Why not split the holiday North and South they are so close
you can do both , taxi cost approx 950rps from north to south
the airport is closer to the south.book flights only then look for
your accomodation.You will be fine in t/shirts and shorts with maybe something a little smarter for the evening.
We like both resorts so normally do both,like hussle and bustle of the
north and and peace and quiet of the south.
hope this helps.
ann

As far as I am concerned there is a good mix of ages in the North.
Most seem to be couples in their 40/50s but there are lots of other age groups including older.
Certainly not a young peoples holiday with all night bars and discos etc but plenty of evening entertainment if you like conversation with strangers and making new friends
Clothing is what you want, generally for me t-shirts and shorts with sandals and maybe trousers and a shirt on eveningsif going to a "special " restaurant (but not always) absolutely no need to dress up anywhere.
Beaches , especially at Baga can be busy but are not as crowded as the Costas but at Candolim are quiter with plenty of space and there are plenty of very quiet beaches a taxi ride away which cost about £10/12 for a taxi and food for the day.
As far as things to see and do without taxis then I think that I would struggle to find something interesting for a day or two once you have wandered among the shops and bits of markets etc and seen some of local lifestyle.
But as taxis are so cheap that is not much of a problem and you can of course use the local buses, which are "intresting" and very cheap.
Panjim is accesible by bus and free ferry also Mapusa is easy to get to by bus.
The beaches are easily got to by foot unless you pick a hotel out of the way a bit, EG Marinha Dourada where a taxi or free bus is needed to get to beach.
Whichever resort in the North you pick there are always lots of restaurants/shops bars within walkng distance.
I am late 50's and like to relax on holiday but with a bit of something not too strenuous to do occaisonally and Goa fits the bill for me everytime
I cannot comment on the south , not having been there.

Hope this helps you

You will be amazed and possibly a little jealous (like me) of the number of retired Brits who spend 6 months at a time in Goa and staying mostly in the North renting apartments for as little as £100 a month . You have chosen a wonderful place to visit and both north (busy and sometimes manic) and south(more like the Goa we fell in love with 12 years ago - real chill out time) have their good and bad points. I do agree with Ann about seeing both parts in fact this year we are splitting our 4 weeks into 2 North and 2 South.
If you can only get one base use the taxis to take you a couple of times to the other areas few places are further away that 1hour - hour and half, Taxis are very cheap and if you find a good driver he is as good as any guide and will probably become a good friend too.
Fortunately nowhere in Goa resembles Benidorm although Baga now has sunbeds in the height of the tourist season so close you can barely move between them. If going North as a base try Candolim,(where we stay) South is an open book we are staying in Benaulim which is a beautiful stretch of beach. Wherever you stay I'm sure you will want to return
As far as what to wear is concerned - you wear whatever you feel most comfortable in - night and day you will see tourists dressed however they please!
Lyn x

Hi Olga, I have been to Kenya (hated it) Goa is completely different.When I went to Kenya the only places you could go were organised trips(safaris ect) and you definately did not go out of a night , unless it was to one of the other hotels next to your hotel.My O/H thinks Goa is one of safest places she has ever been to (if not the safest) and when she goes shopping for the prezzies to take home she is quite prepared to go on her own.As far as clothes go, whatever your comfy with will be o.k for Goa,one advantage you will have is that the beach sellers in Kenya were probably worse than the ones in Goa, and if you coped with them the ones in Goa wont seem as bad so go and enjoy all that Goa has to offer...Keith

but is it full of young people

Not from what I've read in the last few months on this forum!