Hi Ryan,

Getting from North Goa to Palolem involves a 2 and a half hr drive (depending on the taxi driver). To make the most of Palolem it's probably best to stay overnight in one of the beach huts. Palolem has a very thai/travellers vibe about it and reading your other posts I think it'll be your kind of place. You can also reach Palolem by bus but when you see the state of the buses over here it might put you off (bald tyres, no brakelights, bent chasis) besides this it'll take a lot longer than taxis and will involve changing buses etc. Taxi to Palolem at a guess I would say would be around 800 rupees - I'm sure somebody else on here can advise on price.

Also worth a try are the beaches further north from the Calangute / Baga strip. Aswem and Mandrem are lovely - almost deserted. Vagator has a nice beach lots of shacks and is home to Goa Trance.......if you want to sleep on the beach don't go to Vagator!! Arambol also has a nice beach, a few shacks and a lovely fresh water lake.............great for a refreshing dip.

Enjoy, GFF xxx

http://www.childrenwalkingtall.com/Taxi.htm

Takes me ages to find this, so i thought I'd 'big it up!'

hi goldenflipflop, will probably go down south for a couple of nights do the beach huts have air con an can you book them on line before you go? i think ill try further up north first as im staying in calangute and if i dont find what im looking for maybe then ill go south for a night!

geedubya, thanks for the link!

Ryan, The only air you get in the beach huts is when you open the door.
They have similar huts at Morjim, only 30 mins from Baga.

so there basic huts then!!! is there any need for the air con in january? i have heard the temperature lowers quite a bit at night

The temperature at night in January is very pleasant and air con not needed. It starts to get humid at night end in March.

We stayed at a beach hut in Ashvem at a place called Rock Bites in Feb 05 and it was fine not too hot or cool and we did not have a ceiling fan. You had a choice of huts on stilts or ones at ground level. We went for ground level as the toilet and shower were within the hut. If you stayed in the huts on stilts you had to come down the (slightly rickety looking) stairs to a shower/toilet block.

The beach huts are basic but great I loved it and can't wait to go again in Feb 07 and this time I plan to stay at least 2 nights. It so quiet and virtually no sellers and makes a nice change from Candolim beach (which I love as well but for different reasons).

Ryan, you do get some huts in Palolem with A/C (Cafe del Mar), but as stated A/C is not needed in Jan - fans are more than adequate.
You can stay in a lovely Rajastani tent which I think has A/C, at morjim if you are thinking of staying up north.
GFF xx

gff, these beaches arambol, morjim vagator and so on further north does it take long to get there in a taxi from calangute??? i have had a look on the net and found some pictures of those tents they look really nice. will defo be spending a couple of nights up there!!!

Hi ryan, takes about 30 mins, we use mandrem? just up the coast from ashven, nice and quite taxi cost about £10. for the day the taxi will stay there untill you want to leave, have fun paul.

I think the taxi fare list is fab, but I've noticed that it says updated in early 2005. Are these prices still the norm, or would we be needing to expect a little increase (to avoid the embarrassment of bartering for the wrong price )?

Helen

HI Helen I asked Rob at CWT if he would update the taxi price list I know he has a lot on but do you think if we flutter our eyes at him he might update it haha......colleen.........

Hi Colleen,

I'll happily flutter like mad, though I do note that Rob is partial to a piece of cheese, and I've got wrapped pressies for the kids for Xmas......... What was it that Hannibal Lecter said? Quid pro quo.....



Helen

P.S. Fiona, would it be possible to pop the last couple of posts in the CWT thread - just to 'help' Rob..................

Helen
I can't really split the thread but you can alway post a link to this on CWT for Rob's attention

I'm waiting on 'Harry' - our taxi driver to give us the list, I've asked him numerous times now... I saw him yesterday (but forgot to ask) but will try again today... This week has been completely mad with Dawali celebrations, beach trip, and the children off school and I'm supposed to be finishing the newsletter... (no comment!)

I will try and get him to give me the new prices ASAP...

Rob,

you're a star. My other half works in Sainsburys, so we shall try and get you a big block of mature (very by the time we reach you!!!) cheddar for your trouble.

Helen