Hey, Good to hear from you again! Let me first get the bike rentals part sorted out for you.
Renting a bike can be as easy as you want it to be if you keep some facts in mind. Here is a list of things that you should do to avoid the mess :
- Carry your driving license and one or two photocopies also.
- Always rent a bike which has yellow number plate or a yellow mudguard. These bikes are government approved bikes and hence cops will not bother you.
- If you do not find the yellow plate bikes and choose to rent any other bike, then beware of the cops and if caught be ready to pay a little. In such cases, your answer to the cops should be that you are on a friend's bike and you haven't rented this.
- North Goa will not be much of a problem with cops but when in South Goa, the chances of being caught are very high.
- Wear a helmet always when you are driving.
- If any damage occurs, you have to pay for the loss.
- Make sure you check the mirrors and brakes before you hire.
- Bikes are usually rented with a full tank of petrol and you will be either expected to return back with the tank full or pay for the same.
The prices of the bikes also vary according to the type of vehicle you rent. Lowest price is for the scooters, starts going up for bikes and is the highest for Enfield. Finding an R15 will not be easy and the prices will also be very high. Also, the longer you rent, the cheaper you get. Typically, the per day price is around 400-450 for a bajaj avenger, 500-550 for enfield and 350-400 for a bajaj pulsar. These are the prices if you rent the bike for 3-6 days. Since March is not a tourist season, the prices will be lower ad when you bargain, you can quote as low as 300-400 for an enfield and chances are that you will get it.
You can book your bike online at
goabikehire. They have a wide range of bikes for you to choose from. Another place where you can find good deals is
safespecialservices. This is run by a local person and is very reliable and his bikes are also in good condition. You can also read
reviews of other travelers who have booked through him. They also have some handy
tips for driving in Goa.
Got a tip from a traveler that you can rent a bike through Mr.Augustine in Calangute. You can reach him at +919850016054 and find all the details. He is a friendly man and will help you with all your needs.
WATER SPORTSBlessed with numerous beaches, Goa is a great choice for many water sports and this is the best time for the same. There are a lot of organizations, agencies and hotels which organize the water sports and also have courses for the same. Taj Holiday Village, taj Fort Aguada and Cidade de goa are some of the hotels which offer water sports.
Most of the water sports including the Jet Ski happen on Calangute beach itself. There are many local providers which will help you with the life jackets, safety kits and all the necessary equipments. You do not need to carry anything except for a pair of clothes because you will get wet and would want to change as soon as you get out. You can check out this
page to find out more about the providers and their rates for water sports on Calangute Beach.
Though some of the beaches will have locker facilities, changing rooms etc, it is always advisable to travel light when going to beaches. Do not carry any valuables or electronics or mobile phones etc.
FORTS, MONUMENTS AND CHURCHESIt is true that most of the churches are located in South Goa but travel to the same will not be a problem. Calangute is just 15 kms from Panji and Old Goa is another 10 kms from Panji so effectively it would be about 25-35 kms of travel. Since the roads are narrow, it will take about an hour to reach Old Goa. The trip to churches will easily take about half a day and it is recommended that you start early morning as most of the churches close by early evening. Some of the famous churches are:
- Basilica of Bom Jesus : Built in 1605, it is a World Heritage Monument now. It is a fine example of Jesuit architecture. The ground floor has three portals, above them are three corresponding long windows and on the second floor are three circular windows. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Se Cathedral : It is the largest church in Goa and is dedicated to St.Catherine.The original church erected was that of mud, stones and straw. Subsequent modifications were made and a second church came up in 1515.The cathedral has fifteen altars and eight chapels. The grand altar being dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. It is open from 7:30 a.m to 6:30 p.m.
Source : Adam Jones/Flickr
- Church and Convent of St.Francis of Assisi : A 1521 architectural marvel which was reconstructed in 1529. It is built in laterite and is lime plastered. The church joins Se Cathedral at the convent. The interiors of the church are Mosaic Corinthian in style and the walls are illustrated with scenes from bible. The convent was converted to a museum and has 64 portraits of viceroys and governors of Goa. The church is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm except on Sundays and the museum is open 9 am to 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 6:30 pm
- Church of Our Lady of Rosary : Built in 1544, the church overlooks Mandovi River and Divar Island. The church has two chapels and three altars, the main altar being dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary. Hindu influence is visible in the decoration of the church. The main altar has motifs of cashews, mangoes and flowers. The church is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Fort Aguada :A spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there, giving it the name "Aguada" (meaning 'water' in Portuguese). The fort, at present, houses the central jail. A 19th century built lighthouse is situated inside the fortress. The fort has significant historical importance.This is what wikipedia has to say :
Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese. The fort is so large that it envelops the entire peninsula at the south western tip of Bardez. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief defence of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas.
Source : Pichenettes/Flickr
- Ruins of St.Augustine's Tower : Built in 1602, the church is now in ruins and the only significant thing is the 46 m long tower. The tower is one of the four towers of the church. When the church was there, it was the biggest of all the churches. Also in ruins are the 8 cathedrals. It is a peaceful site of browns of ruins and greens of plants. Be there when the sun shines bright on the tower in the evening.
Source : Vipal/Flickr
STAY OPTIONS
Intercontinental Lalit is a great place to stay but it is in south Goa and will be very far from the night clubs. From your preferences, what I understand is that you wish to stay in a luxury hotel/resort which is in a quiet location and gives you enough privacy and is also close to the night clubs. I have handpicked the places accordingly and here are the names :
- The Taj Holiday Village : Located in Bardez Goa, it is one of the oldest and finest places to stay. Away from the crowd and main streets, it is a quiet place to relax. The terracotta cottages, fragrant gardens and beautiful pathways are a highlight of this place. It is about 15 kms from Tito's and is a drive of about 25 mins. Hotel website Book Reviews Driving Directions
- Taj Fort Aguada : It is built on the 16th century Portugese fortress and is a true architectural marvel. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, it offers you many rooms and suites to choose from. What you should look forward to is the awesome food in the 9 restaurants the hotel has. Also, the spa is the best in town. It is around 8 kms from Tito's and is a 14 mins drive. Hotel Website Reviews Driving directions
- Tito's Beach Retreat : Located about 6 kms from Tito's nightclub, this will be one of your best bet to stay. It is a boutique hotel which offers you themed boutique rooms and suites which are very tastefully done. The rooms are inspired by six Haikus which are short Japanese poems according for each season. Get an insight to a creative mix of Indian, Japanese and Scandinavian architecture. You also get a complimentary entry and meal to Tito's if you stay here. Website Reviews Driving Directions
Source : atheistbishop/Flickr
Hope the above options work for you. If you want more choice for the stay options, please let me know and I can help you with the same.
Metered auto rickshaws and taxis do operate in Goa. Taxis are also a good way to travel in Goa. While some of them fixed fares, you might have to negotiate with the others. You can either ask the driver to take you one way or ask for a return trip. If you make him wait somewhere, he will ask for the waiting charges which are about 20 Rs for an hour. The prices for a day trip will be from Rs 700 to 1200. You can go through this
forum where other travelers have talked about the taxi fares in Goa.
Goan Taxi Service also offers taxi services within Goa. You can check their latest rates
here.
Just to make it simpler so that you can decide which day you want to visit Tito's,
here is the list of what music plays when. I am sure you can find your music playing on one of the days.
Hope the above information was of some help. Please do write back if you need more details on the itinerary, stay options etc.
Happy Planning!
Sneha.
