Margao

Use Margao, a busy commercial center and one of the busiest towns in Goa to do your shopping for basic essentials if you plan to stay for a while at the secluded southern beaches. Check out the Golden Heart bookstore off Abade Faria Road,

which carries English-language books, including quite a few about Goa. The town has a few attractions of its own as well; there are historic houses and churches, and a lively seafood market where you can also buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Near the railway station there's plenty of fabric for sale if you're so inclined.