Hello, me and my boyfriend are going over to Goa (hopefully!!) for my 18th birthday, i've read about every existing travel brochure but am still unsure about booking the whole thing- any advise would be much appriechiated!



We wanted some ultra cheap bargains, food, comfy accom (not planning on staying too much time there so cheap and chearful, not too dodgy!) ...........



........somewhere close (walking distance) to markets and a nice beach but not really really touristy and 'british'



We were thinking about going to Calangute because it seems pretty central but are the resorts in walking distance of one another??? Am really stuck



Also, my birthday is nov 6th, is this too close to the monsoon season? What's the weather like at that time, we don't want to be tsunamied!



Also (!!!) Any good, reliable websites worth looking at/booking etc? Is it best to be booking all inclusive flights and hotels or just flights and if so how do we get around finding accom when we get there??



Sorry for the essay but please help put my mind at ease!! s x

Hi I'm a 24 year old woman 1st went to Go aged 21 and have been every year since. If you want my advice North Goa is your best bet for celebrating your 18th. South Goa will be too quiet for you. North goan resorts are more touristy, but nothing like what you imagine when you think of main land spain. Candolim is my favourite and possibly your best bet, as although it is touristy, its not as busy as calangute or Baga. I went last year around the 6th of November and it will be very nice weather, and less busy at that time than say December-February. If you want basic accommodation, possibly look for goan guest houses or I stayed in the 2* sunset beach resort in Candolim and that is basic b&b but has everything you need and the staff are so friendly, its about a 4 minute walk to the beach (if that) and right by the main high streets for several bars and restaraunts (nothing is very high rise like in Spain it still feels like India). The good thing about Goa is it is ridiculously cheap so listen to everyone and don't book an all inclusive hotel, its a waste. Plus because of the cheapness, you can jump in a taxi (they are very safe) and go to calangute, and Baga for the nightlife, and Club cubana on the hill. The markets on saturday night and the wednesday flea market are definitely worth a look and again get taxis they cost virtually nothing, and they usually wait for you so you have one to get home again!!! Hope this was helpful hope you choose Goa you will not regret. Just when you 1st arrive don't be shocked by the culture change (it is an eye opener) just embrace it all, the people are wonderfully friendly.

you say you want ultra cheap- believe me the most expensive part is your flight.... Get your visas sorted and then you can maybe pick up a late availability. download visa applications from Indian Embassy web site, these cost 30 each for 6 months from the date of issue.

You don't want say how long you intend going for if it is under 3 weeks you are better off booking hotel and flight together, don't go all inclusive the food and drink is fabulous and cheap outside the hotels. The weather at that time of year should be fab hot and steamy possibility of a very odd shower but if one comes it will be over very quickly ( we fly out on the 10th Novemeber via Mumbai as we are fortunate enough to be going for a couple of months)

Calungute IS very touristy (British pubs alongside local bars etc )but most of the resorts up North are, the further North you go the quieter it becomes there are some wonderful bamboo huts on stilts on the beaches of Morjim and Mandrem (one is called Dunes don't know if they are on the web) these seem to be populated with youngsters but i have not seen them advertised anywhere in the UK

Calungute would be a good starting place for you or Baga both are touristy, but buzzing everywhere

is within walking distance of the beach in both these resorts

Go into GOOGLE key in Goa and the list of web sites is endless

Good luck and enjoy wish I had found Goa at your age!!!

Hi S potatoe,



Goanluv is right (calangute is very touristy), as are Baga and Candolim. All 3 resorts are within walking distance or a short taxi ride away. All 3 are populated by the Brits, it's nothing like going to spain though!!. You get a great cross section of people from all walks of life. Some backpacking and just passing thru, some longstayers (like me), who spend the whole British Winter in Goa, two week tourists who go out on charter flights and keep going back year after year.

Further North places like Anjuna and Vagator are also quite lively and are mostly populated by non-brit europeans, israeli's, swiss, dutch, germans. These resorts are more popular for their drug culture and parties, although the parties have now been banned and don't last 3 days like they used to.

The place that Goanluv mentioned with the co-co huts on the beach is very very nice but you'd probably only want to spend a few nights there because there are limited facilities entertainment wise.

South Goa is very quiet and mostly 5* All Inclusive resorts (not the best place for a girl celebrating her 18th)

Palolem in the far south is very beautiful and might be what you are looking for if you don't want too touristy or too British.

Most Accom here is in co-co huts on the beach, there are lots of good places to eat and some nice chilled bars. It is getting more popular now but you wouldn't have a problem finding a bed in November. Have a look at:

http://goa-india.com/palolem-beach.html



Have a great Birthday, Goldenflipflop

hi potato,



We are going to candolim/calangute on nov 12, 2005 you are well out of monsoon season by then and its really warm but not too packed with tourists , its not at all british anyway , nice pubs ,great shops , a dominoes pizza !!!!! great beach busy at baga and quieter in candolim just a 5 min walk down raod , great resaurants !!!!



The weather when we went same time 3 years ago was 39 degrees sounds hot but its not muggy heat its fine ,



we are staying at dona terezhina as we did last time , very basis but all in as booze included then !!! food basic but soooo cheap to eat out who cares , we have booked with thomas cook but up to you how you book it ,



there is loads to do , a great jewellers, adidas shop , levi shop in calangute and an english pub and it smells like on too. The big anjuna market is near by and you might even meet and elephant on the side of the road, we did !!!Might be risky just booking flights and seeing what happens when you get there i would try and book accomodation before you go least you know you got a roof over your head for the night.



I cant wait to get there and you guys should be the same its a fab experience and you will love it



christy