Located in the South-West of India, Goa has gained popularity and outstands as one of the preferred destinations amongst tourists that visit amazing India. True that its breath-taking beaches have made this small state famous across the world, but there is actually much more beyond its beaches: take note of these 5 must-see places in Goa:

• Markets

The markets are the best reflection of Indian culture. You can find anything from antiques to jewellery, and from Tibetan handicraft to beachwear. The most famous ones are the Wednesday market at Anjuna and the Friday Market at Mapusa.

For many, Easter is one of the preferred periods of the year to treat themselves with a nice break and be able to recharge batteries until summer. It is true that it is the busiest holiday period and therefore, the most expensive period of the year but we have done good research to let you know about the cheapest destinations for this Easter:

Algarve

The south of Portugal offers breath-taking landscapes mainly dominated by the Atlantic Ocean and wild beaches. You can fly to its main city Faro and stay in an AirBandB or Home-Away apartment rather cheap. That will depend on how many people you are travelling with; if you are just 2 you can maybe find a better offer in a hostel with breakfast included, whereas if you are 4 or more, it is definitively more economic to rent a house where you can cook lunch and dinner and save a lot in food expenses. A beautiful location to enjoy some relaxing days at the beach and do water-sports.

Majorca

The biggest of the Spanish islands part of the Balearic archipelago is a great destination for Easter if you want to enjoy some warm weather. You can book flight with hotel deals for a week for around £143.86 per person. In this case we highly recommend you to book a complete pack. The island offers plenty of beaches to explore, enchanting villages and but also mountains.

Why do we keep hearing that India will change us forever over and over? It is indeed a place where nobody is left indifferent; these are the reasons why a trip to this country will be a life-changing experience.

1. Every day will be a challenge: India will remind you daily that you are in a totally different country where everything is possible and nothing should be taken for granted. It will challenge you in many ways and you should find your way around.

2. Sensory stimuli: your senses will be overloaded in many ways, probably it will be quite intense during the first days, but you will end up appreciating these sensations as a native quality of India.

3. Its smells: some of them appealing, like food and species, and some of them almost impossible to bear.

4. No truce with contrasts: you will see beggars in one corner and luxurious temples on the next. Silence and noise, light and darkness, death and life.

If you´ve always wanted to travel alone, we would very much encourage you to do so, as it is a very enriching lifetime experience. Probably, you´ll feel scared just by thinking about the idea but do no let fear overwhelm you. Being excited is normal but if you follow these basic tips for travelling alone, everything will go smoothly:

1. Safety

This is the main concern for all solo travellers and something you will always need to keep in mind. Before jumping on any kind of transport, ask the driver how much the journey will cost as solo travellers are more vulnerable to “scam” when moving from the hostel to the airport and so on. Always have your id on you and stay in public spaces where other tourists are walking around, and last but not least: listen to your gut; if it doesn´t feel right, don´t do it.

2. Enjoy being alone

Many solo travellers focus on meeting new people all the time. Travelling in groups means doing sometimes things you do not want to, and skipping some plans you would have loved. There is one reason why you chose to travel on your own, you can do anything you want and it is a great chance to get to know yourself better, so enjoy it!