Lcuy I've heard that Kingfisher is in a bit of a mess - see dogster's post on this.

Bob looked at Indigo at one time. Kingfisher had better sched. for what we wanted, but as Hanuman says, they have some financial issues. I think at this point they have a partial buyer, but I guess I would have plan B in place.

I flew Indigo Lucknow-Hyderabad via Delhi late 2010. No curb-side greeters like Kingfisher, but no complaints either. My notes say I paid 150 INR for a chicken tikka sandwich.

Congratulations on the wedding!

Can't help with shopping in Goa - I just shop for dirt cheap cotton clothes there to beat the heat.

Thanks. I think I choose someone besides Kingfisher, much as I really liked them in the past.

Hi lcuy and best wishes for your wedding! Goa Marriott was beautiful however needed a bit of an update when we stayed there in 2007. Hopefully they have done a complete renovation. It's on the river (in an upmarket area of Panjim)and well serviced by local buses and taxis. Make sure you get a room facing the river. We stayed on the ground level and had access to a nice patio. The barges carrying ore to Chinese freighters off the coast pass by all day. Beach close by was pretty awful. Go up to Agonda for fabulous beaches. Goa has some great food and the Portuguese influence can be seen in Old Goa and in many parts of the State. There's trains from Mumbai to Madgaon if you cannot find an acceptable flight. Have you checked out www.makemytrip.com for flights and trains? I've used them many times. Excellent trustworthy site. Good luck. Have you considered Hampi as a side trip? Amazing place!

Yep, the Marriott's the wrong place if you're going for beach access. But Panaji and Old Goa are handy.

Forget Hampi - too far, and not worth it (see my TR for why). Do consider a tour of the spice plantations, and possibly Dudhsanger waterfall, although it was a bit of a trek when I did it back in 2001.

oh, and congrats on your wedding

Haha Bob.
Just to clarify, this is our former exchange student's wedding! Our Indian daughter, we call her...

The ceremonies are all at the Marriott, so it will be easy just to stay there. Although, if it would be easier to do shopping and a nicer beach area somewhere close by, I might consider spending the first two nights somewhere else than Panaji/Miramar beach, then moving to the Marriott.

Any recommendations?

Thanks also for the mention of the train. I am of course a little worried about weather and that could be an option and fun too. I'll need to look at the travel time though.

Got to go find my India guides...i think Daughter #1 has them all in Boston.

i was disappointed to see that your flts were so direct... that is based on your previous shake downs of the airlines.

Thurs, I gotta go back and check your TR re Hampi. To me, it 's always sounded like such a schlep and I wondered if worth it.

Rhkkmk, thanks for the congrats post, and Lcuy, thanks for clarifying whose wedding it is!
I was about to write, "Congratulations Lcuy!! Is love better the second time around??"

CaliNurse - it was a very serious schlep as I did part of it by road across Karnataka...

It might be worth it if you were on the very expensive train that dogster took.

Try the Taj holiday village at Sinquerim beach. Nice cottage style laid back property right on the beach. Good restaurants in the hotel and also great seafood at the beach huts (beach huts are not connected with the hotel). Lots of westerners eat at the beach huts...it's safe.

Have fun at the wedding, lcuy.....you'll have better luck shopping for saris in Mumbai, I think.

I understand the train ride to Goa is scenic...but takes a long time. Take a direct flight, much better. Jet or Air India. Kingfisher is in some kind of financial trouble.

Kingfisher is in financial trouble, and a lot of flights are getting canceled. I'd suggest you avoid them. Instead Jet Airways/JetLite is always a good option. I've been a regular at Indigo for a couple of years now, they keep to their schedule without the extra frills. Do not buy their in-fligh snack options though, way too expensive for the taste.

For eating, I'd suggest the Souza Lobo at Calangute. Great prawn curry, not to mention spicy.

Thursdays, "expensive"and "train" in India are (with my budget limitations) contradictory, I'm afraid.
If ever in the "neighborhood" i might go to Hampi; o/w it is waaayyyy down my list.Thanks for making me feel not-weird for that.