Well I suppose I better do this years report.
All my opinions and I know we are all different I also know the rose tinted specs tend to come off when you are just home.However my overriding feeling this year on returning home was that as we are coming down the aircraft steps until we are climbing back up them all we are is Rupees.It starts the second you get off the plane and only ends as you get back on for your return flight.Noticed much more this year because of the downturn in tourists.
Bit strange doing my conclusion at the beginning but anyway.
Our outgoing flight was delayed by 24 hours.I was already aware of this after tracking the previous flights on the internet and knew the aircraft we were supposed to be on had developed a technical fault.Despite telephoning Thomson and spending 40 minutes on hold they denied all knowledge and told me to turn up at Manchester.Sure enough we got there and no check in open.Told at customer service about 24 hour delay and offered hotel.Mulled over going home(wish we had)but decided to stay at the airport.Put up in hotel and fed basic evening meal and breakfast.Had to check out at 1330 next day so spent seven long hours at the airport.Thomson gave everyone a £10 voucher to eat.
Now despite the fact I knew they had fed me a line on the phone about not knowing of any delay overall I think they did everything they could.They are now bound by EU law of course but nevertheless these things happen as anyone who has travelled a lot will know and they were very professional.A lot of people were really annoyed but it was out of their control I think.
Major round of applause as we finally took off 25 hours and 5 minutes late.
Usual arrival into Goa scrum with porters.Paid Taxi and as the Taxis are now parked a few minutes walk away allowed a porter to wheel our cases to the car.Look on his face as I handed him 40 rupees.Tried his best to get £2 off me but no way not me mate.So it had already started and continued almost immediately we got in the car a nice new Suzuki."Air Conditioning Sir?""very nice"I replied."180 rupees"he said.I laughed as I wound the windows down"fresh air free"
So Lewis Hamiltons apprentice got us to our hotel The Sunkissed in record time where the attempted extortion continued.Asking about a safety deposit box I was informed 50 rupees.Not bad I thought for a week.Turned out that was a day.After I congratulated the receptionist on her sense of humour and shook my head and walked away the price came down to 300 rupees for the duration with a padlock thrown in.
Quick shower and as the afternoon was wearing on we just walked down to the beach to explore.Walked down Calangute steps and had a drink in the first shack on the right cannot remember its name but fly infested dump it was.We then turned left and walked along until we came to a shack we had last visited 2 years ago NV shack.Of course they all recognised us not because they have great memories for faces but because they have great memories for spenders.We were greeted like old friends all the while being questioned about how long we were staying have we bought anything yet, do not buy off anyone else,massage tomorrow 400 rupees yeah right.
As we left we both looked at each other and said"not going back there then".All we felt like were victims waiting to be savaged and we decided then and there to visit different shacks.
I am hoping not to make this report too long this year but really must end this part now.Still completely knackered so will do a bit more in a day or so.Looks a bit negative re-reading it but the holiday certainly was not negative and we had a great time so hopefully some good to add next instalment.
Papa
not a great start to your holiday. I'll bet you were tired and fed up though after your day's delay though.
Papa I know exactly where you are coming from 
Fiona,
Yes we were a bit fed up but we have been through delays many times so have learned to take them as they come.Before I continue with the report I must say we will definitely be going back so its not all doom and gloom.Just getting some points down before those rose tinted specs comeback.Do it as soon as I can.Thanks to anyone who is taking the time to read.
Know I am knackered by how many corrections I am having to make.
Papa
Yes we were a bit fed up but we have been through delays many times so have learned to take them as they come.Before I continue with the report I must say we will definitely be going back so its not all doom and gloom.Just getting some points down before those rose tinted specs comeback.Do it as soon as I can.Thanks to anyone who is taking the time to read.
Know I am knackered by how many corrections I am having to make.
Papa
Looking forward to next installment
I suppose Goa isnt unique in that you are seen as a money machine. Its just that we would all like to think differently. once you get your head round that you can still have a great time. I remember the taxi driver trying to fleece us from the airport. He did a tour of Goa before we got to Calangute. He soon realised he had picked the wrong people 
Funnily enough we had no more taxi problems- I'm sure he told them all at the taxi rank outside the Kingstork
Funnily enough we had no more taxi problems- I'm sure he told them all at the taxi rank outside the Kingstork
Thanks Papa. Really looking forward to the next instalment.
