Hi Rogueslayer, I go 5th Jan - 3rd Feb - 4 weeks can't wait staying in the south though. Flying fro Manchester too. Keeping with the subject though....

Ali T How did your kids do on the flight do you have any tips?

Thanks Arl

Flight wasnt brilliant but managed to get seats at the back of the plane - 2-2 so not quite so crowded - took lots of books, colouring stuff, games etc and Gameboy - also food for them as the kids meals where terrible om Monarch. I dont normally but them but the Dairylea Munchables were a life saver. Just grin and put up with it - its only 12 hrs and once you get there you will forget all about the flight!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone.

I am going to book our holiday for Goa next year. It looks like Phoenix Park - so could someone tell me the best way to book it. DIY or package holiday?

I have a feeling from looking around this forum that the latter will be the cheapest - if so which tour operator is the cheapest please? Will have to suffer the legroom problem if need be (even though I am 6' - 2")

Come on hurry up I have a holiday to book

McGroogle

Hi, Try travelpack 08701271001 or http://www.airflights .co.uk both have been very reasonable this year.

We have spent the last fifteen years visiting Goa and have booked again for November, This year however we will be travelling with our 18 month old baby and wonder if any other HT members have done the same.

Does anyone know whether milk in Goa is safe to drink for a baby or should we put her back to formula for the duration of the holiday.

We have seen our GP about vacinations for her but he didn't seem too concerned since all the immunisation that she has had already covers most illnesses.

We have never bothered taking Malaria Tablets but would feel terrible if the worst should happen to the baby.

Any help and advice would be great.

Hi,

I'm not a mother, or a father for that matter, but I will talk about the obvious (to me)....

Mosquitos/Malaria.. The first things that comes to mind when having very young children over here are :-

1. They won't react in the same way as older children/adults would if a flying insect landed on them... So I guess you want to stop them getting to the baby, so some fine netting (which can be bought over here) would be good to cover carrier (or whatever the baby will be in).

2. Liquid! Again, not as likely to say ' Hay Mom/Dad - I'm really thirsty!!! Will need to probably give etc water to keep hydrated...

3. Sun, keep covered up with natural fibres loose fiting to protect from sun, but not too warm....

4. I think the milk over here is pasturised so I'm guessing it would be ok, there is also the carton stuff which is 'boiled' to taste funny... that might be the safer option if you're worried....

Hope this helps

Thanks for that

Like you said realy most of it is just plain common sense, but we would be extremely interested to hear from other site users who may have taken little ones away to Goa and to hear of their experiences and traumas etc.

Hi there,
I can understand your concerns (i'd probably be the same). I don't have kids myself...not brave enough!! but have seen quite a few babies on holiday in Goa over the past few years. I know an English couple who "got pregnant" in Goa and decided to go back to the UK to have the baby but after speaking to Dr's and checking out their options they decided to stay and have the baby in Goa. Beautiful baby boy was born in Feb this year (by water birth) and he's doing very well.
The only changes that they had to make was to sell the Enfield and buy a car!!
Goldenflipflop

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Dare I respond to this? I Narial, I fully understand what you're saying, but you could say it a little nicer.... I don't think you shouldn't bring babies/young children over (although I like that not many come as it makes the flight much quieter!! :o). When children are young I think they react better than us oldies to the climate change, and you must remember that children over here cope with it. I'm sure the milk issue will be fine, which ever way they handle it.... Powder etc... If they're coming around Christmas time it probably would be best as it's much cooler in the evenings/mornings and would be more like England... What ever happen I hope all goes well, My friends nephew is coming over this December, I think he'll be 6 when he comes over, I'm sure he'll love it... It will give him an idea of how other people live, which would be great...

Hi Alistair,
I'm off back to Goa in a few weeks so will check out the baby milk situation in the chemists and supermarkets and give you some feedback.
Goldenflipflop

Thanks Goldenflipflop,

Any help in the milk department will be good

Cheers
Alistair

You can get baby milk in goa with no problems, main shop under babutes between candolim/calangute does it, also there is a big place in panjim that does all kind of baby stuff (bit like mothercare). However my understanding is that it is fairly expensive compared to uk prices.

Generally i wouldnt take a chance with the local fresh milk with a baby and would stick her on formula for the duration.

I would check again with the dr about the vacinations as i am sure that kids (been a long time since mine had them) dont get the injections you need for goa as if they did why do we need them as adults if you get my drift.

Injections that i had last time i had them done were Hep A & Typhoid, Polio, Diptheria and Tetanus and polio.

Fairly sure your baby would have had polio (or is that later when they are at school, sugar lump and all that), not sure about dip but i certainly wouldnt have imagined the baby would have had the others.

Hope that helps

Peter

This will be our little girls 4th visit to Goa we first took her at 25 months she will be 5 next birthday and we are going in February for 3 weeks she loves it.

The first time I took everything I thought I would need just in case but I did do some research and you can basically buy everything there. Calpol etc is very cheap in the chemists and we bought UHT milk in the Supermarkets, there was also pampers etc there but I had already gone prepared for that.

We didnt find the travelling any problem as she slept for most of the flight.

Like everyone else has already said it is common sense while you are there we covered her in high factor sun cream (even had a little sun suit to cover her) and mosquito cream at night.

It is a great holiday for children everyone makes a big fuss of her which she loves and she has learnt so much, I recommend the jungle book safari!

Thanks for that Jacqui your positive comments will make my Mrs a little bit more happy as she having kittens about taking baby away

Cheers
Alistair

Jacqui,

sorry forgot to ask did your GP recomend any jabs or anti malarial medicine?

If I can remember rightly my little one had Hep A and possibly tetinis the first time but she was already covered for rest of jabs from normal immunisations, she only had them the first time and has obviously not needed them since. As regard malaria tablets bit of a nightmare trying to get her to take them but last year we had a greater success with them by crushing them in haliborange vitamins! I have also heard marmite keeps mosquitose away so I am going to give that a go on toast this year, you would have to speak to your gp about doseage for tablets because I think it goes on weight. I have spoken to alot of people who dont even bother but I always try and give them. I am sure you will have a great time.

Jaquie dunno for babys but the adult hep a initial jab only lasts a year but if you have the booster between 6-12 months it when last for 10 years. Maybe worth checking that she is still covered for Hep A.

Regards

Peter

hi considerin your talking about kids in goa heres a kids point of view i first went to goa when i was 11.... loved it, went when i was 12, 13 and so on now im 18 and im going for 3 months. If your kids can handle life without all luxuries they'll have an amazing time. My cousins 15 now and hes also been going since he was 12 without his friends and hes made lots of Goan friends since. Highly reccomend it!!!