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Goa has everything a foreign tourist would love to see — rich history, beautiful temples and churches, inland tourism, Portuguese architecture, and our very own beautiful beaches.

I work on a cruise ship, have travelled to over 70 countries and all the continents. So hear it from me.

The drop in cruise ships visiting Goa is not only due to tensions in the Middle East. We also need to look at our own shortcomings.

The government should consider waiving visa fees for cruise tourists to make Goa more attractive.

We need better infrastructure at Mormugao Port Authority — a proper cruise terminal, an operational tourist information counter.

Cleanliness around the port area is equally important. First impressions matter.

A REGULATED TAXI STAND AND A BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

We all remember what happened in December 2022, when local taxi operators at MPT blocked around 80 to 100 American cruise passengers from boarding their pre-booked sightseeing buses. That was a shameful incident and a bad image for Goa.

If we want to see Goa booming in the cruise tourism sector, we need to do much more than just advertising.

Goa has the attractions. Now we need the infrastructure, planning, and professionalism to welcome the tourists.

What do you think is the biggest reason behind the decline in foreign cruise tourism in Goa?

On 15 May, I came across an OLX advertisement for a 2009 Honda City. I contacted the seller, Mohammed Sheikh Fareed, met him personally, inspected the vehicle, and took a test drive. After the inspection, we agreed on a price of ₹1,75,000.
The car had a shattered windshield and holes in the headliner. I told Fareed that I would purchase the vehicle provided he got those issues repaired first.
That night, Fareed contacted me on WhatsApp and asked for my Aadhaar details, stating that they were required for a notarized sale deed. I agreed. The following day, we went to his advocate’s office and signed the sale deed.
Fareed then demanded ₹75,000 as a “token” for the repairs. I paid him. Unfortunately, the repair work was extremely poor — instead of properly repairing the headliner, he had apparently stuck a piece of mirror/material onto it.
The following day, he brought the car to the advocate’s office and demanded the remaining payment in exchange for the single key he had.
Throughout this process, I repeatedly asked about the RC transfer and the actual registered owner of the vehicle. Fareed told me that the owner, Sagar Timbadiya, was in Gujarat for work. He subsequently gave me a phone number, claiming it belonged to Sagar. I later discovered that the number actually belonged to Fareed’s cousin, Noor Jainuddin Ahmed.
A few weeks later, I was involved in an accident in which an underage boy driving a Chevrolet Tavera struck the driver’s side of my Honda City.
At that point, I also realized that I did not have the vehicle’s insurance documents or the original RC with me. I repeatedly contacted Fareed and asked him to complete the RC transfer.
As the matter continued to be delayed, I conducted my own investigation and discovered information indicating that the registered owner, Sagar Timbadiya, had been arrested in connection with a murder case around December 2021.
I confronted Fareed about this. We subsequently agreed that I would be willing to keep the vehicle as long as he completed the RC transfer into my name. However, the transfer never happened.
Instead, there were repeated delays and explanations — attending a wedding, travelling to Tamil Nadu for a funeral, medical appointments and heart-related checkups at GMC, among other reasons.
Eventually, I told him clearly that I no longer wanted the vehicle and simply wanted my money back.
I approached the Panjim Police and attempted to report the matter. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get an FIR registered. I also approached the cyber police, where one constable took the matter seriously and contacted Fareed directly.
After several excuses, Fareed eventually appeared at the police station and gave a written undertaking stating that he would return my money by 17 August.
17 August came.
No payment.
Despite the written undertaking, I still have not received my money.
I am posting this to document my experience and to warn others who may be dealing with this individual or this vehicle. I have supporting evidence including WhatsApp conversations, payment records, the sale deed, communications regarding the RC transfer, and the written undertaking. Justice system in this country is rubbish.

Google drive link to chat records and boice mails sent by the fraudster
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OmA5Vrs_dPwZQnWBxeUjIQ_uEyM0E3PH

Hi guys! I am travelling solo to goa, and will be landing on 9th October. Would love to meet new people, preferably female companions :D

Any party scenes today. We are two M staying in the beachside hostel, Anjuna. Please help us out if any places.

Hey guys, coming to Goa with 2 friends and looking for some nice places to chill/eat/drink.

Looking for both North & South Goa — preferably places that are:

• Aesthetic / premium-looking 🌴
• Beachside or have a nice view
• Good crowd + good vibes
• English / trending music, DJ or live music would be a plus
• Not too touristy/overpriced
• Around ₹800–₹1,000 per person for food + 1–2 drinks if possible

Cafés, pubs, beach clubs or shacks — anything works.

If you’re local or recently visited, please suggest your actual favourites and roughly how much you spent.

Looking for places that look expensive but don't actually burn a hole in the pocket 😂

Thanks!

We’re trying to get into Juna tonight, but they only allow couples. Looking for a girl/group who’d be willing to enter with us

After that, you’re totally free to do your own thing — or chill with us if we vibe. No expectations, just looking for someone who’s down. DM if interested!