I remember on our first visit to Goa we met an elderly English gentleman who lives for quite a few months in Goa each year and he said, all they see us as is walking pound coins
how very true.
A terrible delay on the way out, not a good start to your holiday, so looking forward to hearing what happened next.
I remember on our first visit to Goa we met an elderly English gentleman who lives for quite a few months in Goa each year and he said, all they see us as is walking pound coins
how very true.A terrible delay on the way out, not a good start to your holiday, so looking forward to hearing what happened next.
Thankyou papa looking forward to the next installment. Gel
Gel
To continue:
As usual with our trips to Goa our days fell into a familiar pattern.We hired a scooter for the duration and paid 200 rupees a day.Probably could have got a better deal but it was brand new so I did not bargain too hard.
Spent lazy days at various shacks including Dreamers which was in a nice part of the beach between Calangute and Candolim not too busy.Took a walk up towards Bobbys one day and despite the ten bed rule it was sunbed city.
Having the bike gave us a bit of freedom and we also used Ganesh shack a few times but it has to be said the state of the beach there now is apalling and The River Princess is a dreadful eyesore.I cannot see it ever being moved now.Also a few of the shacks in that area will not be there next year.
We had planned to visit Palolem but the arrival of people we knew from home scuppered that but we did get on the bike a few days up to Morjim beach(thanks chilly for giving me the courage)and it is truly beautiful.Very peaceful and no sellers.
Our hotel The Sunkissed(review to follow) some people will know is in a little lane off Calangute high street.A bit apprehensive about being so close to the centre of Calangute before we went but in the end you just soak it up.The chaotic traffic,the beggars,the horns the hords of locals,hustle,bustle,you just have to see it to believe it.An experience just to sit there and let it wash over you.Nice to jump a taxi on occasion to Candolim for a more laid back experience.
Those who know the area will know of the bar on the corner The Red Lion and we had a few stops there while there.We ended up laughingly caling it the drunks bar beacause of the amount of people we saw there at 5 o'clock straight off the beach and still there as we were heading home after being out for the night.Now I love my beer but compared to some people there I am a rank amateur.
The weather by the way on a few days was very hot and humid.I know March can be like this but it was the only time my OH could get off.Even the shack lads were complaining.
There is no doubt that Goa was much quieter than previous years and wherever we went we had no problem getting a sunbed or a table in any Restaurant.Lots more Russians than even last year and I have to agree with others they do seem to be a dour lot.I would go as far as to say they can be downright rude.They also seem to be one of the few races on the planet that can out drink us Brits.As I have said all this could have something to do with the dreadful suffering their history has provided them with.Did anyone else find themselves being stared at for long periods of time by any of them?I found it very disconcerting.My OH says I am just very odd looking and it must be fascinating for them.
I made a simple decision this year not to buy any junk on the beach and I managed to stick to it to the despair of the beach sellers.I really would have liked to buy some T shirts but could not be bothered spending hours arguing a price down from a ridiculous 3-400 rupees to what it really would be worth.Really wears me out haggling and they just do not seem to get it.Also fancied having some shirts made but the same principle applied.I knew they would try to nail my hat on so just did not bother.
One day someone in Goa is going to clean up.All they have to do is open a shop and put the real price on things e.g T.shirt 100 rupees.Be sold out in a day.
Same goes for Taxis.My brother put it best(taxi driver).Imagine he said if you got in my car and asked me how much to take you to Manchester.I say £500 and you say no £100.We agree on £150 after a while.Have I not tried to rob you?The answer of course is yes and that is all they do every time you approach them they are trying to steal off you.We had a friend who came over a couple of years ago for a week and had got hold of a taxi drivers number.Said driver picked her up from the airport and charged her 800 rupees.I told her the fare was 600 rupees but she did not care.She kept using this guy all the time she was there and kept paying at least double what the fare should have been.
Met someone else who was using a Taxi driver they thought was a "friend".I honestly could not believe them when they proudly told me they had not paid him a penny all holiday.He had told them they could settle up at the end.Never found out just how badly they were stung.
