Goa for one spacious suitcase - well, this is also an element of exoticism.
- Women's clothing. India is a country of strict views; it is not customary to expose your legs and shoulders much, so out of respect for foreign culture, do not wear miniskirts, shorts and any tight underwear if you want to be treated well. Short clothing is unsafe for riding a bike in the heat and generally not practical. In Goa, of course, people are more accustomed to the sight of tourists, but if you are coming to experience the spirit of India, then you should not irritate its residents, they, of course, will remain silent, but at best they will write you down as a woman of easy virtue.
- Other little things. Shampoos, oils, soap, gel, powder, etc. there is a large amount of local production here, natural and cheap, so you only need a maximum supply for the first day or two
- Money in Goa. The Indian Rupee has a relatively stable exchange rate to the dollar, so if you are not confident in the sharp growth of the ruble or, on the contrary, there is a fear of its further fall, then it is better to immediately exchange dollars and go with a pre-calculated budget. By the way, the ruble traditionally grows in the spring, so we took a minimal supply of cash.
- Plastic cards. This is the best replacement for a mountain of cash, a relatively safe and profitable means of storing money. The main thing is to set limits correctly and have several cards from different banks and payment systems. The question is also relevant in Goa, it is always relevant: with a stable ruble exchange rate (when was this the case?), cash dollars are profitable, even with double conversion, but right now I more profitable card. By the way, this and the previous point can cover all the others, because with money it is very easy to rest lightly. On the other hand, I know several examples where people in India got by with virtually no money, so who goes for what?
- Spare phone. If you come for the whole season, then it makes sense to use a cheap old mobile phone, since due to the humidity and sand, not every smartphone can survive six months in Goa. Besides, you shouldn’t show off expensive equipment unnecessarily in front of poor Indians
Instead of ending
Perhaps this is where we can finish the first part. I really hope that I haven’t forgotten something especially important and worthy of attention; at the very least, I’ll add it. In addition, there is a place in the comments, not only for questions, but also for forgotten answers. The best advice I’ll add this article from the comments or prepare a separate one if I have enough material. When using this memo, you should not forget that in it I draw conclusions based on my own experience, including writing about what I myself forgot when getting ready and regretted upon arriving in Goa. I hope my mistakes will become a lesson to someone. In general, we’re packing our bags and taking a bold step to India, and I’ll tell you what to expect upon arrival. Good luck on your trips, perhaps India won’t scare you either, at least the prices are very reasonable, both for accommodation and travel, However, check it yourself.
Before traveling to India, tourists search for information on the Internet about mandatory things for the trip. But if you take seriously the nonsense that is written on some travel websites, then you can completely abandon your planned trip.
You should distinguish between a trip to Goa and a trip to India, these are very big differences and the list of things can be very different. I will try to talk about all this in my post.
But the first step is to get rid of the incorrect information that is floating around the Internet. Here are some quotes from the site travel agency, on the topic “What to take with you to India.” Probably, texts for such sites are written by people who have never been to this country.
Any clothing should be light, light and at the same time quite comfortable.
It is strictly not recommended to take light-colored clothes; in India they will become any color, but not light. During the six-month trip, I had to wash a dark blue backpack several times, which is not intended for washing. I don’t understand what kind of light clothes the author is talking about.
There is no need to take light-colored clothes to India!
Please note that aspirin is not sold in India. The quality of some drugs is constantly criticized by international doctors' organizations.
Quite by accident, in my medicine cabinet there was a pack of aspirin, which I bought at Indian city Varanasi (I attach a photo of the packaging of Indian aspirin). The cost of local medicines is cheap (a pack of Indian aspirin costs only 4 rupees), but the effectiveness is no worse than ours. Well, we shouldn’t forget that India is the birthplace of Ayurveda, but I think that the author of the travel site doesn’t know what it is.
The level of paid healthcare in India is at a good level.
And finally, from the same travel site and from the same article “What to take with you to India.”
The issue of sanitation in Indian hotels is also easy to solve - just take your own towels and bed linen with you. With the latter, by the way, you need special vigilance - too expensive sheets can be stolen by maids.
