I used to enjoy visiting Goa right from 1983 upto 2000. It was a paradise with economical rooms, cheap liqour and real tourist delight to spend a weekend or stay overnight and transit to Mlore, which happens to be my hometown. The route used to be invariably Mumbai Goa coastal route, or through the ferry service which was run by Damania. Once in a way I used to fly from Mumbai to Goa on official duty.
Normally the right places to stay in Goa are Panjim, Margoa, Vasco, Mapusa or Ponda. At Ponda one can find the cheapest of the accomodation. In Panjim Palace De Goa had reasonable tariffs and well maintained rooms. In Margoa La Flor and Woodlands was my favourite hideout. In Vasco La Paz was really a delight. At Mapusa I don t remember the name right away.
We loved to visit Dona Paul, Miramar beach, St Francis Cathedral. The calangute beach attracts lot of foreigners. Aguada fort too is a delight to relive the history of the times.
After the advent of the new millenium GOA has turned out to be tourists night mare. The prices of hotels have spiralled out of control, drug cartels operate clandestinely and political clout involving ruffians has taken over the paradise. The safety of the tourists is a matter of concern.
In 2002 when we finished our dinner and started walking outside the hotel near Hotel Ashok in Margoa city just bang opposite Margoa police station my wife was a vicitim of purse snatching. We lost nearly 20 K worth of cash and jewellery. We lodged a police complaint with Mr Shirodkar who was ASI at that time, now he must have been promoted. The tragedy was that not only we got robbed but a local goanese women too was a victim which should have made the cops realise the safety of Goa.
The recent rape and murder seems to be one off experience, which has hit the headlines. Normally there is consensual sex and fiesta thriving in Goa. Rave parties have taken over GOA, where drugs are freely available. Cinestars too seem to pick up habit of drugs in Goa.
My recommendation is to avoid Goa for a year or two, the collapse of tourism will bring in some discipline and reduction in tariff rates. It might not return to yester year standards but definitely it will be bring down the hype. *