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The roads in Goa are bad even by Indian standards. The signs are poor, there is hardly any two-lane road and most highway sections are under construction. There is very poor visibility at nights. Most people seem to prefer travelling by self-driven Rent a Cab. We would suggest taking a local taxi instead. The self-driven cabs are a prime target for the cops and they seem to stop and ticket them for the flimsiest of reasons.
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Finding standard Indian vegetarian food is quite easy in Goa. The challenge is to find local/Goan vegetarian dishes. The big cities have a few restaurants that serve vegetarian thali. We tried one at the Anantashram in Vasco and it was exceptional. Tato is a chain serving a wide variety of vegetarian dishes. They have a large selection of pav-bhaji dishes. Navtara is another good chain for Goan vegetarian snacks.
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Ginger Goa (Panjim):
Pros:
- 1) The place is quite neat and all staff wear mask and all are fully vaccinated.
- 2) The rooms and bathrooms are clean.
- 3) The breakfast spread is good and is served early - starts at 7:30 am.
- 4) They have a laundry service.
- 5) The internet speed is good. The basic internet is free which is good enough for casual browsing.
- 6) The staff is courteous.
- 7) The hotel location is good. It is a very short walk to the Fontainhas from here and at the same time, it is very easy to get in/out of Panjim from the hotel.
- 8) There are a decent number of eateries next to the hotel.
- 9) Like most Ginger hotels, there is a good travel desk and they helped us with our travel needs.
- 10) The a la carte service is available through out the day and the choices and taste are good.
- 11) The tariff is reasonable.
Cons:
- 1) As with any Ginger Hotel, the rooms are bit on the smaller side.
- 2) The breakfast taste is a bit average. And a few items do not get served until well past 8 am.
- 3) The front desk seems a bit understaffed. They need to add more members during the peak times.
- 4) The bed was too soft for our liking.
Time Required at the Sights
- Fontainhas: One hour. The old Latin quarters are breathtakingly pretty and there are several by-lanes. Don't miss Altinho Steps, Painted Steps, Hanuman Mandir, St. Sebastian Chapel.
- Goa State Museum: There isn't much here to see. You can skip this. Or you can do a quick in and out in 15 minutes.
- Old Goa: Takes half a day (4 to 5 hours) to see all of it. Take a taxi to the Our Lady of the Mount. The rest are easily walkable from one another.
- Chandor: One hour - the two houses Fernando and Braganza are worth a dekko.
- Usagalimal: 30 mins. But it is quite difficult to locate. Unless staring at 600 year old petroglyphs give you goosebumps, you can skip this.
- Forts - All three major forts (Reis Magos, Aguaga, Chapora) can be covered in an afternoon. You only need about 30 mins per site. But it takes a long time getting between them.
- Mahadeva Temple, Tambdi Surla: 30 mins. But it is a good 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Panaji.
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