In India, there are hotels of different price levels and comfort, from rooms for 100 rupees per day, to an entire palace for $20,000 per day. I have lived in the most modest guesthouses and nowhere have anything been stolen from me.
You shouldn’t worry so much about the sheets that the author recommends you bring from Russia. And for reference, in India there are approximately 300,000,000 people (this figure is twice the population of Russia) - these are representatives of the middle class (owners of private businesses, small factories, hotels, restaurants, etc.), they are unlikely to covet your sheets.
You should be careful, but without fanaticism.
I think you understand that not every information on the Internet is worth believing.
Let's return to the topic of our post “What to take with you on a trip to India”. In this post I will try to briefly tell you what is worth putting in your backpack, and what is better to refuse, or buy on the spot. At the end of the post I’ll tell you and show you the contents of my backpack.
If I forgot to mention something important, please add it in the comments to this post.
What to take with you to India
The first thing you should always control is the volume and quantity of things. Try to take as little as possible (everything you need can be bought locally), too many unnecessary things will be an unnecessary burden.
It should be understood that India is a large country and it is important to take into account climatic conditions the place where you are going. At a time when it is + 30 in Goa, it snows in the Himalayas and you can ski.
List of must-haves when traveling to India:
Documents and their copies- you should make copies of all documents that are traveling with you (Russian passport, foreign passport + Indian visa page, medical insurance, round-trip air tickets). The best way- take a photo of the documents and send them to your email, so they will definitely be safe and accessible.
Belt bag for concealed carry- if you are going to long journey, then be sure to buy moneybelt, it really helps.
Money and bank cards- all money should be divided into several parts and distributed over several places (cash, credit cards, debit cards, electronic wallets, etc.). Most cash - always carry it in your belt bag, and think about the safety of your bank cards.
Medicines and hygiene products- almost everything can be bought in India, but at first you should have a small supply.
Sunscreen from the sun- the Indian sun is very active, so you shouldn’t joke with it, you can get fried very quickly. You can also buy sunscreen locally; prices for creams from European manufacturers are high, but you can buy Indian, whatever you like.
Comfortable shoes- you can take any kind of shoes (old, new, fashionable, not fashionable), but they must be comfortable - this is the only criterion.
Nice sunglasses- in India there are branded stores with original products from the Italian company Luxotica (brands Ray Ban, Oakley, etc.), but the prices are the same as in Russia (or higher), and you will also have to look for the stores themselves.
A camera or something you can take pictures with- this is an optional thing, but very useful.
The padlock- if you are planning to travel around India, then taking a small padlock with you is a must.
Cigarettes- if you smoke, it is better to take a small supply, local cigarettes are not of very high quality, and imported ones are expensive.
Flashlight- buy a small flashlight, sometimes it will be useful to you. The flashlight can also be bought in India, so this point is not so important.
What is better not to take with you to India?
Alcohol- in Goa it is local, high quality and cheap. In other Indian states, there may be problems with alcohol and its drinking; there are some cities where the sale of alcohol is prohibited by law.
Antibiotics- it is much cheaper and more efficient to buy locally, and it is advisable to have
Heeled shoes, branded and other fashion items- shoes and clothes should be practical and comfortable, you won’t surprise anyone here with branded items, and they will quickly become unusable (climate, dust, etc.). I don’t recommend taking light-colored clothes; in India they will quickly lose their whiteness.
Expensive smartphones and other gadgets- there is no need to go to India with an expensive phone and other expensive gadgets, here they can be stolen or you can lose them in other ways (lose, break, drown, etc.). So, if you are going to relax and not to work, then take a break from the usual things.
Jewelry- these things are unlikely to be useful to you here, unless of course you are heading to someone’s wedding. There is no point in taking expensive jewelry with you.
Travel bag on wheels- this is a very useful thing, but not for India. You will have to carry it everywhere in your arms; there are very few places to roll such a bag in the Indian open spaces (with the exception of airports). The best option- This is a comfortable and roomy backpack.
Russian SIM card- you should not use your usual cellular operators unless absolutely necessary, roaming is very expensive. In the Indian services market cellular communications Our MTS is present, but the level of communication and prices for roaming are not encouraging, it’s easier to buy a local SIM card.
