Life's too short! If you were disappointed in your last visit why not try somewhere else? There's a great big world out there. Are you travelling with children?

Gambia is not a patch on Goa - for one reason if nothing else, the local people ~ the Goans are wonderful people the Gambians I'm afraid are the opposite.

hi we have been to the gambia and although it is very much like goa, the people are not as nice, they seem to pester you more, one example we were going to the beach one day only a short walk away when just outside of the hotel one man wanted to walk us down to the beach(wouldnt take no for an answer) when we got to the beach he wanted money then another came to find us a sunbed he wanted money then they wanted money for the sunbed it seemed every oppotunity they wanted money. the weather is about the same as goa only at night it got cooler. the flight was good only 6 hours. the food about the same and the price of things about the same, the one other big difference was at night you had to get a taxi outside of your hotel it took you to your restaurant waited for you then took you back to your hotel, it was not safe to do any other.there was entertainment at your hotel.
hope this as helped you, but dont be put off by my report you should go and see for yourself, others may say different, but i know which i prefer

I think thats a very harsh comment from Lockieman as I found The Gambia people very friendly. I came back from Goa yesterday and have been to the Gambia 3 times. Goa is much more developed than Gambia but the hotels can be very good, comparable to European standards - just be careful in choosing the right one, I went to The Sunbeach 2 years ago and it was excellent. The Gambia also now has a handful of very good restaurants outside of the hotels which a few years ago were not there. I think both destinations are great but in Gambia you will get more hassle from local people who want to walk with you every time you venture out and obtain your life story ! But it is very safe and has just recently been announced as the 3rd safest country in the world. I certainly would not hesitate to go back there.

defo goa is the best choice my friend went to the gambia and was threatened with violence when they stepped out of the hotel when they wouldnt give money to a guy hanging about ouside the hotel and when he moved on another guy took his place and also threatened others as well goa yes gambia no maggieomx

We have been to the Gambia four times and have never once felt threatened. The people are really friendly - OK you will get those that are after money but as long as you are firm with them and tell them NO then they will leave you alone.
Many people are put off by the'hassle' from the bumsters but we always have a chat with them,share tales about our lives and generally try to mix.
There are some excellent restaurants and bars,we wander about dayand night and only really get a taxi when we can't be bothered to walk!
We always ask our taxi drivers to come back for us at a set time but only for convenience not because we are afraid to be out on our own.
I really can't compare with Goa as we have never been - going in February next year and really looking forward to it.
Would just say that we love Africa and its people but are sure we will enjoy India just as much?

Hi
Why not consider Sri Lanka?

The people are lovely and friendly, it's quite like Goa with larger AI hotels in the south with smaller, more basic hotels north of Colombo.
We always stay in Negombo, there's lots of places to eat, but there aren't any beach shacks, unfortunately.

We think there's more to see in Sri Lanka than Goa, lots of ancient culture (Polonnaruwa, Sigyria, Dambulla) and trips to Kandy and the Tea Country (just like the cover on the Tetley tea box).
Also, the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela is not to be missed.

For those lovers of jewellery, you can buy lovely gemstones and have pieces made, just same as in Goa.

Polly

Hmmm..... have left this post on the Goa forum up till now. However, you are going to get lots of suggestions( which is great!) for destinations so I think it would be better on the General Holiday Enquiries forum. I will move it to there but leave a link from the Goa forum.