Goa

Goa is not one destination and the north-south divide is the only thing you really need to get right before booking. North Goa — Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator — is developed, busy, loud and where the nightlife is. South Goa — Palolem, Agonda, Patnem, Cavelossim — is quieter, greener and more expensive per night. Choosing wrong is the commonest way to have a mediocre week here. The part almost everyone skips is the interior. Old Goa's Basilica of Bom Jesus holds Francis Xavier's remains and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Portuguese houses of Chandor and Quepem are still lived in; the spice farms inland are genuine working farms. A day away from the sand changes the trip. Season decides everything. November to February is peak: perfect weather, full beaches, highest prices. The monsoon from June to September closes most shacks and turns the state green and near-empty, which some people prefer and which is very cheap. Late September and October is the sweet spot. Feni is a local spirit made from cashew or coconut. It is much stronger than it tastes.