A friend wants to visit sometime in January. Any recommendations? Is Thomas Cook the best?

Thomson/First Choice, Thomas Cook and Monarch fly to Goa. The first two I think are much of a muchness, Monarch is by far the worst.

If you`re a real friend, you`ll tell them not to come at all.
Wally.

Oh don't say this Wallydog! My parents live there and we are due to visit again at Christmas - we don't need these negative comments.

Yes my parents have bought property, and yes they are subject to the same problems and frustrations as everyone else but they try to be as positive as possible. Don't put people off visiting - especially when we work hard all year around for our visit, I thought Goa still had a lot to offer.


Talk about put someone on a downer

I AM a real friend and this is why I'm encouraging my friend (who has been ill)to escape the dreadful winter in the UK and enjoy what Goa has to offer: great weather at that time of year; friendly people; beautiful beaches and landscapes; some very good restaurants - all at an affordable price.

I wonder why you're engaging with a Goa forum when you clearly have no interest in the place...And that's as may be, but there's no need for the kind of comment you made. You may not want to go there but thousands of tohers do.

Sasha, I've been checking out flights and Thomas Cook are by far the cheapest, in my opinion, and are direct flights..

Manchester to Dabolim are around £480.00 (including taxes) in November/December.

It's not much more expensive than some of our European desinations!

Thanks. and they are charging around £505 from Gatwick for January.

Hi Heidigirl and Shasha

Slightly off topic, but welcome to BE. It's always good to have new members joining us.

As you will see there is a lot of frustration at the moment with people owning Goan property which you will know from your parents problems, so I'm sure you can empathise with anyone in that situation. However do not let the frustration you see on here put you off either going to Goa or posting on this forum - everyone is welcome here.
I still spend my winters there and enjoy it - despite the fact that I have a property, and all the grief that goes with it. For me, getting away from the horrid UK winter is worth it. I invited a friend over last season and she absolutely loved it, and wants to come back this coming season.

By the way, if you do fly with Monarch, it is worth paying the extra to go Premium - for comfort alone - especially if you are on the long legged side!!

Hope to see more from you.
Enjoy

Dread - x

What do you mean..."You may not want to go there" I`ve been in this shithole for eleven years, ten of them in a court case, involving these so called friendly people. Not forgetting the top class medical institutions, or of course the four lawyers who have robbed me, and others, blind.

I understand your interest in your friends`wellbeing, but there are lots of better places to go.

Obviously you haven`t seen the beaches of late, you`ll be very disappointed.

Having said that, hope your friend enjoys.

Wally.

Always remember there is so much difference, what the tourists see, and what we know.
Sure the Goans are lovely people, when you are spending.
The beaches arnt special.

Like every country places and opinions vary. My parents live in a lovely village, with breathtaking beaches, have wonderful expat and Goan friends.

Of course they have the same problems as everyone else regarding property and visas but they just take each day as it comes. When they came back to UK for a visa they spent 2 months with me and my family. They didn't moan and complain, although they were desperate to get back to Goa, they just seen it through and made the most of it. 180 days later and they are off to Sri Lanka for 2 months, again, without a complaint. As they say, at the moment, it is what it is. If the property and visa issues were resolved tomorrow they would stay in Goa, the country they love.

Not all people think Goa is a shit hole so I think it's unfair to discourage people to come. As my wonderful mother says, if you haven't got anything nice to say, say nothing at all.

Well said Heidi! I live just down the road from Vagator . I`m having to deal with the 2 month exile as your parents do. Difficult when you have pets to consider. I to am totally pissed off with people slagging off Goa. I`ve been doing Goa for the past 15 years and have seen many changes but have decided that Goa is my home . Fortunately I do not own property I rent.I just wish that people like Wallydug would keep,their thoughts to themselves.Get outside of the tourist belt(Candolim and calangute) and there is still a lot of beautiful Goa and lovely people that have not been spoilt by tourism.J

I think despite the fact that people may have businesses, have property or reside in Goa, unless you have Indian citizenship, you are classed as a tourist by the host country.

Wrong.

If you have a Business Visa you are classed as a Business person, and can legally buy property and vehicles for example.

If you have an Employment Visa, you are classed as a legally employed person and for example are not required to leave every 180 days usually

If you have Student Visa, you are classed as a Student and are usually allowed to remain in the country for the duration of your course. In some cases this can be years.

If you have an Entry Visa (sometimes called "X") you are in a catch all category and will be subject to whatever restrictions are placed upon you. But you are still not classed as a Tourist.


Only Tourists are classed as Tourists, funnily enough?

You misunderstood J5. Those are not my thoughts on the matter - just what a group of young Goan men told my parents one night. They may reside there but are still tourists.