I'm still going on Friday unless advised otherwise, but wouldn't be if I was going on my own! my mates joining me next week. I've already booked my flight for next March but that will be the last time. Lots of reasons but the worlds a big place and I feel I've seen the best of Goa and am now wishing I hadn't booked this year.

We are supposed to be going back in March for our 5th visit, but to be honest we are seriously thinking of changing, not only are we aprehensive but our two daughters are concerned as well and we dont know if we want to have them worrying about us for two weeks, its always easier when you only have yourselves to think about. Anyway like Yummymummy we are looking at Mexico and Dominican Republic, nothing definate decided yet and who knows we may just say no come on lets still go.

Sue

I can't imagine I'll be back for a few years or maybe ever (definately not in North 'strip'). There seemed to be a lot of moaning about how quiet things were by locals. What really got to me were all these new restaurants and hotels being built for what? Too many taxis with no pricing regulation. Taken for granted as having loads of money because I'm a westerner. Everyone was down about the whole bad start to the season.

The bubble is now burst for sure and also there's an overtone of not being safe, whether it be with 'out of staters' or a genuine terror threat. Can't seeing recovery being fast, and who is going to clean up the mess and restore all this?

One day I will return, but at present most of the 'magic' has gone.

we were going to go back to goa again in March but decided on mexico in April as its a "special" birthday", we booked it about 6 weeks ago and now are glad that we did. we would be a bit dubious about going at the moment, still we have loads of good memories from previous years

j

Totally agree Neil i`m sad to say, we weren`t going anyway this year but I feel one last time in March to say my goodbyes would do for me. The next month in Goa will show how bad things actually are, such a shame for the decent local people who have accommodated us with such great friendliness over the last 10 years

We've been long time visitors to Goa (first time in 1994) and have been in November & March for the last few years.
This year though, we did a 28 day tour of China in October so hadn't planned to go before Christmas but we were thinking of booking for Feb/March.

To be honest, what happened in Mumbai has not put us off, (we were actually in Mumbai a year ago this last weekend).
We've been to a lot of places that have been targetted by terrorists, including Sri Lanka and Bali.
We're just wondering if getting a visa will be even more difficult than it already is as a result of this dreadful happening.

I do agree that things have changed quite a bit and it sounds like some of the Goans have 'killed the golden calf' and will be suffering the backlash of reduced tourism as a result.
Such a shame, really.

mass cancellations in Goa

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mumbai-terror-sees-mass-cancellations-in-goa/00/31/341956/

40 per cent booking cancelled

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/terror-hits-tourism-40-per-cent-booking-cancelled/79506-3.html

I just don;t know what to do

We are booked to fly out on the 3rd of Jan, for what would be our 6th visit. But I have to say I really am quite worried now, as we have 2 little ones, a 5 year old and a 18 month old. Our son has been to Goa twice before, and we have never had any hesitation in taking him there, but with what happened in Mumbai, I just don;t know. I hate for terrorists to win, and force us into not doing things that we want, and also the impact it has on the locals. We are good friends with a Goan family and we know how much they struggle, and tourism is the only source of income for alot of these people.

But with two littles ones, I don't know whether it would be irresponsible of us to go. Obviously as the foreign office has not advised against travel we would not be able to get a refund and would have to just change to a different destination at a small fee, but they also state that we must travel on the same date, which narrows down the choice. I love Goa, and was so looking forward to it, but now I am just worried worried worried !!!!

As stated earlier the decision is personal and we are going on the 28th Dec with our kids, who are teenagers. I don't really understand when people say if I had small kids I would think again,surely if you thought for one minute it was a danger to anyone you would'nt go, thats how I look at it. I know kids go if we say we are going, but I would not put my life or my partners life in danger and what does the fact that they are little have to do with it does that mean older children are expendable, does this indicate that those of us who decide to take our children are irresponsible because that may be how some people percieve it and it may in fact colour their judgement.
Just a thought

mazzy i understand how you must feel,we have friends who travel out to goa on thursday and were worried,so they phoned up the FO and asked,their reply was nothing to worry about traveling to goa, i think you have to do whats best for you and your family,

PERSONAL VIEW ONLY,
the terrorists could strike in Bradford, Brighton or Bognor next.

Wherever you go , you can be a target of some extreme group or another.
The odds of being there at the right time in the right place (so to speak) are pretty long.

I am concerned but not enough to cancel either 2009 or 2010 hols at this stage, but have no problems with others who have or choose to.
What really angers me now, is that I paid more or less full price and now there will loads of cheapies around

If it makes you feel better Del949 I booked on the Monday before the attacks, I have checked the websites constantly and the holiday price i booked has gone up by £120

Im sure your wrong debgreg
teens are still children its just that some of the people like me are taking younger children with us no difference what so ever age is not the issue
its just are you prepaired to take them ? i still intend to take my grand daughter but like me if anything else from now till you go happens like in mumbia would you take your child ?
sharon uk

Hey, your kids are your kids no matter what age they are, I am certain we all agree with that and love the adult kids as much as the younger ones.
The difference is , I suppose, that there is an age when kids are old enough to make their own decisions. But when they are little WE have to make their choice for them, and making a choice for other people is always harder than deciding on your own actions.

Sharon,

I think if anything else does happen or they start kicking off with Pakistan over it, we will definately reconsider.

The Bali bombings happened a month after we got back from honeymoon there and we frequented kuta quite alot including the Sari club. I was the first to say that it should not put people off, as it is such a beautiful place and those poor people who rely soley on tourism ( like Goa) . I also worked in London when it was in quite a high terrorist alert.

So in a lot of ways I know that we should still go, and we most probably will, I need to do our visa's by the end of this week, or we won;t be going anywhere !!

I just hope it all stays calm and peaceful, then we will be able to go off an enjoy our holiday without worrying whilst we are there.

Sharon I am not sure what you mean by I am wrong, that was exactly the point I was making that kids are kids at 5 or as in my youngest child's case 13. I have a son of 33 and a daughter of 24 (don't even ask ) as well and that was what I was trying to say, if I thought it was a danger no matter what age or for myself or for my OH I would not go. Would you have gone to Blackpool (no sarky comments) or Edinburgh after the London bombings?

I have made my decision and as people say it has to be a personal one made on an informed and personal evalution and assessment, but I do feel that some people who decide to go with their children/grandchildern may feel a bit like they are not doing the right thing by actually taking them from comments that others have made.

Only my opinion of course

Hi Mazzy
I typed you a long mail about an hour ago but i had to delete it as no parent can tell another parent what to do in a situation like this but im really pleased youve taken the choice you have
best be quick with the visas weve got ours
will be in calungute from 7th to 26th with a spell in the south or gokarna in between
sharon uk

im going to stick my neck out here, hope i dont offend anyone as its not intentional,

we are all entitled to our opinions an we should respect others on here,there is enough badness going on in the world with out us bikkering about going to goa or not either with young children or older children,we each have our own feelings about what has gone on and weather we personaly feel safe to go

have a lovely holiday wherever you decide to go...

adele

Adele, surely thats the point of a forum. To allow people to exchange their views.
can't say that I have noticed any "bickering".
But you are right to point out that it seems a bit unimportant with all the other problems in the world.