Contents of my backpack for an Indian trip
So, what fits in my 45 liter backpack.
Clothes and shoes
- T-shirts - 2 pieces (you can buy them locally, they are cheaper here than in Russia);
- shorts - 2 pieces (can be purchased on the spot);
- panties - 2 pieces (if necessary, can be bought in India);
- socks - 2 pairs of light ones (can be purchased locally);
- a cap - its visor perfectly protects from the sun (you can buy it on the spot);
- Comfortable boots are a must for central and northern India;
- rubber flip flops - 1 pair, ideal for going to the shower or to the beach (simple ones can be bought at local markets, but it’s better to bring quality ones with you).
Technique
- laptop - an old HP backpack;
- camera - Nikon D90 with lens, but without camera bag;
- Flash drives, chargers, USB extension cable.
Documentation
- international passport;
- bank cards (my selection of bank cards for travel);
- driving license (in India an international driving license is required).
Useful things
- thermal mug and boiler - in India these devices will be useful to you;
- first aid kit (all medications can be bought at local pharmacies, their price will be much lower, and their effectiveness will be much higher, so my minimum kit is: a patch and polyphepan);
- inflatable pillow - during long bus journeys it can significantly ease your suffering :);
- earplugs - sometimes the noise from Indian streets is deadly and in a surprising way penetrates into guesthouse rooms that do not have windows;
- flashlight - for India, having a small pocket (or head) flashlight will be your advantage and protect your shoes from cow dung in the night (can be purchased locally);
- padlock - be sure to take it and use it wherever possible (I recommend taking it with you);
- notebook - if you don’t write down your brilliant idea in time, then most likely you won’t get it back :), in fact, it really helps to remember the details of the trip;
- sunglasses - take only high-quality sunglasses, the sun here (especially in the South) is very active, and besides, they are comfortable for riding a bike.
Hygiene
- dry wipes (can be purchased locally);
- gel for hand disinfection - great help in cases where there are no hand washing places nearby (can be bought on the spot);
- Oral irrigator - I carry this device everywhere to clean my teeth;
- towel - not all guesthouses have them (it’s better to buy a quick-drying towel, ordinary ones can rot).
What's in the backpack specifically for India?
A padlock is a big thing in this country, I don't use padlocks in Thailand, but India is a different story. You will definitely need a disinfectant (at first, for sure). The flashlight was used exclusively in India; I didn’t even think about buying it in other countries.
The photo does not show some important things for an independent trip to India, but they definitely go: a waist bag for concealed carry, a small backpack, a smartphone, etc.
There is no need to carry a number of things with you; it is easier to buy them on the spot and leave them there after the trip. It seems like there are not many things, but the 45-liter backpack is 80% full.
List of things that were useless in India
Hello friends. 6 months in India flew by like two days, I’m back in Russia and ready to tell you how to optimize the filling of your backpack for this trip. In this part of the post I will tell you what things were completely useless on my Indian trip.
So as not to bore you with unnecessary information, let’s look at the photo of the things I took with me on the trip. Now I’ll tell you what things you could not take with you, but buy on the spot and leave there, or refuse them altogether.
Here is a list of things that take up a lot of space in your backpack, and some of them are completely useless.
Terry towel- this is the biggest fail that can only happen to you in India. First, it takes up precious space. Secondly, India has a very nasty climate, so your towel will simply rot. Thirdly, it costs pennies on the local market. If you really need to drag your towel from Russia, then buy a quick-drying version from any sportswear, at least it won’t rot.
Inflatable sleep pillow and earplugs. These things are completely useless in India, since in most cases you either need a full-fledged pillow, or the road is so bumpy that there is no time for sleep.
Laptop. It all depends on the type of your activity, for me it is necessary, but most of my friends get by just fine with a tablet or smartphone. The laptop takes up a lot of space and weighs at least 2.5 kilograms.
Reflex camera. Everything here is debatable, but modern smartphones take such high-quality pictures that you are amazed. If photography is not a profession for you, then a modern smartphone camera is perfect.
