Well where do you start ! Beach shacks - one of the main attractions for Goa. They are found all along the coastal belt of all resorts, so if you go south or north you have somewhere to stay for the day if you wish.
Constructed out of poles and palm leave roofs and most done in a very tidy fashion, you will find are mostly owned by locals.
All shacks have tables and chairs, a lot now going for a mix of cane with cushions and plastic chairs (wish people with wet swimwear would use the plastic ones !) Great food is cooked in kitchens attached to the rear of these, food quite often can be better than restaurants and menus getting bigger each season.
All will have ice boxes to keep those beers cold, and quite a few have fridges. Others have pool tables and dart boards, along with music systems.
Don't think there are many left now that don't have toilets attatched to them ? Most are kept clean and are nearly all flushable. Other shacks you may come across have showers as well, so no need to leave the beach all day !
Sunbeds are also at the front of all shacks and owned by the shack as well - some ask for a payment others don't.
Which to use ? your choice ! wander to the beach from your hotel and just go in one, if you don't like it for any reason, just move on to another - give as many a try as possible when walking up and down the beach (hic-hic !!)
Tips - again it's up to you and what you think the food/drink/service was like, they have all made decent money so don't go over board - if you choose one you think you will go to every day, tip small each day (round your bill up) and leave a bigger amount on your last day - up to you to decide that one.
All what you order will be added to a bill and presented when you leave. The lads in all shacks will look after you for all your needs, and quite happy to arrange trips/taxis/phones etc.. - anything really
Hope you enjoy yourself !

Superb reply, Spike!

Just waiting now for responses to the best shack for haymans to go to, come on folks give the newbie a real headache !!

haymans - I think you will find everyone has a favourite they go back to each year, like I said in my 1st post, find what suits you best.
Spike

Thanks Spike! They sound great!

We are very excited and counting the days now.

If staying at the Siver Sands, they have their own shack where you can have your included breakfast.
(be warned its only tea/coffee and toast) but its a bit of a trek to the sea from this one, about 100 yards or so
Within 50 metres are three more good shacks, one of them , BONO's is excellent with probably the best toilet facilities in the area. Down to the beach and turn right, second shack along. these are about 50 yards from the water with sunbeds right up to the waters edge
Down to the beach and turn left are dozens more, but can't say how good as not used them much. all have beds down to the sea.
ALL the shacks are pretty good and don't think that I have ever found a really duff one.
As regards tipping, I generally give a decent tip the first day(if it's been good and I intend returning regularly), I find that this encourages good service in anticipation of more of the same and then follow this with 10% of the bill each day. But I dont sit with a calculator and a bunch of small donomination notes working the 10% out exactly.

Incidentally, hang on to small notes, 10/20 rps etc they come in handy for beggars and beach entertainers etc

Look out for you in Feb, Hayman as we are in the Siler Sands then. 1st Feb from MANCHESTER, FIRST CHOICE.

Ah we are going out on 2nd Feb from Gatwick I'll see if we can spot you at Bonos

Can't miss me, I'm the one surrounded by all the beautiful girls, ......then I wake up!!

Hahaha my husband has the same dream

Great reply Spike. Three guesses which shack im going to say eh

For me its got to be Ganesh's shack right by the RP. OK the location and view may not be the best but the lads and Ganesh make my holiday.

Oh and its where you will find Me and Spike and his mrs

One of my favourite shacks is Frank Zappas, just head straight down to the beach from Silver Sands and you are there!!!. Its certainly one of the best parts of the beach there. Have a lovely time

Bayview Shack and Lawrencios shack at Candolim are also very nice, great food and fantastic clean toilets - exact same as Bono's
Only difference about the other two shacks is they dont rip you off like Bonos by adding food and drinks onto your bill that you havent had and they dont charge you 100 rupees per sunbed.

Bonos didn't charge me for sunbeds!
and didn't add drinks etc to bill that I noticed.
Will take more notice next time and move on if this is the case

Del we are going to Silver Sands for 4 weeks in feb I drink Barcardi breezer ..haymans74 I will look out for you too Have to say every word Gemma33 wrote is true Bonos is the dearest shack on the beach he is a chancer his food is way more than most shacks his beer is way more and he charges you for beds NOOOO way will I ever go back to his shack love his wee mrs Rose we call to see her and have a chat every yr I have told her to her face about their prices so she knows why we dont go to her shack.
Lawrencios is only a few shacks down from Bonos and every thing you need is there its 6 feet from the sea and the things you see there every day is fun fun fun ...colleen

Looks like feb is going to be busy in the S Sands.
Possibly a HT takeover!

we always use "claudinas" shack on candolim beach,it's the nearest to silver sands other than Ceu Mar (steps up & down) i walk with a stick so distance is a prob on sand for me.Guess what we to are at Silver Sands in Feb (16th ) for 4 weeks flying from Manchester (First Choice ) 3rd year at SS can't wait.

Would anyone have an Email address for Paul the owner of Dolphin place shack or is it blue dolphin its something dolphin its the shack that has the live band on on a sat afternoon the shack is set a bit back off the beach at Calangute ....thanks colleen

The first year I went to Goa we used to go to Maya's Shack (still go there now, and always will hehe) for most of the day and then walk down to Lawrencios for an amazing burger or sizzler. Not sure if the food is still as good now. I know that the service went down hill for a while, but may have picked up again.

Maya's Shack though is a little passed the RP. Its run by Gaju and his Mum, and Ajay occasionally haha. They are such lovely people and will do anything for you. The chef Harri is amazing. It still amazes me to this day that they can cook the food they do in the shacks!!

We go 1st Feb for 2 weeks and are staying in the Alor Grande. Never stayed there before and heard mixed reviews but for the amount of time we spend in the room its ok as long as it has a fridge, bed and TV...and a shower.

Hope everyone going soon has a fantastic time!

Excellent description Spike.

Perhaps someone with some PC knowhow can put a couple of photos on?

THINK this may be one that Chilly took.