First time I overpaid for everything
The first time I overpaid for everything—scooters, food, even coconuts lol. But before my 2025 trip I found this super helpful breakdown: https://allaboutgoa.com/travel/backpacking-through-goa-on-a-budget-tips-for-2025/. It’s not just basic advice, it actually gives specific tips like where to get local buses, how to find filtered water stations, and even stuff like timing beach visits to avoid crowds and prices. One thing I took from it was avoiding stays right on the beach—if you go like 5-10 mins inland by foot, the price drops fast and the vibe is more chill. Also loved the tip about weekday markets—better deals and more locals than the weekend rush. I stopped booking anything in advance except maybe the first night and just started asking around once I was there.
Sometimes the most memorable parts of a trip are the ones that happen without warning — missing a bus and ending up in a random village, or taking a wrong turn and finding an empty beach. Those moments can’t really be booked in advance, and maybe that’s the point.