Ohh dear ohhh dear ohhhh dear

Were to start

ALL OBSERVATIONS ARE OUR OWN AND OTHERS MAY SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

I now agree with the many many people on this forum that have become shall we say slightly disalusioned with this "third world" ? holiday resort.

Look to the internet prices going now and you will see costings starting at £225 for
a long haul holiday for 2 weeks

As the locals say bookings are dramatically down , wonder why ?

Rather than give a day by day blow of our holiday i will give more of a generalization of the whole experiance.

FLIGHT WAS WITH FIRST CHOICE AND WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST OF THE BUNCH
GIVING 33 LEG PITCH LEATHER SEATS AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE.

Landed at dabolim and i must say a vast improvement on getting through immigration.

Took taxi to hotel and settled in to MD nicely
Room as previously pointed out was basic but spotless

HOWEVER BIG BIG CHANGES AT THIS HOTEL FROM LAST YEAR

THE GOOD THINGS AT M DOURADHA

Nice sEtting and very picturesque
Good basic rooms for the price
Air conditioning that actually works
Good fishing on the lakes
Relaxing atmos

THE BAD AT M DOURADHA

Restaurant deteriated even further than last year
We tried just one meal and it was total garbage
We dined alone as across the way there was a sizzler night on, nevertheless the service or lack of it was appaling.
We had to beg for a menu light the candle on the table ourselves to see the menu
Had to put up with the waiter dragging tables around us throughout the meal to acommodate the band who were playing by the lake
Dirty linen on table
Soup to die for literally

Breakfast was the usual complimentary affair
Do yourseves a favour and have an extra hour in bed
Not worth getting up for
Unedible mush

Now for the Attitude of some of Md staff
LADY MUGGED HERE AND SHE WENT TO RECEPTION WITH INJURED ARM AND ALL THEY WERE AR*ED ABOUT WAS HER PAYING FOR THE KEY FOR ROOM AND THE LOCK CHANGE WHICH WAS TO BE 1500 R
"Not to wory though madam as you can claim on your insurance"
Isolated location of md is getting very scary and would reccomend overpriced taxis at all times when visiting restaurants. PLEASE PLEASE BE CAREFUL
Road to alfresco and saffron and all spice is a minefield of thieves and robbers all out for tourist blood
Five reported incidents in 1 month alone.
Local lad who lives on this road close to m dourada says he advises everyone to take extreme care and said he was at times ashamed to be goan
He works nearbye at the sun village resort.

Also the blatent rip of mentality of some of the staff ( not all )

PRICES ARE ALLREADY UP 25 TO 30% AT MD SO IF A BREEZER COSTS NOW 95R THEN BILL IT AS SUCH
Not at 100r which was done throughout holiday without offering change
Bill for 192 r then simply take 200r without asking,so on and so on
Small amounts I know but it is the principle.

RESTAURANTS WE DINED AT

ALL SPICE top notch thoroughly enjoyable

SAFFRON COURT equally as good

KIM FA exellent but booking table is advisable

EAST MEETS WEST Nice setting live music but crap food 3/10

FRANKS Near hot plate pretty good food

SOYMENs KITCHEN lovely food slightly pricey

SOME GOOD TIMES ON HOLIDAY

Drinks and chilling in Arpora
Plus watch a working town go through the motions
Shave for 30r
Budweiser at 30r a bottle and a snack of pakora for 10r
Locals a nice bunch of peeps
Vagator simply amazing love the place
Walking the beach from morjim to mandrem through the surf
Good times at squeeze shack and shining star and oceanic
Hiring a scooter and absolutly crapping ourselves
Sunsets
People in general
Meeting some board members
Riding in tuk tuks
Smell of burning incence
The weather
Restaurant food delicious

SOME NOT SO GOOD THINGS ON HOLIDAY

Wife falling down a drainage culvert on way to arpora
Sort it out tourist board and boll**s that it adds to the charm of the place
Unsafe so mend it

Safety issues ,never EVER walk alone near md road late at night

Drugs openly offered to us in anjuna and vagator

Absolutly full of rotting stenching garbage acres and acres of it
Makes a landfill site look positively picturesque !!

The stench of diesal in the sea on baga calangute beach

Every man and his dog out for your ruppes you dont matter but your rupe does
Taxis ripping off everyone
Baggage lads ripping off
Hotels raising prices substantially to compensate for a quiet season

Beggars using babies as props in 95 degrees searing heat and they work them all day
Babies are not props,could think of some choice things to call these lowlife vultures but fiona may not be pleased.
Many locals confirm to me that the babies are used and swapped as props so give to beggars if you wish but spare a thought or two for the babies

The taxi driver who never spoke to us all the way back to airport as we were no longer of monetary value
AND YET the other 20 or so cabbies that talked the hindlegs off a donkey to us all holiday to take us to
the beaches and sightseeing trips

SO THERE WE HAVE IT A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO WHAT ROCKED AND DID NOT ROCK OUR BOAT THIS TIME

Will be back
Yes of course of course but maybe in another 3 or so years and ONLY repeat only if a last minute 2 week trip comes up for under £250-300
That all its worth really 250-300 a good good price just for the winter sun alone but no more than that.

But next few years off to thailand cuba sri lanka? mexico ect

Because THE WORLDS A BIG BIG PLACE and there so much more to see and do that it would be rude to stay in "AVERAGEVILLE" year in year out year in year out year in year out
But whatever rocks yer boat as we are all different

Anyway
HAPPY DAYS Happy holidays and safe travelling to all

Will post some piccies on photo thread when I get time

TAXI

PS

You want taxi cola beach sir do you sir do you look in my shop madam have a butchers shake my hand sir anything for only 100r you promised and a promise is a promise maybee tommorow sir you want massage sir see the dolphins sir cheap as chips taxi sir taxi sir anjuna market sir mackies sir do you do you do you HUH HUH HUH maybe tommorow

DOCTOR RUPEE SAYS ABOVE TO BE REPEATED 100 TIMES AND TAKEN DAILY UNTIL HOLIDAY FINISHES