Although you might imagine jetting off to India will mean you have an expensive getaway, that doesn’t have to be the case at all. There are plenty of ways to save a bit of money once you arrive, so you can enjoy a fun, yet cheap, holiday in Goa or elsewhere in the country.

Don’t forget, everything from accommodation to eating out is much cheaper in India than it is in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, so your budget for your spending money may not need to be that high, depending on what you want to do. Here are a few suggestions of things you can see and do without breaking the bank.

Hit the beach

Goa is renowned for its gorgeous coastline and, of course, it doesn’t cost a penny to stretch out in the sunshine, so spending a few days at the beach is a good option if you want to watch your cash. There are plenty of places to choose from – the following are just a few of your options:

Calangute – This place is great if you love to be surrounded by hustle and bustle, as it’s one of north Goa’s busiest beaches. There are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area and the 7 km strip of sand is usually quite packed. The waves here can be strong, meaning swimming is an exhilarating experience.

Agonda – If your idea of the perfect day at the beach is peace, quiet and no crowds, Agonda in south Goa is the place to go. There are no amenities here, just the sand, sea, palm trees and sunshine, so take your towel, a good book and enjoy the stunning surroundings.

Palolem – Palolem beach, also in the south of the state, is not only a good option in the day, but also once night falls. It has become renowned for its silent noise parties, which were designed to get around the 22:00 ban on loud music. Take your earphones and dance the night away to the music being played by the resident DJs.

Sample local food

Eating out can be an expensive part of any holiday, but if you head away from the typical tourist traps and seek out local restaurants, you’ll not only save some money, but will also get to sample traditional Goan cuisine. Seafood features heavily in many of the dishes here, with xitt-kodi a particular favourite. This meal consists of boiled rice covered in thick coconut gravy with fish. You can taste the Portuguese influence in specialities such as peri-peri masala, which uses the spicy chillis introduced to the region by the European colonists to give it an extra kick.

Explore on foot

It’s easy to get into the habit of hopping in a taxi every time you need to go somewhere but most destinations around the world are best explored on foot, as you’ll be moving more slowly and will notice things you’d often otherwise miss.

This is especially the case in Goa, where there are plenty of amazing routes you can walk along, from busy streets in the capital of Panjim to the peaceful trails in some of the state’s nature reserves. In Panjim, for example, you can stroll to the Santa Monica Jetty, while a walk on the island of Chorao presents the perfect opportunity to spot some local wildlife, including many species of birds that live in a protected sanctuary here.