First of all, steer clear of groups of just men - Indian OR foreign nationals!

2nd, don't let anyone that you don't know well but you a drink that they 'fetch' for you!

3rd, if you eat in beach shacks, choose busy ones!

4th, if you smoke, don't smoke any 'roll ups' that you haven't made yourself from tobacco you bought yourself!

5th, avoid being outside alone at night in all but the busiest, well lit areas!

6th, under no circumstances accept lifts in cars OR on motorcycles!

All common sense really.

Hemingway

Do as you would if you holidayed alone in this country. Goa is a relatively safe place just be cautious.

Make sure you pack your common sense.

Whats the betting you will get chatting to people and you wont be alone for long.

Enjoy x

thank you hemingway i will keep it in mind . i dont smoke. thats wont be a problem
thank u elliebee .... hahaha ! i am going there for a few nice meals ! to taste local flavour... have u tried the goan flavour ? i know i will be chatting up with someone soon.. i just want to avoid the wrong kind of people .

Is this the first time you are travelling alone , I think you could give us some tips after 5 visits already
x lassi

i used to travel with my ex.... its completely different when u go with your bf...nobody would bother us... except those people who come to seell those small things. really i am not joking...when i was with him... lots of men would eye on me... but leave me alone ..i am better with english just now !!! thats a great advantage for me.

this is my first time alone ! i mostly plan to stay at arambol ... still negotiating with a fisherman !! if it works then i can live there for 3 months ! or else just 2...

Hi Becky,

Don't forget to wear a blue HT wristband or at least a blue wristband, then at least people off the site will come and talk to you if they see you with your band on. Have you beeb to Goa before? what time of year are you travelling?.

Something nobody has mentioned when you order a drink make sure you are at the bar watching what goes into your drinks, i am not saying the bar staff or shack staff would do anything but better safe than sorry.

There is a very good shack on Arambol beach but for the life of me i cannot remember it's name, if i do remember i will PM you

Have a great time and stay safe.

Mike

Hemmingway has summed it up very well. Its called common sense. Easy really. There are a lot of shacks in Arambol, and, the same as anywhere else on the planet, some are better than others. Use your common sense. Have a fun, safe, vacation.

Negotiating with a fisherman? Sounds interesting, ha ha.

Erm Rebecca I didn't mean 'chatting up with someone' in the way you do obviously. And the only Goan flavour ive tasted is the Chicken Xacuti

mike, thanks ! i will wear a blue wristband. can i get a HT wrist band in goa anywhere ??? have you worn the band and has someone come up and spoken to you ?? yes have been to goa. (anjuna, calangute, vagator etc) i am travellin in nov.

hapi ... haha ! i managed to get a deal ... now i will be there 3 months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that crazy guy was just inflating the rent .

elliebee ...

rebecca

Not only have you now told all the lurkers on this site, that you will be on your own and staying in the Arambol area - you are now going to advertise the fact by wearing a blue armband.

A blue armband is no guarantee of good character by the way.

Good luck!

max13biker,
are you a lurker by chance??????....jxk8

max13biker,
are you a lurker by chance??????....jxk8

Definitely yes - but my cover is blown.

Rebecca will recognise me from my avatar.

I never knew there was a drug problem in Goa until I took my long haired boyfriend to Goa in 2005. 10 minutes of checking in , he went for a walk in Calangute and got asked if he wanted charlie, hashish, heroin, ecstacy etc. I was completely shocked because 4 visits earlier, I never got asked. I do believe they ask or prey on a certain type of person.
Walking up Baga Road we stopped at a shop, which had some skullish objects. Except they were amongst the bongs. Every night up and down Baga Road we were constantly hassled by a Kashmira stall owner if we wanted drugs. This is something we do not do, I don't even smoke (preferred drug is alcohol) .
We always made sure we were on the other side of the road when we walked past. What could we do however? If we reported this to the police then the stall holder could come up with a story. I am planning on taking my 62 year old dad to Goa this year, but I don't want to be plagued by drug dealers who like to target my long haired boyfriend. I felt no confidence in the Goan Police to report it.

Comments please. I would love to know if someone knew an honest and true official who would crack down on this.
Lisa

whizzylizzy wrote:

I do believe they ask or prey on a certain type of person

I don't know about that, my husband got offered drugs and he is a very conservative looking 59 year old - I thought it quite funny as he (to me anyway) just doesn't look like someone who might do drugs. He certainly isn't the known stereotype of a drug user.

I wouldn't bother trying to report it, you may come off worse, too much money changing hands for protection rackets.(allegedly). Just steer clear as best you can is my advice.

I felt no confidence in the Goan Police to report it.

Don't report it, you could end up with more problems than you ever thought.

I agree, best just to ignore it (unfortunately). Plus I agree with fizzy - I really don't think they approach people because of the way they look, they just take a chance.

I really don't think they approach people because of the way they look, they just take a chance.

What does a drug user/abuser look like anyway?