vacation – Jasminn Hotels

A Tourists Guide to the Locality!

Howdy, travel enthusiast! Your trip to this South Goan paradise is the ideal opportunity to explore a coastal cul de sac and make memories to last a life time. You can spend your precious time looking up TripAdvisor or asking around for recommendations, but we’ve put together a list of some hidden local gems and must visit hot-spots to save you the trouble! Pristine sandy beaches, quaint old chapels, holistic relaxation centers, restaurants famous for their gastronomical marvels… read on to find out what awaits you in and around Betalbatim!

Betalbatim Beach

This beautiful 1 km stretch of golden sand is right between Colva beach and Majorda beach, a mere 1.5 kms from Jasminn Hotel. Sandy and wide without any rocky outcrops, the waters here are safe for swimming most times of the year with the shore gently sloping into the deeper Arabian Sea. The beach has retained its charm and beauty, relatively untouched by the throngs of tourists crowding the coastline in peak season. Head to the northern part of the beach ( also called Sunset Beach ) towards evening time for a gorgeous view of the setting sun spangling the skies with threads of scarlet and gold as dusk falls.

Martin’s Corner

An exhilarating, sunny day at the beach sure works up a good appetite! After witnessing the beautiful sunset, head over to Martin’s Corner, not too far from Sunset Beach. This famous restaurant 2 kms away from Jasminn Hotel has received several notable awards over the years, growing from a quaint and cozy set up to the bustling, popular, full-service foodie hub it is today. The welcoming servers, easy atmosphere and mouth watering food will leave you with blissful contentment. Indulge in the best of Goan, Continental, Oriental and Tandoori cuisine with an array of scrumptious specialty sea food to select from. Live entertainment accompanies your meal every evening, making for a truly memorable experience!

Melati

Speaking of memorable culinary experiences, we’ve got one closer to home that you cannot miss! Jasminn Hotel’s new RestoBar Melati. The beautiful ambiance and decor is the perfect setting for your evening, as you indulge in a range of delicious dishes inspired from local and continental cuisine, accompanied by an exciting variety of delicious cocktails! Feast like a king with the scrumptious breakfast spread, and don’t miss out on the loaded Chicken Club Sandwiches, smokey Tandoori Kebabs and Seafood!

Sanjay Bakery

Nothing beats the delicious, warm aroma of freshly baked bread. Another notable local gem is Sanjay Bakery- a family run establishment supplying delicious baked goods along with authentic Goan Poee bread just 500 meters from the doorstep of Jasminn Hotel. The friendly, welcoming staff and mouth watering bakery treats available make this place an absolute must visit.

Our Lady of Remedios Church

This beautifully maintained historical church in Betalbatim has a serene atmosphere of peace and tranquility, still fully functioning with weekly Sunday Mass services and fests every year. Just 0.5 km from your stay at Jasminn Hotel, the interior altars have been preserved and maintained impeccably and the surrounding gardens are well manicured and tended to. The beautiful architecture and lush grounds make this the ideal spot for a calm and tranquil afternoon.

Dramapur Adventures,Colva

Want a day of adventure and exploration to get the adrenaline pumping? Head to Dramapur Adventures (4 kms from Jasminn Hotel ) for a cycle ride and experience first hand the sea breeze, palm trees and quaint beauty of the coastal village of Salcette. With a wide array of premium and well maintained bicycles to choose from, your ride will be ideal for flat coastal roads and the rocky winding hills alike. The experienced guides take you along gorgeous hand-picked routes to experience beautiful views and minimum traffic. Definitely a trip to add to your itinerary!

Margao Local Fish Market

All that delicious fried calamari, pomfret curry, masala prawns and more… Goan seafood is truly the stuff of culinary dreams. Want to see first hand where all the fresh and delicious ocean fare comes from? Head to the Margao Fish Market, 4 kms from Jasminn Hotel. The vendors set up shop early as soon as the fishermen bring in their first catch of the day. The entire marketplace is a bustling frenzy of customers haggling over prices with the sellers with an array of fresh, live and wriggling seafood laid out on melting blocks of ice… truly a sight worth witnessing!

