This was the 6th time we had been to Goa, just back tonight and wanted to get as much down as possible before I forget.
Firstly, the holiday started off badly, we didn't pre-book seats, I always consider that to be a rip off and sods law myself and wife weren't sitting next to each other for the first time. Apart from that, the First choice flight is a big improvement on Monarch etc.
We know all about the queues at the airport so we made it off the plane first and got our luggage within 20 mins of leaving the plane, then the killer blow struck! We had booked allocation on arrival and after weighing up the odds decided we were certain to be in north Goa. Again sod and his law intervened and we were allocated the Oceanique hotel in colva. Being 5 am we went and slept for a couple of hours and headed down the beach for the rest of the day. The hotel was fine, nice even by Goan standards, but Colva was just not for us, too quiet and we didn't like the beach one bit. We asked the rep if we could get moved to the North and she said yes, to the CSm for £540!!. We politely declined, jumped in a taxi and headed up ourselves. Note to tour Operators, North and South Goa are too completely different holidays and I think it should be specified at least which you are going to. Anyway.. After driving round a few hotels we popped into MJ's pub to meet Ash and the boys who asked the hotel behind to give us a good rate, Hotel Linda I think. After seeing the room, which was nice, spacious, AC and overlooking the pool, we decided to have a quick drink while we thought about it. We had got the price down to 1100 rps and after a kingfisher decided that we would go for it. Lo and behold when we went back (in only 10 mins) the guy had changed his mind and was now offering a dingy room at the back. We told him what he could do with the room and ended up with an AC room in the Hacienda for 850 per night, basic but clean as is the norm in Goa!
We always go at the same time of year and we noticed that it was especially busy this time, and not just for the cricket, lots more Indian tourists also. First day we went to our favourite beach, little Vagator and it is still special too us, but I would recommend avoiding weekends as the Indian tourists tend top walk along here and are usually quite drunk and leering. More of that later.
Sunsets are what my wife really enjoys in goa and we headed down to the Baga creek end of Baga beach and to say we were shocked was an understatement. I've never seen t so busy and it as full of Indian day trippers/tourists spitting, shouting, swearing etc. This upset us quite a bit and we promptly headed further up the beach where it was a bit more serene.
The big discovery for this holiday was Ashvem beach, well La Plage at ashvem beach. This place is an oasis on a pristine beach with a few sellers (ok they ask you 10 times..) We ended up going 3 times and wish we went more, the food is excellent the atmosphere just right and the beach superb. This along with their restaurant in Baga, Le Restaurant , the French trio have got it just right and found quite a niche market.
We did go to other restaurants as recommended on here and I was especially disappointed in After 7 I have to say, I had the steak which was overcooked and although a large piece of meat, not the best, but as they say, it's all about opinions.
My advice to anyone going is top forego the restaurant and eat in the 'fast food ' places, and this is not fast food western style, but prope good food! Chopsticks was our particular favourite. The tandoori chicken is out of this world and the curries equally as impressive. All this for the fraction of the over priced tourist restaurants.

Also met some strange characters in Lazy Days who had all congregated to meet people they had 'talked' to on the internet, it's a funny old world right enough!
To sum up for now as I am shattered and need to go to bed, I may go back, but the place doesn't have the same pull as it used to. Ashvem would be the only reason I would feel I would need to go back as the whole Baga, Calangute, candolim is fast becoming Benidorm and for the Indians it already is their Blackpool.

Recommendations:

Tailor - Macs in the Nizmar hotel
Candolim Shack - Tidal Wave
Little Vagator Shack - Shiva Place
Ashvem Beach - La Plage
Restaurant - Le Restaurant or any of the fast food places especially Chopsticks
Jewellers - Baba Crystal in Calangute and Shamrock in Baga

Goa is not being spoiled by the Scots, the Welsh, the Russians, Israelis, not even the English! , but by the Indians themselves. They seem to have no respect for the people or the place and the litter you see is a direct result of their disregard.

All in all still had a good holiday, but Goa has lost some of the magic for me I'm afraid.