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Taking your kids to Goa for long-term stay backpackers

Goa, a state in India, is a very popular beach place to go for backpackers and also for more upmarket travelers who come for a week or two.

This is a short travelguide meant to reassure you that yes, it’s fine to take your kids to Goa, India and you don’t need to stay in a resort, you can travel independently. And you can spend a few months in Goa with your small children quite cheaply.

We went for a month in January 2009 with a 1 1/2 year old. I was a bit worried before leaving, but now I can totally recommend it.

Most backpackers stay away from the resorts and go to cheap hostels, or better, long term stay places, where you often get a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room. Mandrem (in the North of Goa, next to Arambol) is a great place to look if you’re looking to stay longer with small kids. You can rent a nice place fairly easily (but not if you arrive 2 weeks before newyears), and for cheap. It’s very nice to be able to cook yourself with kids. And there are a LOT of people doing this.

There are even various childcare services. If you want to take a night off, it’s pretty easy to find a babysit. For long term stayers, I even saw ads for a children’s school in Arambol, that was open 3 days a week.

The food in these touristy/backpacker coastal places is generally Indian with some Western stuff available. In the mornings, Amelia ate oatmeal, and at noon, for about 2 weeks straight, she ate spaghetti. Yes, I wish we had had a kitchen instead of staying in a hotel all the time with no way to cook ourselves.

Indians are very friendly: they’ll often play with your kids, pick them up, etcetera. It takes a little getting used to, because in Europe nobody will touch your child without your permission, but it’s actually very nice – everyone was great with her. Even the young guys (the taxidrivers) loved playing with her. I really miss that.

As for health, check our this post with the story of how she got sick and we had to go the hospital. Make sure to take medicines (also for colds!), but be reassured that there are decent hospitals available. We were careful washing her and with food, and she only got sick 1 night with a stomach problem (which isn’t so bad in the end). She had more problems with colds and an ear infection (things she also gets in Belgium), than with any India-specific diseases.

As for dangers, I think probably the thing to be most careful about is the water, the second thing is the traffic, especially if you rent a bike (which a lot of people do).

As for gear, there are 2 things I recommend to everyone: a sling (as in the picture below in the mirror), which is great for in the car and to carry them around sometimes, and a sleeping tent.

We went a few times to see a concert in Arambol (there’s lots of music there), and sometimes in Mandrem, and Amelia would just go along (she loves the music):

Here’s a picture advertising childcare services in Arambol.

Amelia in the hotel & friend:

And another picture of us:

Changing Amelia on the train:

The little babytent she slept in. She loved it, these things are great:

In the taxi. The sling really helped whenever we were in taxis (which is a lot):

By Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) on May 7, 2009, 11:40 in Travel with kids forum.

Sam Salmon says on May 7, 2009, 18:32:

Great photos-Thanks for posting.

And what a great idea that little tent is-she has her own private place wherever she goes!

' a la orden!'

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babygirl says on May 8, 2009, 05:12:

The sling seems to be the key doesn't it?

Sam - agree, I wish we had little tents like that when my daughter was that age. Sooo cool.

Best quote of the week... "should I be taking this pill with wine?" Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 8, 2009, 05:19:

Yes, the sling and the tent rock :)

Poor but snappy

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 9, 2009, 14:18:

Peter,

"As for dangers, I think probably the thing to be most careful about is the water"

Don't underestimate undercooked or poorly-cooked food as well... Even in South-West India.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 10, 2009, 04:06:

mmm... curries are usually quite well-cooked. And mostly vegetarian. So I don't see much danger there?

Poor but snappy

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babygirl says on May 11, 2009, 06:01:

I've always been one to choose a vegetarian option anywhere, especially if I'm not familiar with the restaurant. I've even gone as far as NOT letting my daughter order certain items in a restaurant (poultry, fish especially) because I'm a bit sketched out and figure it's safer to stick with a veggie pasta dish for example. Hahaha..I even do this now and she's in her teens and she laughs at me.

When she was younger, of course, I'd cut her chicken or meat up for her to eat, (smell it too) and I would then check to ensure everything was cooked properly before she ate it and not just for travel, I do this here, at home because poorly cooked food can happen anywhere really. I've had undercooked food served to me here in Toronto. It's a good thing I smell and cut everything up before I eat it haha some habits never die ;)

Best quote of the week... "should I be taking this pill with wine?" Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 11, 2009, 07:02:

Yes, I wouldn't let them have fish just anywhere either. Or meat.

Poor but snappy

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adrimm (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 29, 2009, 23:50:

Very cool trip report Peter!

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