Dallas to Goa Flights

  About Dallas

The first thing that comes to mind when you say Texas is cowboys! Dallas - Fort Worth is a town that you must visit at least for a weekend to experience every bit of the cowboy culture. But it is best to not go by the stereotypes. People in Dallas - Fort Worth are kind and welcoming, especially if you are new to the city. The city's nightlife scene and bar-hopping, which is a very common practice here, is what makes it far special. You will certainly wake up with a nasty hangover but with some great pictures on your phone, too, with new friends that you might have made at the bars. If you don't want to get all crazy, you can go for a sightseeing tour in the city, most of it does not require you to pay any sort of fees. Dallas also boasts of art museums and some of the largest shopping areas in the US. If you are visiting the city with your family, you can also visit the Fort Worth Zoo and Dallas World Aquarium. The city is also quite affordable and far cheaper as compared to New York. You will not get bored at all in the city, and it will be a holiday to remember.

Best Time to Visit Dallas

Summer is the high tourist season in Dallas - Fort Worth despite the scorching, unbearable heat. Make sure that you book your hotels in Dallas - Fort Worth well in advance. The flight tickets to Dallas - Fort Worth also get pretty expensive if not booked in advance. The city experiences summer from June to August and the temperature ranges from 21 to 35 degree Celsius. The days are long, and getting out of your hotel room can be quite the task. You can beat the heat by diving into the pool, but since this is high tourist season, you won't really have the pool to yourself. All your sightseeing plans might even end up in you, taking a long shower to beat the heat or hitting the bed because of exhaustion. Make sure you are well-hydrated and carry enough sunblock. You can attend Taste of Dallas, a food and drinks festival that takes place in June. There are a lot of restaurants and food trucks that are a part of the event. The organisers also have mixologists and wine experts on their panel. This will add the gastronomic charm to your vacation. You can also be a part of the Fourth of July celebrations in the city.

September to November is considered to be the best time to visit Dallas - Fort Worth. There are fewer tourists as compared to summer, and the weather is perfect. You will get decent flight deals to Dallas - Fort Worth online, and even the hotel prices drop. The temperature ranges from 8 to 31 degree Celsius. You can attend festivals like the Riverfront Jazz Festival, Dallas Pride, Texas State Fair (highly recommended) and Grapefest. December to February is winter in Dallas - Fort Worth, and it is not the most popular time to visit the city. The temperature ranges from 2 to 15 degree Celsius. It rarely snows in Dallas - Fort Worth, but you still might want to carry an extra layer of warm clothes with you.

The city experiences springtime from March to May. It usually rains a lot during spring in Dallas - Fort Worth, and it might put a damper in your plans to go sightseeing or any other outdoor activities you might have planned. But you can attend the Dallas International Film Festival in May along with the Mayfest.

Places to Visit in Dallas

Fort Worth Water Gardens is a popular tourist attraction in the city. It is located near the Convention Centre downtown. It has three pools, waterfalls and fountains. Checking out the gardens at night is a sight for sore eyes. Dallas Museum of Art is the place to go if you are an art lover. The museum is one of the most reputable and biggest places in Texas. You can catch rotating exhibitions here along with permanent art collections from all over the world. Fort Worth Stock Yards about an hour away from downtown Dallas and you will get to experience the authentic Texas cowboy lifestyle. You will also feel like you are in a movie set. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is also a popular tourist attraction and has a rich history. Dealey Plaza was where America's 35th president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The place, later on, was converted into a museum and you will get to watch short films, hear testimonies and even see photographs that tell you more about everything that happened that day. The museum also reflects on the life of the late president.

The Cedar Ridge Preserve is the perfect place to experience wildlife and go on a hike, too. You can also go bird watching. Six Flags Over Texas is a popular theme park that is about 15 miles away from Dallas but worth it. There are a lot of theme-based rides like Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters and Bugs Bunny Boomtown. It has over 45 rides, including five water rides. You will also find a lot of restaurants here and have the time of your life. Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff is also a highly recommended place for you to go. This was where Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated the former president JFK decided to hide here before he got arrested. The theatre hosts film festivals, documentaries, old classic films and independent movies. You will also find a full-service bar here and enjoy a glass of beer or cocktail of your choice while you enjoy your film. Klyde Warren Park is a dog park but so much more. There are a lot of events and activities happening throughout the year. You can opt for yoga on a Sunday morning or Zumba on a Wednesday night. You will also find a lot of food trucks and ice cream trucks in the park here.

