Are you a fireman, Kiltman???

I am how did you figure that one out though?

Totally Kiltman!!

I sell ice creams, but as an ex nurse I never charge anyone from our local emergency services, hence I see a lot of the fire brigade!!!

The new shift patterns were brought into our area a few months ago and so for months before that I heard all the moans and groans about them.

Back on topic, give Goa a chance, but do listen to all the advice you read on this forum.

My hubby also sells ice cream Squigs but he still charges me

If you don't give Goa a try you are missing out on every experience. You only have to do it once and never again... but I am sure you will want to go back time and time again!!

I am sure we will go to Goa, from what I have seen and read so far I think we would enjoy it.

I have been having a look at a few hotels and these have caught my eye (sorry there is a few) I am trying to get a range of hotels, does anybody have any personal experience of any and can give me an idea if they are in good locations or very isolated, don't want to be stuck in the hotel.

The Retreat By Zuri, Pedda, Uttor Doxi, Varca

Royal Park Beach Resort, 1/230 A - Holiday Street Gaurawada Calangute

Hotel Windsor Bay, Calangute - Baga Beach Road, 205/31 block.C.D.E, Umta vaddo

Lazy Lagoon Sarovar Portico Suites, Arpora, Bardez

Soul Vacation Resort & Spa, Ward No 4,Colva Beach, Salcete

Vista Do Rio Resort, PDA Plots, Alto Porvori

The Anchorage, Pequeno Chinvar, Vagator, Anjuna, Bardez

Cambay Beach Resort, Holliday street, Kerkar art gallery lane, Near little italy rest, Gauravado, Calangute

PRESA Di Goa 353/1 Arais Wado, Nagoa -Bardez

These are from Asia rooms.com and have some decent prices (I think) has anybody used them?

Thanks yet again
Graham

Quite a selection there Kiltman and a few that most of us would be unfamiiar with.

Not sure if I speak for most but when I go to Goa the hotel is not really that important.

You may have found some gems but for us and our experiences so far in our budget most of the places are quite similar.

Not to say that a lot of members have their favourites (we have found a guesthouse we really like) but the tourist charter flight stuff is very similar.

Hope other members have more specific answers.

Keep it coming

Papa

Presa di Goa is superb but it's a long way from a beach, not really close to any of the action or restaurants and it's expensive!

We go there as day visitors - so long as you have lunch there you can use the facilities. It's really excellent but personally, I wouldn't stay there for more than a couple of nights - too far away from bars, restaurants and beaches.

Try Monarch accommodation only.
Must admit IMO you can't go far wrong with the Marinha Dourada outside Arpora. They run a shuttle service into Baga on the hour 9.00am to 6.00pm.
The hotel is within walking distance of Arpora village were there are several excellent restaurants, there are a couple really close by as well.
Baga is walkable within 30-40 minutes and it's very pleasant walking along the creek. Nice stop off at the riverside bar Mayonna Creek.
A taxi isn't too expensive either. That way you can dip in and out of the more hectic Baga as you wish. Likewise Calangute.
The MD itself is set in extensive grounds with two huge lakes ( anglers love the place!), most rooms overlook them, it's very pleasant sat on the balcony with a cold drink from your room fridge. The rooms themselves are a bit dated but more than acceptable and always spotlessly clean. There is a choice of two swimming pools and unlike some hotels, one isn't overshadowed by the hotel buildings.
I disagree that a room is unimportant on your holiday, everyone has their own opinion of what is acceptable and what isn't. I might not spend many waking hours in the room but I probably spend a fair amount on the balcony with either a pre dinorial or nightcap. MD has aircon, a fan decent shower and good security.( Oh and a TV if you really want one) I leave several thousand pounds worth of gear lying around and have never had a problem.
The only reservation for some is the distance from some rooms to reception, as much as 200m I would imagine. It doesn't bother us as we ask for a room as far away as possible.
You might have gathered, we like peace and tranquillity. Baga and Calangute are not for us. We dip in to shop and eat, then retreat.
You should get a room for around £30 per night. You can get one for less but there will often be a compromise on the above.
You really should try Goa though, the sooner the better as it is changing quite rapidly as the Indian economy gets stronger.
cheers Dave

Keep it coming

Thanks again Papa I hope you are still saying that in a few weeks when I have bored everybody with my questions

Presa di Goa is superb but it's a long way from a beach, not really close to any of the action or restaurants and it's expensive!

Cheers roma, it is very hard to decide what is an expensive hotel, as I am yet unable to confirm my holiday dates I picked March at random and every hotel I mention above is less than £850 for the 2 of us for a fortnight B&B, the Presa di Goa is £848 and is at the top end price wise of the selection, do you think that is to much to pay for 2 weeks for the 2 of us? can we get decent accommodation for much less?

Here is an example at the other end of the price scale, on the face of it looks OK but the price is so low it would put me off as I presume it must be awful, priced at £252 in a superior room for the 2 of us for 2 weeks room only
http://www. asia rooms.com/en/india/goa/171660-lua_nova.html

As I mentioned we have stayed in fancy 5* hotels and 2* B&B's and my preference is around the 3*-4* where the staff are usually much friendlier, chatty and open with guests.

Try Monarch accommodation only.

