One of the worst things on holiday are the Russians. They are the rudest people I've ever met, queueing is totally unknown to them. I wish there was Russian free list of holiday resorts.

It appears that numbers of Russians this year have virtually halved.

As they made up the vast majority of foreigners, the whole place is looking pretty deserted.

British numbers are also considerably down but as we are now a small minority, in charter terms, this does not make much difference.

It looks like Goa is getting it's just desserts from pandering to the Soviets for the last few years

Qman wrote:

One of the worst things on holiday are the Russians. They are the rudest people I've ever met, queueing is totally unknown to them. I wish there was Russian free list of holiday resorts.

I couldn't agree more... have had problems with them in Cuba and more recently, Mauritius... utterly rude and much like the Brits on the Costas.....

ATB,J.

Surely it is not just the Russians who have no concept of the queuing system.
Some of the Russians I have met in Goa have been nice people although the language barrier makes it difficlut to meet them properly.
As the original point, I suppose their numbers next year depends on how long the Rouble takes to recover, which in turn depends on how long the sanctions and low oil prices last.
I also think that it is true that India has to a certain extent shot itself in the foot by alienating UK visitors with the visa charges etc and the refusal to improve the amenities. Places like Thailand, Sri Lanka etc are offering much better hotels, and Cambodia,/ Vietnam are offering the exciting ,complete change of culture that Goa used to offer but doesn't anymore.
We continue to visit Goa, mainly because my wife likes the place, I am not that much bothered any more and would happily have a change.

Slightly O/T but last time in Salou (2012) it was interesting to note that the Bus timetables being given out were Mainly Spanish (Catalan?) then Russian then in tiny print – English.

To answer the question posed in the title of this thread.............

According to today's Herald, charter flights from Russia will cease completely on 15th January 2015, three weeks from now

So yes, there will be a lot fewer Russians there in 2015, thank goodness

Since I posted my anti Russian remark I've had a lot of people tell me how they hate being near Russians on holiday. But I have a cousin living in Moscow who tells me how nice they are.

Perhaps they are like the Americans, the nice ones stay at home.

I have never had a problem with the Russian tourists there.
yes they have different values and customs to us Brits...but who doesn't?!!

There were not many Russian tourists in Candolim/Calangute in late Nov/early Dec.

Restaurants & bars that have usually been busy were pretty empty so it's already beginning to bite businesses.

As for this:

Qman wrote:

queueing is totally unknown to them.

they are not the only nationality who don't queue.

Personally, I've had very few problems with Russian tourists, apart from one woman in Newtons who tried to push in front of me in the queue to pay by reaching over and putting her basket on the conveyor belt in front of my single purchase. I just picked the basket up, dropped it on the floor and kicked it behind me.

I think because their language is guttural it often comes across as aggressive.

They are a nation that believes they shouldn't say 'thank you' if they are buying goods/services but they are not the only one.
Many years ago in Greece, we were told by a taverna owner that we shouldn't say 'thank you', it was he who should thank us for giving him our custom.

And how many polite domestic tourists do you see?

I agree with Polly, the Russians are very little different to other nationalities, they just have different ways of doing things. Also its very hard to be firendly when you don't speak the language at all.
Domestic tourists are without (almost) exception curt verging on rude.

We visited Goa from the 10th -24th Dec this year.

Wow it was quite quiet around Arpora in general. The eateries were nigh on empty in the evenings. The talk about the Russians and their Ruble troubles were high on the chatter talk. There were most certainly the most anticipated arrivals from the locals which were certainly worried about the lack of tourists. Exaggerated in part as the UK numbers also have dropped.

The plane we went out on and came back on with Thomson was missing quite a lot of passengers.

Regarding the Russian culture I think I would go along with the mis understood route. We were changing money when a couple of Russians just went to the front and handed him their money to exchange without even looking at us. Mr Veen just waved them away and they neither took offence or even thought to much about being told to wait.

My only negatives are the drugs and alcohol that seem to abound.

I guess they would do well to understand the local customs, beliefs and the impact behaviour does have on both locals and tourists in general.

Mind you is it any different to UK tourists smoking in public places knowing it is illegal in both the UK and Goa? I was tired of smelling smoke just as I started my meal!

Sleeper, my wife and I always stay at the Marinha Dourada in Arpora.

Last year was the first time we didn't go for Xmas and went to Jamaica instead.

There are a cpl of great restaurants in Arpora. Have many closed down?

A few Russians had to started to stay at the MD but they were older and quieter. The loud tourists at the MD are actually the Indians that come and stay for a few days or during the Sunburn festival.

I did go into a bar that was full of Russians on Mandrem beach. Once the barman heard my voice (I was ordering beers) he completely ignored me.

Bloomin rude!

Generally they are ignorant of others I think and will monopolise bars and restaurants. I also find it weird how the women pose like porn stars for photos on the beach! Very strange behaviour.

grahamc72 wrote:

I also find it weird how the women pose like porn stars for photos on the beach! Very strange behaviour.

Makes great people-watching though, graham.

I often wonder what they do with the photos. I can't imagine Mum & Dad thinking how lovely and artistic they are.
Maybe they'll appear on a 'Find an Eastern European wife' website.

Watched one girl pose on all fours, back to the sea, only for a wave to completely wash over her and ruin the shot.