Everyone has thier favourite area and I have to say mine was most definately Baga.
It is definately not as wild as some people portray it and there are some fantastic eateries there, I always like to steer clear of very tacky resorts and I certainly don't find Baga to be tacky.
I loved the natural ramshackle style of Baga with many cattle roaming the streets, lots of brightly coloured stalls and very importantly for me there were lots of palm trees.
We did visit Calangute and I found it to be more 'concrete' but we still enjoyed mooching around the shops there, we sat outside a cafe there one afternoon called the rock cafe and we had a fantastic time just watching the craziness all around us.
Candolim struck me as being more 'british' with quite a lot of english pubs and big screen tvs - however we still enjoyed a few evenings there in the many excellent restaurants.
I loved Goa and I wouldn't worry about which resort too much as the 3 main resorts are very close to each other and not far in a taxi, hope this helps, shirleyV

Fiona, reading this forum has made me book for next year - going on Ist Jan - keep up the good work

thanks oap!
Shirley
funnily enough I have come to the conclusion that it should be the Marinha Dourada!

I agree totally with Shirleyv! Also I have not heard a bad word about the Marinha Dorada so think that would be a good safe choice. My only reservation would be the weather. We went at Easter in 2005 and day by day it got humider and humider. I really think that if you want to get about and enjoy Goa at its best you might be better saving the holiday until you can go nearer the middle of the season when it will be cooler and busier. But then again...you WILL love it anytime!

shirley v,
surprised that you thought that candolim was "british".
we were there last february and didn't find that many british pubs, in fact SWMBO has just said she can only remember one.
But as you say all three resorts are so close together that there is no point in worrying.

Fiona,
the only 2 drawbacks I found with the Mar Dourada was that it was a little bit out of things, even going to the beach is a fair walk or a taxi (yes I know they have a free bus? ) and the beds were like concrete.
My own choice would be the Phoenix park, if only because the beds are better! and you still have cows wandering there, even into the restaurants
In honesty we had a brilliant holiday at the MD also at the Phoenix , hope this years choice is as good, only 5 weeks to go.
By the way I assumed that as mod on this thread you were a Goa regular!!..... never mind , you soon will be
del949

As stated all the resorts are close together and easy and cheap to travel via taxi or even walk,so any that you fancy will be fine.So it's down to what sort of accomodation you want - self catering/all inclusive or b&b.
After going for 8 years we have only stayed in 2 places and both in Candolim, Magnum Hotel (b&b) and Albuquerqe Villas (self catering) both within 50 yards of each other,very central for all shops, bars,restaurants and only 6-7 mins walk to the beach.Magnum was great but after having a look at the villas was even better.
We have had a look at other hotels in Candolim and the Sunset Hotel (has a website) would be our next choice if we couldn't get in the others.No doubt you are going to get unindated with places to stop and end up with a real headache !!! but you are doing the right thing and sorting it out early.
We have been in the last 2 weeks of April and yes - it is hot and does get humid on a night but we coped very well as others do - the resorts are still busy so don't worry you will be on your own.
Due to work i have to take the last week in March and 1st in April,and you can tell the difference in humidity,but not as bad as end of April.
Final thing, Candolim is not more 'British' (sorry ShirleyV) than any other resort in Goa,just because they have big screen tv's (only ever known 2 places to have them) and as for 'British' pubs they are scattered through every resort,all very nice,all very clean and all run/owned by Goans who you can sit and chat with and pass the hours.

Hi Fiona, I agree with Shirley V that Candolim has a British feel and atmosphere about it. We have stayed all over Central and Northern Goa from 1991 untill 2004 and the worst place for us was Candolim. It is not as busy as Calalgute or Baga but at least these places have a feel and the atmosphere of being in India. In Candolim you will meet on average 8 out of 10 people there that are British and the whole place has a Brits on holiday feel. If you go to Baga or Calangute you are in more of a mixed culture and it has more restaurants and bars especially if you walk down the Baga road (1 mile) there are literally over 1 hundred places to eat and have a drink or two. You also have the Plantain Leaf restaraunt (vegi) in Calangute which is one of the best in Goa. The Casa Portugese which is on the Baga road and aprox 750 meters from Baga is also awonderfull experience where all the waiters are in national Portugese costume an the food is absolutley perfection. Take your pick, the choice is yours, but whichever you choose I hope that you will enjoy. B

thanks everyone. My main concern is the weather and I just can't make my mind up! Also in my mind is that we would both like to do a tour of India so perhpas we should leave Goa till then. Decisions!

By the way I assumed that as mod on this thread you were a Goa regular!!..... never mind , you soon will be
del949

No - unfortunately I'm not. I'm just here to mod! I have Goa, India and Indian Ocean, Bulgaria, Far East and Other Destinations to mod- I would have to have been a very busy lady to be a regular to all those places!! I do take an active part in two of those forums though, apart from modding.

Hi Fiona,
When exactly does Easter fall in 2007??? March time in Goa is still quite bearable but come April/May the weather really is relentless!!! As for which resort to choose i'd say don't worry too much, as has already been said, the 3 resorts are a mere taxi ride away, however I noticed last season that quite a lot of Candolim Beach road shut down mid April, whereas Baga/Calangute tends to stay open for an extra month or so, even certain beach shacks in this area stay open until May/June depending on the rains!! Just be sure that your hotel has AC, the place where I live doesn't and it sometimes gets soooo humid that we are tempted to check into a hotel!!!
Easter is a nice time in Goa esp. if you are Catholic, the local families follow the priest down the beach starting at Baga and proceed to Calangute. They carry a large wooden cross and stop every few metres to do the stations of the cross, it's a lovely sight to see with all the ladies in their best dresses and men in shirts and trousers.
Goldenflipflop

not sure when Easter is- I think though it will be after we would come back. ( I have 2 weeks off but OH doesn't) I had wondered if the quieter resorts might be just a little too quiet at that time so I think we would look at staying in Baga or Calangute.( The reason why I am planning so far in advance is that I will be using BA miles to book the flight and would need to book a year in advance to be sure of getting the flights we want)

Hi,

According to my diary the dates for Easter 2007 are as follows,

Palm Sunday is 01 April
Good Friday is 06 April
Easter Sunday is 08 April

hope it helps
Scruffyish

Thanks! Hmmm... we would need to be travelling home on the Sunday.

Looking at those dates, if you have to travel on certain days like we do (due to work) expect to pay high prices for flights.This year (not flying over Easter) is £100 cheaper per person.

Hi, sorry if I offended anyone by saying that Candolim has a more 'british' feel than Baga or Calangute, this was not meant to be a put down as I thought it was a lovely resort and may stay there in future trips to Goa.
I am not an expert on Goa as lots of you are as I have only been once to date.
I am sure there are many of you who know Goa much better than me but it was just the overall feel of Candolim was not as Indian as the other 2 resorts.
I fell in love with North Goa and I would happily stay in any of the 3 main resorts, shirleyV

Spike
I dont hve to worry about flight prices as I am using BA miles

Well, looks as if we just might be going. But, typical us, will be packing a lot into the trip! Flying into Mumbai- will have 29 hours there before flying to Goa; 5 days in Goa and then flying up to Delhi for 2 days/3 nights and then flying home from Delhi. Well thats the plan so far..........

Sorry ShirleyV for being 'snappy'

Fioan, I always go at end of season and love Baga. As you are only going for a short spell, it is a great place to use as a base and explore further up north too

yes Martin- I think we will stay in Baga.