Dark Side Of Goa Which Very Few Will Tell You About

Goa is everyone’s go to destination when they think about a relaxing vacation by the beach. Post the Bollywood rom-com Dil Chahta Hai, its popularity saw no limits. There are memes and jokes about Goa trip on social media, speaking plainly about the reputation of Goa among the younger lot of India. But apart from the sunny beaches, casinos, booze, etc. there is a dark side of this coastal state that very few know about. It’s about the hardship every tourist has to face when in Goa.

A trip to Goa is never buttery-smooth as they show in sit-coms and movies. You are going face some tough times in commuting and shopping, if you aren’t prepared beforehand. In this blog, we will discuss the problems faced by tourists in Goa and how you can deal with them.

1. The monopoly of public transport

If you are completely reliant on the public transport in Goa, god be merciful to you. The ride from airport to your resort can cost you a mini-fortune. A 35-km ride which costs around 500-600 in metropolitans like Delhi and Mumbai, will cost you around Rs 1000-1500 in Goa. The mere thought of it can burn a hole in your wallet. However, this is the cost you will anyway have to bear until you rent a bike or car. If you are with your own car, you are going to save a lot of bucks.

Why Does This Happen?

These private players in Goa never allow Ola and Uber to function. They want to rake in a big moolah by themselves since these cab booking services are regulated and uniform in their pricing.

What You Can Do?

If you want to save yourself from burning a hole into your pocket, use your own conveyance. Or, if you don’t have too much luggage, you can hop on a bus which is much cheaper as compared to auto/cabs.

2. Lack of cash and scepticism of shopkeepers to use digital payment modes

Cash is the most important thing you will need in Goa. The shopkeepers and business owners here are still doubtful about the digital modes unlike rest of the India. Thus, you are forced to use cash, for which you will be required to use ATMs.

Why Does This Happen?

There are very few ATMs in Goa and most of them don’t have cash. Even if one of them has cash, they have a long queue outside them. The cash exchange points, that sounds very primeval for the modern India, don’t let ATMs function in Goa in order to make their cut out of high tourist footfall.

What You Can Do?

The only way to deal with this problem is to keep abundant cash beforehand. And, also don’t keep all the cash together. You might get mugged and it will double up your problems.

3. No easy way to get your car/scooty refilled

Even if you have your own conveyance, getting it refilled is another herculean task. Despite being a tourist spot, Goa doesn’t have many functioning petrol pumps. Most of these pumps are in North and Central Goa.

Why Does This Happen?

This is because the locals in Goa want money without much effort. Thus, they devised a perfect strategy to mint money out of tourists’ pockets. They sell petrol in plastic bottles at a higher price than the government-designated ones.

What You Can Do?

The only way to deal with this problem is planning your trip accordingly. Refuel your scooty or car in time so that you don’t have to rely on these household sellers for petrol.

Not only Goa, every tourist place has its own set of problems and challenges. We cannot visit any place with a laidback approach, if want a pleasant, glitch-free trip. Be prepared and plan a trip according to your convenience and the comfort level of the place.

Also read: North Goa Vs South Goa: Things That Will Help You Differentiate Between