The dual pricing structure you see in India also exists in other parts of the world.I myself have experienced it in Thailand.However in Thailand when you go into a supermarket or Chemist thing are marked with a price and thats what you pay.In some shops in Goa they blatantly put stickers over the RRP and shrug if you mention it.I also brought home a fair bit of medication for myself and friends and family.Creams,pain killers,sleeping tablets etc.Now when you are buying this stuff you find it a bit hard to see the RRP especially if like me you keep forgetting the reading glasses.On every single occasion from every single chemist even some reccomended here when I got back to the room and added the stuff up it was more than it should have been.Mostly only a few ruppes 20 or 30 but never the correct price.It seems they just cannot help themselves.They do truly see us as walking cash machines.
This of course has the downside of making you suspicious of people you come across and makes it harder for you to know who to be friendly with.
Despite all this we had a great time.Met some great people had some truly wonderful days and nights out and yet again brought back some really precious memories.Despite all the negatives and each year there seem to be more we will be back again.
All these are of course my humble opinions and I hope it has not come out too negative the idea is to inform others and hopefully entertain a few.
Will post our restaurant reports on the appropriate page as soon as I get time.A couple of suprises this year.
Anything else I remember I will add.Hope I have not rambled on too long and again I reiterate my hope not to have been too negative.
Papa
As usual with our trips to Goa our days fell into a familiar pattern.We hired a scooter for the duration and paid 200 rupees a day.Probably could have got a better deal but it was brand new so I did not bargain too hard.
Spent lazy days at various shacks including Dreamers which was in a nice part of the beach between Calangute and Candolim not too busy.Took a walk up towards Bobbys one day and despite the ten bed rule it was sunbed city.
Having the bike gave us a bit of freedom and we also used Ganesh shack a few times but it has to be said the state of the beach there now is apalling and The River Princess is a dreadful eyesore.I cannot see it ever being moved now.Also a few of the shacks in that area will not be there next year.
We had planned to visit Palolem but the arrival of people we knew from home scuppered that but we did get on the bike a few days up to Morjim beach(thanks chilly for giving me the courage)and it is truly beautiful.Very peaceful and no sellers.
Our hotel The Sunkissed(review to follow) some people will know is in a little lane off Calangute high street.A bit apprehensive about being so close to the centre of Calangute before we went but in the end you just soak it up.The chaotic traffic,the beggars,the horns the hords of locals,hustle,bustle,you just have to see it to believe it.An experience just to sit there and let it wash over you.Nice to jump a taxi on occasion to Candolim for a more laid back experience.
Those who know the area will know of the bar on the corner The Red Lion and we had a few stops there while there.We ended up laughingly caling it the drunks bar beacause of the amount of people we saw there at 5 o'clock straight off the beach and still there as we were heading home after being out for the night.Now I love my beer but compared to some people there I am a rank amateur.
The weather by the way on a few days was very hot and humid.I know March can be like this but it was the only time my OH could get off.Even the shack lads were complaining.
There is no doubt that Goa was much quieter than previous years and wherever we went we had no problem getting a sunbed or a table in any Restaurant.Lots more Russians than even last year and I have to agree with others they do seem to be a dour lot.I would go as far as to say they can be downright rude.They also seem to be one of the few races on the planet that can out drink us Brits.As I have said all this could have something to do with the dreadful suffering their history has provided them with.Did anyone else find themselves being stared at for long periods of time by any of them?I found it very disconcerting.My OH says I am just very odd looking and it must be fascinating for them.
I made a simple decision this year not to buy any junk on the beach and I managed to stick to it to the despair of the beach sellers.I really would have liked to buy some T shirts but could not be bothered spending hours arguing a price down from a ridiculous 3-400 rupees to what it really would be worth.Really wears me out haggling and they just do not seem to get it.Also fancied having some shirts made but the same principle applied.I knew they would try to nail my hat on so just did not bother.
One day someone in Goa is going to clean up.All they have to do is open a shop and put the real price on things e.g T.shirt 100 rupees.Be sold out in a day.
Same goes for Taxis.My brother put it best(taxi driver).Imagine he said if you got in my car and asked me how much to take you to Manchester.I say £500 and you say no £100.We agree on £150 after a while.Have I not tried to rob you?The answer of course is yes and that is all they do every time you approach them they are trying to steal off you.We had a friend who came over a couple of years ago for a week and had got hold of a taxi drivers number.Said driver picked her up from the airport and charged her 800 rupees.I told her the fare was 600 rupees but she did not care.She kept using this guy all the time she was there and kept paying at least double what the fare should have been.
