Light summer cloths not too much hanging out shorts are ok swimwear on the streets will bring unwanted attention from the men and daggers from the women.

Don't bring you expensive good cloths they will get ruined with the red earth and dust, Oh yes bring the absolute minimum cloths/shoes are inexpensive, one of the girls will be along shortly and tell you more

lez

Lezlie's right! Don't take too much as you can buy almost anything in Goa.

I pack a couple of bikini's, a couple of long floaty skirts, wide linen trousers and some cotton vests and then buy pretty camisole tops, kaftans , flat leather sandals, sarongs, belts, bags and jewellery when I get there.
My partner takes a couple of pairs of shorts and a few teeshirts plus some comfy flip-flops. There are bargains to be had with cool menswear particularly if you are into surf-style teeshirts. Kaftans are really cheap as are linen trousers and leather sandals.

Don't pack anything pale as it will be absolutely filthy in minutes. Stick to dark colours that don't show up the red dust.

Most hotels have laundries but they will bash the living daylights out of your clothes so don't bother taking anything posh.

If you're a girl don't bother with heels as they are totally impractical and look pretty stupid (unless you aren't venturing further than your hotel).

Buy all your toileteries once you arrive, much cheaper and lots of makes you will recognise from home. Mach 3 blades are really cheap, as are L'oreal and Nivea products.

Odomos is available from all shops, it's less than 50p a tube and will keep the mozzies at bay much better than Autan or the other expensive UK products. Mozzie coils also cost pennies (or rupees) and can be lit and left burning outside your room at night.

There are lots of second-hand bookshops so don't weigh yourself down with books. Many hotels have extensive libraries you can borrow from as do many beach shacks.

Don't bother with a beach towel, buy a cheap cotton bedspread when you get there and cut it in two.

Have a great holiday!

Thank you for all the info, very useful

Wont bother bringin anything white then! What are the bikinis like in Goa - are there decent ones? - hard to get at the minute cant find many at all and very expensive on the internet!!

Stock up before you travel. Go to Debenhams or visit their website! I got 3 beauties from the Blue Cross sale yesterday (including a gorge Matthew Williamson one) for less than £8 apiece.

If you go to the Saturday night market in Arpora, North Goa and visit the westerner's stalls you will find some fab, hand knitted bikinis although they ain't cheap and I'm not sure what would hppen to them once you got them wet (embarrasing memories of a crocheted bikini my Mum once made me come flooding back!).

A lot of the shops in the towns sell more convential ones and I've spotted some hideous VON DUTCH and BURBERRY copies, mmmmm! chav-tastic.

Think i will definatley be avoiding the chav burberry ones!!!
Yea you are right about debenhams though, thats the only place i could find a decent bikini! I bought 4 from the blue cross sale also - really nice, will keep looking anyway. Maybe ill just buy normal underwear - (nothin over the top!)some of it looks like bikini wear anyway!!

Thanks everyone for ur help x

Have been reading the forum lots over the weekend,( very excited now!!), about malaria tablets, i have jotted down a few names of tabs to look at - do you have to take them before you go and how long for? Do they make the average person feel a bit dodgy? maybe its jus me worrying too much but... taking two of these tablets for 5 months everyday has to have some negative affects on the body - dont they? On the other hand i spose id rather feel porley than get malaria!!! Just want my holiday to be the best!!!

We take Paludrine Tabs we get in UK. One a day for i week b4 we travel 1 a day for the length of the hols and then 1 a day for a month after u get back. We were worried re possible Side Effects (we nurses therefore suspicious) BUT we had no problems atall. Took the tablet same time each evening after meal and no nausea/vomiting. Each of us did have a very mild headache for the 1st 2 days though can't be sure it was related. Hope this helps. Enjoy your hols

Brand new bikini shop has opened on Baga Road this season. It's in the grounds of the Rangoli restaurant (which, by the way, isn't opening this season), opposite CSM lane.

GFFxx

Thanks for that, Goldenflipflop!

Shall be paying the shop a visit in just under 5 weeks time! xx

Cockerillf - We get the malaria tablets from Boots, a 7 week course costs about £17. You have to take them for a week before you go, during your holiday and for a month afterwards. We have had no side effects. Can't remember the name but if you ask at the Pharmacy they will know what you need.

For Cocker

Chloroquine & proguanil

http://holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=59179

GW

first time in goa, only 4 weeks away,been reading about what to take or not,being size 16 will goa be able to clothe me.

you can get anything made to measure in a day or so

Thanks Leslie,

I actually meant off the peg,ie Skirts Tops etc,if not will have to stop eating for the next 4 weeks Ha!

My wife is also size 16 and really struggled to find clothes "off the peg" so it sounds like either a serious diet or a bigger case!

Stop eating Carbohydrates for the next 3 weeks drink lots of water and the weight will drop off

I'm skinny and usually have at least one tantrum when I'm out there 'cos everything is too big! Although Indian women are often tiny the clothes are made with bigger westerners in mind.

I find Palolem the worst as there's loads of Aussie and Scandavian girls and I think the local shops stock clothes with them in mind so they are always miles too big and yards too long!

I bring my mum back loads of cool off-the-peg gear. There's some gorgeous wrapround skirts made of scraps of sari fabric that are too big for me but fit my size 16 mum perfectly.

The fisherman's trousers and magic pants are also generously sized 'cos they're unisex.

Even the sandals some in sizes up to a size 8.