Thank for the tip Dave I will also take a look at the Marinha Dourada outside Arpora you mentioned, one hotel that had caught my eye was the Lazy Lagoon Sarovar Portico Suites, Arpora which sounded nice but I don't know anything about the area.

I have come up with a plan, I am going to take a trip in to my local TA and see what they suggest and then come back on and ask the real experts for their advice on what has been suggested.

Arpora is away from beaches etc,too far for a lot of people,also you mostly need taxis to get anywhere,exept the night market,first timers in my opinion and only my opinion are better sticking to Calangute or Candolim perhaps Baga

Arpora is away from beaches etc,too far for a lot of people,also you mostly need taxis to get anywhere,exept the night market,first timers in my opinion and only my opinion are better sticking to Calangute or Candolim perhaps Baga

I think I gave a fair description of the MD and surrounds earlier in this post.
Not everyone wants to be on the beach, and there is a shuttle bus. Walking is healthy and works up a thirst! Last year we only had two taxi rides and two Tuk Tuk rides in 18 days at the MD.
We have always stayed in Arpora when in the North and wouldn't consider Baga or Calangute but we are having half our stay in Candolim this year to explore the area as we have only ever driven through.
Horses for courses as they say !!

I'm sure most of the Goa regulars would agree that Goa is not for everyone. In our immediate circle of long time friends there is some who would be most unhappy there, and others who would love it. We ourselves go mainly for the beach and the shacks, and so for us a pool would not be on our radar. As a result we would'nt expect to spend more than £15 per day on accomodation which would in the main be used only for sleeping. Many people advise against Calangute and Candolim, other love it there. We usually settle around Holiday St in Calangute, and find the beach there quiet enough for us, and if solitude your'e thing, a ten minute stroll in the direction of Candolim will get you that. Others who make it their one holiday a year, tend to gravitate towards the more expensive end of the market, it all depends on the person.
Alan

Stayed at the Marinha Dourada for 9 years, and love the place! It is not in the hustle and bustle of Baga and Candolim, but Arpora is getting it's own little community now with plenty of resaturants opening there.
The staff at the MD are excellant.Good breakfast. The views over the lakes are fabulous! Good fishing too if you are a fisherman.
The Lazy Lagoon is not far from the MD and is quite new. Looks nice. I think KJF looked at these last year, so he will be able to help you with that more than l!

Just to throw a spanner in to the works what is everybody's opinion of the Sonesta Inn http://www.sonestainns.com/ I have seen this and I think that it seems to fit the bill and is up at the top of the ever changing hotel list does anybody know it?

Thanks yet again
Graham

Hiya Kiltman. I've walked through their gardens and they are lovely never actually been in the rooms i've always liked this hotel BUT i find its too far from candolim to walk on a nite, never the less in a good spot for the beach though..Prices are'nt to steep compared to some..I would give it a

Looks great..............but as usual with Goa hotels their rack rate is a joke.

Someone will be along who has stayed there.

Not to be too cynical but going by hotel websites I would stay in most Goan hotels.

The reality can be very different.

Maybe the cynic in me coming out but as I said other members will shed more light.

Kiltman it looks like you are going no matter what.

You will love it.

Papa

Thanks for your replies folks

i've always liked this hotel BUT i find its too far from candolim to walk on a nite

What kind of distance is it? are there any restaurants and bars etc close to it or would we have to get a taxi to and from Candolim? how much are taxis? I presume they would be quite cheep, are they the same as places such as Egypt and Tunisia where you have to haggle over the price?

Sorry for so many question

Looks great..............but as usual with Goa hotels their rack rate is a joke

.
I did manage to find it on a hotel booking site at £30 per night, I just can't remeber which blooming site it was now as I have looked at so many over the last couple of days

The Sonesta is very nice, it's right next to beach. Never stayed there but had a look around a couple of years ago and it looked great. You could do a lot worse. There are a few restaurants close by - one literally next door, can't remember the name, is it Harmony? You're in 15 minutes walking distance to Soumyen's (arguably one of the very best), After 7, Bob's Inn (not great!), Travel Bar, Cactus, Viva Goa and a several other small restaurants/bars. There's also an entertainment led place at the top of the road that was good last year.

We don't stay too far away from there and if we want to get into the heart of Candolim/Calangute we get a bus to go there (every few minutes) for about 10 rupees and get a cab back - usually around 100 rupees.

You need to decide what's important for you - proximity to beach / restaurants / in the heart of the action / somewhere quieter but handy for the action / pool (will limit your choices).

Sounds like you're going - just finalising where to land!

You need to decide what's important for you - proximity to beach / restaurants / in the heart of the action / somewhere quieter but handy for the action / pool (will limit your choices).

I have managed to narrow that down a bit and ideally it would be close to beach / restaurants / in the heart of the action / somewhere quieter but handy for the action / pool

Seriously, I do like a nice beach that I can go long bare footed walks on, not bothered much about lying on them all day, Mrs Kiltie prefers a decent pool as she goes swimming in them several times a day, so far I think the Sofitel still fits the bill?

We do go out every night to nice restaurants and a I like a place with a bit of atmosphere but it is important to escape back to a calm and peaceful hotel at the end of the night , so somewhere quieter but handy for the action.

From what you have said I think the Sonesta is the chosen one and would meet the requirements

Sounds like you're going - just finalising where to land!

Mmmm, just need my employer to clear me for take off first