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GOANHOLIDAYS.info
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GOA......India's Pearl
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We would like to offer this page as a guide to the things / items that we have found useful to take with us on our visits to GoaMobile Phones We pack a couple of old, unlocked mobiles when we arrive we then purchase a couple of local sim cards, these will give you a new number valid for three months and about 250 minutes talk time (currently April 08 about 450 rupees) we use these as a couple of "walkie talkies" to keep in touch with each other and to summon our local taxi etc, in an emergency calls to the UK are not to expensive (STD street phones are cheaper) prior to departure i knock up some Business cards and write the number in when it is known, if you wish to keep the number from year to year this is possible but at a higher cost. To get a Sim card you will require a copy of your Passport (photo page) and a couple of ID photos (these are always worth taking with you anyway) your Hotel or friendly Taxi driver will guide you to a suitable phone shop. Use the following link to unlock your phone prior to travel
Torch 
This is a must have item, Goa suffers from regular power cuts or periods of low voltage, I find that this happens usually as you leave the shower just as its getting dark ! A small pocket torch is ideal either with a couple of rechargeable batteries or couple of spare Duracell’s I have recently purchased a couple of the smallest wind up torches these give an amazing amount of light a run for at least 10 minutes on a 1 minute wind up.
They were purchased from my local garage at £2.99 each and carry the name RAC and the part number RACHP007 It should be noted that most Hotels have some sort of backup generator, but a torch should always be carried at night whilst away from your accommodation Battery charger etc 
Batteries purchased in India seen to be of very varying quality from poor to useless, be sure to take a few Duracell’s or rechargeable’s with you. As an addition to the battery charging equipment that I take on holiday, I have over the years taken a 13a extension lead with a short cable attached, once in Goa a local 2 pin plug can be obtained easily and attached to the extension. this will give two reliable outlets, I find that using the usual continental type socket adaptors is a bit unreliable as most Goan socket outlets are rather loose and do not hold the adaptor tight. Power lead 
Things NOT to take....Toiletries  
As Toiletries are readily available in Goa (most at less than UK prices) I no longer take any in my luggage save for a tooth brush and my favourite tooth paste, this will help to keep your checked in baggage weight down, at the end of the holiday we leave any left over toiletries for our room boy / cleaner, these are usually much appreciated, remember to leave a note for the recipient saying that the items are a gift, so that there are no problems with the hotel management
Charities 
You will see from other pages on this site that visitors to Goa sometimes visit a children's charity whilst in Goa We would suggest that prior to your departure to Goa you raise a small or larger amount for the charity, take this as money and then when in Goa find out from the charity what they require, this can be purchased locally and taken to the charity, we find this better than trying to take excess baggage, as most airlines are severely restricting this, dry food is always welcomed by most charity's Check the following link before traveling Needs List
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