No sea is child friendly, no matter where you go in the world, that is not the point I am making.

Providing that I ensure my kids do not cause a riot and they behave in an "adult" manner, who is anyone to make comment or look me up and down??

I'd be too worried about a lot of things that a child could get caught up in.

The sea.

Dogs (rabies) and other animals.

Bugs (germs) having had numerous 'bugs' in Goa and believe you me don't believe this term 'Delhi Belly' used by everyone..... It's called FOOD POISONING and is rife in coastal Goa. Hygiene standards are attrocious. I'd hate to think how that would affect a young child. I see people with very young babies.... I wouldn't do that. Make sure your kids have ALL the injections. There are so many incomers now working in Goa, diseases, bugs, viruses have gone up in the last few years especially in coastal regions. I would hate to care for a child sick with Campylobacter, Giardia or Salmonella.

Please note that Papa did not say that all children were badly behaved. The fact that he would prefer to holiday somewhere with less children is also something that doesn't need to be attacked. Mind you Papa- you might find that a bit difficult
Thank you for your report. Its what makes the forum so good. The Goa forum is almost unique in that. Everyone loves to read them, but they do take a lot of time to compile, and usually done when you are still jetlagged.

Do you not think that people can get those anywhere in the world, europe, caribean etc.

with the exception of the States, which is so clean its unhealthy.

I am of the opinion - and yes it is only an opinion - that if we package kids in cotton wool, it is a huge shock when they get older - both socially and medically.

Yes the sea is bad, yes the traffic is bad and yes people get food poisoning.......That can happen in Weymouth, Mallorca, Sharm el Sheik, Barbados and yes even Disneyland.

We just have to live with it.

that is a question for elsewhere. Lets concentrate on the trip report please.

Moderator..... the topics are only slightly off topic... yet you delete...there are some good facts there .... it's becoming like Cold War Russia round here

Big Neil wrote:

Moderator..... the topics are only slightly off topic... yet you delete...there are some good facts there .... it's becoming like Cold War Russia round here :D

Well said that man

We at last agree on something..

Moderator..... the topics are only slightly off topic... yet you delete...there are some good facts there .... it's becoming like Cold War Russia round here

Not wanting to sound critical of the Management here but I too agree, Mods if you do not want us to post reaction to trip reports then my suggestion is you lock them once the report is complete that way we will be unable to. I thought that a forum was for a sound exchange of opinions, views and ideas, as long as it remains on topic and to do with the said trip report what is the harm. Every other thread on here appears to turn into a chat room exchange after the first two posts so some constructive opinion exchange is more than welcome by me.

Thanks Big Neil for your support.

It would appear that it is difficult to post opinions about personal preferences regarding holidays with or without children or about certain types of holidaymaker without generating some pretty strong opinions.

If you look back at my report I did qualify a lot of my statements so as to try and not judge people.gazthomas was very quick to point out my generalisation re tatoos and for that I thank him.As I get older I have learned to be more tolerant less bigoted and travelling around the world has shown me how absurd racism is.

However I think we still live in a free country so I am still allowed to report on things I saw as I saw them.I am also allowed opinions on those things.

For the record my wife and I are in our mid-forties have no children live on the wirral in the north west of England both enjoy more than the odd drink both love our football team Everton and enjoy our holidays together around the world.

I do not particularly dis-like kids but could not eat a whole one.

Please try to just take the report for what it is.Our experience of this years trip to Goa and not a condemnation of people who bring their children to Goa.

At the end of the day it will be for my wife and I to decide if we go back based on many factors the good and the bad.Again I say we do not own Goa it is there for everyone.

Regards

Papa

To be honest I think Goa as much as I love it does have an air of snobbery .....

"weve been coming here for years"
"ive never seen kids around here in my 12 visits"
"ooo look at him with tattoos"
"my god, kareoke, bingo, what next the sun and the mirror on every news stand"
"why do the russians have to come here"
"you should have been here in 82, no sunbeds on this beach"
"we have many goan friends"
"our taxi driver/jeweler/shack owner wouldnt rip us off"
"argh a football strip"

and so on and so on.

Point taken Papa.

It's just having worked in the holiday industry at the coal-face, both in Spain and Goa - as a rep and manager - I have witnessed both sides.

When I met my wife, fortunately we are fully aware of the impact children can have on other people. Don't get me wrong, I acquired 2 kids in marriage and can see where some are coming from.

But now as a "father" I can also see the other side and provided kids are brought up to respect the surroundings etc there should be no issue.

Likewise with tattoos, i can see how "intimidating" they can be and some people can get the wrong idea. I work in an industry where I am presenting to board level every day and know that they do not want to know about my 6 pieces of artwork - however, provided I act with decorum, I should not be tarnished with certain other types.

