kenny1000
Active Member
Planning to go to Goa. Never been before. Where to go, what to do, cost, best time of year, who to book with and who to avoid. Over to all the mastermind crew. All advice appreciated
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Funny this should pop up I'm on Baga Beach right now[/QUOTE
We used to go to a place called Titos. Is it still there?
Funny this should pop up I'm on Baga Beach right now
Been to Goa twice now, both for a week on the way back from visiting family in Punjab (North India)
Goa is a lovely place to go to; good weather, brilliant food, friendly people and plenty of things to keep you busy.
Each time we've stayed at the Goa Marriott in Panaji and the hotel is brilliant, the service especially. It feels a bit more exclusive and less commercial than the other hotels as its smaller, but I often prefer that. While I was there last time I mentioned to the concierge that I wouldn't mind going to Mumbai from goa for a few days as its only a 35 min flight! 30 minutes later she found flights and rooms at the Mumbai Marriott for a cheap rate. Upon arrival we were told she also upgraded us (for free) to a 3 bedroom suite on the top floor which was sublime. Their customer service is great.
The beaches are nice, can be busy though. We found a lovely one in sounth goa (can't remember the name) but it was literally deserted and spotlessly clean which was lovely.
Food wise there's plenty to choose from (mostly South Indian cuisine). You'll find that most of the inner city hotels have the nicest restaurants but some of the traditional street food is lovely too (depending on if you can stomach it lol)
Travel wise the independent taxis are dirt cheap, way cheaper than the hotel ones. They're usually safe too, we never had a problem.
If you need any specifics on restaurants ect im happy to help.
I have never been and looking for something different. Been all over Europe and the Caribbean so looking to the Indian continent now. Who did you book with, what the cost and what does it cost for a couple on a daily basis (food and drink) and what are the beaches like
Been there twice and love the place.
If you like Bohemian simplicity, check out Palolim!
Great beach, superb food at the shacks and you can sleep in an air-conditioned, clean and comfy shed for £12 a night.
Cost of living is remarkable.
I'm going back soon. November and December are best. Monsoon over and not yet too hot.
My wifes family originates from there so we have been a couple of times.
First time was absolute bliss, stayed in the Park Hyatt on the beach. Apart from breakfast (The curry breakfast in the hotel was amazing) pretty much all our meals was in the beach huts as the food is as good as in the hotel at a fraction of the price. Drink whisky and soda.
We did a few excursions to old Goa, spice plantations and saw some extended family. Being able to visit family out there was a real treat as we got to see where the locals go, markets and restaurants and so on.
Then we went again last year, with our two boys 3 and 5 at the time. This time we stayed at the Alila Diwa which is set back from the beach a few hundred yards, and that was probably a bit of a mistake. Hotel is great don't get me wrong, but as the hotel is not right at the beach, the beach is not nearly as clean as where the hotel is 'managing' the beach. It was filthy, top of the beach was strewn with rubbish. You wouldn't want to walk there with your flip flops off , and we constantly had a to stop the kids from touching things. As you got down to the actual beach it was OK, I guess the shack owners tidy it up.
This bring me to my next point; the whole place has seriously gone down hill between our visits. It was absolutely filthy, everywhere. Rubbish EVERYWHERE, seriously there was rubbish hanging from the trees, the whole place was more or less like a rubbish dump. Absolutely reeking at times. It wasn't like that when we first visited 8 or so years ago.
I love the climate, the food, the people, the culture yes pretty much everything about the place. But it is ruined by the filth.
Such a shame, we will not be going back for some time.
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