Aldeiao Bello Reviews

Anyone visiting this resort, expecting the luxury of a European hotel, forget it.

On arrival on 7 Jan 2007 after a 11/12 hour flight you first think what you're doing there. Security is very tight and the airport is a little dated which makes arriving and collecting luggage some what an experience. Have plenty of pounds with you, the y will squabble for your luggage to put it on the bus. Plus they cannot change coins so they want you to exchange the coins for paper money 10s or 20s.The hotel is very basic but clean with fresh bedding and towels daily, and if you require anything extra ask at reception they are very obliging and helpful. Will even post your postcards for you. Ten cards to the UK 45 rupees. The room we had was fine for us, as we were two males and we treated it as a central location to do a bit of exploring. The female members of our party who shared a room were somewhat disappointed at the room when they compared it to ours. There were a number of Brits' staying at the same place but there were very little adverse comments about the standard.

The staff was very friendly and helpful, but we were out and about most of the day and mainly just slept there, even though we were half board we did eat out a lot and as this was so cheap we didn't mind. In fact on our last night we had a Chinese meal at Kim Faa and for all 9 of us including drinks and a full banquet the total bill came to £17.50. They definitely do not have a highway code. The only requirement is to have a horn and a constant 'beep beep' was the order on the road, if you can call them that. The beaches are great and the staff on the beach shack at Fahrenheit wre friendly and will serve you anything you need. There are of course the beach peddlers who constantly come along and try to sell you anything from handbags to beads, but that is half the fun. But remember to barter; you get quite good at this with practice. I you don't want anything just tell them to go away, they eventually get the message. Also when you go into the towns you will get beggars coming up to you, especially children with hands out for a few rupees.

We took a boat trip to see the sunset over the Arabian Sea and one to the spice plantation, which we organised ourselves; this was cheaper than an organised one through the rep. All in all we had a great time and are looking forward to our next visit. We found some people combine a holiday with acquiring dental treatment, which is a fraction of the cost compared with Britain. One chap on our flight went out with one tooth in his head and came back with a full set of pearlies. He does have to go back later in the year to complete his treatment, but even then it is cheaper than Britain and reliably informed better equipment.

All I can say now is roll on next year, because Goa is definitely a goa for us.

After flying for nearly 12 hours and going through the Goa airport experience you can imagine how we felt to be told by our rep that the hotel was over booked and we had been moved to Aldeiao Bello. I was assured that the new resort was of a higher standard and had more amenities than our original hotel (Nizmar resort - Calangute). We have been to Goa several times and understand the standards and conditions but were very upset at the state of this resort. Turning off the main road, the resort is situated in the middle of an overgrown wilderness, with no real road and a good 15mins walk from anywhere.

Although the staff were friendly enough and very helpful this did not make up for the very low standard. The rooms very, sparsly furnished, bed linen and curtains dirty, the bathroom was disgusting, one plastic garden chair. The view from our window was a rubbish dump my parents room was even worse.

The swimming pool looked like it needed a good clean, the tiles where dirty and marked.What was supposed to be a restaurant / bar was more like a counter and a small dirty kitchen.

We were so disgusted with the place we checked out and went to stay in Candolim. I have since checked this resort on the internet and from the photographs and the travel companies 'write-ups' it would appear to be quite nice. i think the photographs were taken when it was first opened and the paintwork was fresh and clean, and the rooms half decent - that was a long time ago and now it is rundown and dirty. It is always a little bit perilous walking at night in Goa, due to the lack of street lighting, mad drivers and wandering cows....however the location of this resort was very scary.

I would hate anyone to book this resort from the pictures and to be so, so disappointed when they get there.