Flashlight. In India, there are sometimes power outages, but there is no need to bring a flashlight from Russia. The local store has as much of this stuff as you want, and the price is much lower than ours.
Thermal mug lid. The thermal cup is a universal thing, I’m used to it, but in India I could do without it. And especially don’t carry the cover of this device with you.
There are several items missing from this photo that were in my backpack, but they were quite useful on the trip. An exception is the Dolphin device, it’s a nasal wash, but it was completely useless. In India there are two extremes, and in both cases such devices are not needed at all. For example, if you live in Goa on the seashore, or in the foothills of the Himalayas, then you don’t need any “Dolphin”. If you live in Delhi, where the air is so dirty that you need to constantly rinse your nose, the device is again useless.
Now you know for sure that things that are familiar to us can be completely useless during an Indian trip.
Have a nice trip!
What to take with you to Goa.
Good day, dear readers of the site! In this article we will tell you about useful things on your trip to Goa and India.
This list includes everything that may be useful to you for traveling not only in Goa, but also in other countries. The list will be useful regardless of whether you are traveling for two weeks or a year, as it is compiled to the maximum. You can figure out for yourself what you need and what you don’t, and cross off the unnecessary from the list. Based on the place you are going to, the comfort you want, and so on.
First, let's make a couple of statements:
There are no necessary things, there are only those that can make it easier to solve certain problems.
The fewer things you have, the freer you feel.
If we talk about Goa, then all you need is a couple of T-shirts and shorts. You can bring your camera, but everything else can be purchased on the spot. Now let's move on to the list:
Documentation:
Be sure to have your passport with you at all times. Be careful when storing your documents, as losing them can lead to big troubles. Carry copies of documents and tickets with you, but store them in other places. Decide for yourself what to leave at the hotel and what to take with you.
More helpful information in the article:
Flashlight:
It gets dark quite early in India. There is also a high probability of a power outage, and most often the streets are not lit, and there is a high probability of not finding your home. A good way to avoid this problem would be to buy an LED flashlight. Such flashlights waste little energy and work for a long time. You can buy a model that fits on your head, in case you have to look for something in the dark.
The padlock:
The rooms of budget hotels, guesthouses and bungalows have their own locks, but if you are afraid of thieves, you can also lock the room with your own lock; in most cases, there are places on the doors to install such locks. The lock can be either a combination lock or a key lock. Keys are easy to lose, and code keys are easy to crack. The decision is yours. Although many do without locks.
Clothesline:
If your hotel does not have laundry services, it makes sense to stock up on such things. You can also buy it in Goa.
Tee:
Can be useful if you have a lot of equipment. There are few outlets and not enough for all the electronics. The sockets in India are a little different from ours, but the plugs fit. As a last resort, you can purchase a tee in India.
Sunglasses:
You can bring your own, or if you are not an expert in this field, you can buy them in Goa, but it is unlikely that you will find good quality glasses.
Safety glasses for riding motorcycles and scooters:
Suitable if you are planning such a vacation. Protects eyes from dust and insects.
Body wallet:
You can take it with you to increase the reliability of storing money and documents.
Quick dry towel:
The microfiber towel, thanks to its quick drying, does not rot in the humid Indian climate. Doesn't take up much space in your luggage.
Lightweight sleeping bag:
Even in hot climates it can be useful, because in some hotels and guesthouses there are no blankets at all, or the bed linen is of very poor quality and freshness, and sleeping in your own sleeping bag will be much more pleasant. Plus there is draft from many windows. Can be replaced with a blanket.
Backpacks:
Backpacks are a very convenient way to carry things, compared to suitcases, for example. When sorting things, you can adhere to the following scheme - one large backpack, where not the most valuable things are collected, in the meantime, sort everything valuable into pockets and chest bags. If you check your backpack as luggage, there should be nothing there that can be broken or broken.
Inflatable pillow:
If you know how to fall asleep on buses and trains, then you can take an inflatable pillow and make yourself more comfortable.
Mug, thermos and small boiler:
Useful for preparing food for travelers if you don't plan to visit your hotel room often.
Souvenirs:
Small money, pens, and other things will help establish friendly relations with local residents.
