Send this to whoever you're travelling with →
- 01
Goa taxi union blocks Uber/Ola in most areas — use GoaMiles app (govt-backed, fixed fares).
- 02
Drug possession setups on beaches are not myths; NDPS Act means 1+ year jail, no bail.
- 03
Never give your passport as scooter-rental collateral — photograph every scratch before you ride.
- 04
North Goa for energy and nightlife; South Goa (Palolem, Agonda) for quiet and yoga.
- 05
Book accommodation 3+ months ahead for Dec 20 – Jan 10; prices triple without notice.
Where to stay
Scam watch
Reported and verified for Goa. Read before you arrive.
📍 8 scam reports — see them on the map
Exact locations, community warnings, and how to avoid each one
Getting around
Govt-backed fixed-fare taxi. Book before landing. Only reliable pre-paid option.
App-based rental with GPS insurance. Saves ₹1,500+/day vs taxis.
Safe, AC inter-city routes. Panaji ↔ Margao ↔ Mapusa.
Hidden gems
Places most travel guides miss. Verified by our contributors.
The Project Café (Aldona, North Goa)
Founded by Drasty Shah; all-women team. 130-year-old Portuguese mansion converted into design-forward boutique stay. Pool, art, books. The women's travel insider's pick.
Sappadu (Assagao)
Women-run South Indian veg restaurant; homely, simple, authentic. Featured by Tweak India 2025. Solo-women-comfortable.
Mojigao (sustainable resort, Assagao)
Female-friendly sustainable resort in cashew forest. Strong solo-female-traveler reviews; quiet, secure, run with feminine sensibility.
Soul & Surf Goa (Patnem)
Before you go
Tick these off. Progress saves automatically.
Daily budget
Per person, per day. Includes stay, food, and local transport.
Backpacker
Dorm or budget guesthouse, street food, local buses
₹2,000
≈ $24
Mid-range
Private room, sit-down meals, occasional Uber
₹4,000
≈ $48
Comfortable
Boutique hotel, restaurant dining, app taxis
₹15,000
≈ $179
Do
- ✓Use only GoaMiles or pre-agreed fixed taxi fares — no street negotiations
- ✓Photograph scooter 360° before and after every rental
- ✓Carry a door-stop alarm for hostel/guesthouse rooms
- ✓Stick to South Goa beaches if it's your first solo India trip
Don't
- Hand over your passport as collateral for any rental or deposit
Bonus chapter — founding membersSafety intel always free ✓
Premium covers: the 3 hostels that actively vet solo female guests, full GoaMiles booking walkthrough with screenshots, a complete Palolem vs Agonda vs Patnem comparison, and the November shoulder-season hack that cuts mid-range accommodation costs by 40%.
✦Curated multi-day itinerary, contributor-tested
✦Off-season hacks that cut accommodation costs by 30–40%
✦Day-trip add-on routes most guidebooks skip
Unlock the planning chapter
Itineraries, off-season hacks, and day-trip routes — not safety warnings. All safety intel above is free, forever.
Free in beta — unlock now →V1: ₹499 / yearEmergency contacts
Tap any number to call. Screenshot this section before you travel.
Forward this to mum, your partner, or whoever's tracking you.
Booking.com
Browse stays in Goa →
World Nomads
Travel insurance for India →
About the contributor
Ananya Iyer
Mumbai · 9 solo trips
I quit advertising in 2019 and have spent the last six years living out of two backpacks across India. Spiti is my one true love — three winters there now, two on a Royal Enfield I do not recommend renting. I write because the intel that kept me safe was buried in old TripAdvisor threads and women-only Facebook groups, and that is not a good system.
23
cards written
41
community answers
9
solo trips