returned from the Oceanique last night and would not hesitate to recommend. We went B & B but heard no complaints from the all inclusive guests. The complex is now said to be the best in Colva and is to a very comfortable standard very helpful and friendly staff, grounds and rooms clean large pool towels available every morning, the only building work we saw was a small out building to the side of the hotel not a problem.
We also used the Silver Spoon most days say hello to Martin and if he isn't too busy as k him for a game of cricket as my son Liam gave him his cricket set before we left. The Sunday night beach party was great fun.
the Lucky Star is a great place to eat also.

Jo101,

Glad you liked the Oceanique. We will be there on Sunday.

Did you managed to get 'attached' to a regular taxi driver there at all?

We used to use the Silver Spoon a lot. Didn't meet Martin though, I can recall Menino ,the owner, and Sheek.

Were the 'Sunday parties' at the Silver Spoon? We never went on a Sunday. What ere they like?

Back to the Oceanique. Would you say the ground floor rooms were better to have than the first floor ones? We stayed in a ground floor one before. It was in the sun for most of the day though. We prefer the shade. I might give them a ring and request a room to the right of the pool as you look at it from the bar. Any idea of the number of the rooms on that side.

Was there any other places around Colva that you visited and could recommend?

Cheers.

Forgot to ask. Where is the Lucky Star? cheers

there seems to be mixed reviews on the oceanique? im travelling there on tuesday & im not sure wot to expect now - i would really appreciate clarity on the stae of the hotel - i don't want a wasted holiday. Im assuming if whats in the brochure dosent match up to wots in reality then wots the best thing to do? - i stayed at the heritage for 3 years in arrisomm & found it great, but other reviews were average - is it down to individual perception?....help

partypete.

You ned to be clear what you are unclear about. List the points that you are worried about and then maybe we can throw some light on it. Otherwise you are not helping yourself at all. Cheers

Partypete please let me assure you the Oceanique is now very finished and to a good standard we returned 21.2.06. the Reception area is lovely and the staff will bend over backwards to help i.e one evening on the way out I mentioned a big ants nest had appeared in our room doorway was dealt with before we returned. The rooms are cleaned every day and towels changed and if you are lucky the room boys will do some towel art. Again the dining room is smart and fresh we only stayed b&b so can't comment on all the food but heard no complaints. our breakfast was fine they rotated bacon, sausage and grilled salami (yuk) always had boiled eggs grilled toms baked beans hash browns porridge fruit cereal toast and jam pg tips and good quality coffee the chef would then cook you your eggs to order. oh yes forgot to metion HP sauce and a selection of indian dishes.
The pool area is kept clean and grass very green again didnt stay in for evening entertainment but the AI guests seemed to like. the bar is very nice also, So as you can see nothing to worry about assume previous bad reviews were before the complex was finished. again if you have any questions I will also try to help. Colva was a bit of a shock because of the fishing community who live in (hope I am not being rude by saying awful conditiions) the resort has lots of rubbish laying round and the fish drying does smell abit but please don't let this put you off these people are poor but happy and apart from the kids asking for sweats and chocolate they are not beggers. The shacks are excellent they can't do enough for you a whole day on the beach for 2 + 2 children ( and I didn't say no once to I Want) including lunch cost approx £6 would yet again recomment the Silverspoon but they all looked good The boomerang which is a bit further along the beach into the centre has a great massure we called him the guru he charges 300rps for 1hour and 150 for 30mins he's an old guy and we thought he was excellent I would def return to Colva next year and take my children again.

Petrogooner. taxi drivers just popping into Margo we used the old yellow and black taxi's humming the james bond themes as we went. these cost 80 rps. For longer trips we used Joseph the hotel driver as his taxi has to be cosha as the hotel is responsible. We went to the spice plantation and Elephants at Ponda with him it cost 800rps we left at 8.00am and was back at 1pm other taxis quoted anything from 700 to 1200 for the same.
We went to the elephants first where the children had a ride each this cost 500rps each on the big 40yr old male we took lots of pictures and were able to pat the 8yr old baby. Then we went to the river where the 25 year old female was and gave her a bath, sitting on her back she then bathed us. again this cost 500rps each, it was something very special to do but compared to the cost of living and everything else it was very expensive. If you do go make sure you get there early . We then went on to the spice plantation which was a very nice experience. As you arrive you are given a garland and covered in flower petals. A guide then takes you round part of the grounds showing you the plants the spices are harvested from. when you get back from the walk you are offered drinks from the bar (and these are not ott priced) and a lunch is provided
did notice that the spice shop there was very expensive the same spices cost a fraction of the price in Margo indoor market. the spice plantation was 300rps each. We also went out on a boat in colva to see the dolphins. we went in our own boat about 8.30 am as the sea was lovely and carm the dolphin where just by the fishing boats about 6 of them in the family, apparently in a good mood because they didn't disapear we where able to get into the water. ok they didn't come too close when we where in the water but they are wild but it was still unbelievable. Sunday night at the Silverspoon is party night Sheek works really hard and had about 60 people there They turn the shack into a dance floor so the tables are all on the sand they have loads of good fireworks and a good time was had by all, we left about 1am but the dancing went on till 4. One word of advise if you do go don't pre book your food, order off the menu when you are there, with a lot of people pre book the food pre cook??? our food both times was excellent. I can help with the room numbers as our rooms where right opp the bar on the ground floor we had 405 and 407 on the ground floor and 3rd in the row so anything from 405 up should do these where joining rooms always in the shade. The Lucky Star is an excellent place we ate there alot in the evenings. you can sit in the garden under the palm trees . come out of the hotel and turn left towards the beach straight across the crossroads into the fishing village if you look to your left it is there near the beach nearly behind the silver spoon the lucky star runs the first beach shack. The food was very good did notice if we ordered food from different sections of the menu it may not come at the same time as they have a tandori chef indian chef chinese chef and steak chef all working in different areas. all the food was excellent but I loved the chinese food the chicken sizzlers where excellent/
If you go ask the waiter for a mossy coil to burn under your table ( not that they where too bad). Wish I was going back Sunday.

