I know this has probably already been covered but I don't fancy trawling through all of these pages

Can anyone tell me what excursions are available that are suitable for a family with 2 boys age 5 & 2 1/2.
We like to get out and about but being as theres not much there it would be nice to do a few trips.

Also can anyone tell me what Ortaka is like ?
Is there much there ?

Pleased to hear that things have improved from last year! We had a great time but had a few teething problems! A few Q's.....
Is there a childrens playground?
Is the whisky free on AI?
The evening kids club is there a charge every night?
Tokens for pool towels is it one each?....how does it work?
look forward to replies....Thanks x

Hello. When we go to PP end July we have those awful night flights from Gatwick.

Can anyone tell me what time we need to vacate the room at the hotel and do they have any tips???

We are not being picked up until midnight. Can we book a room with the hotel for this and if so, do they charge?

Thanks xx Sue

Hi Here's a few answers for you.

Is there a childrens playground? No but we never missed it!

Is the whisky free on AI? Yes

The evening kids club is there a charge every night? Not every night, around every second or third night there is a £2 charge. This only applies for the evenings in which they are giving the kids sweets etc. Such as chocolate party, sweetie bingo, cinema night. Bloody good value for money I say!

Tokens for pool towels is it one each?....how does it work? On check in you will be given a towel card for each member of your party, including children. There is a towel cabin near the main pool which is open most of the day, sometimes at the start and end of the opening times there is a big queue, but if I saw a queue I just went back later when it was quieter. You give the girl your cards, she gives you towels and you sign them out, when you want clean towels, say at the end of the day. You sign back in your towels and she gives you your cards back, you can do the same thing again the next day.

Can anyone tell me what time we need to vacate the room at the hotel and do they have any tips??? You must be out your room by 12 midday on the day of departure. You can book a late checkout until 6pm, I think it would be best to do this via first choice just to make sure you get it. As for tips, I always just give the maid a tip at the end of the first and second week. There are tip boxes all around the bars, restaurants etc and I'm sure a few pounds would be most appreciated.

We are not being picked up until midnight. Can we book a room with the hotel for this and if so, do they charge? Yes they will charge and you can book with them, but see above.

Hi Suestu21, in answer to your question we were also on a night flight and asked for a later check out, we already had one till 6pm, the rep managed to get our room for us till midnight and we paid £20 for it well worth it in the end. I am not sure though if this was because my little girl had chicken pox and an ear infection and we didnt get the fit to fly certificate up to the last few hours before we were due to leave. Its always worth asking, it does depend I know on weather the room is being let straight out, when we went it wasnt very busy but it was getting busier by the day towards the end. Good luck anyway.

Debbie x

Hi Debbie,

Thanks for your reply. We go in the peak season, so wish us luck. My hubby works in a factory and it shuts down, so we have no choice but to go at this time!! - hey ho.

Sue

Hi Suestu
I have booked a late checkout room with FC until 6pm it was about £40ish we go in Aug.

Vicky

Sacko - What time to you get in at and where are you flying from?

Thanks Scottishmum for your valuable information. It really does make things a lot easier.

Does anyone know if you can buy nappies out there and are they very expensive or about the same price as here?

meiklej, Some good info on nappies by following this link:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31843

Also look at the link in this thread for the supermarket, very cheap when you convert the prices to english. (Nappies are about £8 for 72.

Cheers

Meiklej - We fly from Manchester at 9.30am si I guess we should be at PP mid afternoon - hopefully in time to catch some sun and for the kids to try out the slides.

I am so grateful for all these tips (information - not money for the maid - lol).

Thank you so much, we shall get in touch with FC regarding late room.

Sue xx

Anyone travelling before august, if you have a kids den can you let us know what its like.

Haffenden family, FC have just rang who spoke with the accomodation helpline and they have said the facilities are as per the brochure. They have taken the name of the person we spoke with and told me to take the brochure with me to complain if required when there.

So, we should have seperate TV in the kids den as advertised.

If anyone out there at the moment who can confirm this or if you are about to go, can you let us know how you get on?