I appreciate that it can be sensitive and apologise for maybe sounding harsh, however there are always two sides......

surfstak wrote:

To be honest I think Goa as much as I love it does have an air of snobbery .....

"weve been coming here for years"
"ive never seen kids around here in my 12 visits"
"ooo look at him with tattoos"
"my god, kareoke, bingo, what next the sun and the mirror on every news stand"
"why do the russians have to come here"
"you should have been here in 82, no sunbeds on this beach"
"we have many goan friends"
"our taxi driver/jeweler/shack owner wouldnt rip us off"
"argh a football strip"

and so on and so on.

I would have to take issue here with some of the posters whould would seem to equate the health standards, and risk of infections,with the likes of Weymouth and Disneyland to name but two. India is a third world country and the health risks present there far outweigh outher popular tourist destinations worldwide. I've holidayed all over the world, and with the exeption of parts of Africa, the incidence of illness of some kind, after a stay in India is far more likely than elsewhere. Alan

Having lived both in spain and Goa, I had food poisoning on a few occasions in spain, and only once in Goa.

If you read my post I said these things can happen in those places aswell as Goa, in fact the likelyhood in Goa is less as usually people are more vigilant over what they eat or drink, whereas in Spain, Egypt etc they become blase or are all inclusive.

I understand what Papas is saying about the kind of tourist that is now coming to Goa, but with cheaper flights and then cheap booze when you arrive it was inevitable. As for children. Mine are now grown up and we now look to holiday in places which aren't overun with kids for peace and quiet. Most of the term time I would imagine this wouldn't be problem. As for Russans they are everywhere now. From my experience most are well behaved but some are loud and brash much the same as other nations.

Regarding the incidence of various infections which seem to be a fact of life in India, nowhere on my travel around the world have i ever seen such crowds as frequent the chemists shops in Goa, surely they cant all be queueing up for Viagra ! Alan

" fact the likelyhood in Goa is less as usually people are more vigilant over what they eat or drink"

I've been seriously ill in Goa twice and I'm always very careful. Years ago most tourists wouldn't eat meat (chicken/beef/pork) in Goa and India. I personally think that they undercook chicken a lot.... I had Campylobacter and probably Salmonella as well... been almost a hospital case TWICE. If you came back from Span with that the tour operator would possibly investigate.

The term Delhi Belly is another Indian cover up for FOOD POISONING, would you admit to your guests/diners that you hadn't cooked food properly, Tandoori food is easy to undercook. Yes people get food poisoning elsewhere in the world but none more so than Goa/India I would say. I cant imagine any Indian/Goan admitting to bad preperation and cooking, they will just say "Delhi Belly" or food too "spicy" (I eat Indian food 3 times a week so that's not an excuse).

So most tourists aren't there purely topping up on Antibiotics, stronger pain relievers, weight loss pills, valium and the little blue pills then?


As thats what I find when I am in Goa.

Last year one guy infront of me at Lawande chemist was in the process of buying 6000 Cialis tablets.....Via Gra to you and I.

I never said people don't get food poisoning, my comments were in response to people giving reason NOT to take children to Goa - I just think a sense of reality needs to be brought in.

"To be honest I think Goa as much as I love it does have an air of snobbery .....

"weve been coming here for years"
"ive never seen kids around here in my 12 visits"
"ooo look at him with tattoos"
"my god, kareoke, bingo, what next the sun and the mirror on every news stand"
"why do the russians have to come here"
"you should have been here in 82, no sunbeds on this beach"
"we have many goan friends"
"our taxi driver/jeweler/shack owner wouldnt rip us off"
"argh a football strip"

I'm no snob, but have been going for years, Kids, fantastic, however I don't particularly want a bawling baby sitting behind, in front, or at the side of me for a 12 hour flight - why not wait until they are old enough to enjoy playing in the sand.
Who cares about him with tatoos, oh we wonder all day long is it henna or real.
If I want karaoke and bingo, will pop to the local, if I want sunshine karaoke and bingo a 2 hour flight will see me in benidorm.
OK agreed why do the Russians have to go there.
Yes do have Goan friends - and always will have and proud of the fact.
Get real , of course taxi drivers, jewellers, shack owners wil make a fast buck if they can - as long as you are happy to pay the price why worry - up to you to say no.
Wasn't there '82 but '92 was wonderful - a few shacks, sunbeds a plenty if you wanted one, a fantastic place to be
No problem with football strips - just the few individuals (out of many) who wear them as a badge to cause trouble.
I will always love 'my' Goa, have had the best time of my life there and undoubtedly will go back, Cant help feeling sad though and wishing it was as it was before