i'm afraid i think we are our own worst enemy. we have in the past and still do now, sing the praises of goa.
the things we say on this forum, and others, influence people, as they are meant too!! its probably partially to blame for its popularity!!
but will it go full circle, become the blackpool of india, and then go downhill to the point that no one wishes to go there???? time will tell.
for myself, i'm having a change next year and going back to cuba, we have been there 3 times before, i really have missed the fantastic snorkling, but then perhaps i shouldn't be saying this!!!
we are not deserting goa, we will be going back the year after, but almost certainly south!!
i will now climb down from my soap box and go to watch the TV before i get too exited.
BOB

I only saw the far end of baga beach which was quiet and morjim beach which i thought was beauttifull, i had someone ask at work why would i want to go somewhere like goa it annoys me how un cultured some people are or even realise the world is a bigger than europe

For goodness sake there are still loads of empyy beaches . Walk along from Baga through the busy part of Calangute towards Candolim. There are beach shacks and sun beds sure, but a wide expanse of beach between them - loads of room to walk the beach from one end to the other. A few shacks around River Princess are busy - quite a lot of sunbeds but still you can walk comfortably along the beach - I did every single day of my holiday.
Nothing stays the same and of course Goa is becoming more and more popular. Its cheap, its cheerful and a b**** fantastic place for a holiday. I hanker after the old days of 15 years ago, where your neighbours were just as likely to be cows or pigs than other holidaymakers - now there are jewellery and leather shops etc, shame but the people are doing well, so good luck to them.
Neil you seem totally jaded about Goa so maybe not for you anymore, it isnt going to go backwards to how you remember it or want it to be. move on. The majority of us still love Goa - warts and all

Goa is prob the only holiday i didnt do any sunbathing apart from the odd hour a day when tired and needed a lie down i was having too much fun in the sea and rididng about on a scooter defying death and eating of course

Hi Roxey
yes it becomes less crowded as you come along side the river princess we ate and drank at Ganeshes opp the ship but the beach was dirty with no effort made to clean it up. Unfortuneatly you have to look with your eyes open these days and not with rose coloured specs like i have done in the past.
By the way has anyone ever seen a rubbish removal vehicle in Goa?
Paul

Hey, Paul, I too must have the same coloured specs on as you, but I still love the place dearly and I think if all the moaners where to stay at home maybe that would free up more sunbeds on the beaches for us Goan lovers, and yes I have seen the rubbish removal vehicle lots of times.... Jxk8.

Hi Paul, No, I meant it was really busy around the River Princess area, cant remember names of shacks apart from Rams but if you walk up from there towards Calangute and past the place where the guys are doing the jet skis etc it gets much better. There are still sunbeds near the sea but there is a wide expanse of beach to walk on. Will try and post a photo to show you.
I think my glasses must be more than rose tinted I certainly didnt see any rubbish on the beach. I walked most days from Zappas on end of Candolim beach road down to Rams - road leads up to where I stay. I can honestly hand on heart say I didnt see any rubbish on the beach at all. Only problem I had were the people playing badminton, cricket etc lol drives me nuts ducking and diving these whizzing balls coming at me from all directions

I went to the Calangute / Baga stretch of beach for the first time in months last week and must admit it's really really too cramped. Most of the beds were empty mind you and I don't understand why they still bother to put them out with so few tourists around? From Big Banana at CSM Lane right down to the creek the beds are packed in (with the exception of a few places). Tito's Lane area is especially bad. I counted 3 watersports sections in the CSM to Creek area stretch alone. At high tide (when I visited) it was difficult to walk the beach with the obstacle course of beds, sellers, jet ski's etc. Going back down there after such a long time reminded me why I've stayed away. There are still quieter beaches in Goa you just need to get out there and find them. In contrast the day after, I went up to Aswem..........heaven!! Few beds, few sellers and NO watersports.
GFF xx

Hi

I agree that there are too many sunbeds Baga and up to Calangute steps, wall to wall sunbeds is like 'Med' but people have a choice to use them or not,...........supply and demand:-)

Regarding Jet Ski etc it appears to me that its the Indian tourist that use these mainly and yeah the noise and smell can be bad, I know for a fact that my hubby and friend (now 54 + 49) used jet ski's in the Turkey and Greece 10 years ago and Im sure they arent the only 2 guys who complain about jet ski and the sunbed situation now that ''enjoyed'' the facilities a decade ago.

Sorry if thats slightly off topic

Jules

Too true GA !! The stretch from Baga Creek to Calangute steps is beyond belief thesedays, you can't see the sand for the mattresses, but as you rightly state, it's a case of supply and demand. Personally i like my own space, and though i don't use the beach on a daily basis, when i do i like room to relax, read and out of snoring range.
As for the Jet Ski/Watersports, have to admit that these go hand in hand with beachside holidays (been there done it) but something has to be done about safety and regulations. Bouyed and marked areas need to be put in place and enforced, this is really an accident waiting to happen.
It's bad enough swimming in the sea in Goa, choosing the right time of day and conditions, but to have to constantly look out for jet skis that come too close to shore shouldn't be an option.

couldnt agree more re the jetskis, they are VERY dangerous, they go so close to the shore and right between swimmers!! lets hope they get something done before there is a serious accident

I actually smelt the rubbish removal van before i saw it......

poooey!

Ah yes, the local binmen.
Where's the health and safety executive when you need him
The way they compact the rubbish !! A man could easily loose his flip flop.

Yes some bits around the steps at Calangute are filthy, not surprising as the Tourism Minister didnt give out any contracts this year as the rubbish collected would just be dumped at the roadsides as there is no landfills to take it to !!! Says it all does'nt it Alan

Gramps.

Regarding rubbish, I couldn't believe the amount of rubbish (the contents of The Jazz Bar) piled up on Candolim Road. How they turn a blind eye to this and erect these big banners just before it 'Welcome To Candolim'. So they can afford tacky banners but can't fund a clean up. That's Goa I suppose but wasn't impressed.

lets face it, we all say how wonderful Goa is but how many people would actually go if it wasnt cheap.

I would definately visit Goa if it wasn't cheap, I have visited many places in the world which are much more expensive to go to i.e Thailand, Mexico, Dubai , but Goa ticks all the boxes for me , the fact it is cheap is of course a huge bonus, but I would still go to Goa if the prices increased as I love the place.

Ha Ha! Think thats a very good point all saints! I must admit, the first time we went we had no idea how cheap it would be, we'd heard stories but didn't really believe it. We fell in love with the place though and keep going back each year and yes, cost is a factor as it means we can have more holidays!! However, we also love Tenerife for short haul and if we add the cost of getting there, accomodation and spends, both holidays work out at the same total. Our decision is usually based on the time of year as we know we are garenteed (sp) the sun in Goa in winter and thats top of our priority list!

Latest on this, now the High Court in Bombay is in on the act, will things change ? we shall see http://www.oheraldo.in/node/24290 Alan