Papa
why not look at Bali?

September is a really good time to go, and although you won't get the Goan beach shacks, there are lots of good places to eat (at least in Sanur where we've stayed before).
It's almost 3 years since we last went but it was very cheap to eat out.

The island is lovely, lots of places to visit and the Balinese people are charming.

The standard of the hotels are better than most of the basic hotels in North Goa.

I know that Fiona (mod) has been a few times and likes it.

And there are other ways of doing the Caribbean than going down the 5* AI hotel route. I started looking at Goa as an alternative to Cuba which as long as you get the flights at a decent price can be done as a DIY for far less than anything the TOs have on offer. Away from the hotels the beach infrastructure is probably not as good as a general rule but have a look at some of the smaller cayos such as Cayo Levisa

http://www.hotelcayolevisa-cuba.com/hotel_details.asp

in order to get an idea of what's available in the Pinar del Rio region away from places like Varadero etc.

SM

PS Ignore the rack rates as published on the Cubanacan website! If you book through Havanatour over here you'll get a much better deal.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Papa

Bali or Ko Phangan or Hua Hin would be okay in September, personally I wouldn't go to Cancun as I would find it too Americanised , I was there about 11 years ago and we had a good time but I would not return, personally Goa ticks all the boxes for me too and I always find it hard to find somewhere else I love as much (Thailand and Cambodia compare with Goa for me) .
Maybe somewhere like Dahab in Egypt will be worth looking into ?

I am afraid with the current rate of exchange to the baht Thailand is off our list this year.

Have a look at Bali.

Papa

Have a look at cuba . We are going this year because quite frankly it's cheaper than Europe . We are stopping at the Sol rio Luna & Mares . Great reviews , excellent price.

I would look at the Eldorado sea side suites in the rivera maya 5* adults only.We were there in jan 2010 and have booked to go back in september.Small complex 280 all suites, all have jacuzzis in the romms.6 restaruants all al a carte lots of bars all premium drinks 2 pools and a beautiful beach.All I can say is fantastic look at the reviews and pictures on trip advisor.

We have reviews of the El Dorado Seaside Suites here :-

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/mexico/yucatan-peninsula/riviera-maya/el-dorado-seaside-suites,-by-karisma/

Mollie43 would you kindly add your review via the above link? Many thanks

Looks fantastic.

Also looked at Excellence resorts.

Got to be child free for us.

Even though we are looking at September every day I check out the prices for Goa in Feb/March 2011.

Looks like nothing is going to stop our return.

Hate the forum being so quiet.

Papa

Papa - have a look at the Royal Playa del Carmen. Adults only, no reservations at restaurants, right on the beach and a stone's throw from 5th Ave. Have a look at realresorts.com

Denny

Thanks denny.

Papa

Look at 5* Paradisus Río de Oro Resort & Spa Guardalavac Cuba its the #1 hotel in Cuba and not expensive fly with Thomson Premier Class in June around £1500 adults only 5 A la Crate resturants 24 hour room service upgrade to Royal Service suite your own buttler people go back year after year wonderful beach great snorkling also I could go on and on look here for my trip report 07- 2008 report 2

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/caribbean/cuba/guardalavaca/paradisus-rio-de-ora-resort-hotel-and-spa/

If you want any other info pm me.

ps I am back for 3rd time in two weeks time.

Thanks chaps but just booked 2 weeks at The Excellence Punta Cana.

5 Star ultra AI no children 24 hour room service included no buffet reataurants all a la carte.

Goa it is not but it will be different.

Guess what?

Still looking for deals in feb/march 2011.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Papa.

Sounds great Papa, we had considered going there but decided to go with the Royal instead (again!). The Excellence gets really good write ups on Trip Advisor. Have a great time.

Snowyboy - that hotel sounds great but a bit wary of going to Cuba. Were there any safety issues.?

Denny

Safety issues safer than your back garden you got to be joking, Cubans are the best people in the world I promise you, where ever did you get that idea from

Have to be honest,both me and my OH love Goa.

Despite all our misgivings about last season and we were there in November when the shack fiasco was in full swing we would have been there in a shot if the season started earlier.That is in September.

I posted some pretty harsh stuff about what is happening in Goa and I stand by every word I said.

Been to lots of places and this Excellence trip will be something very different but I am certain Goa is very much in our plans for 2011.

Will not be making November this year due to the pain the credit card has just endured.

Again thanks for all the input.

Papa

Just realised this post originally posted on the Goa forum has been shifted to the Carribean forum.

Quite right too but there was me trying so hard to keep mentioning Goa so as to stay on topic.

Papa

Snowyboy - that hotel sounds great but a bit wary of going to Cuba. Were there any safety issues.?

What sort of safety concerns were putting you off? Beyond taking the usual precautions that anybody should take re personal safety wherever you are, I think that there is no need to feel concerned in Cuba. To be honest I feel safer on the streets of Havana or Santiago at night than I do in Edinburgh - no groups of drunken 'stags' roaming the streets, no screeching 'hens' flashing their boobs and thongs, police officers discreetly patrolling the streets, plenty of ordinary people sat on their doorsteps and chewing the fat with the neighbours.

In 4 trips to Cuba, I've only come across instance of street crime - a bag snatched - and bystanders gave chase and someone took her to the police station to make the crime report and eventually she was re-united with the important things like passport return air tickets etc. And the friend who got her bag nicked in a nightclub admitted that she was daft to leave it under an unattended table but that the lack of crime in Cuba had lulled her in to doing something that she's never dream of doing at home.

The reality is that the penalities for any crime that might harm the tourist industry are so draconian that very few Cubans are willing to take the chance.

SM

Have to agree with SMa, the streets of Havana are probably safer than many of our town and cities are on a saturday night!

Papa, good choice with Excellence Punta Cana, only "downside" is that it's MILES away from anywhere with a terrible road journey of about an hour if you want to do any excursions... (unless they've done some work on the road)

Enjoy!

ATB,J.