Sea View Cottages Reviews

First things first. Monarch Airlines I had a 24 hour delay with very information provided about the flight, added to unhelpful and miserable staff! I'll get a scheduled flight next time and seek my accommodation when I get there!

This was my second time in Goa and having enjoyed the luxury of a 5* hotel last time, I wanted to experience a more 'local' atmosphere and found myself in Baga. I booked late and ended up at Sea View Cottages. As I expected, it was far more basic but certainly a lot more charming. Its location means that you're a 50 yard walk to the wonderful beach.

The beach itself is terrific. Very lively and plenty of sellers offering all sorts of things, but if you're not interested, a shake of the head usually means they'll pass you by. A word of caution though, Baga beach in places has a very strong current and you're advised not to swim out too far. I spent most of the time lazing about at Joe Louis' beach shack where you will find very friendly staff to serve you a cold beer and something to eat from the very cheap and tasty menu.

The best discovery of this holiday was a new lounge bar and restuarant that opened recently called 'Karmasutra'. Its located on the main Baga Road towards the top end of Baga Beach. This is the most perfect bar I think I've visited. If chilling out in wonderful surroundings and enjoying a really special atmosphere, plus some of the best chillout music is your thing, I couldn't recommend this place highly enough. They also serve some of the most incredible food I've ever tasted. A little more expensive than some of the restaurants and shacks but worth every penny in my opinion.

Other good places to eat for really great food are 'East Meets West' on the Baga Road, 'Mermaid' in Calangute and Joe Louis' shack on the beach.

If you fancy a night clubbing (not usually my thing), make a visit to Cabana's. This place was amazing. Set in the hillside with views from one its outdoor swimming pools overlooking the valley below is a great night out - 700 rupees to get in and free drinks for the night!

Even though Calangute is only a very cheap taxi ride away, I often walked to soak up the atmosphere and look at the huge array of local shops along the way. Everything from local business's to Tibetian markets.

I'll definately be going back to Baga again early next year because I think it offers something for everyone