First timer; tied to Thomas Cook as we're moving our Egypt holiday. Considering Bogmallo Beach or Holiday Inn (all incl); can anyone advise as to suitability for children as we are taking our 10 year daughter, and they do need occupying!

Whereas I'm happy to crash with a book.

Any advice please for first timers.

I haven't been to the Dona Sylvia, so can't comment, but it does get some decent reviews on this site. I have stayed at the Aldeai Santa Rita twice, and would recommend it, it's a pretty hotel set in well kept gardens with large rooms.It's in a good location in Sinquerim which is away from the busy centre of Candolim, but there are lots of good places to eat within a short distance.

I appreciate why you want all inclusive, but please reconsider. Goa is so cheap with the avarage price of a bottle of coke at no more than 20p. If you spend the day at a beach shack, they will run a bill for you and you will be amazed at how low this will be. Please don't worry about venturing into the unknown, it's a very safe location and you will be missing out if you stay in your hotel and don't get out and explore.

Thanks GoaGirl.

We're doing the all inclusive for the kid mainly; so we don't get pestered for drinks etc all day. And we're also entering the unknown.

We've been also offered:

Dona Sylvia Resort

Aldeia Santarita

Are these the only two hotels you have been offered ? The reason I ask is that they are both in quiet locations. Also all inclusive is never a good idea in Goa, one of the best things about Goa is the amazing variety of good and extremely cheap food on offer. You will be missing out if you stay at an all inclusive.

It is difficult for me to comment on suitablity for 10 year old children as I've never travelled there with one, but it's not particuarly geared up for children and it's unusual to find more than a handful of children on a charter flight from the UK.

We stopped at Dona Sylvia couple of years back. Lovely settings, but rubbish food & drink. Do not do the all inclusive. The beach shacks serve excellent food, and everyone is so friendly. Have a good time, we are going to Bogmallo in Dec/Jan.

DONT GO ALL INCLUSIVE ask the tour operator for some other form of compensation if thats why they are dangling the carrot. Worst mistake we ever made, wanted to stay for the 1st time down south chose a small resort and 4 days before flight were informed no longer available, offered a Butlins type hotel but with the extra ALL Inclusive, after 8 days we were begging to be moved, we weren't using the all inclusive and felt it was a real waste and we enjoy our alchol- but EVERYTHING IN GOA is cheap compared to what we pay.

Good luck I'm sure your daughter will love it cos the locals love kids as long as they are properly protected from the sun.

I'm also going to agree with everyone else here and say don't go all inclusive its such a shame. I made this mistake the 1st year I went too and after only 3 days we stopped using the all inclusive as we felt we were missing all the excitement this place has to offer. No one is exaggerating when they say it is so cheap in goa, you feel that you can't give your money away, you start realising how much you have left and end up tipping everyone to be able to use some of it up. The food is so fantastic (even for a 10 year old as all international dishes are on the menus too) that food in an all inclusive just doesn't compare. I'd also advise north goa as that would definitely be more interesting for a 10 year old south goa is very quiet and usually for honeymooners who don't leave their rooms.

Goagirl is quite right, I think you will regret going all inclusive although even if you do stick with it, you will probably still end up eating out every night meal for three with a beer roughly 350 - 500 rupees even Shylock would approve of that.



It's a wonderful destination but beware you are going Easter 2006? I am not sure when Easter is in 2006 but temperatures sore from mid march onwards so do put 30 factor on yourselves and the little one/s.



I'm sure that there are many people who will mail you with lots of hints and tips.......have a nice trip......mines a G & T if you pass the Taj Aguada from 23rd of Feb till 23rd March.....can't wait



I see you are from my county Essex... I would post off your visa to India House, the 'Qs" are horendous early in January mornings around the strand and cold.

Hello there Henpecked!



We are going for the first time in April next year for the Easter Holidays! We are going B &B in Cavellossim and we are taking our 10 year old daughter and will be 9 year old son. we are lucky as we are going with a couple of friends who also have a teenage daughter. I think as long as they have a pool and we do the usual trips - it will be an experience of a life time. The temperature does concern me but then again, my kids cope with weather better than I do!! I am sorry that I can't offer any advice, but I think from all of the posts, people do appear to allay any fears that we may have!!