Things to do in Dallas

You can sign up for a sightseeing tour of Dallas - Fort Worth, or you can explore the city on your own. Dallas is a busy city, and you will find yourself attending an event whenever you visit. If you are a history buff, you must head to Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza along with Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. You can also visit aquariums and zoos if you are on holiday with your family. If there is a football game happening in the home of Dallas Cowboys, head to the AT&T Stadium. You can also hit the pubs here and get a taste of the nightlife scenes in the city. You will have a lot of restaurants that serve cuisines from all over the world in Dallas - Fort Worth.

Food and Restaurants in Dallas

You can't visit Texas and not try the steak here. Dallas - Fort Worth is also known for its red meat and Tex-Mex. Al Biernat's is a popular place for you to try the steak. It might be a tad bit expensive, but it is worth every penny spent if you are craving for authentic Mexican cuisine, head over to Revolver Taco Lounge. You can also sign up for a food tour to explore the best of Tex-Mex. Yutaka Sushi Bistro is a popular place to go to for Japanese cuisine and Boulevardier for French cuisine. Chilli and chicken-fried steak are a speciality in Dallas - Fort Worth. If you are a meat lover, you will refuse to leave the restaurants here. You will also come across quite a few food trucks in the locality if you want to grab a quick bite.

How to reach Dallas

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in the United States of America. The flight connectivity to Dallas - Fort Worth from India is excellent. There are quite a few flights to Dallas - Fort Worth from India. Air India, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Air Canada are some of the airlines that run quite frequently from India with layovers at Delhi, Tokyo, Doha and Montreal. If you book in advance, you might get cheap flight tickets to Dallas - Fort Worth. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas and so on. It is also quite convenient to get a car rental or a taxi to take you to your hotel or go sightseeing. You will also find a lot of artwork at the airport. There are quite a few exhibitions held at the airport sometimes if you want to kill some time. Make sure you look for decent flight deals to Dallas - Fort Worth online that saves you a lot of money. The airport also offers a lot of sightseeing opportunities for passengers. You can watch planes land at Founders' Plaza, a favourite spot among tourists and airport employees.

  About Goa

Located on the West coast of India is the quaint beachy paradise, also known as Goa. The state of Goa is hardly 3,700 sq. km, with a small population that is known to be one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. The state has a heavy Portuguese influence and culture as it is a former colony. Thanks to their Portugal-influenced, the culture and outlook of Goa are visibly diverse from the other parts of India. Goa sees a regular throng of tourists as Indian and international travellers constantly flock over to the tropical state. The domestic and international routes are well-connected, making travelling by flight to Goa, an easy task.

Best time to visit Goa

The best season to visit Goa is undeniably winter! The winters in Goa call for a celebration as the temperatures drop to offer a pleasant atmosphere. The months starting from October to February are peak season where Goa sees an abundance of travellers. The flight tickets to Goa during this season is also quite expensive as the demand is high. However, with various music festivals, Christmas and the spirit of New Year's taking over, Goa easily becomes one of the best places in winters.

The monsoon season that stretches between June to September is ideal for nature enthusiasts. While many assume Goa's beaches to be its identity, the green expanses of the Western Ghats that passes through Goa get some love from nature enthusiasts. The state's hues change from sparkling blue to emerald green, and it is worth exploring.

The summers are considered to be bad as the tropical region faces sweltering temperatures. Often the mercury spikes up to 40 degree Celsius, making it unbearably hot. The flight tickets to Goa are cheap during this season for obvious reasons. If you can handle the heat, then you can make use of good flight deals and book flight tickets to Goa.