Met someone else who was using a Taxi driver they thought was a "friend".I honestly could not believe them when they proudly told me they had not paid him a penny all holiday.He had told them they could settle up at the end.Never found out just how badly they were stung.
The dual pricing structure you see in India also exists in other parts of the world.I myself have experienced it in Thailand.However in Thailand when you go into a supermarket or Chemist thing are marked with a price and thats what you pay.In some shops in Goa they blatantly put stickers over the RRP and shrug if you mention it.I also brought home a fair bit of medication for myself and friends and family.Creams,pain killers,sleeping tablets etc.Now when you are buying this stuff you find it a bit hard to see the RRP especially if like me you keep forgetting the reading glasses.On every single occasion from every single chemist even some reccomended here when I got back to the room and added the stuff up it was more than it should have been.Mostly only a few ruppes 20 or 30 but never the correct price.It seems they just cannot help themselves.They do truly see us as walking cash machines.
This of course has the downside of making you suspicious of people you come across and makes it harder for you to know who to be friendly with.
Despite all this we had a great time.Met some great people had some truly wonderful days and nights out and yet again brought back some really precious memories.Despite all the negatives and each year there seem to be more we will be back again.
All these are of course my humble opinions and I hope it has not come out too negative the idea is to inform others and hopefully entertain a few.
Will post our restaurant reports on the appropriate page as soon as I get time.A couple of suprises this year.
Anything else I remember I will add.Hope I have not rambled on too long and again I reiterate my hope not to have been too negative.
Papa
Good read Papa, makes me even happier that we flew with Kingfisher and stayed well away from the Gute !!
The chaotic traffic,the beggars,the horns the hords of locals,hustle,bustle,you just have to see it to believe it.An experience just to sit there and let it wash over you.
Oh Papa as I read this I could hear it all, as though I was there. Oh how I wish I was !!
Sorry you had such a bad start but glad you enjoyed it.
Great Papa. Really enjoyed your report.
Youre not being negative at all, just seeing things and giving your honest views.
Thanks again.
Looking forward to reading about the restaurants you visited.
Youre not being negative at all, just seeing things and giving your honest views.
Thanks again.
Looking forward to reading about the restaurants you visited.
Thanks Papa, that was a good report and you described it exactly as it is. Sad but true but the same as you we will be back and still loving it
Great report Papa
We always use Dreamers shack, never had a problem there, was Sunil there this year.
We always use Dreamers shack, never had a problem there, was Sunil there this year.
Yes all the usual faces there but as I said we moved around a lot so did not really get close to any of the shack lads.
Papa
Papa
thanks Papa for trip report - I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, oh how true regarding Calangute. A very honest report and I am glad that overall you both enjoyed the holiday and will be returning. 
regards, Silver Angel
regards, Silver Angel
Just a word on the Taxis.This year I found them much more amenable than in previous years to negotiation or as I decided take it or leave it.I decided on a price and if they did not like it we walked away.Wound my OH up something silly but suprising how often it worked.I would just say"lots of taxis" and walk.Probably still paid too much but certainly think we did better than last year.
Try smiling when they give you the price say"good luck with getting that then"and walk.
Papa
Try smiling when they give you the price say"good luck with getting that then"and walk.
Papa
Really good report, Papa. Enjoyed it enormously and can't disagree with anything you say.
I got fed up with the hassle of taxis a couple of years ago and started using the bus -making sure the taxi drivers saw us getting on it! We do have alternatives!!
Like you, I can't be a**ed haggling about prices for anything you show an interest in. I'm on holiday not auditioning for "The Price is Right!" for goodness sake. Result is - you don't buy anything. Hardly a winning formula for the sellers.
I got fed up with the hassle of taxis a couple of years ago and started using the bus -making sure the taxi drivers saw us getting on it! We do have alternatives!!
Like you, I can't be a**ed haggling about prices for anything you show an interest in. I'm on holiday not auditioning for "The Price is Right!" for goodness sake. Result is - you don't buy anything. Hardly a winning formula for the sellers.
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