No time to plan your big honeymoon? Here’s a quick fix!

A quiet walk along the beach during sunset or partying all night at the most happening clubs in town, Goa gives you the opportunity to bond over everything, be it the loud festivals or the delicious fish thalis

Abode to heaven.Photo: Travel Plus

Villa stay

Experience the flipside of the hippy Goa in a luxe villa

What: Quite a different Goa experience, away from the parties and the food, this holiday is all about giving in to the good life and indulging yourself-but most of all it is about spending quality time together in the quieter corners of the state.

Why: If you want the beach within access but don’t really care for the crowds, if you want to be able to go out and mingle with people when and if you feel like it but mostly want a quiet retreat from daily life, if you like to walk out of your well appointed room, order a cocktail and take your books to lounge by the pool, then a luxury villa holiday is for you. Gift your partner and yourself a dose of complete indulgence with spa massages, good food and the unmatched company of the sun, sea and sand of Goa.

How: There are several villas to rent in Goa, and many of them lovely and affordable, but for a really luxurious and satisfying experience, loosen your wallet at www.cocoshambhala.com, where apart from the villa comfort you also get a tree-top living room, a private pool and free use of car and driver to explore the area.

Spa resorts

Fresh air, quiet moments in a health and nature resort

What: A weekend, or a week of switching off and restoring good health together.

Why: Goa’s weather is conducive to yoga and ayurveda just as well as Kerala’s and quite a number of resorts now offer various wellness packages-and by wellness we don’t mean spa massages though that too of course is part of the package! Indeed, there is something uplifting about practising good breathing techniques by the sea, rising with the sun and getting energised by yoga first thing in the morning. A day begun well is a day won, after all. Eat light, follow a proper detox and wellness programme and return refreshed and happy from your Goa break.

How: In the isolated beach of Palolem is Bhakti Kutir, a health and nature resort where you can check in for a week of wellness and active health. Their ayurveda centre and yoga and meditation centre is popular for those seeking the well being of mind, body and soul. (bhaktikutir.com) A slightly more upmarket and stylish option is La Mangrove, where you can practise yoga in stunningly located by the sea.www.lamangrovegoa.com

Tantalise your taste buds with great food the freshest seafood.Photo: Travel Plus

Gourmet city

Indulge in scrumptious seafood, shacks and world cuisine

What: Explore the explosive food scene of Goa. As more of the world descends, more of its cuisines find a little outlet here.

Why: Food lovers come this way; rest can follow the other holiday suggestions on this page. If you’re into food porn, then some real highs come from the little international, local food places that have mushroomed all over Goa. From Goan fish thali for 2100 per person to Japanese food for 21,500 per person, the world is on your plate.

How: It is probably best to stick to a couple of areas: between Panjim, Candolim and Vagator, you will find some of the best places to eat. Try Bomra’s in Candolim for Burmese food; Curlies in Anjuna for local food; Sakana in Vagator for Japanese; Om Made Cafe in Anjuna for snacks and everything in between. A really lovely place to dine is the oddly-named O Fogo in Panjim that has a charming decor and serves some fab contemporary cuisine.

Beach tents

Let the waves be your lullaby and chirping birds your wake-up call

What: Stay right on the beach and yet in total comfort-shacks are no longer your only option in Goa.

Why: If beach is what draws you to Goa, then this is a way to stay closest to it. Imagine waking up and not even having to take three steps to bury your feet into the sand. Beach camps have upped the style quotient of beach stays in Goa which were earlier limited to very basic shack options that are totally no-frills. With the more modern luxury tents, you can stay out by the sea for as long as you wish, eat all the meals by the water, and yet escape into the cool, mosquito-free comfort for those few hours in the day when you want to get a the perfect sleep.