Places to visit in Goa

Museums and art galleries

The state might be known for its tourism, but they also indulge in arts and culture. There are many art galleries around the Old Goa region. The state's Portugal roots can further be explored by visiting the Goa State Museum. You should also visit the Museum for technology and Art, which goes by the name Sensistan. Benaulim's Houses of Goa, Goa Chitra Museum and many other religious art museums have intriguing stories that should be explored.

Beaches

Goa's highlight is the beaches, the cuisine and the nightlife. The pristine blue waters by the coasts sparkle under the sun and attract people from all over the world. The most famous and best beaches in Goa include Palolem, Vagator, Chapora, Anjuna, Arambol, Morjim, Colva, Candolim, Mandrem, Butterfly, Agonda, Calangute, etc. The best thing to in Goa to travel within would be to rent a vehicle and beach hop as every beach caters to a certain kind of audience. Depending on your vibe, you might enjoy a certain stretch of beach. The beautiful beaches are definitely worth it.

Churches

The famed Bom Jesus Basilica with the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is a legendary church. Built in 1605, the church's distinctive architecture using wood, gold, stone and granite gives it a vintage vibe. Not to mention how you will get to witness the miraculous undecomposed body of Francis Xavier, whose body is preserved by the church officials. Other notable churches include the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of St Catejan, Se Cathedral and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Things to do in Goa

Water sports

Goa has copious amounts of water sports activities that would keep you indulged all-day. Right from learning how to surf to snorkelling to kayaking in the wide sea, there are various water sports that you can take up. Specific beaches host scuba diving and snorkelling activities while some are known for their parasailing, banana boat ride, ferry tours and other such activities. Depending on which part of the state you're in, you'll get to experience the said kind of water sport.

Beach hopping

The beaches of Goa can either by calm and quaint or loud and noisy. Depending on which neighbourhood you choose, you'll find your own sweet nirvana. The North beaches are more commercial with Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and more, experiencing excessive crowd. The South beaches are quaint and quiet with luxury settings and fewer crowds. If you wish to indulge in water sports and other such activities, then you should head to North where they happen in abundance. If taking strolls at the beach or going for a swim is what you wish to do then the South beaches are it for you. You can rent bikes or cars and go on a beach-hopping spree.

Ocean treks

To reach some beaches in Goa, you will have to trek the trails. The Butterfly Beach in South Goa is one such beach where you need to trek up the stony trails to reach the exquisite and quaint beach. It is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the state. Parts of Cabo de Rama beach also expects you to do some trekking, which only adds to the fun of diving in the sea. North Goa's Arambol beach is also famous for ocean treks.

Quad Biking

If you wish to take a day's break from the beaches and the water, you can head to the adventure side of Goa where you'll find quad bike tours. Basically, you can do dirt bike riding on muddy terrains created. You don't need to be an expert to indulge in this activity as it doesn't require any levels of riders.

Casino and cruises

Goa's nightlife is just as lit as the beaches it offers. While there are regulated parties that take place on the beaches and even some nightclubs, there are dedicated cruises and casino parlours too. Try some play of dice at one of these casinos or hit the party scenes to experience the nightlife of Goa.

Food and Restaurants in Goa

As a coastal state, Goa's staple food involves fish curry and rice. The place serves the most exquisite seafood that one can ask for. The beach shacks have Continental, Seafood and Indian food cuisines as options. A majority of the tourists usually choose seafood over everything else. For the best ambience and piquant seafood, you should visit Curly's in North Goa and Fisherman's Wharf in South Goa. Other places with great seafood are The Lazy Goose, Amavi, Starlight, Ritz Classic, Gunpowder, etc.

While seafood is a staple, the iconic Goan dishes are actually made from pork. Acquaint yourself with names such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, Chorizo and Sorpotel as these Goan dishes are a big hit. From street food to lavish restaurant dining, you'll meet with all kinds of experiences in Goa, and they will all be memorable. The beach shacks also have Goan dishes in their menu so you can always mix up the platter. If seafood is a little too much for you to deal with, then an Italian rendezvous at Da Tita might go down well with you.