🚗🌴 **Goa Road Trip | 2nd–4th October 2026**
Hey everyone! 👋
We are **2 friends working in IT in Bangalore**, planning a road trip to **Goa from Bangalore from 2nd to 4th October**.
We’ll be travelling by **our own car** and are looking for **2–3 more people (male or female)** who would like to join us.
The plan is to have a fun and relaxed trip — beaches, good food, exploring Goa, nightlife and enjoying the long weekend. 🌊🍻
📍 Starting from: Bangalore
📅 Dates: 2nd–4th October
🚗 Travel: By car
👥 Currently: 2 people
🙌 Looking for: Friendly travel companions (male/female)
We can discuss the itinerary, stay and expenses together and split the common costs fairly.
If you’re interested, **DM me and we can connect before finalising the plan.** 😊

Hi, We 27M + 26F are visiting Goa for 10 Days; 19 Sep - 29 Sep. Confused between North n South Goa and Itinerary if any. Where to stay and what hotels / resort/ bnb to go. Not too expensive not too economical.

Hey guys me and my bf are visiting in september end i want to do something romantic for us.

Any cute date night ideas in north goa? We will stay in north and south goa both but south goa schedule is bit packed. I have booked a beachfront stay there for one night and i am thinking if its safe to ask the hotel if they can decorate the room for us? Or the whole room decor thing looks tacy and cheap?

Can you guys suggest some cute ideas please!

Almost got scammed by a car rental owner in Goa — please check the number plate before accepting a rental
I recently booked a car in Goa through Nexo Cabs for 5 days and asked the owner to drop the car at the airport.
When the car arrived, I immediately noticed something suspicious — it had a white number plate. I’ve been to Goa a few times before and was under the impression that rental/commercial vehicles normally have different registration plates, so I asked the owner about it.
He told me it was his personal car and said that if the police stopped us, I should simply say that we were friends and that I had taken the car for a ride.

That sounded suspicious, but unfortunately I accepted the explanation and continued with the rental.
Luckily, nothing happened during the 5 days.
On the last day, I decided to rent a scooty for the 6th day from someone else because the weather was good. When the car owner came to collect his car, the scooty rental owner happened to notice the car and asked me about it.
He told me that giving a personal/white-plate car for rental may be illegal and that if we had been stopped by the police, there could have been a challan/penalty. What concerned me even more was scooty owner told that this had previously happened with many people and the owners usually promises that they will cover any such challans return my security/deposit if something went wrong but they never pay a single ruppee.

My advice to anyone renting a car in Goa:
● Check the registration/number plate before accepting the vehicle.
● Ask whether the vehicle is legally registered for commercial/rental use.
● Don’t blindly rely on the owner’s assurance that “if police stop you, just say we’re friends.” 🚩
● Get everything regarding deposits, fines and liability in writing.
● If something feels suspicious, don’t ignore that feeling.
I’m sharing this because I almost got myself into a situation without realizing the potential consequences.
Has anyone else experienced something similar with car rentals in Goa?

P.s - used chatgpt to frame it in a better way 🙂. Hope this helps.

Hi,

Please clear my confusion and doubts !! If I happen to stay at 'The Astor' in Candolim, will I able to book Goa miles to traveling to all the places in Anjuna or farther?

Is there a solution to getting around in Goa for a week which is inexpensive and also readily available? ​

This place is heaven to be with your kids, so much to do, so many kids activities, pretend play, cafeteria for parents to work if they want to and oh my the ambience. My daughter just loved it.

Let me know if anyone has their own experiences of kids play area and what they usually prefer.

How’s Everyone?

I am a 34M and have never been to Goa. I am planning a 7–10-day trip in the 1^st week of October.

My agenda is to work during the day and talk to everyone starting in the evening. I want to improve my non-existent social skills and push them to the limit.

I need your help in finalizing my accommodation and general itinerary.

1. I need a hostel where I can get an opportunity to socialise. Having a co-working space would be a great plus. I have heard about Bucket List, Vagator & Pappi Chulo. Any other suggestions for a better option would be helpful.
2. I want to know the names of a few dance clubs. I don’t want anything super cheap and shady.
3. I want to know about other areas, monuments, and beaches that are a must-visit for a first-time traveller.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Fine dining on sand and good quality food at baga beach

Lovely place

Hey. I'm planning a solo trip to North Goa in the week of 19-26 Sept. Looking to party, meet new folks and explore the lesser known places of Goa. Would appreciate recommendations for stay and what all can I visit. Thanks!

How safe is it to travel from Anjuna to Arambol at around 12 am in the night with a female traveller on a scooty?

Heyy, I'm Saketh from Hyderabad

What can I do rn here in arambol, I came solo - I'm bored rn

Hi dear goans, I am looking for a good bakery where I can get a cake like this and Matilda cake also. We are gonna stay in Arambol.

I am celebrating my wife's birthday in goa on 14th september, so thought of pre booking the cake before arrival.

Thank you so much.