Hi im off to Goa for the second time this year in November for a month.
ive been about 6 times up to now, but weve always got a packaged holiday.

This year im going with just my son, we are flying with emerates to mumbai, then spice jet to goa.
we paid altogether for the flights £1000.which works out at £500 each.

there are many hotels available for £10 a night per room.
I think Jan is peak season so there might be a little less available.

With visas a lot of people dont even include referees, i sent an email to the indian embassy before my last visit in April stating i was booking a late deal, so wouldnt know the name of my hotel until a couple of days before i travel, and they said its ok, i do not need to include them if i do not have the information.

sorry i cant help with you with the train information, but im sure someone else will be able to

hi arl see the thread pinup started ive brought it back to the top for you this will help with train info you can go 2nd class 4 of you together with a curtain across or 1st class with a proper door if you need any more info feel free to ask me also you can get rooms for 4 in the south very cheap i have a few names where do you want to go exactly and we have put our goan friends down as refs no problem anita

I dont want to put you off but unless you are very lucky the chance of getting scheduled flights to Mumbai during January for £300 or less is pretty slim. By and large a last minute package deal will usually work out cheaper than d.i.y especially in the popular months. We visit a couple of tmes a year at least and the cheapest way is usually last minute charter lpackages. Charter flights and d.i.y accomdation doesnt usually save much money The picture is different outwith the busy times however Alan

Accomodation-wise I know a nice guest house with family rooms in Cavelossim I can give you contact phone numbers etc. Palm Grove (different from the Benaulim P.G. cottages) Rooms around 20 pounds per night. Thomson's were offering flights in March for £318 plus taxes though it might be worth taking a last minute a.o. arrival but sorting out you own accomodation.
p.s. Goa is great for kids

Hi Thanks all for your advice

Tight Jock, would you pm me the contact numbers Pls and you are right Goa is fantastic for kids, Mine spent a month there back in January (seems so long ago now) but we stayed in the same accomodation for the whole month (apart from a 2 day trip to the Jungle) and I just wanted to add a bit of excitment by not knowing where we will end up. (Some of my more steadfast friends think I'm a little Crazy and should know where we will be sleeping but it's safe enough in Goa I believe to go adhoc. I thought the Palm Groves in Benaulim were lovely, and everyone who stayed there loved them, I'll have a look at Cavellosim. We are thinking of staying at our local restaurant there Emerciana, just very basic but massive apartments with a bathroom but no AC???? Although in Jan once you climatised you didn't need it too much.

Gramps, Thanks for your thoughts I'll have a snoop on the net nearer the time and see what the costs of flights versus packages are.

Yummymummy, Thanks for your help too, we were thinking the same about getting an internal flight rather than the train but haven't really looked at the train thing yet, so I'm off to read Anita's post and I'll be back to say what I'm thinking....

Thanks Guys, I knew I could get great advice from you lot