Hi I am new to this site and would be really grateful if anyone can give me prices ie. food drinks cost of trips anything we have taken the plunge and booked 2 weeks staying at the Osbourn hotel I have looked all over for prices ie spends what would we need for two week its all very mixed up some people say its 15, per person for a meal! and others say less thanks so much anyone who replies Karen x

Hi Kazworthy

Welcome to BE.

Not sure where the Osborne Hotel is. Do you know the name of the area you will be staying?

Basically to answer your question, prices vary depending on where you go and what your taste is.
Beer ranges from about 60p UK to about £1. Soft drinks like Coke are about
40p and bottled water about the same.
A meal can start as low as about £2 if you like a spit and sawdust local place, and then rise to about £20 if you go all out to some of the flasher places.

My advise would be to take about the same spends as you might take to most places for a fortnight, and maybe you will take a bit of change home at the end.

One more thing, only change about £20 up at the airport if you intend getting a taxi to your hotel, and do not change up your in the hotel - there are much better exchange rates in local shops all over the place. The difference is quite significant.

Enjoy your trip

Dread - x

PS - Don't get conned into booking trips at any holiday reps welcome meeting, take a look around the area tyou stay and you will find them for a much lower price !!!

Hi,
Welcome to the site, my friend Dread as filled you in with the important details. Have a look at our Restaurant thread, my personal favourites are

Rising Waves 2 steaks (fantastic) for £10.
Tuscany Gardens again two good meals under £10 beautiful setting.
21 Coco
Le Feniche 2 meals for £10.
All these places are in Candolim.
Le Feniche is nearer to the Osbourne.

We only eat main courses. It is the drinks that knock up the bill.

Most places are between 70 - 80 for a large Kingfisher
Maderia Red or White wine 400 - 500 rups a bottle.

deadsoc and Noni, Thank you so much for you replies I cant tell you how helpful you have been. As you can imagine we have read allsorts, we are so excited about going to India for the first time, Can you recommend and things we can take for the children ie sweets books we would also love to go to the elephants however I would like to see them in there natural not as I read that some are not treated very well there is lots of trip we would love to see but again have no idea what so ever... thanks once again love karen x

It is far cheaper to organise your trips with taxi drivers. Play one off against another, they are desperate for business. The Spice Plantation is a good day out and you can see, ride and wash the elephants there. You also see elephants on local roads, although I don't agree with that as they walk a long way every day.

You can go to Coco Beach and take a Dolphin Trip on the boats, no see no pay!

There is also a boat trip which you see the crocodiles. Collect some brochures and then do a deal with a taxi driver, don't go with the Rep it will cost you more than double.

Don't forget Ingo's Saturday night market - that is a must for a newbie,
it is free with music all night, great food from the stalls from pizza's, sushi, beef rolls etc.

For less 'touristy' trip visit Shanta Durga temple at Ponda and perhaps one other temple (choose from guide book), as others have said go by taxi. Wear long trousers and kurta/tunic top. You don't need to spend long there and it will be hot outside so you can combine it with a trip to Panjim.