What a four-night stay costs, all in
Room, taxes, taxis, meals and boat trips: a realistic budget for two people for four nights at Talpona Sands.
Travelling to South Goa with a baby
Cots, food, sun and the drive from the airport: answers to the questions parents of young children ask before booking.
Every week, parents of babies and toddlers write to ask whether a beach holiday with a little one is a good idea. Here are the questions we hear most often, and how we answer them.
How long is the journey? Dabolim airport is about 75 minutes away by taxi, and Madgaon station about 50 minutes. Our fixed-rate taxi from Dabolim is ₹2,400, and we can ask for a car with a baby seat if you request it when booking. The road is good but winding in places, so plan a feeding or nap stop if your baby dislikes long drives.
Which room is best? Our family suites, next to the lawn and the shallow end of the pool, have room for a cot and are on the ground floor. We add a cot free for children under three, along with a bed rail, a baby bath and a small step stool on request. Ground-floor cottages also work well for couples with one baby.
What about food? Our kitchen will make plain rice, dal, khichdi, mashed vegetables and soft idlis on request, and we keep a fridge and a bottle warmer in the dining room for parents. Ask for anything that is not on the menu; we usually have it. And the sun? From November to March, the sun is strong between 11 am and 3.30 pm. Most families keep the beach for early mornings and late afternoons, with a long nap in between. There is shade on the lawn, and the beach has umbrellas. Bring hats, light cotton clothes and a baby sunscreen your paediatrician suggests.