How to reach Goa

By Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport, located in Vasco da Gama, is the only airport in the State. Due to the popularity of the state, and the fact that it is the most sought-after destination for Indians, as well as international tourists, the flight connectivity to and from Goa, is incredible. Direct flight to Goa is available from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur and more. International flights from Goa are also available as some direct planes are flying to Kuwait, UAE, Doha, etc. Although no direct flights are connecting Goa to Western Europe, USA, Russia and the UK, great connectivity and layovers have enabled these international destinations to be connected to Goa.

Nonstop domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, Air Asia and Vistara are available. It would be ideal to book your hotels ahead of your trip as shuttle services to pick you up from Goa airport would be convenient. On off-seasons, the flight tickets are cheap and affordable. However, if you wish to travel during their peak season, it is best to book flight tickets in advance for great flight deals online.

By Rail

There are two main railway stations namely, Madgaon Junction and Thivim, which connect other cities to South and North Goa respectively. Direct trains following domestic routes to Goa are also available from Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to name a few.

By Road

A majority of crowd from the Mumbai and Pune region often use the road as a means to reach Goa. There are overnight buses that travel from Mumbai to Goa, which makes travelling convenient. Various public and private bus service providers have sleeper and Volvo seater buses going to Goa. You can either get down at Mapusa Bus Stand for North Goa or Panjim Bus Stand and Madgaon Bus Stand if you're opting for the South beaches. The State-serviced Kadamba Transport is also available and connects to various neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

  About Goa Airport

Dabolim Airport is the sole domestic and international airport in the state of Goa. Situated in Dabolim, about 4 km from Vasco da Gama and 23 km from the oldest city Margao and 30 km from the state capital, Panjim, the airport is perched up the Arabian Sea. The airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) and is also operated by the Indian Navy's naval airbase, INS Hansa. Goa Airport witnesses a plethora of international passengers throughout the year, especially from the European continent and many from the United Kingdom as well. IN 2013, the airport inaugurated its integrated terminal to increase the passenger handling capacity. The airport recorded capacity of 7.6 million passengers in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Dabolim Airport witnesses many European-charter airlines with flights flying to and from the city on a seasonal basis. There are dedicated charter flights from the United Kingdom, operated by TUI Airways or popularly known as just TUI. These charter flights function from the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland. Along with flights from the UK, Dabolim Airport also witnesses seasonal charter flights from Russian cities. With a consistent increase in passenger traffic and air traffic congestion, a proposal to introduce a second airport in Mopa has been granted a green signal. Mopa Airport is set to complete construction by 2022 and will see flight operations soon.

About Goa Airport terminals

Currently, Dabolim Airport accommodates two terminals for domestic and international flight operations. Terminal 1 handles all flight activities for domestic airlines. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 takes care of international flight operations ranging from landing to take off. The domestic terminal covered an area of 21,527 square feet and was constructed in 1983 while the international terminal came into existence in 1996, covering an area of 10,763 square feet. However, with a tremendous increase in passenger congestion and air traffic, the airport constructed an integrated terminal building to cater to both domestic as well as international passengers. The same was opened in 2013 with extensive features.

The design and layout of the building are aesthetic which comprises of glass and large steel span structures along with frameless glazing. The integrated terminal sprawls across 36,000 square metres and has been designed to accommodate five million passengers in a year. The terminal is also equipped with eight aerobridges. Some of the outstanding features of the terminal include an in-line baggage scanning system, 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals and a total of 14 security check counters. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor, while the first floor has security checks. Following the installation of the new integrated terminal building, the old ones have been closed.

About Airport Authority

Dabolim Airport is currently being operated under the Airports Authority of India. The government statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Aviation has worked tirelessly towards enhancing the structure of Goa Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgradations and modernisation. All the expansion projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India. This includes funding and management decisions concerning the projects. Under the AAI, the airport renewed its terminal building into an integrated one that would cater to accommodating international and domestic activities. Some of their works also include installation of the multi-level car parking facility to enable parking of about 570 cars along with parking bays for aircraft. They have also asked for the Indian Navy and the State Government to help them acquire lands to expand the aprons and the older international terminal building space.

