Holiday destinations do change over periods of time. Whether that be for the good or worse depends on a lot of factors.

Speculation and gossip is not going to help anybody.

The recent example of the death of a British citizen in Goa was reported here on Holidaytruth in just that manner. Some (including me) see it as scaremongering (sp?) and not based on actual facts but rather from reports on the internet whose accuracy can never be trusted.

As a responsible provider of holiday discussions Holidaytruths must stay within the law and that includes the minefield that is called libel. Yes, anybody can defend an accusation of libel but shirt buttons are unfortunately not accepted by the courts, either to defend a case or to pay as compensation if said case is lost. Holidaytruths doesn't have the financial backing other forums and websites may well have.

I don't think that anybody has a problem with reporting any "dangers" a tourist may find themselves in when in a certain destination. Such advice is vey much welcome. But, in my opinion, such "dangers" have to be relevant to the audience, eg the occasional tourist browsing these forums establishing whether a destination is for them. Problems and "dangers" experienced with activities that normal tourist wouldn't do (for example purchasing of property, legal dealings with the Government, Government corruption, Government handling of matters etc) are perhaps best discussed on the many thousands of forums available on the web, or even better on websites dedicated to such matters.

As a moderator here on HT we read each post and judge whether such post is suitable to the audience. We pride ourselves not being connected to any tour operator nor do we have an interest in promoting any holiday destination. If for a reason a post needs to be edited or needs to be removed there is good reason for that and it is done in the interest of Holidaytruths and ultimately the contributors to the forum, and that includes every single person that has decided to create an account and browse/post.

Mark

Towpal - I totally agree with what you are saying. Whilst we do love Goa warts and all. People have to be very careful.
When we were there for just a few weeks we did not see, or feel the real Goa, there is so much going on under the surface/ Now staying for a few months at a time it is a different story. You do not want to upset locals - rose tinted glasses off. This might be our last longstay, just see how things pan out.

It speaks volumes that almost all those who are having problems with Goa have property. I do understand why you would hate Goa so much.I almost bought in Goa years ago but pulled out when I did my own research. Most countries have bad points for those who are there all the time.
I am sick to death of people saying that we only allow good news. This must be the most negative forum we have on Goa. The bad points are discussed. Environmental issues are discussed. Yes- folks have to know the bad as well as the good. And they get that here on this forum. We won't stop the negative news if its relevant to tourists. But equally we won't allow this forum to be used as a campaign. This is a HOLIDAY forum.

I have good friends, 6th time Goa who are as happy as the proverbial Goan pig in s***t, sat at Teama's ( or some such place elsewhere) for the duration of their stay and they don't give a monkey's whether they're in the Gambia, Somalia, downtown Baghdad, so long as the beers's cheap, the craic is good, and watching buffalos eating cardboard is a charming photo opportunity.

So why not just let it be......? HOLIDAYS are about doing what you enjoy

Towpal why do you feel it is your job to "put people off" a holiday destination? Yes provide the "facts" if you like and let people decide for themselves.

Well myself and my partner will be going in March and we are really looking forward to it as we didn't go last year... I will be doing what I do on all of my holidays (and in London where I live) - stay vigilant, make sure "the price is right", have respect for the people around me.... Oh and ENJOY!!

I can see now, that replying to the posts made by certain members, only encourages them to continue, on the same lines.
So I for one am going to ignore them, and they can continue to discuss their problems
amongst themselves.
xx lassi

and they don't give a monkey's whether they're in the Gambia, Somalia, downtown Baghdad, so long as the beers's cheap

You can be guaranteed of that in Goa. Some criteria for basing your holiday around though.

Lassi - I was thinking the same thing as I was writing my last post...

Keep up your positive posts on other threads though

Big Neil

For anyone who has been to Goa a few times HT is possibly not the discussion group for you. I can't understand how some groups post fairly heated discussions when this on doesn't. To me this seems to be the 'Thomsons/Monarch' of travel discussions groups, good for first timers.

Whether HT is the right discussion group for anyone is surely up to each individual, not you.

OK, you think this forum is only good for first timers?
If people who've been to Goa before don't post on here - who on earth do you think is going to give those first timers the advice they seek?

Here's a thought for all those people who don't like how HT is run.....find a forum you DO like......don't try to make this one into what YOU want it to be.

i've got a completely different theory as to why some people are moaning so much and painting goa such a terrible place. they want goa to be like it was 20 years or so ago when it wasnt so popular and they had the place to themselves! so if they keep harping on about how awful it is and how there are other places in the world to go that are much better, maybe more people would (go elsewhere) and they could have it back to themselves once again! (only said in jest! well,partly!)

Here's a thought for all those people who don't like how HT is run.....find a forum you DO like......don't try to make this one into what YOU want it to be.

couldnt have put it better myself prettypollycat ....

