Hi there, i think you should book a cheap flight, if you can find any, and book direct with a hotel as early as possible, just so you know you have somewhere to stay.

If i was you i'd price the cost of a package holiday up next month, the cheapest you can find, then also visit websites such as directholidays and a few others to price up flights, then also visit lowcostbeds.com and google goahotels, then you can either book on the internet or phone them up in Goa.
We have been getting flight only and booking a hotel that we have found on the internet, which tour operators use, so it cant be that bad.

I have never been at xmas time though, so it might be different.
All i can suggest is start looking in a few weeks.

If you want, i could price some up for you?

Searching for bargain Goa holidays is my favourite past time haha

Nicola

We have booked with Eclipse for Christmas 2008, we have paid £1893 for the two of us staying at the Silver Sands in Candolim, that also includes the upgrade to a superior room and also pre booking our seats on the plane, which is a First Choice flight, we fly from Manchester on the 13th Dec returning on the 28th, we could have done the New Year as well for an extra £200, but we've done the New Year before and it's just a bit too manic for me. We thought the price we have paid is very good, the last time we did Christmas and new year it cost us £2500 and that was 6 years ago.

Happy hunting

Debs

Hi there I have booked the Highland beach resort for 14 nts on 20th December from Manchester - total cost for 2 was £1895 I think??
I was happy with this as we paid slightly more or the same 2years ago...never spend Xmas in the UK again if I can help it.

hi there we have just come back from highland beach resort and booked again for dec 08 going on the 13th from manchester for three weeks 3 adults @ £3500 thats for 2 bed appartment cant wait sorry thats with first choice.

Galaxy Kid you are on the same flight as us

Debs

Hi everyone, thanks for tips, - Nicola, I spent nearly the whole of xmas hols swatting up on Goa, so like you its becoming a hobby, but any tips you find re - booking would be much appreciated.
Was pleased to see the replies about the Highland Beach,I am tempted to book now with First Choice, Direct hols have a similar price for the Bevvan Resort in Calangute?? but think i may hold out till the flight only prices are out, which should be a few more weeks. I think the Highland Beach sounds quite near to the centre but a little way from the beach, is this so?
Does anyone have any preferences between Candolim/ Calangute? Also would anyone suggest whether they think going just after xmas and staying for New year would be better or having a bit before xmas to settle in and then leaving to come home for new year. - nothing to do with celebrations at home - more about what goes on at these times in Goa. Thanks again for the replies.

Be a little careful with flight only over the Xmas period as the hotel prices rocket at that time. We looked into it last time and I emailed lots of hotels and the prices per room over the christmas period were about 3-4 times more than any other time of year. By the time we added on the flights it worked out cheaper to go package. I think we paid about £2400 for 4 of us for 3 weeks including Christmas. That was with Olympic holidays.
Just for info the cheapest room we were quoted was casa seashell at Candolim and was 1500 rupees a night (think this is about £18 ??? Some other hotels were quoting prices like 3000 a night and one hotel (basic 2 star) was 7000 a night.

sim1- i started looking last night at package prices for 21 days, and it appears to be a better deal to book a few weeks before which takes in the xmas week, and you can do it for cheaper than 14 days flying on the 20th Dec! I think I would prefer this as I dont want to go trawling around trying to find a good place to eat over xmas - would like to have found my bearings by then, is this easy in the resorts or are they vast?

Finding somewhere to eat over Xmas is no prob. You won't have to go trawling around. I agree that it's cheaper to go earlier in December and stay for 3 weeks. That's what we did and we saved a fortune. It was also a nice time to go because the roads and resort get very busy in the few days before Christmas so if you go earlier in the month you can climatise before the mania hits ! We are looking at the same time again next year for 3 weeks and the difference between departing around the 8th Dec compared to going on the 15th is over £250 each. That's a lot of money for 4 of us.