Everything you need to know about New Year's Eve in Goa! What is the weather like, are the prices for tours, hotels and food high in 2021, what are the reviews and travel tips from tourists?
During the New Year holidays, the Indian state of Goa turns into a mecca of world tourism - people gather together to warm lands to bask by the sea and take part in local rituals and parties.
How to celebrate the New Year in Goa
Goa has long been a European colony, so Christmas and New Year traditions are honored here. All the necessary entourage is observed: palm trees shine with oil lamps, flowers and red candles decorate temples, and exactly at midnight the sky is illuminated by thousands of fireworks over the sea. Traditional church services are held on Christmas Day.
On New Year's Eve, local residents burn a scarecrow on the beach, then jump over the fire and walk barefoot on the coals, clearing themselves of the negative of the outgoing year. On the beaches of North Goa, numerous tourists, resting here as savages, dance and play musical instruments.
How can you celebrate New Year 2021 in Goa? Young people prefer local parties, in fact, that's why they come here. Trance parties are especially popular. Others celebrate the New Year in a hotel or sheke (cafe) on the beach. Many hotels organize a festive banquet, and in some places they do not forget about Olivier with red caviar and champagne, but the price of the event frankly bites, and in sheks everything is much more democratic and more fun.
Time on vacation in Goa flows imperceptibly: mostly people have fun by the sea and in cafes on the beaches. The most famous open-air discos are held here. You can go diving or ride a jet ski, excursions to local attractions with visits to waterfalls and reserves, Fort Aguada, the Basilica of Jesus and the monuments of Portuguese architecture in Panaji are very popular.
Goa celebrates a European religious holiday on the eve of Orthodox Christmas Day of the three wise men... The ceremonial part begins in the temples at about 9 am, then continues on the street with theatrical processions, in which everyone can take part.
Look: What to bring from Goa as a gift to friends and family.
What is the weather in Goa during the New Year holidays
On New Year's Eve, the ideal weather for a beach holiday is set in Goa: dry, during the day + 30 ° С and above, at night + 18 ° С. The water in the ocean warms up to + 28 ° С, a light breeze blows from the sea. Read more about the weather in Goa in winter and the seasons in the state.
Prices in Goa for New Year - 2021
The ratio of the ruble to the Indian rupee is now almost 1: 1, so the prices are very convenient for conversion and perception.
Prices in Goa for the New Year - 2021 for lodging in guest houses and simple bungalows start from 1000-1500 rupees per day (North Goa). A double room in a 3 * hotel costs 3 thousand rupees on average. South Goa hotels are more expensive, here the double standard varies from 6 to 15 thousand rupees per day. Most hotels include in the price a mandatory fee for the New Year's banquet - from 6 to 15 thousand rupees per person.
Indian food incomparable, and the prices are not too high. A full lunch in a cafe costs an average of 300-500 rupees for two, dinner with wine - 1200 rupees, a large glass of juice or a kilogram of fruit - 30-60 rupees. Vegetables - from 25 rupees per kilogram. We have a separate article dedicated to cuisine and food prices in Goa - it will be useful to you.
Entertainment: bike rental - 800 rupees per day, massage - 800-1200 rupees, yoga or dancing classes - 300-400 rupees. Excursions: boat trip - 3 thousand rupees, sightseeing tour of the state - 2 thousand rupees, Panaji - 3.5 thousand, Hampi and Mumbai - from 8 to 12.5 thousand rupees.
Tours to Goa for the New Year - 2021
The cost of vouchers is current at the time of publication and changes rapidly. Prices are indicated for tours for two people with a departure from Moscow.
Tours to Goa on New Year's holidays can hardly be called inexpensive: a week's stay in a budget hotel (1-2 *) costs from 110 thousand rubles, in 4 * and 5 * - from 130 thousand rubles (departure on December 29-30).
It is much cheaper to purchase long tours with the seizure of the Christmas holidays (from December 23 to early January): 10-12 nights in a 1-2 * hotel costs from 75 thousand rubles, 3 * - from 95 thousand, 4 * - from 125 thousand rubles.
