My hubby and i have our own apartment in Goa. Finally, we want to spend 6 months of the british winter in Goa starting next year. But we need advice with a couple of things. Firstly, do people who spend the season here, book return flights in england or do you book a one way flight and then book the return flight in Goa? Which is the best (and cheapest) way to go about doing this? Also, does everyone still continue taking Malaria tablets while they are there? I have heard several contradicting things about taking them as opposed to the side effects they give. Any other tips about staying for 6 months would be most grateful. Many thanks to you all.........Sue

Regarding flights - if you have a coming and going date we have found out it is cheaper to book a return flight - but maybe others will tell you different

With regards to the mossie thing - we spend about 7 months of the year here and we do not take any anti-malaria tabs and neither does any of our friends. We all take proper precautions like going indoors at dusk (when the little buggers come out) and stay there for a couple of hours - read a book - have a drink etc etc and then come out. We spend a few hundred rupees on window nets if it is a new place where we are staying - well worth it,

I always book a return flight from Heathrow to Mumbai I also find it cheaper that way. I book my internal flights as well, using makemytrip.com who advertise on this site.
Like emsirrah, I do not take anti-malaria tablets and neither do any of my family and friends who stay out here long term. But it is wise to take precaution and use a good mozzy cream or spray, which are readily available out here.

Having been coming to Goa since early 90's we never took anti-malaria tablets until 3 years ago, when two friends of ours came home from Candolim with Malaria - one it was touch and go. Since then we have taken Chloroquine on the advise of the local chemist (Balaham?) for the first 3 months. They are only 6.97 rups for six tablets. Another friend of ours this time a local has been very ill with malaria this season.

We have mossie screens, doors, coils, spray, stay in at the witching hour and still get bitten. Little :curse::curse: must be tastie tottie.

It must be the case Noni - I can't even manage to get a mossie as a friend! They just don't like me, either that or they are put off by the heady combination of garlic, Kingfisher, Honeybee & Gin that seems to surround me in Goa. . . . . . . . . .

Regards

Hemingway

you don't say whether you are PIO. NRI, FN (if that's gibberish trawl the site).
If you are FN and have bought but not registered there just might be some value in buying your tickets India>UK>India as it could be held to show 'an intention to stay for an uncertain period'.

AndyD 8-)#
...and most anti-malarial drugs are toxic to a greater or lesser extent - why do you think Indians don't take them all the time (cost aside)?

O.K. most anti-malarial drugs are toxic to a greater or lesser extent, but now we know quite few locals in candolim who are taking the weekly ones at just under 1 rup a week. Malaria is very much in Candolim now.

Hi Honey Bee,
what are these 'weekly ones at just under 1 rup a week'?
the weekly ones I knew about were expensive and sent you doo-lally**
AndyD 8-)#

** (a British Raj army psychiatric hospital I believe!)

Many thanks for all your replies. I have no idea what those initials mean ........ i am new to this site having been redirected from holiday truths where i first posted my question. We bought our apartment from Acron and are the owners, though as yet have not stayed there long enough in order to be free holders which is what we intend to do when we have been there 6 months. Do the flights work out more expensive if your return date is longer than the normal two weeks etc?

As for the mozzie thing ............we have taken the weekly malaria tabs in the past which we get from a local chemist .........but the last couple of times we have been we have not bothered with them. Like many, we tend to run indoors at dusk and plug in all the coils etc which seem to help. Another great product i have found for keeping the little sods at bay ..........we always use Avon's Dry Oil spray before going out. One time we forgot and we got bitten to bits ! I'm sure its not just the mozzie's that get you as there are many things there that can bite. I'm sure if you sat out long enough you would get picked clear to the bones lol

The same ones as Noni is taking. Was told by the chemist on the road towards to Acron on the left. Have always trusted him. He says they are the ones that are right for Goa area. All our visitors use them NOW.

Avon's dry oil is recommended in the travellers books. It is good.

Nevis read Buyer Beware - then post your questions there with regard to getting your free hold after doing 6 months - it cannot be done now the Register is closed to Foreign Nationals. That is if you are one.:curse:

I shall take a read of that. I know there have been problems in regards to free hold as i have friends who even now live in Goa all year round, who have had major problems in gaining ownership. From what i hear, Acron are no longer allowing English people to buy property at all now.

HB is quite right but not a party pooper - there is no way in which you can win out there. Good luck anyway and welcome to the site.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear - you really do need to read a lot of old posts and find out what's what and what those initials mean.
I really don't mean to be cryptic or unhelpful.

AndyD 8-)#

It's fine .... i'm not upset. Spent a long time today trailing through this site and it upsets me that so many of you are having problems with the property you thought was your's. But on complex where our apartment is, i know that there is one couple who own their apartment outright and everything is in their name. Or i they too being hoodwinked and it's only for 5 years? I have sent them an email asking them to look at this site too as i'm sure they would find it as interesting as i have. I think its wonderful that there sites like this out there now, telling the truth as it is. Just recently while in Goa, i met a couple who had invested all their savings into an apartment in Arpora. They had arrived expecting to sign only to discover that it was not ready and told it wouldn't be ready for another 3 months! This was with Acron. I too bought from Acron and touch wood, so far have had nothing to complain about. Thankfully, our apartment was actually completed two months before schedule and we have had it now for a total of 3 years, but up to now only been staying a couple of weeks, three times a year. Many thanks for everyones advice ...........