IMPORTANT TIPS FOR TOURISTS

Only drink bottled water.

Avoid swiming during the monsoon season.

At night, use mosquito nets and insect repellents to avoid mosquito bites.

Government offices Working timings : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Monday to Friday.

Bank Timings : 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to noon on Saturdays.

Avoid heat stroke and sunburn by staying out of the sun during the hottest times of the day.

Wear loose, comfortable clothes in natural fibers, use a good sunscreen lotion and sun glasses.

Don't leave valuables ( passport, tickets, money, valuables and traveller's cheques) in your hotel
    room, instead put them in a safety deposit box.

Take care while hiring motorbikes, While riding Wear Helmet. keep international driving license
    as well as vehicle registration documents with you.

When visiting temples visitors will be required to remove their footwear.

Travellers should not get caught with drugs, as jail sentences are long.

In case of need or desire to overstay you are advised to contact the nearest
    Foreigner's Regional Registration Office.

In case of loss of any documents contact nearest Police Station.

Throw waste in dustbins only.

Smoking & Spitting not allowed in public places.


Credit Cards / Debit Cards

       "Credit cards" are accepted only in the larger hotels and in shops selling luxury goods.

Please carry adequate cash as all Small hotels, beach shacks, or Restaurants dont accept
    any kind of credit/debit cards.

Please check, with your bank, the locations of ATM's Machines in Goa.

Cash can be withdrawn from any ATM's that accept Master and Visa Card.


What To Bring

Mosquito repellent

High factor sun cream and sun hat.

Travel insurance.

Light clothing, shorts, vests etc.

Long sleeved tops (evenings can be cool in December and January).

Driving licence if you wish to hire a scooter, car or jeep.

In-car charger for any electronic equipment.



Telephone and Email

       GSM based cell phones are widely used. You just have to insert the local sim card.These type of sim cards are available in prepaid and Postpaid form. The prepaid sim cards can be bought from any shop. Also the recharge coupons are easily available.

Mobile Service Providing Companies in Goa

BPL Mobile

Idea Cellular

AirteL

BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited)

CDMA based Cellular Service Providing Companies in Goa

Reliance India mobile Ltd

Tata Indicom

Telephones
       Many telephone Booths are found on nearly every corner of village, where you can make metered local, national and international telephone calls at a very cheap rate.

Internet Cafes
       Many shops" or "telephone Booths" have Internet connections where you can surf or use E-Mail service on 1/2 hourly basis.

Fax
       All major hotels and travel agencies, as well as most STD booths will send and receive faxes.


Post

       Airmail letters take 6-21 days depending on where you are and the country you are mailing to; 10 days is about the norm.


Tipping

       Tipping or baksheesh is very much an accepted custom and is expected. In up-market restaurants a 10% tip is acceptable, while in cheaper places, round off the bill with small change.

Indians don't normally tip taxi drivers but a small extra amount over the fare is appreciated.



What to Wear

       If you want to avoid stares and hassle, dress fairly conservatively and cover up as much as possible; trousers, skirts, shorts and vest tops are all fine.

Nudity is illegal and frowned upon everywhere, even on the beaches. Also wandering around the town in beachwear such as bikinis and trunks is disapproved of and ignores local sensibilities.