Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
frequent buses heading east from Vasco da Gama to Margao and catch onward transport
from there.
BUS
Goa has an extensive network of buses, shuttling to and from almost every town and vil-
lage. They run frequently and have no numbers, and fares rarely exceed ?30. Buses are in
fairly good condition and tend to be pretty efficient.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
It's easy in Goa to organise a private car with a driver for long-distance day trips. Prices
vary, but you should bank on paying from ?1000 (if you're lucky) to ?1500 for a full day
out on the road (usually defined as eight hours and 80km). It's also possible, if you have
the nerves and the need to feel independent, to procure a self-drive car. A small Maruti
will cost from ?700 to ?1000 per day and a jeep around ?1200 to ?1400, excluding petrol
and usually with a kilometre limit. Your best bet for rental is online at sites like
www.mygoatour.com
or
www.goa2u.com
. Note the slightly mystifying signposts posted
on Goa's major National Highway 17 (NH17), which advise of different speed limits (on
the largely single-carriageway road) for different types of vehicles.
You'll rarely go far on a Goan road without seeing a tourist whizzing by on a scooter or
motorbike, and renting (if not riding) one is a breeze. You'll likely pay from ?200 to ?300
per day for a scooter, ?400 for a smaller Yamaha motorbike, and ?500 for a Royal Enfield
Bullet. These prices can drop considerably if you're renting for more than a few days or if
it's an off-peak period - it's all supply and demand, so bargain if there are lots of ma-
chines around. You'll find them hanging around the taxi/bus stand at any beach resort or
near the post office in Panaji.
Bear in mind that Goan roads - while better than many Indian roads - can be treacher-
ous, filled with human, bovine, canine, feline, mechanical and avian obstacles, as well as
a good sprinkling of potholes and hairpin bends. Take it slowly, try not to drive at night
(when black cows can prove dangerous), don't attempt a north-south day trip on a 50CC
scooter, and ask for a helmet - a law which has routinely been ignored by Goans and tour-
ists alike over the years but is now compulsory.
TAXI & AUTORICKSHAW
Taxis are widely available for town-hopping, and, as with a chauffeured car, a full day's
sightseeing, depending on the distance, will be around ?1500. Unlike elsewhere in India,
autorickshaws are not much cheaper than taxis and are not as common, but they're still
good for short trips. Motorcycles, known as 'pilots', are also a licensed form of taxi in