Help and assistance was given, by this forum, to some of the members who are no longer happy with Goa, when they too were first holidaying there.

find a forum you DO like

They already have one. It's an expats website, where they are posting derogatory comments about HT

Bushbaby..

Your wrong.

Open your eyes and nose.... look and smell for yourself.

If it's cheap beer, food and sun and you don't give a toss where you indulge all this you'll be fine. Personally I don't wan't do do all this surrounded by all this crap, sob stories, hassle. The more tourism 'developed' in Goa the more scams, crime, touting has increased.

Fortunately there are a handful of places worth staying. So as this post isn't considered moaning... here's the list of ....

Where to avoid

Baga - Filthy, too much hassle, overpriced
Calangute - Filthy, too much hassle, overpriced
Coco Beach - Really filthy
Dona Paula - overrated and expensive
Colva - overated and dirty
Palolem - overated

On the 'verge'

Morjim (until fully exploited by Russians)
Candolim (until RP destroys the beach)

Still OK
Anjuna, Arpora, Vagator
Agonda
Benaulim
Cavallosim
Anywhere inland

Wow, Big Neil.
You really do hate Goa, don't you!
But why do you feel it necessary to constantly try to force YOUR opinion about it down everybody else's throats?

We first visited Goa in 1994, I think that was the first year it was in the mainstream holiday brochures.
We loved it, but didn't go back until 2002 - it HAD changed, but we still loved it.
And yes, it has changed since 2002 and not for the better but we still like it as a holiday destination.

Bushbaby..
Your wrong.

I think, Big Neil that you mean you disagree with Bushbaby's opinion (which incidentally you seemed to fail to realise was somewhat tongue-in-cheek).
Just because someone posts something that YOU disagree with doesn't mean that THEY are wrong.

Well ....... please take this as a warning - the last three years we personally know of three ladies who have been mugged in the night in Candolim. I am sure those who go to your weekly meetings know that this is true, and who one is.

If you go out with your handbag at night keep in on your inside. so this is not scaremongering, also just around the corner from the Teama Bar by the Yorkshire man, watch out for a "man Cow" who had attacked quite a few
people last season.

actually neil,as prettypollycat said, it was just meant tongue in cheek. everyone to their own,one mans meat is another mans poison so to speak. i have only been to goa 4 times,planning our 5th and hoping to go south for a few days to compare with the north. i still love goa,been to calangute,candolim and will probably go to baga this time as our friends will be there. i probably do have the rose tinted specs on still but as i only can go for 2 weeks at a time, i haven't been there long enough in one go to be put off (yet). i dont profess to be an expert on all things goa - just know what i like!

You really do hate Goa, don't you!

No I don't, can't you read?

I would go to anywhere I've rated 'still OK'.

I do hate the 'Strip'.

The 'Strip' has turned into a polluted cess pit as far as I'm concerned (it's all documented on the 'net if you are that interested in micro-biological terms). It's understandable why so many long time travellers avoid there. Overpriced, overrated. Visit once and that's it. If you like hanging around with other Brits' fine, there's a reason you don't see many French, German and Italians around Calangute, Baga.... they have standards and won't accept crap.... the Brit's are good at that. Spent 2 weeks there last year and the difference in prices, attitude, pollution, filth between there and down South was remarkable. It seemed you had to pay through the nose for good quality/clean restaurants where you could get the same down South for 1/3 less.

And yes India is dirty/dusty I know but I can tell the differencein smell between Buffalo excretia and human. It's about time Goa got it's act together, don't develop if you can't provide the infrastructure for getting rid of the s**t.

Twm

Well ....... please take this as a warning - the last three years we personally know of three ladies who have been mugged in the night in Candolim. I am sure those who go to your weekly meetings know that this is true, and who one is.

If you go out with your handbag at night keep in on your inside.
so this is not scaremongering, also just around the corner from the Teama Bar by the Yorkshire man, watch out for a "man Cow" who had attacked quite a few
people last season.

Very sensible advice - which really should apply to ANYWHERE in the world, not just holidaymakers and not just in Goa.

Too many people forget to pack their common sense when they go on holiday.

PS
please explain the term

"man Cow"

I also used to be one of you... who posted on here and saw everything fantastic and nothing negative. I critized those who spoke against Goa time and time again.

For the last three years, I have spent a hell of a lot of time in Goa and my opinion has flip flopped (as they say in the Goan press).

Squigs, you really didnt need to research my profile history, just read my post properly

Prettypollycat ,I think Twm means Mad cow
The bag snatchers are normaly on a motorbike and just catch you unaware.yes keeping you bags
on the inside and they cant grab them. I do know two people that this happened to,in the last 3 years
but if your aware you should not have any problems.Its normally later in the evenings when not so much traffic and people around.This does not happen that often but worth the mention like TWM has said.The area its happenend in,is the small road leading from Teama past the crematorium and towards
the old pond. There are now new bright lights been installed so much better than a couple years ago.