Goa

Finding fault with Goa is easy if you dislike miles of pristine beaches, truly friendly people, fantastic food and fascinating flora and fauna.

You can still find Shangri-la amongst the palm trees along Goa's impressive coastline. You'll discover remote and beautiful beaches (sometimes at the expense of comprehensive amenities) throughout Goa.

Enjoy verdant terraces leading to the beach at Vagator, keep an eye out for monkeys and eagles at Arambol, stay in a tree house in Palolem and indulge in one of the many bars on the beach at Anjuna or Calungute.

Once famed for its beach party scene, some now say that Goa's nightlife is hackneyed. There's some truth to this; wild all-night raves are now few and far between, but many bars stay open until the early hours and Goa Trance still reverberates through much of the region. Those who've described Goa as a 'has been' destination have perhaps done us a favour. Thanks to them, Goa is still remarkably unspoilt.

If you tire of beach life, Goa's legendary markets are a great way to spend an afternoon. The most famous can be found at Anjuna. You'll find everything you could hope for in Wednesday's colourful flea market; sarongs, drums, spices, bags and smoking paraphernalia can be found alongside beautiful jewellery and handicrafts from all over India, Tibet and Nepal.

Travelling around Goa is inexpensive and easy, car rental is cheap and moped rental is cheaper, however, given that you'll find cows and elephants roaming the roads, it's advisable to take local transport. Taxis and motorised rickshaws are plentiful and reasonably priced (as are most things in Goa). It's also worth bearing in mind that you can negotiate daily rates in many places.

After a day spent chilling on the beach, haggling in the markets or exploring national parks, there's nothing better than ice-cold beer in a frosty glass and a remarkably good curry. Thankfully, this combination can be found throughout Goa. If you want to try a bit of everything, go for a thali, you'll get a selection of dishes so you can work out what to order next time.