After saying we wouldnt go back again I couldnt resist another visit. Waited until about 6 weeks before booking flight and got bargain flights £225 from Manchester for 2 weeks with Airtours (now Tompsons) Booked accomodation in Holiday Steet Calungute. Tried out the executive lounge for the 1st time. Was it worth it? If you are the sort who would normally have a few drinks in the bar, then definitely. We paid £16.50 each for the Escape Lounge. There are 2 public lounges to choose from, the Escape and the Styall. Children not allowed under 8 in the Escape. I had a look around the other while I was there and I found the Escape to be the better one although both are nice. You also got sandwiches in the Escape. The problem is that when you have over 2 hours at a free bar there is a temptation to neck a few more than might be good for you. It is all self service so you can imagine what size the measures were. This is all very well until you are 7 hours into the flight and wishing you hadn,t had so much booze (no self control)
Flight was TOM135 on a Airtours plane, the best we have ever had to Goa. 2/3/2 seat formation and seat back TV with choice of programmes/films etc but you did have to pay £5 for premium choice, still plenty of choice if you dont. Lots more leg room than Monarch and no stop over at Bahrain. Quite a few empty seats on the plane. Very quick through passport control and luggage.
Meant to book a taxi at the pre-paid stand outside but got dragged into the one on the left just before you leave the airport. Prices were exactly the same I think it was something like 625rup to Calungute. The only difference between the two is the tourist taxi stand is not pre-pay, you pay when you get there. Driver didnt have a clue where Holiday St was I think he normally operates from down south. He drove like a nutter, had to tell him to slow down.
Having been to Goa 4 times before we had no intention of doing any of the trips, seen it, done it. We did absolutely nothing for 2 weeks, it was fantastic. A typical day would be get up about 9, brew up, nod off again, down for breakfast about 10.30 back to room. nod off again. Finaly got outside about 12.00 Stroll to waters edge ankle deep only and decide which way to go,left or right. This is not as easy as it seems because the missus has to decide if she wants to do her back or her front. So its towards Candolim for front tan and Calungute for back tan. I burn very easy so kept covered up but the wife is as brown as ever and harldly ever lied in it. Once we got to where we were going it would be a detour to the shop for whatever and either back to the beach or a visit to Chocolati (fantastic fresh food) for a drink. Back to beach stroll back and call in shack for the sunset. Back to room (another kip) shower and a drink from the mini bar (fridge) Off for evening meal usually within walking distance and back to Henrys bar next to Kingstork for a drink and a chat. Then it was back to the room and usually the wife would crash out on the bed (she hasnt been well in recent months) and I would raid the fridge of ice where it would accidently fall into a very large glass of Honey Bee (115RUPS A BOTTLE) I would then settle down to watch a film or a football match. Never had a tv before but will from now on. I had to suffer this hardship nearly every day for 2 weeks the only exceptions being a trip to Panjim and a stroll along Baga Creek. Have to say having been on the main rd in recent years it was really peacefull on Holiday St. The resort was very quiet everywhere which is exactly how we like it. Never had to book a table anywhere just walk in and sit down. Broke my all time Goa record of being able to break wind everyday except one. I am sure after a few visits you build up your immune system. Never had a single mossy bite and the wife only had one. This year we also brewed up using the tap water and brushed teeth with it (no swallowing any) without any effects. First day we went to Jolly Jacks shack, one drink and out, music pumping out from there and next shack,I wanted to hear the sea not techno.
Our eating places were Niverna X 2, Sea Gull, La Fenice, Emmas Kitchen X 2 (best comfy chairs in Goa) Soumyens (6 chefs) Kebabs & Curries, Waves, Sunset Bistro , Henrys X 2, Casa Monolita, Au Reverie. All were excellent in there own right but I must say Au Reviere was something else for ambience, unbelievable. We were dissapointed that Casa Seashell has built on their wonderful gardens. Still nice but not the same. Now for the SUNSETS. In 5 years I have never seen a complete sunset where the sun is visible until it dips below the horizon so this year as we were so near to the beach I was determined to watch everyone. Sorry folks but in comparison to Corfu the sunsets are poor. Only on the 15th Dec did we get a full on setting. The 14th was 90% but the rest didnt make it at all. I have always wanted to hire a scooter but the wife wouldnt risk it and now no chance as we saw a tourist swerve to avoid a taxi outside Plantain Leaf, went skidding off the bike, cut his head and was unconscious. There must have been a hundred locals swarming around him with a English lady giving 1st aid and none of this was his fault, he wasnt even going fast. A funny incident was there are ropes from the River Princess to the shore and some local kids used to all pull on the rope together to bring it down to the ground, one small boy would then hold onto the rope and all the others would let go at the same time, the little boy shop up about 15ft in the air like a reverse bungee.
A good tip is before going on holiday visit a specialist running shop or a hiking shop and get 4 of the specialist tops designed for runners to wick sweat away from the body. I only used 4 T shirts and 4 pairs of shorts all the holiday and washed them in the shower each day. By the moring they were bone dry and no creases. They also come in a range of colors. I had no problem with the luggage allowance and the missus could bring more clothes etc as a result. Hardly saw any hawkers on the beach but one or two shack were selling their own tat inside the shack which I didnt like as I go in to get away from that but times are hard I suppose. It is 2 years since we last went and I had noticed a rise in taxi fares and meals. One chap who was a long stayer told me that Bulgaria was now cheaper than Goa, cant comment though. One taxi driver quoted 1000 to Morjim beach and 4000 return to Agonda not that I inteded to go I just wanted to compare the prices with the price list from Children Walking Tall list. Bear in mind if you are using your mobile on your normal sim card it costs 49pence to send a text (o2) Sunbeds were all free if you ask before using them. I asked for brandy and whiskey in a plastic bottle (not the same one) and was sold Honey Guide brandy 110rup which was very good. Whiskey was called 8PM which was disgussting and it went straight in the bin. No smoking signs everywhere but nobody took any notice inside or out. Every morning we were given newspapers at breakfast and everyday there are columns on terror in Goa. The locals are all talking about it, but to be honest if it wastnt for that you wouldnt have a clue there was a problem, ok a few more policemen with guns but no big deal. A lot of the locals are blaming the bombing for the slump but all the tourist are telling them its the reccession thats doing it. Wine is expensive in comparison with other drinks so if you need your wine shot get a bottle of Madera from the off licence 200rups which is ok, not great but ok to satisfy a craving, not tried the white though. For those who have been to Casa Monalita they now have a bigger menu. If you havent been to Chocolati near Casa Seashell for lunch (they close at night) you are missing out on superb food and drink, a bit more pricey but worth every penny. If you are having chicken from the Tandoor dont get it on the bone. I had it at one place which was very dimly lit. Only when I shone a torch did I see it was bloody near the bone. All in all we had a great holiday and would definitely go back. Now thats not something I usually say too often.