Getting through the airport

Hi, Due to travel to Goa on the 24th March with Thompsons from Gatwick for a 3 week stay at the Dona Sylvia. First time to Goa but we have heard that the airport is a bit of a nightmare. Any advise from oldhands at the easiest way to get through and how long the ';experiance'; may take?

Thanks in advance.

CD

Getting through the airport

Hi Capt

You may have to queue to get your passport stamped, depends on how many staff are working, we have queued for up to an hour before.

We just chill and watch everone else getting irate.....lol

Getting through the airport

Hi Capt Duckling my advice just go with the flow .It.s all worth it in the end.you%26#39;ll have a fab holiday and the Dona Sylvia is a lovely place to stay.Barbs

you may want to beat off the porters with a wet newspaper!!!lol.

BOB

not an old hand but just got back yesterday-arrival is a nightmare,but Thomson rep Charlotte was ace.

Lots of people will harass you for your bags or to offer taxi-we were almost pushed over in stampeed.';Porters will take your bags without you asking and even though I said no to at least 10 whenI got to the bus I turned round to see where my husband was and a man took my suitcase out my hand walked away with it ti the back of the coach (7 or 8 steps)I asked my husband to see what was going on he then followed my husabnd back to the door and was scowling when he was not given any money.Sorry if this appears negative but I do believe that if you havent experienced this it can be very scary especially after a 9 1/2 hr flight and 51/2 hr time differnce.Alot of people on the forum have done this many times and as you say are old hands but if its your first time you find it difficult to relax.Departure actually took longer multiple security checks even came on bus at airport gates, again random people doing small taks without being asked and then holding out hands saying ';tips,tips';.Also little tip they weighed all our luggage together i.e didnt just give curory glace at size of hand luggage ,didnt see any one go over .We thought we might and had filled hand luggage.Also be warned after your suitcases are xrayed for journey home they are secuity sealed so you cant shuffle roung things after this point ,and also very important rep advised a military airport no liquids at all allowed in hand luggage not even in sealed bags of small e.g 100 ml,so lots of ladies had to put mouistuiser etc in suitcases or throw things away-hope havent put you of just being honest.Let me know if there is anything else you want a first timers opinion on.

You have to be really firm with tham

MAKKA NAKKA PORTER!!!!

I will second that very firm Iam a Scottish Psychiatric nurse and no shrinking violet but I was a wee bit shaken y it all.

I think if you%26#39;re expecting it then its not too bad...

I%26#39;d read about it on here but even so, it is a little unnerving first time round........

Hi Duckling, got to admit it can be an experience, but the last two times we had no problem, once you clear immigration you can go to get your luggage. Soon as you get your bags and a porter approaches just say a firm NO, they soon get the message, all in all from getting off the aircraft to getting out of the airport it was about an hour. The chaos starts as soon as you walk out of arrivals, every man and his dog wants to get your bags, just hold on tight to it and say NO, NO, NO,waving them away, find your rep and depending on whether your getting the coach or taxi head straight for it still holding tight to your bag and waving them away, be stern but polite (until they get on your nerves that is).

HI,

I returned on Sunday and I have to say we had no problems with the porters...

However we did spend 4.5 hours queuing and that is without exageration! I don%26#39;t know whether that is normal, but they had no computers and all passengers had to be checked in manualy. We flew with Monarch and they had no representatives at the airport what so ever - at least Thomas Cook%26#39;s representatives run up and down the queues and found the names of the passengers on lists before they step up to the check in clerk...So their passengers weren%26#39;t waiting that long.

i m sure u will hva gr8 time at dona sylvia n yr rep laurie , she is superb.