and already feeling the holiday blues!
It was our second time in Goa and it was even better than the last time. We booked a very cheap package deal with the intention of moving around and staying in different places. Our base was Park Avenue hotel in Calangute and it was terrible (I will be writing a review in the hotels bit!) We stayed at Sonesta Inns in Candolim which was fantastic as always and we went down to Mandrem and stayed at a boutique hotel which shall remain annoymous as it is a bit of a hideout!
Mumbai
We took a trip to Mumbai for 2 days (booked our flights with makemytrip and went with Kingfisher airlines - £120 return for 2) We stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace which was absolutely mind blowing but very expensive our breakfast which consited of a couple of croissants and juice set us back £20! Our view over the gateway of India was breathtaking though! The second night we stayed at the Sea Palace which is an average hotel on the sea front. We ate at Tendulkas and Indigo - both fantastic. If you are thinking of taking a trip to mumbai be prepared if you are a female. I was constantly gawped at, had people taking photos of me, filming me with their cameras and brushing up next to me to touch me. It got very upsetting so I would suggest you completely cover up with trousers, a top and a pashmina over the top so they cant see anything!
Anyway back to Goa! We went on a house boat which we booked through Kennedys in Calangute for £90 for 2 (we haggled). Very expensive but well worth it and it was the highlight of the holiday. We had a double bed with private bathroom and sailed up the mandovi river where we saw flying foxes (bats) , loads of birds of prey and even a croc! Book ahead as it is very popular!
Market wise we went to Anjuna on wednesday which we will never do again as it was worse than last year and we were constantly harrassed Ingos was much better and after we headed up to Club Cobana in the hills which was interesting! Beautiful setting with unlimited booze but felt like a bit of a youth club/meat market.
One thing we never realised about Goa was the absolutely amazingly high class restaurants that were tucked away. We would definately reccommend eating at La restaurant Francais (on the main baga rd) and A Reverie (next to Goan heritage) Both pricey by Goan standards (£20 for 3 course meal with drinks) but some of the best food we have ever eaten!
Well I hope that was helpful I am off to bed now as our flight was delayed for over 4 hours. We got stuck waiting in the plane at bharain because the King of Bharain was flying in so everyone had to wait for him to walk down his red carpet on the runway (seriously!)
Ecca
great report!!
great report!!
Glad to hear Le restaurant is still there!
Fiona - Thanks 
Matin_d - Le Restaurant was fab! I never thought that vanilla mash potatoes could be so good!
Mids - Another must see is the Dhobi Ghats (make sure you take your camera) We also took one of the many boats that leave from the main habour where you can get a great perspective of the Gateway of India and the Taj. We went the Victoria Terminus at rush hour which is very hectic but definately an 'experience' with the thousands of people rushing to work. Our taxi driver took us up to the tower of silence where they lay out their dead for the vultures to eat.
If you are interested in shopping there are quite a few markets but we werent over-awed with them. Chor Market (aka theives market) is a really interesting place to find furniture/jewellery etc most of the stuff looked like it had been looted from age old palaces. We also went to Fashion street where I picked up some UK highstreet clothes for 100 Rupees each (£1.30).
Hope that helps! Let me know if you what to know anything else.
Matin_d - Le Restaurant was fab! I never thought that vanilla mash potatoes could be so good!
Mids - Another must see is the Dhobi Ghats (make sure you take your camera) We also took one of the many boats that leave from the main habour where you can get a great perspective of the Gateway of India and the Taj. We went the Victoria Terminus at rush hour which is very hectic but definately an 'experience' with the thousands of people rushing to work. Our taxi driver took us up to the tower of silence where they lay out their dead for the vultures to eat.
If you are interested in shopping there are quite a few markets but we werent over-awed with them. Chor Market (aka theives market) is a really interesting place to find furniture/jewellery etc most of the stuff looked like it had been looted from age old palaces. We also went to Fashion street where I picked up some UK highstreet clothes for 100 Rupees each (£1.30).
Hope that helps! Let me know if you what to know anything else.
Hi Ecca
Thanks just looking for things to fill up a couple of days, took your tip and booked flight from the same place, staying 2 nights looking forward to the sights,
Mids
Thanks just looking for things to fill up a couple of days, took your tip and booked flight from the same place, staying 2 nights looking forward to the sights,
Mids
Elephanta Island is a nice day out while in Mumbai 
Ecca - great report (- think you're the person we met on the houseboat and went to club cubana with...still nursing the mozzie bites!) We got back on Tuesday night and are still knackered but looking forward to returning next year and doing some more travelling.
Would strongly recommend people try the Plantain Leaf in Calangute - amazing veg food and excellent staff.
Would strongly recommend people try the Plantain Leaf in Calangute - amazing veg food and excellent staff.
ecca.