The airport is spread across 1,700 acres of land and also accommodates a civil enclave of 35 acres. On a daily basis, Dabolim Airport witnesses about 180 flights with a large concentration of passenger traffic between 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. The airport is supposed to function between the slated time slot during weekdays for civilian as it has some naval restrictions. The military requires flight training activities to continue during a specific time period and hence follows the specified rules throughout the year.

As the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India, the two parties entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, to construct a full-length parallel taxi track that would be suitable to accommodate aircraft like Boeing 747. Both parties will share the construction cost. For the expansion project, Dabolim Airport also received environmental clearance in 2018. The project has been divided into three phases and is set to be completed in a scheduled manner. The first phase of the airport was completed in 2019, which resulted in an increase in the runway's capacity from 15 air traffic activities in an hour to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.

Facilities at the Goa Airport

Lounge – Goa Airport has a VIP lounge that only caters to travellers with specific access passes or ticket types.

WiFi – Dabolim Airport offers free WiFi services to everyone. There are no restrictions as such. The same good speed can be availed at the common lounge as well as VIP lounges too.

ATMs and currency exchange – As it is an international airport, provisions for currency exchanges and ATMs are also present at Dabolim Airport. You will receive decent exchange rates for the currency exchange. Further, you can also transfer money to your overseas accounts.

Baby care facilities – The airport has reserved special rooms for baby care. These rooms are well-lit and have all the necessary items to cater to a baby and a new mother's comfort. A cosy chair, as well as a changing table, is also available in the baby care room. Plus, the room is private and only allows mothers with babies to enter.

Restaurants – Some many restaurants and cafes are present in the premise of Dabolim Airport. These restaurants majorly have Goan cuisine. However, there are continental, and other global cuisines also present in the airport. As you wait for boarding, indulging in food could be a good way to kill time.

Medical services – The airport has a dedicated team of medical experts that clock in 24/7. Along with professionals, Dabolim Airport also has a room reserved for doctors to take the emergency cases to. These rooms are well-equipped with basic first aid kits and medical facilities. A paramedic is also present in the airport vicinity.

Spa - A dedicated spa service is available at both the terminals of Dabolim Airport. If there are any flight delays or you have enough time in hand, you can avail their excellent spa services.

Top airlines flying from Goa Airport

Many domestic airlines are operating from Goa Airport. These include AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines have flights connecting Dabolim Airport to major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kochi, Lucknow, Nashik, Surat, Madurai, Hubli, Guwahati, Coimbatore and more. In terms of international flights that operate from Goa Airport, these include Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways. They connect to cities such as Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait City and more. The airport also accommodates seasonal airlines such as TUI Airways, Air Ukraine and Thomas Cook Airlines during peak season as the demand for the state is quite high in terms of tourism.

How to reach Goa Airport

Reaching Goa Airport is quite convenient, even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Passengers can take buses, taxi cabs and trains as well to reach any part of the state.

By Bus and taxi cabs

With respect to buses, the city of Vasco da Gama is only 4 km away. Several public buses can be taken to reach Goa Airport. The closes stop to the airport is Chicalim bus stop, which is located about 1.5 km apart. Many public buses run by the state are connected to Vasco da Gama. From the city of Vasco da Gama, you can always take taxi services to reach Goa Airport. Provisions of local mini-buses are also available to the airport from Vasco da Gama and Chicalim. Similarly, taxi cab services are available within the city. The city of Goa has its mobile app to book prepaid taxis and vehicles to smooth the process of travelling within the state and reaching Dabolim Airport. The government is also working towards constructing a 6-lane expressway that would make connections to the airport easier from major cities in Goa. Similarly, a monorail system is also being proposed.

By Rail

Dabolim has a railway station going by the same name. It is the nearest station from Goa Airport. You can take the train service to reach Dabolim Airport from various parts of Goa such as Tivim in North Goa, Ponda and Margao in South Goa. The railway station is quite in proximity to the airport and is hence, considered to be one of the cheap and affordable options to reach Goa Airport.