At some point in time, we have all thought how amazing will it be to welcome the new year in Goa. This year our dream came true with our stay in Emerald Palms Goa. This Goa vacation was different than the ones we had done before. We have been to Goa for sightseeing, we had been here to do the Goa-friends-crazy-dil-chahta-hai vacation, we have done a relaxing goa vacation.

This one was all about exploring the hidden gems of Goa We did the Goa Drive The famous Bombay to Goa drive is a breezy one. The only thing you need to keep in mind is if the Google GPS directs you into some obscure village path which is not the best way to drive with family. Get to your Goa resort by late evening. You can choose between Varca, EP and AP.

Food – Good options in the resort as well as outside. Emerald palms has a Barbeque Bay which is also nice. If your itinerary is fluid then plan for food outside during sightseeing. Our itinerary

Day 1: Relax at the resort. Dive into the pool and bounce inside the ball. Enjoy the fish spa. Take time out for archery or simply play games in the Happy Hub.

Day 2: Head to the white church and Fontanas area. There have been many movie shootings here. Visit one of the oldest cafes there – Confeitaria 31 de Janerio – a bakery which was established in 1930 and has gone viral since its Insta post was done by an influencer. There are may other cafes here that you can try. Walk around, soak the sights. Know the history.. You can also try the river cruise in the evening or at night. The sunset cruise is shorter while the night cruise goes on for a couple of hours and includes dinner. Not the most spectacular experience but ok for a one time try.

Day 3 – Head to the Palolem beach for a brunch followed by a trip to the Shanta Durga and Mangeshi temple.

Day 4 – Island hopping and water sports. Most beaches (Varca and Benaulem) offer a bunch of water sports but you won’t know until you get there if everything is functional. There are a bunch of dolphin sighting boat rides available early morning and that’s the best time to see them. We did the island hopping trip. Here if you are a family of 6 or more, you can negotiate for a speed boat to yourself or else pay per person. From turtle rock to the rock that looks like feet, to butterfly island it’s a nice ride with a pit stop at one of the beaches it’s a fun thing to do. The highlight of the trip was the open sea kayaking I did with my kid. It was scary as well as exhilarating. I timed it in a way that we were able to catch the sunset right in the middle of the ocean – absolutely surreal. If you have a teen ore a pre-teen, this is a must try. Give them the reins to steer the kayak and watch their confidence soar. And yes, it takes a while to figure how to get back to the shore when the waves keep pushing you… a learning experience.

Day 5 – Today was 31st December and the resort offered a package for the New Year night celebration at Varca. Considering the price and what was on offer, if you negotiate well it becomes a good deal. B The New Year celebration show was really good. This one had the Great Gatsby theme and everyone was having fun in shiny hats and masquerade masks. From international dancers to a good MC who made us dance and play games to a buffet spread that had a 12-page menu and was spread around a km in the venue to unlimited drinks to dance, music and fireworks at mid-night, it was a truly magical goa new year celebration done with like-minded families which was also safe for kids.

Book really really in advance to not miss out! Most members left the resort on 1st . We stayed on first and started our new year with a beautiful stroll on the Varca beach, a leisurely lunch in one of the shacks and a relaxing evening in Palolem. With Club Mahindra, you truly know the value of being a member when you have such experiences that is not only memorable to you but also your children.