We stayed in various hotels in Calangute and Candolim and booked everything via booking.com based on reviews. Both places are packed full of restaurants offering absolutely everything. That being said, I also know people who have gone down the all inclusive route because of the package holiday option but who still ate out on occasion as it’s just so afforfable to do so.
a waste of money going inclusive either b/b or room only there are many hotels (some are real shitholes) I would recommend thease three Hotel Santiago in Baga Beach, Very Good Clean but old and very attentive staff Quite small but has all you need pool ,bar, shops and restaurants Hotel Khamat in Candolim.....Excellent very clean fantastic staff food out of this world Highland Beech in calangute...large 3 or 4 restaurants bars and 4 pools. Food and rooms are spotless in thease hotels I Know from experience. if you don't fancy the menus ask and they will go to market for anything you ask for If you want an expensive beer like a bud or stella 2 yrs ago it was about 20 /30p a ltr bottle Fosters was about 11p on new yrs eve 4 yrs ago we had a group of 16 friends at a beech shack in baga beech.eating and drinking for 4 or 5 hours about one oclock we asked for the bill and we worked it out to be less than £1.00 each bargain. I Highly recommend the country ,food,drink and people (get a tuk tuk for the time of your life
Sri lanka miles better google hikkaduwa beach have a week there and three or four days in colombo too and same for kandy
Went to Baga Beach about 20 years ago. Plenty of great food places within a close walk - it was very hot though, I think we hit a heatwave! Do a bit of exploring if you can - its a great place. Plenty of shacks on the beach to get food and drinks from in the daytime. We went to one a few times while we were there. Got talking to some lads one day who'd ordered egg on toast for breakfast. 45 minutes later it hadn't appeared so they went to check what was happening - one of the guys was frying the toast and the other guy had walked to the village to get some eggs! Top tip - speak cricket to the hotel staff and you'll get better service (colder drinks, etc).
Goa update Just in the process of booking Goa for my partner and I just thought I'd pass this on we've used www.ownersdirect.co.uk and booked our accommodation thru them got say I'm gobsmacked at the range and especially the prices worth a look for anyone wanting to get away Thanks to those giving advice