Pen and notepad:
Will be needed when filling out various documents. Using a notepad, you can explain something to a person if you could not find understanding in oral speech.
Photocopies of tickets and passport:
You can make more than one copy and store each one in different places to minimize problems due to loss of documents or tickets. You can take photos of your documents before departure and post them on the Internet so that if something happens, you can present these photos.
2 color photos:
May be needed when purchasing a SIM card or Internet connection.
Cards:
You can have electronic ones, or print paper ones, or buy them.
Stories and reports:
If you are traveling throughout India, they can be useful for exploring the place you arrive at. If there are many Internet resources with detailed information. For example
Before asking about what to take with you to Goa, you immediately need to answer the counter question: “What to take with you to heaven?” This is exactly the question hippies asked themselves when they moved here to live permanently in the 60s. They took nothing with them, only their dreams, songs and a sea of love. But let's look at the world realistically and still decide on the main things that need to be taken into account. India Goa in a trip.
Season and weather
Goa has its own weather conditions in every period of time. Eg, perfect time for rest is the period from October to March. But many tourists live here all year round and do not experience any particular inconvenience. From April to July starts in Goa rain season, when everything around is flooded with torrential rain almost every day. Then you should stock up on waterproof shoes, clothes and a large umbrella. And for example from August to October starts here heatwave and basically can't breathe. It becomes so stuffy that neither the sea, nor the shade, nor cold water can save you. At this time of year, it is better to go to the northern regions of India and wait until October. But we will talk about the most favorable stage weather conditions- from October to March. It is during these months that millions of tourists plan their trips and remain as satisfied as possible.
What to take with you to Goa: the most necessary things
First of all, you need to make sure that you are in place passport and plane tickets, as well as money. Should do all copies of documents and take it with you. As a rule, tickets are ordered online and must be printed. At customs they ask you to show ticket and hotel reservation. You can book any hotel and then cancel it. You must have a valid one on hand visa to india- local authorities are especially closely monitoring this, since there are many cases of tourists who simply stayed in India without registration and with expired documents.
It’s worth exchanging rubles in your homeland for dollars or euros. Otherwise, it will be difficult to exchange them in Goa. It is more profitable to have dollars on hand. They are more often used in everyday life and are more readily exchanged at exchange points.
I believe that these are the most necessary things, without which you are unlikely to end up in another country. For me, this is enough that you need to take it to Goa, and nothing else is required. And it will be important for you to stock up on a few more things.
Insurance to India
It's better to take care of it in advance health insurance and take it with you to Goa. It costs about 30 rubles per day and allows you to call a Russian-speaking doctor to the hotel who will provide assistance. You never know what can happen on the coast, it’s better to insure yourself in every sense. This especially applies to those who ride a scooter, because regular insurance does not cover such risks. Need additional option " leisure” or “driving a motorbike,” with which the cost immediately doubles. But it's worth it. Good insurance in India:
- “Consent” with assistance from “AP Companies”- the cheapest insurance out of the good ones. Can be purchased at
- "Tripinsurance" with your own assistance- very reliable and expensive. Can be purchased at.
- "Allianz" with "Mondial" assistance- “golden mean” in terms of price and quality. Can be purchased at
- "ERV" with assistance "Euro-Holding"- good insurance for children. Can be purchased at.
First aid kit
For particularly squeamish tourists and for those who have any health problems, you should take your own first aid kit. For example, you can bring antiseptics, painkillers and prebiotics. In general, India is a country that produces the most natural and effective medicines in the world. They are based on ancient Ayurvedic recipes. You can buy everything you need at a local pharmacy, as we usually do. But it’s better to take care of your health in advance, which can also be detrimental when transferring to planes.
Other
Can be taken to Goa credit cards . There are ATMs in Goa, and in some cafes and shops you can pay by card without a commission. And also need to take to Goa international driving license. You can rent a scooter without a license. The maximum fine for driving without documents is 500 rupees; if you are driving without a helmet, then 100 rupees. The fines are very reasonable, compared, for example, to Thailand, where you have to pay 1,500 baht for parking in the wrong place, and 3,000 baht for driving without a license.
