• The tiny state of Goa, located halfway down India's west coast, offers a fascinating melting-pot of Indian and Portuguese cultures.
• A land of contrasts, Goa boasts golden sandy beaches, green paddy fields, beautiful tropical shrubs and an intriguing mix of Portuguese and Indian architecture.
• There is a variety of cuisine on offer including Goan, Italian and Chinese. Eating out is very cheap, and breakfasts are huge.
• For those who want to remain active, there’s everything from watersports, to golf and tennis. 
• For those who want to relax, many resorts offer a range of treatments including Ayurvedic herbal massage.

Things to think about:

Vaccinations: Hep A/Typhoid/Tetanus/Polio/TB (for children only)/Malaria

Need visa? Yes

• Sea can be rough and treacherous, so again, question operators carefully
• A lot of the cheaper hotel options only have overhead fan. Best to go for airconditioning if you can.
• Goa used to be the untouched hippy paradise of beauty and spirituality. It’s not as undeveloped as the new ‘undeveloped haven’ of Kerala or Pondicherry, so don’t expect to be the only ‘traveller’ on this road. This doesn’t mean that the region doesn’t still have something really special to offer though, and development brings plenty of advantages.
• Exercise the usual longhaul caution regarding food, bottled water etc.
• Medical facilities aren’t fantastic, although tourist development means that there are more facilities than in other areas. Not the place to go if you’re a nervous traveller health-wise on behalf of yourself or more importantly, your offspring!

Sun sense: Dehydration is a serious problem for babies and young children. Ensure your child remains in the shade and avoid sightseeing during the hottest periods of the day.

Best time to visit: Avoid humid, rainy season Jun-Oct

Flight time: 10.5 hours

Time difference: 5 hours ahead of GMT

Tourist office: 020-7437 3677/8

Web site: http://www.tourisminindia.com