Only you can decide, I was looking at Thailand but the political situation put me off.

lez

If you haven't been to Thailand you should give it a try. And I'll see in the Far East forum- it can be lonely there sometimes

We have been to Thailand 8 Times in the past 5 years(and yes sorry Fiona for not posting more often there)however as everyone on this forum keeps saying there is just something special about goa.

We really would like to go back to goa with the points made in my previous post as our basis.

Looking tonight on First Choices website(only charter airline we would now use)they seem to have limited options re.calangute.

I often find at a weekend travel companies websites have a strange habit of changing prices accomodation offered etc.All of a sudden in midweek things change.For example tonight Phoenix Park and Prazeres to name but 2 were not available for our chosen dates.I bet in a couple of days they will be back.

Of course my previous request still stands nearer beach similar standard as HBR(ha ha).

Still as those of you who have been to Thailand know they have just got there s*** together so much better than India re tourist standard accomodation.

Kind regards for replies so far.

Papa and Wife

Come on Papa your only 44 The exercise will do you good and build up a thirst. Its not very far to the beach from HBR. Think of all those calories burning up

in that case I can't help! If you have been to both and swithering perhaps you could try a new destination??
I think you know really though!

Cavelossim/Benaulim great beaches, great shacks, great sunsets

Tightjock, I stayed at Haathi Mahal in 2000, there wasn't much between there and the 10minute walk to the beach, just Dona Sylvia, a few restaurants/guest houses, long line of empty single storey shops and some sort of big old boat/anchor.....

What's it like these days? As developed as Calangute?
We loved the empty beach and the trips over the river, would like to go back there in December.
Any good places you can recommend booking direct?

Chriss ~ take a look at:

http://www.saodomingosgoa.com

Very nice guest house down a little side street opposite the Dona Sylvia. Seven minute walk to the beach and a two minute walk to the River Sal. £10 per person per night will get you ensuite accommodation, with aircon, full breakfast, refridgerator and safety deposit facilities. We've stayed her four times and consider it to be great value for money.

Hope this helps.

Papa if you look on the Firstchoice web site, they have a hotel called the Silver sands Holiday Village in Candolim, we are staying there in 6 weeks time, not stayed here before but looked at it back in March and it looked ok, it's about as close to the beach as you can get it's situated at the bottom of the main beach road so you wouldn't have too far to walk. We stayed in the Highland 3 years ago and ended up getting a taxi down to the beach each morning (I have a bad leg and found the walk a bit much).

Hope this helps

DebnPete

Hi
The Silver Sands has some mixed reviews, but as reviews are subjective rather than objective this is always the case - everyone's expectations are different.
Our opinion is that if you've paid not a lot for basic rooms, as long as they are clean and kept clean, and most things work most of the time that's OK.

Having experienced top class hotels in the Far East, we don't expect that standard in Goa.

We actually quite like the walk down to the beach and back, saying 'Hello' to people.
We're staying at Valentine's Retreat in February, so we'll have a fair walk down to the beach.

Hope you find some accommodation to suit you, Papa.

Polly

PrettyPolly

Sorry to hijack but it is possible to get to the beach in 5/10 mins from Valentine Retreat if you don't go down the main beach road

Sam

My husband and I(ooh I sound like royalty!!)and our friends have been to Goa each January for the last 5 years,so decided to book 2 weeks in Gambia for Jan 07 as a change.Within a week of booking we all realised how much we would probably compare it to Goa,so went and booked a fortnight in Goa in March as well!!!!. Goa really does get a hold on you doesn't it,So in the end I did not have to give up Goa,perhaps the answer is to have extra holidays,only trouble is........they have to be paid for!!!.

Hi Sam
thanks for that.

We go to Stringfellos (sp) beach shack, so we ususally come off the Panjim road and head down one of the little paths that takes us past some apartments and brings us out near the shack.

Cheers

Polly

Papa, we felt like a change after 10 years and this year are going to Langkawi Malaysia for a change, but must admit its been booked a while and looks wonderful but its not Goa so am already planning 2007 Goa trip!
cheers Lyn

Why not try Kerala ?
Uday Samudra is an OK tourist class hotel, The Leela is top notch.
Prices are a bit better than Goa too !

Chris (sorry just seen this) Cavelossim is not as built up as Calungute (nothing like it) the shops you are talking about are no longer empty. From the Palm Grove (now a guesthouse/hotel) in the heart of the village up to the Old Anchor there are around twenty bars/restaurants and on the beach a dozen shacks but still miles of empty beach either-side of the shacks and just behind the main road the fishing village is still the same. We got a good deal this year staying at Luisa by The Sea through http://www.demfer.com

Got some difficult decisions to make>Thanks for all the input.

Papa

Missed your reply until today Tightjock..
As coincidence would have it....we booked yesterday for LBTS with Demfer!
PM'd you.

Have a great trip look forward to the report when you get back