I've never stayed there so cannot comment myself but did speak to some on beach staying there who were most unhappy. (February)
Stories of late night parties etc and also of fights between staff and customers.
I cannot vouch for the truth of these reports but see no reason for someone to lie to me whilst there.

Hmmm, maybe we met you on the beach then del? Would've been at Bob Marley shack probably.

I didn't stay there this year but a few in our party did. I stayed in a villa (more like a town house) just on the Coco Beach side of Nerul Bridge, very nice, shared pool, security, A/C etc. etc. and very reasonable too if anyone is interested.

Anyway our party did have problems at the prazeres: wiith the reception staff & the rep neither of whom frankly gave damn. One in our party asked to upgrade his room and was verbally, then physically abused, well shoved about a bit anyway. He wasn't complaining, he simply put his head through the reception window and asked if he could get a room upgrade. Also worked out that if you ask the room boys for clean towels; sheets etc you get them. If you ask reception all you get is a dirty look.

Oddly it was only the reception staff & rep though, once they got to speak to Raul, the owner, everything was sorted instantly, nothing was too much trouble.

Incidentally whilst on the subject of rude staff we popped into the Bom Successo one afternoon walking back from the beach because my mates 3 year old daughter needed the toilet, only to be told "no, f**k o**" by the manager. Now I appreciate that we had just walked in off the street but we have eaten there before and we surely would have sat down and had a beer after she had done her business. We were later told that he thought we were Russian, not that that should make any difference. It would also be a difficult mistake to make seeing as we were two middle aged londoners without any speedos.

Fritz, no we didn't go in Bob Marley shack this year.
Some of the complaints I heard concerened the "boss", wether this would be Raul or a manager I don't know.
Now that my memory has returned a bit, one of the couples moved out after 4/5 days, I think to the Highland Beach.
As I say, I am repeating what I was told, not what I know to be true.

del949 wrote:

one of the couples moved out after 4/5 days, I think to the Highland Beach.
As I say, I am repeating what I was told, not what I know to be true

Yes it is true!

I think the couple that moved out were my mates mum & dad, they certainly moved out after 5 days. They moved to a private apartment at Highlands. I didn;t see it but I'm told ot was V nice

We stayed at the Prazeres from 12th Feb to 5th March. After reading quite a few bad reports about this hotel we went with great apprehensions. On our arrival we where taken to our room which was at the back of the complex just behind the breakfast area, the room was very basic but ok (just ok), but no real problems. One couple in our party weren't happy with their room and were changed with no real problems. The reception staff were friendly and helpful (as opposed to what I read about them) and the restaurant/bar staff were very pleasant and helpful and always had a smile on their faces (again, very different to what I read).
The hotel was decent enough which is just what to expect for Goa, we had no problems whatsoever with any of the staff anywhere in the complex. We did see the owner 'Raul' a couple of times during our stay and he looked very sober and didn't seem to have his 'minders' with him as had been reported in some of the reviews I read. We didn't feel intimidated at any time during our stay and there wasn't any late night parties (or none that I new of).
All in all, we had a good stay at the Prazeres and wouldn't have a problem staying there again (but only if it was moved to Calangute as Candolim was too quiet for us).

Does anyone possibly know anything about the Prazeres hotel, Candolim? Any thoughts please? Getting quite a good price (1 person, February, 14 nights approx. £715.00 - is that good?) and am wondering about the hotel. Many thanks....

There are loads of reviews on the Prazeres, its a bit like Marmite you will love it or absolutely hate it.
Some of the apartments, particularly the privately owned ones, are very nice but there are others that are absolutely horrendous, my brother had a late booking one year and was given room 101!!!, dark, dingy, dirty etc.etc.
The main 'problem' is the all night partying - Raoul the owner does like to party!!!. . If you enjoy mammoth drinking sessions, loud music etc then you will have a good time - don't go there if you are looking for peace and quiet. The restaurant food is fine, the grounds of the hotel are pleasant and they have a nice swimming pool.
The price you have been quoted is good, but you could probably fly scheduled Qatar, Kingfisher etc and find a nice private apartment for the same kind of money.
Hope you have a great holiday

We stayed there twice in the early noughties and found it fine but now seems changed with the eastern europeans moving in. You will probably spend most of your time out of the hotel so just the noise to consider.

I think it may be back to the drawing board then, yes I've read mixed reviews on the Prazeres and it is relaxing, peace & quiet I'm after really, thank you for replies...

I've stayed there many times and have never had a problem with noise. In fact I've never had a problem there of any description, however, last year I opted for a rental villa instead and the rest of our party that did stay there had a few problems with the reception staff being rude. This was soon sorted out by Raoul though & they got a couple of complimentary nights up at his place in Mandrem. Now that is real quiet and relaxing & right on the beach.

We usually book direct & deal with a guy named Darryl Mendonca, nice fella. Last year we were going to pay Rs 1500 per night for the room (apartment really) and even now you should be able to pick flights up for about £ 450-500 for Feb next year.

Also wasn't the cleanest they'd ever seen it last year but then where is in Goa. Anyway some moved out some stayed. I have always found Raoul (and all the staff) very friendly but others have had problems, not sure why. The eastern europeans have never been a problem for me there either.

