Banks: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Post offices: 10:00 to 20:30, daily
Department stores and shops: 09:00 to 19:30, daily
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; closed Saturdays
Business offices: 09:30 to 18:30, Monday to Friday; 09:30 to 14:30, Saturdays

Goa is probably safer than you’d expect from such a touristy town, but even so, there is plenty of petty theft to watch out for. Visitors should be careful in crowded places like the public buses and bazaars, as pickpockets ply their trade in these busy areas. Keep your valuables tight against your body, and your bags slung across your shoulder and zipped up to deter any would-be thieves.

Beggars and touts are a problem throughout India, and Goa is no exception. These people prey on tourists more than anyone, and they can often be annoying and persistent. The best way to deal with them is to ignore them and keep walking. Once you stop and begin a conversation, it will be next to impossible to get them to leave you alone.

Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz; all plugs are round two-pin types.

Before you travel to Goa, it is a good idea to get up-to-date on your booster shots. India has serious problems with diseases such as hepatitis, tetanus and so on. It’s always better to be safe than to deal with one of these diseases after the fact. Malaria is also a problem with all the water around Goa, so when the sun goes down, put on some long pants and use a little bug repellent to keep the mosquitoes off your ankles.

Most travellers to Goa end up with a bad stomach at some point during their stay. Don’t be discouraged, as this literally happens to everyone in India. It comes from drinking the tap water or eating contaminated food. The best defence is to always stick to bottled water for every occasion, and when you eat out, take a look at the food before you eat it and check that your meat is thoroughly cooked and everything looks fairly clean.

The sun is another danger to consider during your stay in Goa. If you don’t use sunscreen and a hat, you’ll find yourself with a nasty sunburn within an hour. The sun gets very strong between noon and 15:00, so this is a good time to take a break in the shade. Drink plenty of bottled water as well. Dehydration sets in quickly in a hot environment like Goa.

If you do fall ill during your stay in Goa, the medical services vary widely depending on where you are in the city. The urban centres like Panaji and Vasco da Gama have the best hospitals and 24-hour pharmacies that can deal with whatever ails you. If it’s a minor illness, like a bad stomach, then the pharmacy is the best place to go. Most doctors and chemists can speak English.

Manipal Goa Hospital: +91 832 284 3111

Emergency services: 102

Hindi is the language spoken most widely in Goa, although you’re likely to hear dozens of smaller dialects and regional languages. Since Goa is such an established tourist destination, visitors will find that many people can understand English, especially those who work in the tourism industry.

India uses the Indian rupee, which comes in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 notes. There are 100 paise in a rupee. Coins come in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, as well as 50 and 25 paise.

You will certainly need a few rupees during your stay in Goa, and the best place to exchange money is at the local bank. ATMs can be found all over city, offering an even easier way to take small amounts of rupees out each day. There may be a withdrawal fee each time, so check if it’s worth using this option. Most ATMs in Goa accept Cirrus and PLUS, as well as Visa and MasterCard. Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are readily accepted at any decent-sized shop, restaurant or hotel, but you’ll need cash to deal with smaller shops, taxis and the like.

Check your banknotes when you get change from a purchase. Indians rarely accept torn or damaged rupee banknotes, so don’t let them fob a few off on you as you won’t be able to spend them anywhere.

All visitors over the age of 17 are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, two litres of alcohol and up to 60ml of perfume without incurring a duty fee. Special electronic equipment such as laptop computers, video cameras or photographic gear will need a Tourist Baggage Re-Export form, available upon arrival at the airport. Technically, you must fill out this form to prove that you did not purchase the electronics in Goa. Although customs officers don’t always check when you depart, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Try and observe silence and give due respect when visiting inside places of worship and religious monuments. It’s very important to remember to remove your shoes before entering the main building of any temple, as well as an Indian’s home. A small donation is always welcome at the temples when you leave, to help with the upkeep of these cultural treasures.

Goa is one of the more relaxed Indian cities, but you should still try to dress conservatively. Simply look around at the locals to get an idea of what you should be wearing. Revealing clothes are considered rude on both women and men, and even on the beach, you won’t see many Indians showing off their skin. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothes are the best way to keep cool in Goa’s steamy climate while following the social norms.

One of the biggest taboos in Indian society involves your left hand and your feet. Both are considered dirty, and should never be used to touch something, especially something religious. Keep your feet down at all times and try not to touch other Indians too much, as this is often taken as a sign of sexual interest.

Indians like to haggle, so be prepared to do some bargaining over the prices at any small shop. Since you are a tourist, they will ask a ridiculous price to start, so respond with something around 20 per cent of that. In the end, you will probably pay less than half of their asking price, but don’t lose your cool during the transaction. If the shopkeeper won’t meet your price, then simply walk away. They’ll likely come running after you anyway and settle for your final price.

It is customary to leave a 10 per cent tip at restaurants but sometimes the service charges have already been included in your bill. At hotels you should tip the bellhop and the doorman if the service has been especially good, but the black-and-yellow taxi drivers don’t expect to be tipped. If you hire a driver for the day, however, it’s a good idea to give them a little extra gratuity.

Dining Etiquette
Indians are very casual about dining, but try to remember not to use your left hand when you eat. If you can’t deal with the traditional Indian way of using your right hand to eat your food, then just ask for a spoon and fork. Most restaurants cater to Western-style dining anyway, but it’s fun to eat with your hands, and the locals will appreciate your efforts to integrate into their culture.

All visitors to India need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of their trip. This can be done rather easily at your local Indian consulate. Tourist visas are valid for stays up to six months after entering the country, and are typically issued without any hassle. You will need two passport-size photos, and a small fee to submit your visa application. Check that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the day you plan to enter India.

There are a number of tourism information offices around Goa. Some are privately run by tour operators and others by the government. The Goa Tourism Development Corp is located on Dr Alvares Costa road in Panaji and can be reached by phone at: +91 832 226515/226728/224132.