Jo101,

Many thanks for all that very useful info. About the room. I have rung Oceanique and they said room 405 is available for us. So we will have that room. Hope the fridge is OK.

We will pop into Silver Spoon on sunday evening. Sounds a good time.

Was the plantation you went to this one http://www.sahakarifarms.com/

I have been in contact with them and was told to go on a wednesday or Friday and get there about 0930am. Would you agree with that? I hear the meal is pretty good. What time would that be ready to eat. I hope not too early! So soon after breakfast! Good tip about buying spices. I did hear they were expensive compared to the market in Margao.

It is a pity there is not a notice board in the Oceanique where we can ask if other residents want to share taxi fares etc to places. Maybe I will start that off when we get there.

My wife is taking loads of kids clothing for the children of the fishermen.

Once again, many thanks for the info.

if anything else springs to mind I would appreciate you letting me knw. we leave this saturday.

regards.

room 405 was our room excellent position very nice. fridge worked but as you said previously goes off if you take key out. On the last day I found a scorpion in the room acting like a dizzy blonde thought it was dead so picked it up on a comb showed my son then put it on the patio so I could show my daughter of course what is the first line of defence ( playing dead) off it ran gave me a bit of a shock their sting is only like a wasp sting but it wouldn't of been nice. at least it wasn't a big snake! Yes get to the spice farm early to beat the coaches we had lunch about 11.30 to 12 was ready when we got back from walk It was very nice looked at the web site you posted looks like the same one. Elephants are at one side of the plantation if you are going to do the ride or wash do that first. taxi driver knows the way If you make it known around the pool that you are going should get the offer of a share . Someone heard us booking the taxi and asked us but their was 4 of us If you do use Joseph make sure you agree price first. The childrens clothing is a great idea we are going to take some next year as well, but also childrens outdoor toys, bats and balls skipping ropes etc should have seen the kids faces when they spotted Liams cricket bat watched the kids playing with old tyres for days at time and a cocktail umberella I gave to a little girl was like treasure, only one thought at the spice plantation was asked to fill in a questionaire at the end I got a time share sales call next day statiing I had won a price etc from this. noted your silver question lots of silver to sale very cheap maybe if you do it early enough you could have a special piece made,

Jo101,

Thanks for that,again. Glad room 405 is OK bar the scorpion. Reminds me of a time in Botswana out in the bush many many moons ago. I felt something crawling up my leg and just brushed it off, as you do. Then I discovered it was quite a big black scorpion. We actually saw some for sale(already cooked) in the local market. Long story that!

I shall ring them again on Saturday before we leave just to remind them of the room. Just to keep them on their toes.

I shall mention the trip to others and see how we get on.

The trick with the fridge is to flip something across when you take the key out and the elec comes back on. Just turn off the air-con and all is OK. Worked every time for us.

Shall report back when we return. Cheers.

thanks jo for the handy info it certainly puts my mind at rest - i didn't have to list my worries because the negative messages about the oceanique were bad enough to set off alarm bells! however getting a factual, real time up to date review such as yours is truly what this discussion board is all about & appreciate your help..ta xxxx

Hope that ants nest has gone completely!!! Possibly that was the reason why you found a scorpion in the room?

Normally ants get attracted to anything sweet that may be left on the floor. For example- if your kids dropped a bit of chocolate or a sticky sweet etc. I hope that was th ereason otherwise I will have to phone again to change the room. As you know, they have alocated us room 405.

have a great holiday if I was going back on Sunday would't hesitate to have 405 look after it as will be trying to get it next year

Jo101,

thanks for the reassurance!

Will post a report etc when we get back.

Thanks again for all your very useful info.

regards.

have a nice flight pedro! oceanique hotel here we go - does anyone know what the currency exchange rate at the oceanique is approx?

while we were there it was 74rps to the £ at the boomerang beach shack on the beach it was 76.4 21.2.06

thanks jo - has anybody been all inclusive at the oceanique? i know its cheap in goa to eat out, but bizzarely its was going to cost more for b & b than it did me for all inclusive & i wondered what the standard of food at the oceanique was?

that's weird! - who did you book with pete?

Hi Jo101, sounds like you had a great time. Can you tell me more about the trip to see elephants? Do we book at the hotel? It's something I'd LOVE to do. 500 rps sounds very cheap, have I worked it out right at about £8?!

Also, can anyone recommend a fishing trip? My husband's a keen angler and wants to go out to catch some fish. Wouldn't mid it being with the locals (although concerned about insurance implications!), would prefer an organised day trip.

We're leaving on 21 March for a fortnight B&B at the oceanique. We prefer a quiet room with a pool view, but don't mind whether it's sunny or not. Any recommendations?