Hi Natz and welcome,

There's loads of good advice on this Forum for the first time visitor to Goa. Where abouts are you going? north or south?

Yes quite often the first timer is ripped off, but believe me you will still think your getting a bargain!

Hope you enjoy your wedding, you'll be in Goa 6 days ahead of me!

Michele

Thanks miccie, we actually got married in June we have just been waiting for the right time to go to Goa (and to save up), and i think it will be well worth the wait. We have been advised to start in Palolem as a chill out place for a couple of days, but that is a far as we've got, therefore any suggestions would be more than welcome?

Also would like to know if anyone has had a tattoo done with bamboo, whilst in Goa, and if anywhere can be recommended?

Hey Natz!

My husband and I got married in May and we're going to Goa, for the first time, for our honeymoon too!!

We are going in 14 days!!
We are staying in Palolem for a week first, then in Panjim for 3 nights, then a week in Anjuna and a week near Mandrem beach. This forum has loads of really useful suggestions and information.

Have a great time planning it!!

Hey Raving Pixie
Snap!
Your plan sounds like a good one, its just so difficult seeing how we're going to fit everything in, in 4 weeks.
Enjoy your trip, and if you have any tips for me when you get back (romantic, quiet locations) please let me know
Take care

Good luck to you both in your marriage,

You will not be able to fit everything in and that is a fact, Prices mmmm!!!!
30 Rupees for a small beer, 130 for a curry and rice, Taxi will cost you about 675 if you are going from airport to Candolim area which is about 45 minutes drive this may give you some idea. Sarong around 300 to 400 rupees. Stay clear of Bage and Calangute at xmas and new year it can take you one and a half hours from Calangute to Baga ( normally 10 minutes ) Candolim is very good at xmas and new year, but romantic you want to go to morjim, arambol or book yourselves in at the Panjim Marriot for a couple of nights, you could even take an overnight cruise on a house boat. Whatever you do i think you will want to come back next year.

Have a good time and if you do decide to come to candolim let us know and we could meet up.

Mike and Carol

Mike I have never paid more than 50 rupees for a sarong. I am glad your not doing my shopping

Ginlizzy that's what mike's wife tells him and she pockets the rest. :
A woman after my own heart

"Sarong around 300 to 400 rupees". I must admit, this sounds an astoundingly low amount. If people pay that, then no wonder I'm hounded. Seriously, if it's not silk (and good quality) or something then that's a lot.

And back to the debate about what you're prepared to pay, becuse it's lots cheaper than home/they're getting paid peanuts and they're going to get to keep the profits. The local economies anywhere are a delicate balance, and hard to explain. Try to explain a petrol crisis or Royal Mail strike to someone whose first language isn't English.

natz33, congratulations. I'd consider North Goa too, don't rule it out, as there's lots to see, however busy the first appearance of a "resort" area.

You haven't really said what you want, apart from the fact that you don't want to be ripped off.

Do you want tranquil or lively, and that could be different by day or by evening/night?

"Also would like to know if anyone has had a tattoo done with bamboo"? What is this - have heard of it vaguely in Thailand. Is it hygienic? Seriously...educate me?

For something a little different, how about
http://www.villarivercat.com/

Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll find how to enjoy it. Just go and explore. Don't pay 400 rupees for a sarong, and then measure everything else against the 50-75 rupees you might pay for the sarong or two (of course,. buy five or six, and you're in a much stronger bargaining position

OK GIRLS

Remember when you get home from work I have already been out and had several COFFEE's and obviously it was late over here and i meant to write 30-40 rupees it is very difficult to write when you have to close one eye to look at the keyboard and the screen and bearing in mind i don't buy many of them unlike Mr Beckham. So girls may i be forgiven for my sins.

I C don't forget 18th november coffee in the Anand bar Nerul.

Mike

Mike I wont forget as long as we get our visas we will be there ...will have to find out if anyone else is on the F/c flight on the 17th nov and we will tell them too and who knows...we can all have a wee coffee......colleen

I C

Sorry to tell you but they have stopped selling coffee in there but they are selling PINEAPPLE BREEZERS !!!! Although you won't be interested in them so not worth coming???????

Mike

Mike I nearly had a seizure when you quoted 400 rupees for a sarong. It must have been the coffee laced with honeybee I think

Thanks eveyone especially Mike thats very helpful. We are looking for a kind lively and laid back and romantic, obviously over xmas and new yearwe would like to be where the parties are, but Arambol was somewhere is was thinking of couching for a few days on the beach when we arrive.
We would like to do atrip to the falls and to se the elephants if anyone has any info about that?
Def have to hook up mike & carol, we would love to have somebody that knows show the sights, so are you permanently in Goa or on a holiday?

Thanks Phoebe just looked at the rivercat sight looks like a def!

Thanks Natz, these are the places we have booked. I'll let you know how they were when we get back...

http://www.ciarans.com/
http://www.panjiminn.com/
http://www.casaboutiquehotelsgoa.com/
http://www.aseascape.com/index.html

Thanks Pixie,
Have a wonderful time!
Nat

hi nat palolim is a really great place to start but if you want somewhere quieter and in my opinion more romantic try agonda beach which is the next one along from palolim we can personally recomend madhus beach huts and if you dont fancy huts on the beach dersy's rooms are also lovely some with sea views and a family run restaurant happy holidays anita and john

No i definitely fancy the huts john, i cant think of anything better than waking up on the beach listening to the sea, and i'm sure whatever commotion is going on outside,
Many thanks John + Anita

Have a look here for tents.

Clicky.