I enjoyed reading your 'report'. I was interested to learn that you had been on the 'houseboat' trip. I have seen some info on another thread but I would appreciate more of your own views and experiences on the trip. I am keen to take my wife as part of a treat for our 25th anniversary.
Were you on the boat that has two bedrooms or the one with four bedrooms? Did they prepare the food on the boat or have it brought in.
Some people have said that the 'four bedroomed' boat is much better.
if you could give me a run down of your trip on the boat that would be great. Cheers
I enjoyed reading your 'report'. I was interested to learn that you had been on the 'houseboat' trip. I have seen some info on another thread but I would appreciate more of your own views and experiences on the trip. I am keen to take my wife as part of a treat for our 25th anniversary.
Were you on the boat that has two bedrooms or the one with four bedrooms? Did they prepare the food on the boat or have it brought in.
Some people have said that the 'four bedroomed' boat is much better.
if you could give me a run down of your trip on the boat that would be great. Cheers
Mids - Have a fab time! Glad I could help!
Stoney (R+M!) Have you still got C's email addy? We have that photo of you two in Club Cubanna. We had a bit of a nightmare getting back apart from the King of Bharain we got out the taxi that picked us up from the airport and the cabbie drove of with our luggage! We are now trying to hunt down the CCTV!
Pedrogooner - Not sure if you saw my post (below) on the houseboats thread it pretty much said it all! Could ask Stoney too as they were on the same boat as us so you could get different view!
_________
I am not sure that Kennedys have a website as they are not as big as day tripper or john's but they are on the baga road in calangute - most taxi drivers will know where. We thought it was alot to pay however when you think that you get a double bed, your own bathroom with shower and 3 meals it is quite good value.
We wanted to go as my boyfriend was desperate to see some wildlife (which I wasnt!) and I wanted to relax and get away from calangute and I have to say that we got both and more. We got picked up at around 3pm from our hotel and it took about 30mins to get to the boat. We sailed up to Panjim for the sunset and then moored close by. We saw some flying foxes (bats) lots of birds of prey and even a crocodile! We left the boat at about 2pm and were dropped of back at our hotel.
There were four couples including us on board and then about 5 staff. They didnt provide the nets so I would suggest you take your own. Everyone loved the food and looking back at the comments in the guest book lots of other people did. There was alot of choice but I wasnt hugely impressed but then I am a fussy eater! For dinner there were about 8 different dishes -fish, meat and veg. They also have a well stocked bar on board (which was extra).
It was very noisey in the night but everyone laughed about it in the morning and strangely it sort of added to the experience!
The staff were very good - Raj the captain was fantastic and gave us a sort of prep talk before we set sail about where we were going and what we might see.
The boat itself was beautiful and we will definately be going back next year but we might do it in Kerala this time.
______
Hope that helps!
Stoney (R+M!) Have you still got C's email addy? We have that photo of you two in Club Cubanna. We had a bit of a nightmare getting back apart from the King of Bharain we got out the taxi that picked us up from the airport and the cabbie drove of with our luggage! We are now trying to hunt down the CCTV!
Pedrogooner - Not sure if you saw my post (below) on the houseboats thread it pretty much said it all! Could ask Stoney too as they were on the same boat as us so you could get different view!
_________
I am not sure that Kennedys have a website as they are not as big as day tripper or john's but they are on the baga road in calangute - most taxi drivers will know where. We thought it was alot to pay however when you think that you get a double bed, your own bathroom with shower and 3 meals it is quite good value.
We wanted to go as my boyfriend was desperate to see some wildlife (which I wasnt!) and I wanted to relax and get away from calangute and I have to say that we got both and more. We got picked up at around 3pm from our hotel and it took about 30mins to get to the boat. We sailed up to Panjim for the sunset and then moored close by. We saw some flying foxes (bats) lots of birds of prey and even a crocodile! We left the boat at about 2pm and were dropped of back at our hotel.
There were four couples including us on board and then about 5 staff. They didnt provide the nets so I would suggest you take your own. Everyone loved the food and looking back at the comments in the guest book lots of other people did. There was alot of choice but I wasnt hugely impressed but then I am a fussy eater! For dinner there were about 8 different dishes -fish, meat and veg. They also have a well stocked bar on board (which was extra).
It was very noisey in the night but everyone laughed about it in the morning and strangely it sort of added to the experience!
The staff were very good - Raj the captain was fantastic and gave us a sort of prep talk before we set sail about where we were going and what we might see.
The boat itself was beautiful and we will definately be going back next year but we might do it in Kerala this time.
______
Hope that helps!
Interesting journey back! Am just (now) getting to unpacking so will email C from home address. Photo would be lovely.
Pedrogooner
Agree with Ecca about boat-trip definately worth it - especially if you just want to chill out for a bit and escape the organised mayhem that can be Goa.
Pedrogooner
Agree with Ecca about boat-trip definately worth it - especially if you just want to chill out for a bit and escape the organised mayhem that can be Goa.
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