Cheers

Mcfester

We had a kids den and there is only one television and its in the main bedroom but there is the option of moving it the other side of the partition into the kids den section. It really was not a major issue and there are so many things to do at this place you wont want to be cooped up in your room watching tele or playing the playstation. With the playstation so there are no shocks for anyone going when they bring it to your room you have to let them take an imprint of your credit card which they give you back upon the safe return and this is also the case for the games or dvds!

Right as for the holiday. As we went last year we had something to compare by. Firstly the food which we didnt really have a problem with last year was fantastic in comparision. We overlooked the building site, again not a problem as it was the quieter part of the hotel at night. The entertainment was fine. In the second week there it did get a lot busier and i would not go or recommend peak season.

The weather was glorious but be carefull as i managed to burn not too badly one day. Took my 2 1/2 year old boy to the swim kids parent and toddler with Danielle and it was great and he really came on confidence wise. The slides are nothing in comparision to the Tropical slides but again adequate. The creche was as good as last year.

The people there on the whole were great but as with anything you cant please all of the people all of the time and there were a few people gripping about silly things but that is my opinion.

Got to meet the Infamous Scottishmum Eddie, Cameron and Scottishmums mum (not trying to spell her name ) Had a great time with them and also met Totoya.

Would i return for a third time to this place? Yes but it would have to be out of the main season. This year is going to be the making of this hotel and anyone going should look forward in eager anticipation and not let little issues spoil the enjoyment. Come on who really wants 2 teles in the hotel room! Go and enjoy!

Big hi to Catherine, Eddie, Cameron and Andrena (there you go ive had a go)

All the best.

Michael, Alison and Ray!

footballswampie - what would you class as peak season?

nonnielane x

I would class Peak Season from about the first/second week of July...just as the schools are about to break...

We went for the last 2 weeks of July and it was MANIC to say the least and by the sounds of those coming back it is going that way again this year...

It's good to hear that it has improved from last year

Katy xx

I would class peak seasons as From mid july to end aug (i used to be a travel agent and thats what we would have classed as peak) basically the school hols.
I am going Aug and a little worried now as a few people have said they wouldnt return peak season.....why?
I always holiday in August surely it is just the same as going anywhere else peak season? If not why not?
Everywhere is packed and busy then ive never been anywhere where i havent had to be at pool by 8am to get a sunbed the only diffference for me this yr is we usually go SC.

I have just re-read that and it sounds like im being a bit funny or something but im not just dont know how to word it differently.....just curious why people wouldnt go peak? Do you normal go other places peak? As i know some people just dont like to holiday anywhere then.

Thanks Vicky

We always hol in May and I agree in a way with what everyone has said about not wanting to go in peak season, when we arrived 4th May it was very quiet the service was brilliant, you didnt have to worry about sunloungers even in the afternoon, before we came home it was getting really busy but it didnt spoil anything the service was still very good, you just had to wait a little longer to get served at the bar and when you went to the restaurant for your evening meal you usually had to wait for a table to be cleaned before you could sit.

I wouldnt want to go if it was any busier, but all please remember this is only my opinion and everybody is different, I suppose my main concern was child safety, and lets not have a mass panic here but the first week I could see or hear my youngest, thats nothing to go by her voice is like a fog horn and you can usually hear her within a fifty mile radius, but towards the end I was constantly looking for her in the pool or at the snack bar, more because shes a wonderer and trust everyone and I panic with that.

So you just all make up your own minds, its each to their own, and enjoy, but then Ive been I know you will.

Debbie x

Meiklej
I was just planning on taking my own nappies i emailed FC and they said you can put a luggage label on a full pack and just send them like that it comes of your weight allowance but saves suitcase space.
Personally i just cant be bothered to go out looking for nappies....i find it easier to to take a full pack that will see me through the 2 weeks thats what i did with my older son and thats what im doing this time.
Vicky

Thanks Debbie
I see what your saying i like holidaying when its busy yes it would be nice to know you can get a sunlounger at anytime but the fact that i cant wont spoil my hols.
My oldest is old enough to wander a little not too far hes nearly 6 but i know he wouldnt go off and my other ones only a baby so ive no worries there.
Anyway its the only time i can go so i will love it and enjoy every minute....i have never been away not peak so dont know it any different.

Vicky