How: Paros on Morjim is a perfect choice with well appointed tents and great food. You are in Goa’s best beach with all the fine dining and partying right at hand. www.amaryagroup.com/paros-amarya

Photo: Travel Plus

Nightlife on the beach
Fabulous beach parties, music festivals and club nights

What: Celebrate life with music and dancing with a few nights of revelry, only in Goa.

Why: The whole world’s a party in Goa during ‘season’, which is basically December-January, with the last week of the year becoming the peak party time. Recharge your senses as you stay away late into the night, joining in strangers in celebrating the moment.

How: North Goa is where you have to base yourself for this holiday. In the month of December, pretty much every day is a party, building up to the big night of New Year’s Eve. Morjim beach is the official party destination with some thumping clubs such as Marbela and lovely lounges like La Plage. Sunburn, the three-day music festival at the end of December is another event that you could plan your party holiday around-it is usually held on the last weekend of December in Vagator and from noon to midnight you can hear music and celebration all day long. (Buy tickets in advance.) Anjuna flea market is a good place to hang around where the shacks that line the beach become party zones once the sun sets down.

Magnificent sunsets
Here are various views to witness different shades of the horizon

What: Watch the sun go down from few choice locations all across Goa.

Why: What can be more romantic than the sun setting on the horizon, into the vast expanse of sea in front of your eyes, as the sky changes from blue to orange-pink before turning inky dark. Of course sunsets can be watched directly from any west facing beach but there are a number of spots along Goa that especially have lovely views and have become popular just for that. Taj Fort Aguada’s lobby affords stunning views of the sea, and Sinquerim beach, thanks to its location at a little height. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, catching a glass of wine at the lounge before you head out to dinner will be a great idea. If you don’t want to go to a five-star then Om Made Cafe at Anjuna has an equally fabulous sunset view.

How: Plan to be at your location around 4.30, or maximum 5 p.m., to settle in and order a drink before the sun starts setting. Don’t forget to book a table and places with the best sunset views tend to be busy.

Bondla wildlife sanctuary
Explore secluded sanctuaries and waterfalls

What: A break to enjoy nature’s bounty-and we don’t mean just the beach. There is a whole green side to Goa that remains unexplored for those who tend to go here just to party. Take some time to do the different, next time you plan to visit.

Why: Because rain here is like nowhere else, a visit during the monsoon is a must for those who enjoy being with nature. It is also the perfect time for a romantic break as touristic crowds stay away from Goa during this season as all the beaches are out of access. A good time to explore a different Goa.

How: The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, about 40 km from Margao, is a practically unknown small sanctuary that has tourist cottages where you can stay. There are a few deer and a lot of roses, but then Goa’s sanctuaries are not ones you go for animal spotting. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Charao, next to the Mandovi river, is a place you can spot a wide variety of birds on a fine morning. Apart from the wildlife parks, spice plantations in the Ponda area are a great place to spend a day and have a traditional meal in its lush environs. Try www.sahakarifarms.com

Photo: Hemant Chawla

Arty side
Walk around the museums, galleries, film and art festivals

What: Spend a few days exploring arts and culture, not just of Goa, but from the international vibrant scene.

Why: Goa becomes a natural draw to the world’s best artists, photographers, writers and thinkers who are constantly looking for a way to recharge their senses. The successes of International Film Festival of India, Goa, where international cinema is showcased to much acclaim, and of Think festival, which closed after last year’s infamous incident, Goa’s name has become attached with artsy festivals. Both these events became reasons to visit Goa and now newer arts festivals and events are adding to these reasons. Goa Literature Festival is a celebration of books and writing in Panjim, but the latest arts festival that has been making noise is Sensorium, which started in December 2014. Held at Sunaparanta, Goa Centre for the Arts, Sensorium is a festival of arts, literature and ideas that host many international celebrities who showcase their talent to the Goa audience.

How: November to February is the best time to be in Goa at any rate. Sensorium is in its first year, and will be held annually from December to February; www.sgcfa.org/sensorium.php International Film Festival of India, Goa, is held every November; www.iffigoa.org