Lazy mornings in the cool sea breeze, swimming during the day, shopping and complete rest – this pretty much sums up Meet Narang’s trip to Goa with family. He booked a tour package with TravelTriangle which took care of the accommodation, breakfast, dinner and local transfers for the family. Having spent Rs.23,500 on the trip in total, look out for what he has to share.
Unlike those who find traveling an act of visiting places, I think of traveling as an opportunity to rest my body, heart, and soul. When I visit a certain place with my family, we all are keener on soaking in the aura of the place than hunt for popular destinations. So giving the popular tourist spots in Goa a dodge, we spent our days in Goa making the resort our home, spending time at the beach and strolling around the local markets.
Behind the scenes
Having come across TravelTriangle on Facebook, I was initially hesitant about booking through them. But the trust issues were taken care of by the TravelTriangle executives who did their best to make me feel comfortable. I had my bout of doubt when I got a call from the agent informing me about the unavailability of the hotel that I had requested, after having made the payment. But my worries took a back seat when the agent made amends by booking a higher category resort at the same cost. I also called the resort personally to cross check and felt relieved.
Day 1: Living in a Scottish cottage
We reached Estrela Do Mar beach resort in Goa at 9 in the morning, showed them the voucher and checked in. The authorities then showed us some Scottish-style cottages out of which we selected the one we liked the most and made ourselves at home. We spent the rest of the day exploring the resort and the adjacent beach.
The resort being a beach front property allowed us easy access to the beach. As it grew dark, the lanterns in front of the cottages were lit, making the view fantastical. Also, the beachside dining hall was a beautiful place to spend time at. We finally retired for the night amidst wooden interiors.
Day 2: Swim – Shop – Sleep
We woke up late and straight away aimed for the beach. I made the best of the beach with my boys by playing games and having fun. After an appetizing breakfast, we proceeded towards the pool and spent hours splashing around.
After a brief nap, we visited the nearby Calangute market square, where my shopaholic wife indulged in shopping for jewelry and other local stuff. The market was delightfully lighted and was a fun place to be at on a fine evening. Returning to the resort, we went for dinner at the dining hall beside the beach. The food was delicious as usual and we had a fulfilling day.
Suggested Read: Best Beaches In North Goa
Day 3: Immortalizing Goa
The day was marked by the same routine that we had been following. But the evening stroll around the market left its mark on us, literally. After visiting KFC on the demand of the kids, I and my wife got inked in Goa!
My wife had always been keen on getting inked and the perfect opportunity presented itself when we happened to pass a tattoo shop. That’s when we decided to fulfill a long-desired wish and immortalize Goa. The result was that both of us got back home with the same tattoo along our wrists.
Day 4: Fulfilling the Trip
The last day was spent roaming around Goa like a local, once again exploring the local markets and clicking pictures. The only inconvenience I faced during the stay was that I had to clear my bills every next morning since I had a split booking. The trip was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family. We returned home cleansed of worries and with our systems fully refreshed.
High Point: The stay at the resort allowed us to be fully laid back and enjoy to the core. Also, the assistance that I received from TravelTriangle was better than I had expected.
Low Point: Clearing the hotel bills every next morning, because of the split booking.
Tip for future travelers: Spend quality time on your destination instead of attempting to visit each and every corner.
Further Read: These 29 Offbeat Things To Do In Goa Are Some Must-Try Experiences
To experience the freedom of holidaying, book a trip to Goa now!
