I usually do listen to the locals especially the shack owners as they know it all.

I know what you are saying about the currents I am quite carefull and I have felt quite safe in the past.

I will definately be in the sea this year but I will be carefull as the norm.

I dont mind the swimming pools by much prefer the sea.

I am not a strong swimmer so don't go out far but I did find that going out to sea alone when it is full of drunken Indian men during holi is far more dangerous than the current always go in pairs.

Donna
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As a 'first-timer' what I want to know is do I or don't I believe everything I've read on this thread?

GW

i would say yes, because they are all telling you of their previous experiences and good advice on how to enjoy your holiday and what/where to avoid, this is a great source of info and when it gets into the season the website is very busy and you will pick up loads of up to date tips ... but be warned.... this site is very addictive !!!!!

Hi Astraleve nice to see you back, I know what you mean about the dogs, can be scarey in packs , especially after the English lady who died of rabies last year.
My advice would be to take re-hydration salts daily, the results of drinking lots of water and perspiring flushes the natural salts from your body causing a chemical imbalance, which in turn can cause a seizure. This is from experience, as I assume all the advice is.

So to recap: Stay away from the wild dogs ~ You can catch Rabies and possibly die !!

Don't go swimming in the sea ~ the under currants will pull you under and you will drown.

Don't walk with your bag on the outside ~ you may be the victim of a drive by robbery!

Take Malaria tablets ~ The mossies may bite you and you will end up with Malaria resulting in a nasty death!

Drink plenty of water or take dehydration tablets ~ you will dehydrate from the heat which could make you faint or possibly die!

I'm beginning to wonder what I'm letting myself in for

Crikey! Listening to that, wonder why we go back every year

Not much different too the rest of the world and properly a lot safer than the UK :omg, the only problem we had was which fantastic meal to try that night and when to switch from kings to bacardi and coke

Hi Lin B
Last november I stayed at the Renton manor for a month and was lucky enough to have a few meals with the partner of the poor lady who died of rabies, he tod me she was bitten in Panjim by a puppy(the pup was on a lead), she was nipped on the ankle just breaking the skin, and they thought no more about it untill they got back to England, as we know it was to late, the doctor in England told them she should have had treatment within 24 hours. It doesn't have to be a dog in a pack, it doesn't even have to be a dog,if any animal in Goa breaks your skin get yourself to the hospital

Danny

Reading this about rabies. I was wondering whether it would be worth having anti-rabies jabs before we go? Is the dog situation really that bad? I don't mind dogs that I know, even though I am still wary of them, but get terrified of packs roaming around.

This thread is very helpful. All people have to make up there own minds but I as a first timer to Goa will not be Swimming in the sea, the same as I will not be stroking/petting the Dogs. There is danger everywhere in the UK but it doesn't stop me going about my Daily business. It just makes me more alert.

Hi, there is another long thread on here about the rabies, we were aware it was a scratch by a puppy, but the puppy must have contacted it from another dog. the brother of the lady who died actually posted on here about the situation,
Lin

please have an open mind at first you will think you have made a big mistake you will see lots of poverty, litter,dogs , cows, dirt, dust but you WILL meet the most wonderful people who will be friends for life

This thread, while containing lots of no doubt valuable information, seems to be a bit OTT

The dogs are almost all totally benign, they sleep most of the day and although they had a few scraps with each other on the beach I never for a moment felt threatened by them and I had two 7 year old kids with me

We took malaria tablets, but not one of us got bit while we were there

Crime? I've never felt more relaxed in a place than here - I am much more vigilant in my home town than I was in Goa. The people are the salt of the earth and completely un-intimidating.

We are only a young family (I'm 30) and this was a great holiday destination for all of us.... I can (and DO) highly recommend it to anyone to come here, and we are already planning our return trip for next year

The dogs probably do sleep most of the day! I had many come chasing me first thing in the morning on my walks. They come from behind you an d nip the rear posture! I ended up taking a spray can with me to ward them off! Beware! They look lovely, but i would not trust them again. Maybe they had a go at me as i am only 4' 11"

The dogs! I have to agree that you do have to be wary. We were in Margoa one evening it was cooling down. We were walking (not running, talking loudly or mucking around) and three dogs came out of a side jetty barking and running at my little girl (aged 5) it was very frightening and threatening. If you look at the size of the dogs to her, they were bigger. We chased them away before they got hold of her but I wouldn't have liked to seen the state of her if they had. We were told about the dogs before we went and I drummed it in to my kids not to touch or play with them (eldest is a real dog boy so it was hard for him). The dog sanctuaries do go out on vaccination runs a small v cut out their ears mean they have been anti-rabied and a large V cut out mean they been spade/nueterd.

I don't hate dogs, I respect them, they can be dangerous and the rabies jabs are not 100% effective. These dogs are wild no matter how often they are around people. It's not scare mongering or OTT but decent advice.

I never witnessed any crime over there but feel sorry anyone that has, as for un-imtimidating people, I agree except for the sellers which had me scared stupid when I first got there because I had never experienced it before.

For old timers, yeah the advice on this thread might be OTT but I think it's very useful for people considering on going to Goa or booked for the first time

I agree those dogs can be very scarey and dangerous if they corner you, and you also run the risk of rabies, unless like us you opt to have the rabies injections (vaccine)(we were advised to last year by the BMC) but it was extreemly costly. also talking about the sea, I was there when the canadian man died, he was trying to save his daughter, the same day 3 young students drowned on calangute beach an dwe were unfortunate enough to come across2 of them laid out uncovered on the beach dead, this was a couple of hours after they were pulled from the sea, they were being 'guarded by a couple of policemen and a few onlookers, waitiing to be taken off (no cars can get down there) nearby small indian kids played at the watetrs edge, this had a profound effect on me for weeks, I could not get the image of those young lads out of my mind, i was so upset. also my husband rescued 2 or 3 people on calangute beach on one occassion certainly risking his own life, and we saw many peole drown over the 8.5 mths we were there, and NOT just Indians, so yes be cautious, very cautious, listen to locals and watch the sea, you can often tell if it is safe or not. this is not being ott but sensible
chilly

just to point out that I am not an old timer, I've only been to Goa once and was offering my advice based on that

All I'm trying to say is that this thread seems to contain a lot of scary, stressful and dangerous sounding stuff that is more likely to put people off from going than anything

Its all just common sense really, and would apply to just about any country in the world especially somewhere in the third world.

So to all Goa virgins - Of course, be a bit wary - but in general you'll have nothing to worry about except perhaps whether to have a kings or a kingfisher (such a tough decision, sat there on a beach in the sun)

I have trouble with that decision so I usually end up having a Kings and then a Kingfisher , hey I'm on holiday.

Donna
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