Well that`s it, it`s been and gone, everyone sitting comfortably ?

Having visited and stayed in Goa several times as a backpacking Hippy minus the hair, this was the first time I have visited with my Family and on a package holiday and this is how I got on .......

Flying with Monarch was my worst fear from reading the reports on here, to be honest for the money we paid I just wanted to get there and enjoy it. Got checked in without any hassle to discover that we would be flying direct to Goa which I didn`t really mind and that everything was on time, so far so good. We took our rather cramped seats in the middle isle and sat down in anticipation of sunshine and chill out only just round the corner, then 4 adults sat behind us and their 4 children behind them......... but wait .......... they moved the kids in behind us who constantly pulled the trays down with a bang and kicked the seats constantly. A rather angry stare from me seemed to do the job for all of 10 minutes untill I fell asleep to be woken with my head shooting forward as the seat was hit from behind, I expalained that I wouldn`t mind a bit of peace if possible to which the parents just seemed to think I was from another planet. Anyway 9 hours later and the plane was descending into Dabolim. Fairly stress free and quickly through and onto the coach and off to Renton Manor.

My wife was on pins as the traffic was a total alien concept to her but I had a good laugh at her reactions and told her to expect much worse. Got to Renton Manor and it looked as though the place had undergone a refurb in the not too distant past and it looked wonderful until we got in the room. After deciding to opt for an A/C room we settled in. Very basic but functional as a base is all I can say about the room, but like I said for what we paid I didn`t expect the Ritz (more on the resort and location in hotel reviews soon)

Didn`t do half the things I planned to do but there`s always next year, spent most of our days on Little Vagator beach visiting old friends and was amazed how many old faces are still from my first visit nearly 7 years ago. Too many sellers still down there but was left alone when they realised they had met their nemesis. I took some old pics from 1999 to give to some of the beach kids who were absolutely gobsmacked when they saw how much they had grown up, most are now married with children now which came as a bit of a shock.

Had a day on Baga beach at shining star shack and caused a riot when we got out of the taxi at the beach road, all pushing and shoving to guide us to their shacks and a big fight broke out, wasn`t impressed with the amount of sunbeds, lots more since my last visit 4 yeras ago.
Went to Bobby`s shack at Candolim for the day, had breakfast and dinner there and chilled out sunbathing for the day, the security guard kept the sellers at bay which made it a very pleasant day all round as it wasn`t very busy.
Ashwem beach was paradise, we went to visit an old friend who used to work in Vagator who now works at `Little Goa` shack, a great place to unwind, very comfortable seating and a hammock if you just want to chill out and relax. My wife went to have a look at the coco huts they had and said they were very nice, and clean as were the toilet and shower facilities, so thats something for next year.

As I never really visited Candolim, Baga and Calangute in the evenings on my previous visits I had no idea were I was going for any sort of nightlife, we came across a bar in Baga called `Aqua lounge` (in front of hotel Linda i think) nice chilled atmosphere, live entertainment, big screen for footy and a pool table with 2 lovely lads from Delhi working the bar. Shooters was heaving with people and by chance we found this place. Another nice bar further up the road to Calangute was `Eclipse`, it was a little on the quiet side but I can imagine it being busy in the main season.
Went to Lazy days to meet some fellow HT`ers, I was a little shy at first and just sat on the edge of the group, soon joined in and was made really welcome, nice to meet a few of you Martin_D , Spike, Lin B, Billy Bluenose and the rest of the gang.
Another worth a visit was Pete`s countryside pub( above taste of China) Candolim, Pete is from my home town so I could be biased lol, but he is a very chirpy old soul and a thoroughly nice fella.

The food was as good as ever at most places, here`s a few we tried

East meets West, Baga - Lovely setting, shown to our table, while a live band played on a stand in the middle of the restaurant, great stuff I thought ....... Then the waiter came over" we have special this special that" and he started "wine list wine list" , I said we were ok and would decide ourselves, I found them to be very pushy and said to my Mrs that if he carries on being so then we should walk out, it was that bad !!. I ordered Goan Prawn curry, jeera rice and garlick butter nan bread,too be honest it wasn`t too great and I could have had better from any beach shack at a fraction of the price, a great dissapointment here.

All Spice, Arpora - This was the nearest to our Hotel and came recommended on here, very busy which was a good sign, staff were very friendly, helpfull and efficient, I opted for a spicy chicken Chettinadad and was very impressed as were the rest of us with our choices, a big thumbs up here.

Relish, Candolim - Give this choice by an English lad living in Candolim, just on the right on the beach road from taste of china, lovely garden setting with ambient lighting, the staff were very friendly as was the resident Doberman `Becky`, no pushy business here, in between ordering and getting the food the staff and the owner all came over for a chat about cricket ,football and the world in general. I Opted for Vindalloo and I have to say it was the best I had tried, not too hot(I tell lies) and full of flavour, tried chicken chilly fry on another visit and that too was spot on, very cheap too I think the bill came to 600 rupees for 3 of us one night. Definately recommend this place and we even had fruit bats swooping in for a look.

Cactus Shepherds Pie, Candolim - Visited twice and was impressed with the service and the food on both occasions, especially the Prawn sizzler which was out of this world .

Mango Tree, Vagator - My friend Steve who owns the Hilltop Motel in Vagator has bought this place in the last few years and has done a great job, there is a big screen tv showing films in the evening and a bar running down the outside of the restaurant if you just fancy a drink. I had chicken shashlick which came with chips and salad and the plate was full to the brim and very nice indeed, everything we ordered on our visits here was done to perfection. I did notice someone ordered a pizza and it looked very good indeed.

All in all a great holiday with the exception of my wifes 40th birthday on the 31st March, we just ordered a drink at the hotel when she came over all dizzy, I walked her back to the room for a lie down and she fainted(scared the life outta me), the hotel staff all came to her aid and she came round thankfully, too much sun and not enough water was the verdict, no doctor was needed but she spent the evening in bed being sick and running to the loo every 30 minutes but was ok the following day. One of the bar lads drove me to Calangute chemist for some rehydration stuff and evertything turned out for the best. The humidity that second week was pretty bad and i think earlier in the season would be better next year.

Since my last visit I noticed a lot of changes but nothing too major except the amount of taxis and a few places that had changed hands or closed down in Vagator.
As this was my first package hoiliday I think I would choose stay in Candolim in future, Arpora is a bit out of the way and the hotel karaoke bar was a bit rowdy late at night but there wasn`t any other option for late night drink round that way.

Anyway that`s it till next year sob sob ............. Andy