Hi,
Their email address is
donaalcina@goa2u.com
It dosen`t matter how little or how much you pay you do expect cleanliness no matter how old the place is. The dom francisco is as bad as the dona alcina. When i emailed before we travelled last year i pointed out to them all the bad reviews on the internet so they "upgraded us" to the dom francisco. It is just as bad. We refused to stay and got rooms at the sea breeze insted. Do get private transfers to and from the airport you will pay no more than 500 rupees. Any more and you are being ripped off. There are loads of decent places to stay for around 300 to 1000 per night just barter them down. When we were in candolim november/december the place was practically deserted due to a drop in tourism because of the rows with the taxi drivers. Loads of cheap empty rooms were available. We got ripped off by booking what we thought would be a first class apartment to being a noisy hell hole. We have already shopped around this time and checked out the house we have rented for next year.
sue.

Sue,

Thanks again for the info'.

Yes I think we will definately get a Taxi instead of the tour op' bus which will get us there before the crowds hopefully.

Will see what we get offered from DA. We will no doubt move, when we don't know.

Will be interesting to see how busy Candolim is in 2 weeks. Hopefully it will be a lot quieter than present.

Cheers

BN

Update regarding DA.

I phoned Airtours (MyTravel) and made them aware about the number of complaints on this board about this accom'.

I have been told that they have received a few complaints and that 'the situation has been rectified'. Whatever that means, I have a good idea; hit a few things with a hammer bang a few rusty nails in and paint with the thinnest paint in the world!

However here is an Airtours/MyTravel number in Goa you can phone if not happy!

(0091) 832 438 760

For all those who are unsure about this hotel.

My mind has been put at rest regarding quality here.

My local barman is just back from staying here and he said it wasn't that bad at all. He did mention that the only people that did complain were first-timers in their 70's who were expecting modern Spanish facilities.

Another contact of mine (indian) who stays in Goa said it wasn't that bad.

Well, that is good news Neil. See you there on the 15th.

Hi,
I can assure you that we are not first timers to Goa and not in our 70s. Far from it. We have travelled extensivley around the world and have stayed in better mud huts than this hotel. Your local barman must be very easily pleased. What is the point in using this site to ask and read up on advice if you don`t want to take it? **possible libelous comment removed** If this is the type of holiday you want then go for it.
Sue.
Edit
By all means give your opinion but please do not get personal. One of our T&Cs is
3. Show respect and courtesy to all other users
Fiona HT mod

i am with you on this 0ne impala just back 3 hours ago and stayed at the don francisco and i have better prison cells sround the world i have been to goa 3 times now stayed in two star so we know what you get for your money never again . but goa love the place roll on next time

OK to settle all this nonsense I will post what I KNOW next week.

I had long conversations (not email) yesterday from 3 people in Goa about this subject.

So what you are saying is it is the same standard as a beach hut?

Also to clarify things. Messages on discussion groups have to be authenticated more than two or three times to get my 100% approval. For instance I had been told that this year Goa is really busy.... not the case, it's quieter than last year.

These discussion groups are only a guide and this one is a good example.

I don't think people come onto this site to lie about what they've recently experienced in Goa.

I would never use the word lie.

Remember we are commenting on standards. Everbody has their own preferences. Anyway the bottom line is if you don't like it complain, as simple as that.

Also who would you rely on first? 3 friends or 3 discussion group posters?

As mentioned in my last email I will post a long detailed message next week to put the record straight. I may even include some photos.

Thanks for all those who replied to my initial post.

"If this is the type of holiday you want"

What exactly do you mean by this statement? Please clarify.

The Dona Alcina/Dom Francisco 10/12 years ago was the top hotel in the Candolim area - sadly over the last 10 years it has fallen behind the newer/smaller hotels that have sprung up in this area, and is now a little dated and definately in need of sprucing up both inside and out.

Neil. I've sent you a PM about this subject.

Barrie.

Thanks Barrie for using the pm system.
I don't want to lock this thread but I will if there is a continuation of personal comments/arguments. Everybody has their own idea of what is an acceptable level of accomodation and please continue to post to tell others your opinion on it- positive or negative. It is this information which makes this such a good forum. Keep the comments about the holiday though, not about other members.
Thanks
Fiona

if anybody is booked into this hotel try to change it we have just returned from ther it is a flea pit have been to goa 4 times and stayed in 2 star hotels this place is dirty and very badley managed we would never stay there again

Toe- would you be happy to write a review for it?

hi! I stayed in the dona alcina last april and really didn't find it so bad. I guess I wasn't expecting anything amazing accomodation wise considering how little the 2 week package cost me. Had prepared myself for the worst after reading some terrible reviews on the place....considering what I'd read about it, I actually found it far better than people had previously described.
The rooms are basic but clean (didn't find the sheets dirty as some other people have said). The only thing that wasn't so great was the mattresses on the beds, they were pretty thin and uncomfortable. Went to reception to find out if anything could be done and straight away extra mattresses were brought to our room and put on top of the others which was actually suprisely comfortable.
I thought the pool was good too, spent alot of time there as it gets sun all day...was by no means dirty...I regularly saw it being cleaned.
Staff were excellent, very helpful at reception and at the pool bar.

All in all really not so bad! I can understand why people might be disappointed with the place...if they haven't read up about it and have paid alot to stay there but for what I paid (I think it was £249 for the package, including flights, transfers, 14 nights b+b) I wasn't disappointed and would stay there again.
Didn't put me off goa at all, am going back this april

Have just received an e-mail to say the Dona Alcina is going All-Inclusive next season!!!! The rate will be £31.50 per person per night. Can you believe it? No one will pay that surely?

If that's true I can't help but feel they are making a big mistake. The Dona Alcina is surrounded by good restaurants and eating there every night is not an attractive optiion.