We have always stayed in Candolim, love the place, but still have days and nights out to Calangute for a change of atmosphere, and also accept that it is a dump, but can anyone please post what comparison it has to Blackpool or am I missing something ?
Chubby Brown/Candy Floss/Lap Dancing Bars/Casinos/Bookies/Amusements/Fun Fare/Hen & Stag Partys/Fighting every night - ain't seen any of these

Nice one spike.Went to Blackpool several years ago and you describe it perfectly.Never go back,ever.Hope we do not start to hear places in india described as Benidorm. .Sorry should not mention the B word .Seriously though it certainly seems to have generated strong opinions at both ends of the spectrum.

Papa

Nice Report, sorry you didnt enjoy Calangute or the hotel, ive stayed in a couple of horrors over the years and would have hated having a small child with me when they couldnt use the pool etc ( even had the dreaded Ave Maria 1 way back in 2002 and we were on a really tight budget that year and couldnt afford to move out)

Ive got to say though I think you will be back in Goa next year, Ive been going back through the pages reading all the old threads cos Ive got a severe case of post holiday blues this year and am trying to keep the place close, and Ive seen a couple of your posts ( Promise I am not stalking you ...your name really stands out ) from over the years where after each holiday youve said you wont be going back for a while....so youve got to admit it your well and truely hooked.

Of course theres nothing wrong with that...every summer when it comes to planning our winter holiday I start off saying this year its defo somewhere different and each year I give in, this year am not even going to think about anywhere but Goa.

Spike I agree I dont think Calangute is anything like Blackpool, it may be dusty dirty noisey and rather manic at times buts its still not as in your face as blackpool...and its still got its own kind of character and characters youre always guarenteed conversations with loads of different types of people if you sit still long enough.

Hi when i go to goa its to meet and interact with indians and theres no better place than calangute i love the hustle +bustle the noise the traffic the mayhem,we have been to delhi+mumbai and calangute is about in the same category GREAT, if i want peace and quiet i just stay at home.slan(cheers) ;)PS being from belfast when i say peace and quiet no pun intented

Nice post Nejulie.More or less what happens every year we get home.The bad outweighs the good until you have been home a few weeks and then you start to remember how special Goa can be.

I am sure my trip report will reflect the same this year.

Papa

It amazes me when people compare any part of Goa with Blackpool. If they were similar why would we fly half way across the world when we could just take a trip up the M6!!! The simple matter of Goa is it's like nowhere else. It is a mixture of cultures, Indian, Portuguese and latterly perhaps British influences, much like the rest of India. We love the place. Perhaps areas like the Beach Road or Titos Road are not everyone's cup of tea and similarities could be made with Spain, but this is what a lot of tourists both Western and domestic want. I'm a bit in between. I love to see the culture of a land far from home but sometimes it's nice to watch a live footy match and have a couple of beers. I love Calangute. Hated it the first time, but now love the hustle And bustle. Unfortunately places change, that's called progress.

Agree completely MCB. When we first went to Goa there was nothing in Candolim except a couple of hotels. I can't believe the difference now. I think Candolim has changed much more than Calangute. Although we always stay in Calangute we do eat out regularly in Candolim as I think there are some good restuarants down there. I love the normal working life of Calangute but do travel to the quieter beaches for a good 50% of my holiday. I think Goa has something for everyone and it is easy enough to avoid what you don't like and it definately has better weather than Blackpool and the prices are much cheaper and food can't be compared.

Coming from Blackpool as I do I can honestly say that Calungute beats Blackpool every day of the week - if you want tranquility may I suggest somewhere other than India.....

if you want tranquility may I suggest somewhere other than India

What makes you say that? Strange comment indeed. There are plenty of areas which are tranquil, I can suggest plenty. Obviously Calangute isn't one of these places.

Once you get out of Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Panjim and go inland, up the Ghats or down South you will find peace and tranquility.

As for comparing to Blackpool, this is where the Goans/Indians use the term 'tourist dregs'. (This is a quote so don't blame me).

The last time I walked the beach from Calangute to Baga in November it was filthy and there was a strong smell Sewerage everywhere (and diesel). Not that other areas don't have a slight whiff of that but Cal to Baga ..... is bad. Remember this is a TOURIST area not a slum area in Mumbai. It wasn't half as bad as this 7 years ago.

If you want honest tourist opinions on Calangute go down South and ask all those who used to holiday in the North 5 or 6 years ago. I couldn't find anyone with a good word to say about the CBC strip now. And they were people who first came to Calangute years ago.

I think a lot of people get taken by the false initial charm of Goa and keep on saying 'oh well this is a 3rd world country'. WRONG .... parts of INDIA are, Goa is by far the richest state in India, it's just that too many people have been overcome with greed and will not put any money back in to the state.

I'd give Calangute another 2 years before it really descends into a health hazard of a cesspit. They are lucky that tourism is down and it is very quiet, Calangute when busy can't handle the sewage, pollution, litter. Goan Riviera... don't make me laugh.

Big Neil you are entitled to your opinion, but I can't agree with you.

We were there in December/January and maybe my sense of smell is not so good but for whole time we were there I didn't smell p**s, I didn't see any s**t and I certainly didn't sunbathe with any diesel. We used to arrive at our shack many mornings whilst they were sweeping the area of sand in front of the shack, so no rubbish or nasties on the sand.

I will agree that it's not the same as 7 years ago but I think to call it a sh***hole is being unfair to say the least.

Well it's not just me... read on.

Calangute confirmed sh**thole.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2009021019

Sorry

As for Baga/Calangute being a sewerage pit (Being polite in case I upset Sarah) I don't drink the water, I don't take ice in my drinks regardless of what they say about it being made with mineral water. I have never seen anything floating in the sea, I've never seen any sewerage on the beach and I've never had an uspet stomach yet unless it be of my own making (a hangover)

I think if you really don't like a place (and you obviously hate it)then you'll always find something bad to say about it. I love Baga/Calangute and having read the link you posted, it does makes disturbing reading but until I see anything or experience any ill effects from staying there I shall continue to enjoy my holidays with the view that I don't always take too much notice of what I read in the papers.

Calangute may be the resort that's being singled out but I'm sure it's not the only place with contaminated water.

I think we have to take care and speak as we find. And I have to say in my experinece I don't find it to be a sh**hole.

Sorry but I used to love Baga. It WAS incredibly dirty and polluted around Baga River last time I was there and the smell was disgusting at certain times of the day. This is progress for tourism? I can remember when it was a heck of a lot cleaner, and yes this dissapoints me (and a lot others) to the extent of not going to that area which is a pity since friends bought into timeshare which I use. Baga has been developed so much more now, but no treatment plant being built is insane. Maybe it's just as well numbers are down otherwise you might get more than you bargained for.

I don't believe all what papers say but I will take the WHO seriously and this has been an ongoing 'time bomb' along with the River Princess. I posted a conversation I had with one of Goa's top ecologists 3 years ago in which he told me about the problems that were 'around the corner' regarding sanitation and health related issues. And now it's getting worse but probably just as well there have been less tourists arriving.

I stayed in quite a few areas of Goa (North & South) in November and I'm just pointing out the fact that out of all the tourist areas I was in Calangute/Baga was probably the dirtiest next to Colva.

[quoteif you want tranquility may I suggest somewhere other than India]