Welcome to the forum Becky.
What time of year do you like to take holidays and for how long ?
Reading what you like to do, I would say North would be the best, it has the most restaurants/bars/shops and easy to get South (1+1/2 - 2 hours) or further North (40mins - 1 hour) for a few nights away from the hustle of the coastal belt.
The North has main adjoining resorts of Candolim - Calangute and Baga. I would plump for Candolim, as a lot of HT'ers on here would suggest to 1st timers, as it's not as hectic as Calangute.
Calangute is only a 10min taxi/local bus (much preferred) ride away, so you can easily enjoy days and nights in both resorts to get the 'feel' of what you prefer.
Restaurants - plenty of them, read the forum for recomendations. Currys, sea food, Chinese, Tai, French, Pizza & pasta - you name it's out there and top quality too. Yup, you will also find places doing British food (don't rubbish it - a change from spicy all the time ain't a bad thing).
Entertainment - depends what you like ? most evenings are laid back 'chat' nights, some bars will have on bands doing 'cover versions' or just a one man singer.
You also get krapeeokee - but not bar after bar. Other places do the Brit style quiz nights. Entertainment laws say all places have to stop the music by 11pm, but bars are open as long as they want to be. You can find many places to avoid all this, once you have found your bearings there.
Like I said earlier, local buses are a doddle to use and cheap. Taxis - yes you will use them, and more info about prices and not getting ripped off can be found if you search the forum.
The season really kicks off early December to last weekend in April. The most comfortable weather is December - the hottest and most humid is late March onwards - don't let that put you off, last season was very comy in April with the humidity low.
I'm glad someone has told you ''it's the place for you'' - think you will love it !
Ask away for more info - and read up on what you can, scatterd about the forum - some good tips to be found.
Spike.

to H/H Becky I think Spike is right Candolim would be a good place for you to go for your first time in Goa ..I have just come back from turkey last Monday and give me Goa anyday ..In Turkey a bottle of whiskey was 70 lra in Goa it is £1.85 thats some difference ...colleen

Calangute and Baga beaches are reminicent of old style Blackpool in some ways. In fact on sunny days in Britain you still see reports in the news about wall to wall crowds on our beaches. Obviously not everyone finds that unattractive.
The beauty of the north is that there are more restaurants and shops, you can dip in and dip out if you stay outside the more crowded areas. I have never stayed in Candolim but intend doing so on a future visit just to be closer to a new range of restaurants and for a change. We have always stayed in Arpora which has retained a more village like atmosphere but still has a good choice for eating out.
You can walk to Baga in 45 minutes, stopping along the way for a beer or to check out the sellers stalls.
The Marinha Dourada offers a pretty good standard of accomodation IMO. Comfortable and unpretentious, usually very peaceful it has large grounds to wander which are particularly attractive to anglers ! They also offer an hourly bus service to Baga beach ( up to 6.00pm) and a taxi is only a couple of pounds.
Try Goa, I'm sure you will love it !

I did'nt mean to derogatory to people who like blackpool or that type of thing, its just not for me.

I prefer to have a foreign experience, by that i mean go somewhere that the culture etc is different, to experience new places and new sensations.

i've picked up some brochures today and i'm liking the look of calagute and candolim. also surprised at the cost for 14 days, it very reasonable.

What sort of prices can i expect for a meal or to drink out there?

It must be something special to have such a devoted following!

thanks to all who have replied xx

Hi Beckslayer welcome to the forum

a large beer is about a £1 or a 60 ml short with mixer just under but with tonic or diet coke a bit dearer and a litre of water is about 20 p

A steak/ chicken/ fish main course are about £3.50 while a curry, side dish, rice and a naan works out about a £5 for two in tourist restaurants or shacks. You can eat for a lot less in local places or go posh in some very nice places for a special event

Life in Goa revolves around the beach shacks in the day time where you normally get a free sunbeds and the bars/ restaurants in the evenings but there are clubs, bbq's on the beach, night markets and live music if you want it and there are even HT meetings in Candolim were Chilly is in charge of the coffee

Come and enjoy

Hi Beckslayer and welcome to the forum. Well i have to echo what spike has said as i love candolim. Every time i go i plan to do so much but usually end up chilling on the beach at my fav shack. Then choosing from the many good places to eat at night. How long are you going for? You can do a lot in two weeks, try this website for some ideas.http://www.daytrippergoa.com/

Its cheap enough to hire a taxi and explore go further north for a couple of nights in a beach hut or visit the waterfall. Hampi is well worth a visit as well.

This is a link to my fav beach shack if you check out the photo pages theres a menu on there with this years prices. Sometimes the shacks can be dearer than the restaurants, but its all cheap.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=113464732000599&ref=ts

We are all here to help so dont be afraid to ask.

Hello Beckslaye,well they havnt left much for me to say,as i agree with everything said,
Candolim is a great Base,to travel north or South,and as mentioned dont forget the weekly HT meets in Candolim if you can make them

Agree, Split! Not much left to say!

The way you describe what you want out of a holiday, Beckslayer - Goa ticks all the boxes. I feel sure you'll love it.

Just watch the "Blackpool" stuff, though! We coastal Lancastrians can get a bit sensitive....and we're in the Premier League now, you know!!

Welcome to the forum

From what you are saying i think maybe Candolim would be the best place for you to base yourself, there are lots of lovely restaurants where you can try whatever dish you fancy and if it is not what you like just order something else as you will find things very cheap. Candolim beach is nice and not too overcrowded and just a short taxi ride away are the beaches of Morjim, Arombal and Vagator, Candolim is central for everything you can't really go wrong and if you want to venture to BLACKPOOL Calangute is just up the road LOL.

Sorry Roma but Blackpool is Blackpool and you are going down !!!!!!

Mike

I fear you may be right Mike, but if they do it right they'll go down with an improved ground and a shed load of cash!

First match v Wigan. Keep out of Blackpool that night!!

Oops...

HI Becky...yes agree with it all above.. and just know you will love it but will just add that imo try and get there earlier than April as this year everything was shutting up very early and it could be dissapointing ... things used to happen till may but not last couile of years...

Do come to the meets at the carevry on a wed, as you can see there are some terrific people on here ans we have a real laugh plus its really great for picking up info and tips on the ground!! oh and the coffe is good too..as you gather we are all teetotal
chilly

The main tourist season starts from the beginning of November through to April, the best times to visit are from the end of November to the end of March as from then on the humidity starts to increase. Candolim would probably suit you most as there are a number of bars and restaurants to choose from and you're not far from the other resorts in the North such as Calangute and Baga (which are more busier) which are only a short taxi or local bus (well advised) ride away. In the North there is also a choice of two Saturday night markets to visit and a Wednesday day market in Anjuna where live music is available on all three locations.