What Goa, India’s smallest state, lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality. This state has a laid back vibe to it that travellers can never quite let go of, no matter how short their visit. If you’re looking to experience a different side of India, then there’s nowhere quite like Goa to do it. As well as breathtaking beaches and welcoming people, Goa also has a rich and diverse cuisine and plenty of cultural attractions to keep you busy. For those who’ve not yet planned their vacation this year, see how you feel about our itinerary for spending a while in this Indian paradise.

Stay At The Yuppi Hippi

If you’re travelling alone as a woman then there are plenty of things to bear in mind, but one tip that can make your life easier and safer is to stay in a women’s only hostel. Although Goa is safe for solo female travellers, choosing somewhere to sleep where you’ll feel totally secure is really important. There is a good selection of female only hostels in Goa, but one of the prettiest is the Yuppi Hippi.

This hostel is practically on top of the beautiful Anjuna beach and boasts a cute sun terrace with unparalleled views of the sea. The nice thing about having such welcoming communal areas is that you’re likely to meet some of the other guests. Many people have made friends for life whilst staying at the Yuppi Hippi. As well as this, the rooms are well equipped and are very reasonably priced. Of course there are more luxurious retreats in the area, but when it comes to a warm welcome and incredible value for money, it doesn’t get better than this colourfully decorated spot. So, wheel in your suitcase, get yourself settled on the watermelon pink veranda and watch the world go by with a cup of sweet tea. There’s a busy itinerary ahead.

Fly Away to Butterfly Beach

When we say fly away to the beach, it would be more accurate to say sail as it’s only possible to reach this beach by boat. Butterfly beach is a sightseeing expedition that will remain with you forever. Catch a boat trip from the main beach for a few rupees and enjoy skipping through the crystal clear waters on the way there. The boat will drop you off to one end of the island and as you walk further down the white sands you’ll notice some rocks. On the rocks you’ll see thousands of basking butterflies, all having a drink from the tiny pools that collect there. The sea water is full of minerals which they enjoy and the rocks absorb the heat from the sun, helping them to warm their little bodies. Butterflies are magical anyway, but to see so many of them in such a picturesque setting is incredibly special.

Get Down By The River

Once you’ve finished at Butterfly Beach it’s time to head back into town to the banks of the river. It’s here that one of Goa’s biggest differences becomes apparent, they allow casinos here. The only rules are that the casinos must either be attached to a five-star hotel, or they must be mobile. Many casinos have opted for the mobile option and have made themselves at home in the river on enormous cruise ships. It’s possible to enter for as little or as long as you like and whilst inside you can enjoy slot machines, as well as table games too. There are refreshments on board as well, making it the perfect place to get out of the heat of the midday sun. Equally though, the casinos really come to life at night. If you can’t get enough of the excitement on board the floating casinos then you can carry on playing once you get back to your hotel, providing you have Wi-Fi. There are plenty of Indian online casinos, but live dealer ones give a sense of real life action that is hard to beat. AsiaBet provide a list of possible options giving details on the current bonuses, the user ratings and the maximum deposits available.

Dine at Gunpowder

Goan cuisine is quite distinctive as it takes huge influence from Portuguese cuisine. Gunpowder is a true Goan staple and has been a top contender on the food scene for many years thanks to their faithfulness to tradition but also their ability to constantly innovate. With that said, one of the favourites on the menu is the Andhra Prawn Curry. As any Goan will tell you, the dish that Goa is most famous for is its fish curry, so it’s essential that you try one and this deliciously creamy prawn curry is a great place to start. As well as providing delicious food, the setting of Gunpowder is beautiful too, an old Portuguese villa that you’ll feel instantly at home in.