We usually stay in a pool room not far from the bar which are supposed to be the noisiest but like I say, never had a problem. There are lots of rooms further back that would be much quieter though. If you do stay there don't get a top floor room, they get baking hot even with AC. There are probably more relaxing places to stay though, like Sunset Beach; Casablanca; Rufffles or Whispering Palms, even the Bom Successo. All these are in the same kind of area between the main road and the beach south of casa sea shell (so heading sort of out of town). There are a few little hotels in the same area, others on here will be able to let you know the names. They are all nice and quiet yet close enough to the action if you want it. Maybe even Valentines Retreat if you're on a budget although it's behind a temple so not always that quiet.

Thank you for reply Fritz, interesting and helpful. I have had to change my plans and change my annual leave from work to November - wasn't allowed to carry over until next February after all. I'm on the verge of booking flight on 3 November for 2 weeks - Monarch flight (oh dear - is Monarch too too bad??) !) and prazeres for £610.00 all in (flight & room with private facilities/balcony) which I thought was too good to miss really, I say I'm on the verge of booking because I'm just needing that extra push to 'go for it'. I can't see any other flight & accomm. that cheap, and though I know I'm probably not going to the greatest hotel, the pool looks a half decent size and I don't really spend that much time in the room.. I don't think I've got the courage to just get the flight and sort accomm. when I'm there as I wouldn't really know where to start looking and would be reliant on taxi drivers. My budget for flight & accomm. really is about £700 and looking at other places they are just coming up that little bit extra, (as is usually the case - 1 person having to pay nearly the same price as for 2) I have e mailed a few places, also Prazeres includes fridge and I'm finding at a few other places a fridge & other bits are extra (not that I'm just going for a fridge though!!) I've filled in my Visa Application and it's all ready & waiting on my computer for me to just press that button now.... If anyone has any other recommendations please let me know before I go for it and book, thanks again,

Hi
I can't help with making your mind up about Prazeres as I've never stayed there but I picked up your question about Monarch.

We've flown many times with Monarch to Goa (MON2490/2491 from Gatwick on a Saturday) and don't find it too bad.
However, neither of us is very tall (5 feet and 5 feet 8 inches) or that big.
In-flight entertainment doesn't bother us either as I sleep most of the way and OH listens to music.

Lots of people don't like Monarch long-haul though so it's really up to you.

The seats are narrower than, say, Thomson and there are no seat back TVs, just screens that drop from the ceiling.

I wouldn't let a flight lasting 10 hours put me off a good deal - but that's just my viewpoint.

I would go for it. We stayed at the Prazeres the first time we ever went to Goa (Xmas) and returned there the following year. Both times we had a poolside room, opposite side to the bar, and loved it. Very basic but kept clean and as we spent most of our time on the beach, it suited us fine. The pool was kept spotless when we were there, but that was in 2001 and 2002 so cannot vouch for now. Breakfast is very basic but again that is not unusual for Goa and you can get a breakfast for little money at the beach shacks. The staff were always lovely.

There are certainly worse hotels - Dona Alcina and Alor Grande, to name two, which you should avoid at all costs. The Eastern Europeans are getting out there everywhere now, although tend to choose the cheaper hotels, and there is good and bad in everyone of course. They do tend to like a drink (or two) and imho North Goa is turning into a 18-30 Eastern European destination which is one of the reasons we are not returning this year for the first time since 2001.

However, I am sure you will love the place - most people do and you should certainly get lovely weather!
Candybabe

£ 610 sounds like a good deal to me. Don't worry about Monarch flights, they are not as good as some but at least they are direct. IMO the Premier upgrade isn't worth the money though. Outward lands early morning as well so you get to see the place waking up. Grab a cab straight to the hotel cos it'll get you to the hotel 10-15 minutes ahead of the coach then you can change your room if you're not entirely happy with it. Next dump your bags, stroll up to Ice n Spice (it's about 100 yds up the road from Prazeres) and order yourself a Honey Bee. Ask them to show you their photo album of the trips they do and the rest should just fall into place.

OOOh thanks all, love the sound of my first morning Fritz.... I've Booked!!! Ended up costing a little more (flight suddenly went up by a few pounds) and as I've just had an op. Insurance has gone right up, but hey ho - the reason I'm going is to relax after my op ..... admit to being a bit nervous but so looking forward to it now.... will no doubt be on here loads of times before I go asking advice re places to eat/visit/ etc. etc..... will have to have a read up on all..... 37 sleeps and I'll be there !!!

Anyone know about 'D' block at the Prazeres, Candolim? I think I read it's the dark and dingy rooms at the back, but I'm so hoping I'm wrong - booked to stay there in November, e mailed them to ask for pool facing room and they're telling me pool facing is extra IR 300/- /day as pool facing rooms aren't for those booking through travel agents, which I've done..... They said they can put me in 'D' block - any advice please???? I don't really want to pay extra but guess I will if I HAVE to....... Many thanks.............

UPDATE: Forget this post!!!! All sorted...... Had another reply and got a pool facing room no extra charge

Will do hotel report when back...................