First Timer - advice please

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 18:40:31

Hello everyone

We are considering booking to go to Goa in January/Feb 2011.

I am quite well travelled, but have seen very little of asia (Hong Kong and China so far).

We do try to go to different places, but generally end up in Turkey once a year, and then once a year go somewhere new.

We are considering staying at Silver Sands in Candolim. The hotel has good reviews. I have read the resort reports but would welcome any further feedback. We like quiet days lazing on a beach or doing short trips, and more lively evenings which involve bars and restaurants - we are a bit long in the tooth for the clubbing scene.

Is Candolim the right kind of resort for this?

The holiday we are looking at on First Choice comes to £2,150 for two of us for 11 nights. That is with a superior room, upgrades to premium economy flights and a taxi transfer rather than coach. I have no idea if that is reasonable or not. What do you think?

Would we be better off booking the accommodation directly or is it best to get a package? With Turkey, we always book direct - but we know the area very well.

Are there any trips/excursions you would recommend from Candolim?

Also - how do you go about getting a visa and is it difficult?

Many thanks for your help
Sarah
x

HelenV

2010-03-25 18:53:04

Re: First Timer - advice please

Hi Sarah,

we have stayed at silver sands twice and love it! fantastic location right next to the beach, superior rooms are great, loads of restaurants and bars on beach road without being toooooo packed out. sounds a good choice for what you want. do not book a taxi transfer via tour operator - overpriced! you can easily get a taxi on arrival at the airport - it cost 750rp (i think) to Candolim - just over £10. also we never bother with premium seats on 1st choice as the economy ones are really good and spacious enough (although we are only 5'6 & 5' 8 respectively)

im sure you will get loads of replies - have fun!

jom1964

2010-03-25 19:01:19

Re: First Timer - advice please

Hi Sarah

I love Candolim/Calangute and we (like yourselves) are not into the nightclub scene anymore - there are loads of lovely places to eat along the strip between the two places. I think the price you have is really expensive though - I am going over Christmas and New Year (flying premium) with Thomas Cook for two weeks and paying far less than you have been quoted.

Shop around - maybe as its your first time a package deal is best - but if you fall in love with the place - and I bet you will! - you can then try the "diy" option. I usually do flight only - its only because TC worked out so reasonable that I decided on package.

Excursions - I loved the houseboat trip (booked with Johns Boat Tours - located in Candolim) but, trust me, on your first day you will have the services of a taxi driver and they will be at your beck and call regarding trips. We went to Ashwem beach and stayed in a beach hut overnight whice was gorgeous. A trip to Mapusa Market (not on a Friday as this is the package tours day and prices reflect this) - a more touristy market is Anjuna.

Hope this helps

Jo x

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 19:09:30

Re: First Timer - advice please

Thank you both

I will not bother with the taxi transfer through the tour operator then -thanks for the tip.

I will also try and shop around for a package price. Apart from First Choice, which are good tour operators to use for Goa?

Boro_Craig

2010-03-25 19:13:12

Re: First Timer - advice please

We booked Silver Sands for January 2011 a couple of weeks ago, we booked through Barclaycard travel, the package is with Olympic Holidays & roughly £1850 for 14 nights staying in a bungalow, with premium flights. Deposit was only £100 too.

jaajaa

2010-03-25 19:16:29

Re: First Timer - advice please

Thomas Cook are ok if they are using their own plane, this year they cancelled their Gatwick Saturday flight and used the Monarch flight. You will find most other operators use Monarch, so unless you're happy to travel with them it's best to check.

We travelled First Choice for the first time this year and upgraded, it was very nice but is very expensive compared to TC's prices.

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 19:34:37

Re: First Timer - advice please

I am really struggling to find a better price. We can go on ANY dates in Jan/Feb. Preferably for 10/11 days - but we really want to stay at that hotel.

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 19:44:53

Re: First Timer - advice please

Thanks for the tip re Barclaycard Travel. I can get a deal for £1,400 although I have no idea from looking online if that is with premium seats (my husband insists on them!). So I think I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Boro_Craig

2010-03-25 19:48:18

Re: First Timer - advice please

We booked online then rang them up & upgraded to premium.

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 19:57:39

Re: First Timer - advice please

Ah - brilliant! Thanks Boro-Craig. Who do Olympic fly with?

Gooorooo

2010-03-25 20:07:36

Re: First Timer - advice please

Why is nothing ever easy? Barclaycard travel only do 7 or 14 nights. I need 10 or 11 :rofl

Typical. I will phone them anyway.

The search continues!

Papa

2010-03-25 23:35:40

Re: First Timer - advice please

My best advice for what it is worth.

Do not book the taxi transfers with the tour operator it is hideously expensive.As others have said about 750 rps from the booth at the airport.

Others may disagree but wild horses would not drag me onto a Monarch flight.

We fly with Thomson/First Choice from Manchester.Now the same company sharing aircraft.Lots of info on the Flight only section about these planes but here is my opinion.

Standard seats 33 inch pitch which is more than any scheduled airline.

Premium seats 36 inch pitch drinks included better IFE if it works properly and at the moment they are having big problems which should be sorted by next season.

We always hang back until the premium seats come down to about £159 each but it is a gamble as they may sell out.

To be honest if it was not for my OH I think the standard seats would do me fine.

Lots of people now go scheduled either via Mumbai or Qatar now have 4 flights a week connecting through Doha.

Loads of accomodation options so do not be scared to do a bit of research and go independent.

Papa

Gooorooo

2010-03-26 07:09:29

Re: First Timer - advice please

Thanks Papa. I have only ever flown with Monarch once. Never again!!! We have flown with First Choice dozens of times now and for long haul, my other half insists on the premium seats. I looked at getting just flights and booking accomodation directly, but the flights alone still came to £1,700! That said, I have no idea how much the accomodation would be. It might be dirt cheap and save me a couple of hundred pounds so I'll look into that.

Definitely will not be booking the tour operator taxi transfer. We never do for Turkey - a local taxi firm is far cheaper!

Added by edit: I've checked out booking that hotel with On The Beach. It's £380 for the two of us. So no cheaper booking direct than going through First Choice. I may just have to bite the bullet and pay!

KatieP

2010-03-26 08:21:17

Re: First Timer - advice please

Have you tried getting a price directly from the hotel? I lurk in the Holiday Complaints forum now and again and On The Beach seem to have a terrible reputation.

Gooorooo

2010-03-29 11:35:08

Re: First Timer - advice please

Thanks for all the advice folks. I have now booked the holiday :cheers

2nd Feb 11 for 10 nights at the Silver Sands in Candolim. Flying with First Choice Premium Economy (anyone got any ideas how long in advance we can select our seats?)

We are arranging our own taxi transfer.

I am very very very excited!

Silver Angel

2010-03-29 12:23:54

Re: First Timer - advice please

glad you got it sorted, did you book with First Choice? Goa is just so magical, we always stay in Candolim and Silver Sands is right by the beach too

Gooorooo

2010-03-29 12:28:36

Re: First Timer - advice please

Yes we went with First Choice in the end. I realise that we may have paid over the odds for it - but it seemed the best option.

The Silver Sands has really excellent reviews so I am very much looking foward to going! Any tips on the hotel?

stark

2010-03-29 14:01:09

Re: First Timer - advice please

Been to Goa twice, first time stayed in Arpora 3 star hotel, great time and all well, second time stayed in 5* at Bogmallo beach and it was hell, sickness outbreak which almost killed 90% of the guests.
Still lost some weight but choose your hotel /location very wisely as it may be the end of your vacation sooner than you think :yikes