After our last trip in January 09 we decided that Goa had lost a bit of its magic for us.
The final nail in Goa's coffin for me was the debacle at Dabolim when our passport was checked in excess of 15 times, from entering the building to getting onto plane; it fried my brain as well as my temper. We landed at East Midlands and as our taxi was driving us home we where talking and getting excited at the thought of visiting Thailand or Vietnam for the first time next year.
With those negative thoughts still in my mind I decided not to post a trip report and spoil the anticipation of those who where still waiting to go on the annual pilgrimage for their "Honeybee fix"
Its almost June and the thought of going somewhere else next year is not giving us that same sense of expectation as visiting Goa does.
So after eating a "mega" slice of humble pie in front of my wife we are planning 3 weeks in Goa January 2010
After reading the Taj Mahal thread our plan is to stay in the Candolim area again and book a Taj /Red fort trip when we get there.
I know many of the forum members have done this type of holiday trip before so if you can PM any recommendations about who to use for flights from UK, local travel agents, guest houses / B&B's or just useful links we will be grateful as this will be the first time we have planned a three week trip as well as having to change at Mumbai.
I know the forum is a valuable resource in its own right and I will be searching it thoroughly myself, but you guys have the inside information that only experience can provide.
GM06
Ian
was the "humble pie" sweetened?
It does make sense Bob and yes Del the pie was was well worth eating.
The checking of passports on our return transit through Dabolim was a joke thats what finally tipped me!
Perhaps we ought to run a bit of a competition on the forum next season to see who get through the airport with the least number of passport inspections
Off to Turkey tomorrow, the search for Goa 2010 holiday starts in earnest on my return.
GM06
Ian
The checking of passports on our return transit through Dabolim was a joke thats what finally tipped me!
Perhaps we ought to run a bit of a competition on the forum next season to see who get through the airport with the least number of passport inspections
Off to Turkey tomorrow, the search for Goa 2010 holiday starts in earnest on my return.
GM06
Ian
I'm sure if you have an itch Ian, one of the local chemists will have something for it!!!
Don't work to hard mate
Alan
Don't work to hard mate
Alan
Been going to goa since 1998 things changing for the worse every year since 2004, returned in feb this year, after 13 passprts/boarding card checks on the flight home the last one being at the bottom of the airplane steps afraid I lost it and told him he was taking the xxxx.
We decided enough is enough have booked for Cuba next Feb.
We decided enough is enough have booked for Cuba next Feb.
Crikey Ronsan, what is the point in checking so many times? It isn't as if you would have morphed into someone else between each check. I remember having my passport and/or boarding card checked 6 times, but 13. Sometimes I think they have too many staff at the airport and rather than be more bored than they already are, they check passports.
On our next trip, we will be travelling independently and hopefully we wont have all this faff.
On our next trip, we will be travelling independently and hopefully we wont have all this faff.
I went last November and only got it checked once or twice, i also said to myself after going last year for the second time i wanted to try somewhere new but im now dying to go back next year for 2 weeks i love the place the prices are really hight though. 
Accomodation sorted 22/01/10 - 14/2/010 (An old favourite !)
Looking for a good priced flight, seen Air India but Quatar Airways looks better for £50 per person more
Dilemas
GM06
Ian
Looking for a good priced flight, seen Air India but Quatar Airways looks better for £50 per person more
Dilemas
GM06
Ian
check out the flights forum for threads on both airlines 
Ian, ive priced Air India and I agree the prices are very competitive but they dont get very good reviews. You will get good prices for Qatar with Southall Travel or Tickets to India.
After a lot of deliberation we have finally booked Kingfisher through Southall travel from heathrow via Mumbai @ £365 each,
Air india came out cheaper but Kingfishers 40+ kilos of baggage per perseon was the decider.
GM06 Ian
Air india came out cheaper but Kingfishers 40+ kilos of baggage per perseon was the decider.
GM06 Ian
Will be great to see you both out there again, Hope they've got extra honeybee in
I have swallowed humble pie too and managed to persuade my wife to have another crack at Goa, i took the plunge and booked Quatar airlines for a cracking price of £355 a head for Feb 2010.
only snag is on the return flight it's a 10 hour stopover at Dhoha.....it will probably put my wife off going back for good this time.
My daughter is also going with us and it's her first time in Goa
only snag is on the return flight it's a 10 hour stopover at Dhoha.....it will probably put my wife off going back for good this time.
My daughter is also going with us and it's her first time in Goa
billy
check with your airline. As far as I know, with a layover of over 8and a half hours, you will get a hotel voucher from them.
check with your airline. As far as I know, with a layover of over 8and a half hours, you will get a hotel voucher from them.
Fiona,
Yes i heard this too buy it's only on certain routes, i booked via southall travel so will give them a bell and see what they say.
There is a lounge at Dhoha called Ornyx and it's roughly about £23 a head which has all amenities including showers, but no alcohol.
As far as i know this can be booked up to 24hrs before hand and if i can't get any hotel vouchers from Quatar i'll just book the lounge on my arrival at the Al Maha service desk...this should take any pressure off me from my other half.
Yes i heard this too buy it's only on certain routes, i booked via southall travel so will give them a bell and see what they say.
There is a lounge at Dhoha called Ornyx and it's roughly about £23 a head which has all amenities including showers, but no alcohol.
As far as i know this can be booked up to 24hrs before hand and if i can't get any hotel vouchers from Quatar i'll just book the lounge on my arrival at the Al Maha service desk...this should take any pressure off me from my other half.
yes- she should be happier
We land Mumbai 11am fly to dabolim at 13.50
Return we land at 07.30 in Mumbai and depart for Heathrow at 13.30
So its not to bad times, Just checked my Etickets and its 45kg hold luggage
Not told her indoors yet
Gooner fan we are stopping at Lucia's again, I know, but old habits die hard
GM06
Ian
Return we land at 07.30 in Mumbai and depart for Heathrow at 13.30
So its not to bad times, Just checked my Etickets and its 45kg hold luggage
Not told her indoors yet
Gooner fan we are stopping at Lucia's again, I know, but old habits die hard
GM06
Ian
Fiona,
Yes i heard this too buy it's only on certain routes, i booked via southall travel so will give them a bell and see what they say.
There is a lounge at Dhoha called Ornyx and it's roughly about £23 a head which has all amenities including showers, but no alcohol.
As far as i know this can be booked up to 24hrs before hand and if i can't get any hotel vouchers from Quatar i'll just book the lounge on my arrival at the Al Maha service desk...this should take any pressure off me from my other half. :rofl
Can you let us know the reply on this one Billy. I was put off booking some flights by the long stopover and hotel expense but would book them if they do provide accommodation. Thanks Dave
Davewales,
I contacted southall about hotel vouchers due to the lenghty stop over and they replied... as Qatar Airways also operates flights with minimum connecting
time of 01hrs and 25 minutes, hence your request for accommodation at Doha could not be met.
I think the best bet is contact Qatar airways if you are booking through them directly.
I feel the reply i got didn't answer my query because regardless of the minimum connection time i will still be there 10 hours!
I contacted southall about hotel vouchers due to the lenghty stop over and they replied... as Qatar Airways also operates flights with minimum connecting
time of 01hrs and 25 minutes, hence your request for accommodation at Doha could not be met.
I think the best bet is contact Qatar airways if you are booking through them directly.
I feel the reply i got didn't answer my query because regardless of the minimum connection time i will still be there 10 hours!
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