"All inclusive" is available in hotels of the level of three, four and five stars, such a tour costs from 150 thousand rubles.
To find a cheap or last-minute tour, you need to compare many tours from different tour operators - this can be done on the Travelata and Level.Travel services. If you do not know how to use them, our instruction article will help you.
Want to find the perfect New Year's holiday by the sea? The best destinations are listed in this review. Read also about resorts and cities where you can fly the cheapest on New Year's Eve.
Best hotels in Goa for New Year's Eve
Before recommending a hotel for staying on New Year's holidays, it is worth saying a few words about the specifics of a vacation in Goa. The state is conditionally divided into the southern part (the resorts of Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim) and the North (the resorts of Morjim, Arambol, Anjuna, Calangute).
Vacationing in South Goa is preferred by people who are accustomed to good service and have financial resources for this. The hotels here are expensive and quite comfortable. North Goa is the go-to destination for thrill-seekers and party-goers and offers the cheapest lodging in the state. But you will have to put up with unsanitary conditions and periodically encounter grass lovers of all nationalities and followers of various teachings. We advise you to familiarize yourself with the beaches of Goa and choose the one that suits you best.
Find out about the 10 best hotels in Goa.
Below is a small list of hotels in Goa that have received good reviews from vacationers and which can be safely recommended for celebrating the new 2021. All options are found on Roomguru (for self-booking) and Travelata (for those wishing to relax on a tour). We recommend that you start choosing a hotel or buying a tour in the fall, since the closer to the New Year, the fewer good offers at affordable prices remain in Goa.
Prices are for a double room per night. They are current at the time of this writing and are subject to change.
Holiday Inn Resort Goa (5 *)
This is a relatively new hotel in Cavelossim, with a large beautiful area and SPA. Among the shortcomings, the hotel is very popular with locals, weddings and parties are often held here, so it is difficult to call it quiet, but you can witness local traditional rituals. A festive banquet is expensive - about 15 thousand rubles per person. Double occupancy with breakfast is also not cheap: on holidays it will cost at least 20 thousand rubles a day.
Whispering Palms Beach Resort (4 *)
Judging by the reviews of tourists, it is great to celebrate the New Year in Goa - 2021 in this rather quiet and cozy hotel in Candolim, located a 4-minute walk from the beach and surrounded by tall palm trees. This hotel offers an all-inclusive system. Accommodation with half board costs from 15 thousand rubles per day.
La Grace Resort (3 *)
A relatively inexpensive vacation in Goa for the New Year - 2021 can be arranged by settling in this good modern hotel for family vacations. It is located in Benaulim, close to local attractions and a 10-minute walk from the beach. There is a small fish and fruit markets, supermarkets and cafes nearby. Apartments with two bedrooms cost 14 thousand rubles per day, a simple deluxe - from 8 thousand rubles.
Whether to go to rest in Goa for the New Year
The main disadvantage of New Year's holiday in Goa, which is celebrated by many tourists, is its high price... Demand creates supply, and the margin on holiday tours ranges from 50% to 150%. Since about mid-December, prices for accommodation, food, car rental and other services in India have risen several times. Prices remain at their peak until January 10-15, then they slowly begin to decline.
If you want a relaxing holiday, then you need to go to South Goa. In North Goa, you can't even dream of silence, crowds of motley people come here. Party people and hippies of all ages and nationalities will fill beaches, hotels and cafes, and there will be traffic jams on the roads. The local population is becoming a little intrusive. Hindus are generally benevolent, but the thirst to make money on tourists has already firmly captured their minds. Nobody grabs the hands, they only persistently invite them to their "magazine", practically in pure Russian.
Despite conflicting reviews about Goa, all these shortcomings are compensated by the wonderful weather and sandy beaches of Goa. In December-January it is never hot or stuffy here, and the sun is so soft and gentle that you don't want to leave. To achieve complete mental and physical harmony, you can take a course of Ayurvedic procedures, and in order to preserve pleasant memories of your vacation for a longer time, do not forget to buy original souvenirs as a keepsake.
