5 things to do in Goa in the month of December

Oh, Goa! Such an exciting, laidback, serene yet heady place. We are nearing the end of 2016, and if you are itching for a holiday to send off this year with a bang, you could do no better than Goa!

Book a December vacation to Goa for these reasons:

1. The beaches beckon. Goa has a little over 70 km of wondrous coastline, and scores of magnificent beaches. Book yourself into a luxurious beach side resort for an excellent start to your holiday. You will find your beach sojourns infused with new life if you stay at some of the best hotels in Goa. From there, you can take a walk on the beach, or enjoy some thrilling water sports or take a speedboat ride to go look at dolphins.
   
   
2. Spend Christmas in Old Goa. Goa is the place to be during Christmas – the State celebrates the festival with gusto and endless rounds of delicious food. Old Goa celebrates Christmas like no other place in India – there are revels all night long, from raves to family-oriented Carol singing and nativity scenes. Plus, beaches, houses and street fronts are decorated with pretty lights and five-pointed stars, thus adding to the cheer.
   
   
3. Saturday night live! Goa has a Saturday Night market at Arpora, which starts in November and tapers off by end of January. December is peak shopping activity at this market, that opens at 6 pm and closes in the early morning hours. You can shop for some amazing clothes, shoes and trinkets, while listening to live music, sampling some delicious food and strolling through the market with a beer bottle in hand.
   
   
4. Go camping on the beach. Camping is a major tourist puller in Goa, and you can set up base at one of the licensed camping sites on many of Goa’s beaches. The weather in December is perfect for camping, sleeping under the stars and a midnight bonfire. You can pitch your own tent, have a barbecue and fall asleep in blissful quiet and cool breezes.
   
   
5. Gorge on fantastic seafood. Goa is known for its wide range of seafood, and the best hotels in Goa serve up fresh catch every other day. The seafood in this part of the country is plump and succulent, and when seasoned with local spices and eaten fresh, it transports you to food heaven. You can actually take a seafood eating trip and sample such goodies as tuna, pomfret, squid, crabs and mackerel. You can even buy special Goan marinades and spices here to recreate the taste back home!

Water way to live!

The water is azure, the sun blazing down on your skin. You have nowhere to be, nowhere to go right this minute. You gaze out into the distance, your eyes traversing sleepily over the clear sands, over to the gulls flying past in a flock, over the horizon where the Earth meets the sky. You slather sunscreen lotion on your arms and legs, sit back in your chair, and pull your hat over your eyes. You’ve finished your drink and it’s a good hour before lunch. You put your book aside and close your eyes.

Now if only you could do this every single day of your life…

A holiday in Goa is the stuff of dreams. Every kind of tranquil peace awaits you in the land of sushegad and seafood, revelry and riotous fun. If you want to detach from your hectic city life and find yourself once again, Goa should be your destination of choice. Of course, it helps that Goa has some of the best tourist spots in the country, apart from some of the warmest, most fun loving people. Every minute spent in this sunshine state will leave you refreshed and energized to take on the rigours of your life once again.

But wait, you’re still on holiday and you have the time to let loose and enjoy Goa in all its glory – you can worry about your job and family responsibilities when you’re back home! You can start by booking good flight tickets for your preferred travel time. Don’t forget to book weekday tickets for cheaper deals, and avoiding the holiday rush is best. Then go on to booking yourself in one of the best hotels – the most excellent holiday often starts with the right accommodation. Look up one of the 5 star hotels in Goa – you can find the most recommended ones online – and book the accommodation that suits you. Many 5 star hotels in Goa offer complimentary airport drop and pick-up facilities as well, so you can start your trip on a hassle-free note.

Once there, draw up your itinerary and head out to explore Goa’s markets (you can pick up cheap alcohol, cashews, straw hats and other odds and ends for good prices), its many temples and churches, its places of interest (we recommend a walk around the late architect Charles Correa’s Kala Akademi, the Basilica of Bom Jesus or a day trip to the scenic Dudhsagar Falls) and its beaches astride a hired bike. There is much culture and history to appreciate as well, or if you’d rather put your feet up and rest, you can take a short walk on the beach and return to your room for a snooze.

The most refreshing trip to Goa entails lazing by the beach with a cold beer and a good book. Just being in close touch with the water will set your jaded mind at rest. Besides, you can eat a meal or sit back with a cocktail as you watch the sun set. Some sightseeing, a lot of rest and partying, and you’ll be all set to embrace your hectic routine once again.

As holidays go, this one’s going to be the one to remember every time your soul yearns for some peace and quiet.