Goa Chitra Museum

Located in Benaulim 5 kms from Jasminn Hotel, Chitra is a must visit, offering a wonderful display of live installations, public studios and materials. The museum set up represents an evolving environment of traditional artifacts, inspiring us to observe an experimental context of material culture and re-think existing process and practice to develop new collaborative approaches. This exceptional ethnographic museum displays over 4000 exhibits, all collected by one man over 25 years! It showcases the material culture of Goa before the electricity era, every implement substantiated with researched documentation that dates back to hundreds of years.

All these incredible experiences await, so get your bags packed, tickets booked and head to South Goa for a trip like never before!

The skies are thundering, the clouds raining down, and the stormy coastline, cascading waves, fresh sea breeze and hearty atmosphere calls out to the adventurous spirit in you! While traditionally regarded a summer getaway, the coastal Goan region is a vibrant and green paradise in the monsoon.

A trip to the bountiful coast makes a perfect retreat from the daily hustle-bustle and crowd of busy metropolitan life. Immerse yourself in the beautiful environment, rich culture and delicious cuisine for a truly memorable vacation!

Packing can be a real chore, there’s nothing more infuriating than reaching your destination and realizing you’ve left something important behind. So, to help you gear up for your rainy beach holiday, we’ve put together a list of travel kit essentials. As the Boy Scouts say- Be Prepared!

Make sure your travel wardrobe is well endowed with synthetics and quick-dry outfits. Rainy day outings leave your clothes wet and the musty odor of damp clothes is truly displeasing! Lighter, synthetic fabric clothes are hassle free and you will have enough re-wearable options.

Do not forget to carry along a couple of warm sweaters or jackets, it can get chilly in the nighttime. Long Sleeve T-shirts and beanies will keep you toasty warm and comfortable. And while we’re on the topic, WINDCHEATERS and RAINCOATS! The perfect defense against any sudden showers that may catch you unawares. Avoid thick wool or fleece lined jackets, if they do get wet they’ll stay damp for ages.

For your luggage, try and stick to waterproof backpacks, sling bags and waist pouches. These will keep your electronics and belongings safe no matter what the weather!

Sunblock is a beach essential, but in this cloudy weather its more important to keep handy a good face cream with moisturizing properties, to keep your skin healthy. Carry along basic remedies for cough and cold symptoms, in case the damp weather gets your immunity down.

Another good way to prevent any illness is a lot of hot liquids through the day- soups, green tea and good, hearty meals! Keep a thermos in your travel pack so you can sip a warm brew on the go and beat the chills.

The abundant puddles are natural breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects. Keep a tube of Odomos or other mosquito repellents at hand to prevent any bites.

A fan of luxury footwear, expensive sneakers or strappy stilettos ? Leave them at home! Nothing ruins a good pair of shoes more than trudging through muddy puddles all day. Instead, grab your Flip Flops and a sturdy pair of Crocs and get ready to head out and explore the terrain!

The monsoons are truly magical, but sudden downpours can often disrupt your plans for the day! If you do happen to get stuck indoors, prepare for the situation and pack some fun board games, cards and interesting books to occupy your time and beat those rainy day blues!

And now the most important part… make sure you’ve packed a good camera, and a small diary to capture your memories! The picturesque coastline and scenic beauty of South Goa makes for some incredible photographs, and even if you don’t get the time to jot down a daily log, a diary comes in handy to preserve mementos like the gorgeous blossoms of wild flowers, leaves or feathers you stumble upon while exploring the coast.

Happy Travelling!

Tag: vacation

Exploring Breathtaking Betalbatim

Travel Kit Essentials for Your Monsoon Beach Retreat!