Hi, thanks for the welcome, I'm really enjoying browsing through although I think I've become addicted! It makes me wish I was back there now although I know the weather's not up to much, I don't like thunder and lightening!

Hi

We are Dawn & Paul from Leeds, we have been married for 27 yrs with one grown up son of 24yrs.We have been holidaying in Goa for the last 5 years, we will be visiting in November this year & March 2007, with family & friends.It took my husband a lot of persuading to get me to visit Goa & now I can't get enough of it.I love the smell the hussle & bussle, the people, just everything.I will be visiting the dentist for the third time in November, my dentist here at home, has told us to have as much treatment as we can in India, as the dentistry is first class.My Husband is considering having laser eye treatment ( does anyone have any experience of this & recommend the best place to have it done ) as he is fed up of not being able to read without glasses.We have made lots of friend including long stay holiday makers, who give us all the advice of where to eat & drink etc.Looking forward to being back in candolim on the 14/11/06 at the highland beach hotel.We have booked to travel with first choice, we find the monach can only be described as cattle class ( does anone one else think the same ).

Cheers
Dawn and Paul

Hi Dawn & Paul. Yes Monarch flights are probably the worst, but we have been 4 times all with Monarch. Its all a matter of how much you want to spend. We always book flights seperate to accommodation and Monarch have always been a lot cheaper. Perhaps Ive been unlucky, but the difference in price means I can book Monarch flights with extra legroom cheaper than other flights without and Iwould imagine this would be a better deal. If anybody knows of a better way please let me know. At the end of the day some people cant afford a choice or would prefer to use the money saved on the flight on holiday. Roll up, Roll up Free flights to Monarch in cattle class, just watch them go. Have a great holiday. We are hoping to go in December

Hi Everyone!

I'm Vince. 31 from Croydon. Originally from Goa. Went back there in December after 10 years of spending my summer holidays playing cricket. Took my GF who is from Slovakia who loved it, especially the sea. Place has changed a lot.... some for the better...a lot for the worse. Going back soon as oldies have a nice house out there. Pity work will only give me 2 weeks off at a time. Love all the reports and keep up the good work!

nice to have a "local" on the forum! I hope we see a lot more posts from you!

Hi Callumn and Karen, 2 children, Freya 8 and Callumn who sadly lost his fight with leukaemia last year 2 weeks before his 9th birthday.

I cannot even begin to imagine what you all went through. I hope you are able to look back now on all the positives in Callumn's life.

Dont know who you are and have never met you or your children but our thoughts are with you and your family, hope you can rebuild your life and look back on the past with fond memories, They say time is a great healer and we sincerley hope that is proves so in your life.
Denis and Marian

That is so very sad tightjock. I am sure everyones thoughts are with you and your family.

Hello All

My name is Lorraine, been married to Steve for 27 years, have two children 27 and 24, two grandsons 6 and 2 and one grandaughter who is 2. I work as a secretary for a firm of solicitors and am trying to get them to increase my holiday entitlements! Four weeks holiday is not enough!

We always travelled to the Greek islands for our early in the year holiday until our silver wedding when we went to Tobago and got hooked on the Caribbean. We have since been to St Lucia and Antigua and are going to Barbados in May. Second holidays were usually spent in Turkey but this year we wanted a change and decided on Goa.

Been reading the posts on this forum for months and have become an addict. Everything you need to know is here. Very friendly members - best wishes and happy holidays to you all.

Hello Ki77y,

One thing I like about this forum is that unlike other forums you get very few arguments.

The advice is very constructive and the people are very friendly.

I can't really explain why, but Goa just gets under your skin.

Having said I can't explain why, one reason is the people. They are really good and kind. Perhaps that is a sweeping generalisation but mostly they are just that.

My first trip was in February 1999 and in spite of saying to myself that I ought to go somewhere else, I am drawn back each year. In fact, I am going back next year.

Hi all, Ray from Blackpool. (Like Baga but a bit colder).Been a fireman for 23 years in the next town. Love the forum and members and cant wait for my next trip to Goa. Keep up the good work Fiona.

Ray
didn't realise you hadn't posted here before now!

Sorry! I'm shy

Hi all, Debbie (51) and Peter (52) from Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. We have been going to Goa since November 2000. We have always stayed in Candolim and have tried various hotels, Sunset Beach, Highland Beach, Sunshine Parkand Carmo Lobo (although it was closed not long after). We are back in November this year for 2 weeks staying at the Silversands (onlyanother 10 weeks) and it can't come soon enough, this will be our 9th holiday in Goa and we have already booked for Easter next year.

All we can say about Goa is it's Magic!

Good forum looking forward to talking soon

Hi DebnPete ~ what a small world, I am originally from Cleckheaton, just a stone's throw from Heckmondwike !! I now live near Northampton with my partner Colin and two Westies ~~ been going to Goa since 1993 and have seen many changes, some for the worse, some for the better and I agree with everyone on the forum, once you've been you become hooked. Going for a month this season, last two weeks of March and the first two of April. Have met many locals most of whom have become firm friends and we feel part of their families. Roll on March !!

We too are from West Yorkshire, a small village called Marsden near Huddersfield. Our 22 year old son Leigh, came to live in Arpora last October, myself, hubby Mark along with cat Frankie, dogs George and Keano made the plunge in January ( sadly George died 2 weeks ago) Our eldest son James still lives in Huddersfield but is coming to visit soon.
I agree, this site is excellent and very addictive, but also very frustrating with the very slow connection here
Julie

Hi everyone I'm new to holiday truths but not to forums have been using trip advisor for the last 18 months.
I work for the government as a junior management in a local office my husband is a mechanical engineering supervisor We live just 7 miles from Cardiff We have two grown up childred and have 3 grandchildren (number four due next month)
Have been going to Goa for the last 10 years started going just for 3 weeks and gradually managed to stay up to 2 months even changed my working contract to 11 months
Gone from staying in hotels Osbourne resort, Colonel Jose Meninos, Marie Rosa and Fort Aguada (one night only following a wedding) to guesthouses The Whitehouse All except CJM are in and around Calungute CJM in Varca (hated down south 8 years ago) and last year we rented and apartment just up from after 7 Candolim. However this year we are having a change and going to Langkawi (but am already planning Goa for 2007)
I do find Goa very addictive I can't explain what or why, just that you can never be there long enough. I'd sell up and move there today, hubby is a bit more sensible (unfortunately)
Have found over the last couple of years the North is becoming increasingly busy with tourists and have usually escaped the madness by going to Kiri beach, Arambol, Mandrem Aswem or Morjim in the north and Benaulim and Uttorda in the South. In fact in 2007 we have decided to go South to stay and maybe go North for a couple of days. I prefer guesthouses out of the 3 types of accommodation, gives you a chance to get to know the families that run them and I feel you are helping the local economy without damaging their environment. I adore the seafood and all the wonderful dishes particularly in the shacks. Found out 8 years ago that Honeybee me and sun do not mix well, so tend to steer clear of it, stick to G&T mostly .
We usually include Christmas in our stay and I adore laying in the warm sun and texting all my family and friends Happy Christmas from Goa. My 3 grandchildren don't know what it is like to have me home over Christmas and as they generally get spoilt before we go I haven't heard any complaints, although a few of my friends don't understand why.
I thank all my friends from the other forum for nagging me to get into gear and join here, thanks to Callumn and Fiona who made in painless xx
Lyn

At least you've found us now Lyn!
Arpora Julie- its great to see even a "local" can find the forum addictive!