Best months with a dog
November to February
Worth avoiding
June to September
heavy monsoon and rough seas
What to know before you go
Beaches are the draw and also the risk. Sand gets hot enough to burn paws through the middle of the day, so walk early or after sunset. Sea water is not safe to drink and often causes stomach upset, so carry fresh water. Many shacks are relaxed about dogs on the sand, though this varies by beach and season.
Getting there
Goa is roughly 12 hours by road from Mumbai. Driving yourself is almost always the easiest way to travel with a dog, because you control the stops, the temperature and the pace, and your dog is never handled by a stranger. At this distance, splitting the drive across two days with an overnight stop is considerably kinder than pushing through in one go, particularly for senior dogs and flat faced breeds.
Whatever the distance, stop every two hours or so for water and a short walk, never leave your dog in a parked car even briefly, and travel on a light stomach to reduce car sickness.
Where to stay with a dog in Goa
Always confirm before booking. Pet policies in India change often and are usually left to the individual owner or franchisee, so a property that welcomed dogs last season may not this one. Treat everything below as a starting point, call to confirm for your dog's size, and get the pet permission added to your booking confirmation in writing.
- Taj Holiday Village Resort & SpaCandolim, North GoaLuxury
Has an enclosed pet park on the property, reported when the facility was introduced. Charges and size limits apply.
Confirm the current pet policy directly with the property.
- Lemon Tree propertiesvariousMid range
Several Lemon Tree hotels accept dogs, though policy differs sharply between individual properties, so check the exact hotel rather than the chain.
Confirm the current pet policy directly with the property.
Beyond named properties, homestays and villas with their own compound tend to be far easier with a dog than large hotels, because there are fewer common areas and fewer other guests to negotiate.
Ask these five questions when you call
- Do you allow dogs, and is there a size or weight limit?
- Is there a pet charge, and is it per night or per stay?
- Can the dog be left in the room unattended at any point?
- Are dogs allowed in the restaurant, garden or common areas?
- Can you add the pet permission to my booking confirmation email?
Nearby, if you want to extend the trip
One last practical thing. Hotel rooms and unfamiliar places disrupt toilet routines, and a dog who will not go in a strange place holds it far longer than is good for them. A familiar surface from home makes a real difference, which is the unglamorous reason we make a portable coir potty.