Helped me a lot English-Russian phrasebook. It's small and doesn't take up much space, but it's so effective. It’s also worth getting a guide to India in Russian. Although you can find all the information on the Internet. Paper maps are very helpful. The best apps are Google maps and Maps.me. Download them to your phone in advance.
What to take to India Goa: packing a backpack
Yes, yes, it’s a backpack, not a suitcase with flowers. Why a backpack because it is the most effective hand luggage. It's easy to board a plane with, and easy to check in as luggage without worrying about whether the wheels fall off. It is also easy to carry from place to place when you travel in and around Goa. Who knows where the dashing will take you? Maybe you'll end up in Bali.
India is the most unpredictable country in the world, with the features of a portal where tourists can move, amazed by the freedom and limitlessness of their actions. This is how they leave society to live. It all starts with the backpack, of course. 🙂
What to wear in Goa
This means the backpack must be at least 60 liters. It’s worth putting comfortable summer shoes, spare jeans, shorts, a T-shirt, socks, underwear, a swimsuit or swimming trunks, a hat, a long-sleeve sweater or sweatshirt (it’s very cool in the evenings, especially when you’re riding a scooter). The rest can be bought in local shops for little money. For example, T-shirts cost 100-200 rupees, dresses 300-700 rupees.
What else
A must take in Goa communication device, camera or cameras y, as well as spare batteries and accumulators. Sunglasses will come in handy, but it’s better to take inexpensive ones or buy them locally. There is a possibility of losing them or breaking them. I have often noticed that many travelers have a laptop. They work on it during free daytime hours, when the sun is hot and you don’t want to go anywhere. And some communicate with loved ones on Skype. Each cafe has its own Wi-Fi, although the quality of the Internet is not great everywhere. Therefore, we are not able to work in Goa at all.
Can be taken on holiday in Goa in a backpack small flashlight. It will come in handy if you rent a house somewhere on the outskirts. India has a different system of electrical appliances and often requires a Euro adapter. You need to take it and also stock up on a tee so that there are always enough sockets. You can also take a notebook and pen to Goa. It helps when inspiration comes and you want to pour out your innermost thoughts on paper. And this happens everywhere, because Goa inspires creativity. You should take 3 x 4 color photographs with you. They will be useful when purchasing a local SIM card or Internet. Many useful things can be bought in local supermarkets. Many of them have been adapted and already have inscriptions in Russian.
What not to take in Goa
You should not take expensive things to Goa in India. For example, you should remove all gold jewelry or those that are valuable. In addition, it is also better to leave expensive phones and equipment at home. You shouldn't take high-heeled shoes - there's simply nowhere to put them on. And you don’t really want to put on makeup in the heat. Natural beauty is the most attractive. You shouldn't take a lot of clothes. She will only get in the way.
Also, do not take chargers that take a long time to charge. Time is precious and you don’t know where you might end up in half an hour. No need to take it with you Goa funds from the sun and from insects. Because they are in every stall, they are cheap and very effective. An inflatable pillow is also not useful. And huge books will burden your stay. Moreover, many cafes have their own libraries of books left behind by tourists who are tired of carrying them with them on vacation.
Own experience of what to take on vacation in Goa
Having a one-way ticket, a backpack, a sleeping bag, a T-shirt and pants to change into and take off winter clothes, as well as a couple of thousand dollars, I set off to unknown India. In fact, things are sold there and you can buy shoes, glasses, hygiene items and everything you need for pennies. I even ordered a return ticket via the Internet at a local internet cafe. And I can say that it is more profitable to buy air tickets from India than from Russia. All winterers do exactly this.
First of all, I thought about where I would keep my money. After all, this is the main thing that has value in an unfamiliar country, after the passport, of course. For safety reasons, I recommend taking padlock. It is incredibly helpful for both locking hotel rooms and hanging on old safes. From the outside it may seem strange to take a barn castle with you on vacation to Goa. But this “accessory” helped me and kept all my things safe in the hotel room. As you understand, the cleaning lady, the receptionist, and maybe a crowd of people also have the keys to a standard hotel lock. I also recommend that you always close the windows so that no one else can break in on you. It sounds funny, but such cases are true.
