Hi Ellaaa,

Just want to welcome you to HT. I'm sure the members here will come up with lots of answers and suggestions for you. It's 10 years since I holidayed in Gumbet so I'm sorry I don't have any up to date info on the place for you but you'll be glad to know that £2000 spending money for an AI in Turkey will be way too much Even if the food at your hotel won't be up to much you'll still be able to eat out without breaking the bank.

As for how the AI works, it's different in each hotel. Sometimes premium (UK brands) are included in the price but unless you're in a 4 or 5 star the included drinks are the local spirits and beers. Your children will just be able to go and help themselves to any snacks and drinks that are on offer and I doubt whether you'll all have to go to the bar to show your id. I suppose it depends if your hotel is exclusively AI or if there will be some holidaymakers there on a half board or B&B basis- in this case, you will probably have to show an AI wristband.

Hope this is a little help for you until some more members reply.

The AI hotels we've been to in Turkey didn't include ice cream for the children,it was available but you had to pay for it.As has already been mentioned £2000 will be more than enough,we only took £400 last year and came back with some.We always have our debit cards with us so have access to much more but for the two of us it was more than enough, obviously with children you may spend more.It will really depend on what you want to do,we went on a couple of boat trips and used local transport to get about.

Thank you both for the replies. Yes, we'll be using transport etc and are thinking that we won't eat at the hotel every day because I know sometimes the food is repetitive in places. I just wasn't sure of how much spending money would be needed to ensure there would be no days where we were having to 'cut back' as I would like to be able to not worry about money this time. I'm hearing different opinions regarding prices of meals etc in Turkey so anyone who can tell me an estimated price of dinner and drinks for a family of 4 would be very helpful as I can then maybe adjust how much money we take with us.

I'm not very good at this holidaying thing I worry right up until we're finally at our hotel. But I'm really looking forward to this trip more than anything. 7 weeks and counting!

well lots of questions. i will do my best to answer.yes the weather is lovely and hot enough to lie by the pool. 2'000 is more than enough. looking at the reviews for the hotel,80% were good. if you need to dine out then there are some lovely restaurants in gumbet. i have heard the family door is excellent as lots of families go back time and again.i'm not sure about the prices of meals but i know that a good english breakfast is about £3. i haven't eaten out in gumbet as we go to the wow and the food has always been good.i dont know if the children can get ice cream in sunhill some do but they can get as many drinks as they like.the boat trips are a relaxing day out and will only be about£30 for the family.you will be able to buy a cake in the supermarket and there is a new shopping mall there.if you go to "forget me not gumbet"travel agency there are lots of trips to choose from.they are very helpful and i always recommend them. they are outside the main entrance of the Royal Aserlick hotel. anybody will direct you to the hotel.oh and dont forget to have a turkish bath at beginning of your holiday. get it from travel agency as they only about£4.hope this helps and enjoy your holiday. we are there 4th may until 14th.

oh sorry! yes you still eat and drink free till you leave the hotel. you can enquire with your rep if you can keep your room on.it will cost you but might be worth it for the children.

Hagarg, thank you for answering all of my questions you've put my mind at rest!

Oh, one more question I forgot to ask where can I find a good cocktail bar that will have a bit of entertainment aswell as great cocktails?

most of the bars do good cocktails but your entertainment is the bar staff. they are really good lads. my daughter used to go to smileys with there 3 kids. twin girls aged 11 and a 6 year old boy. they had a whale of a time . enjoy!!

We went all inc last year at tusan beach resort in kusadasi, you wont need to go to the bar individually just get a full round (and more) each visit. Ice creams were available at evening meals and for about an hour or two in the afternoons there.
Kids can get a drink when ever they need or a burger/toastie/chips for that matter lol.
We are a family of four, kids 11 and 8, normally we are big spenders on holidays but last year we only spent £600 in two weeks and that included the waterpark twice and five nights out paying for meals and drinks including taxis plus a fair few of turkeys genuine fake trainers, jeans and tshirts.
Your £2000 will be way over the top on an A/I holiday in turkey so heres my advice.......
£1400 towards turkey 2013
Hope you all have a fab time and enjoy turkey, no need to hope as i know you will

I'll try and answer your questions. The weather will be nice - not too hot that you have to hide from the heat so you'll be able to sunbathe to your heart's content. As for the pool - well I never venture in until June has arrived but I do like my water to be warm. People do use the pools in May.

Don't take a cake with you - if you go just a little further back in Gumbet, there are some nice patisseries where you can get a cake from. I will give you directions and hope you can use them. From the Sun Hill Suites, walk down the hill until you get the to main road in Gumbet (you will come out by the side of Radio Pub). At the T-junction, turn left and walk up this road until you get to the Windmill restaurant (easily identifiable by the windmill sails). Take the road which is second on the left (it's the main road out of Gumbet). Walk along this road, past Sandy's Bar and a couple of hotels and you will see the Sok supermarket on your left with Dost taxi rank in front of it. On the other side of the road, you will see a lovely patisserie where you will be able to get a great cake. If you don't fancy doing this, ask at the hotel - most are very good at doing this kind of thing.

As for your anniversary celebration, it might be nice to go on a boat trip - as you will have kids with you, I can recommend the trip on the Topol Kamil (which you book with the Hotel Baba on the beach) as it's not one of the loud, dancy trips, just a great relaxing day out. I know you said you weren't planning on doing many trips, but on that day you might also consider doing the half-day village tour which takes you up into the hills outside Bodrum - it's a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the resort.

As for spending money, the boat trips are about £12 each so that won't break the bank - and you will probably get a reduction for the kids. The aquapark is reasonable but you aren't allowed to take in your own food or drink so do budget for buying them in there. I would have thought £2000 for the fortnight would have been plenty, especially as you are AI and so won't be forking out for meals and drinks every day.

As for the markets, there's a small one in Gumbet on Sundays (hidden away so you may have to ask for directions), a large indoor one in Bodrum on Tuesdays (just get the dolmus into Bodrum from Gumbet and it stops are the bus station - the market hall is behind there) or an outdoor one in Turgutreis on Saturdays (very good, you can do an organised trip there or make your own way by getting the dolmus into Bodrum and then another dolmus into Turgetreis). If you decide to do the Turgetreis market, go in the afternoon as by then, most of the trips have left (they visit in the mornings) and it's a lot quieter and easier to walk round.

The kids (and yourselves) might enjoy visiting Bodrum Castle - the kids might enjoy walking round the castle walls, you get great views from there.

I'm sure you'll have a great time. I know you said you planned on eating out a few times. I can recommend a few places where you will get good food at good prices. Our House (Bizim Ev) is nice and not far from you. Walk down the hill to the Radio Pub and turn right. About 100 yards along the road, on the other side, you will see Our House. Next door to this is a good travel agency where you can book your trips (a friend of mine Samantha works there and will give you good advice). A little further along that road (but on the other side) is the Royal which does lovely meals. There's lots of other places too which do good food.

One nice place for good cocktails is Roy's Place (on the beach). It's a karaoke bar but is also family orientated and is safe for the kids with it being away from the main roads.

Hope this has helped a little. If you want to know any more about Gumbet, just give me a shout. It's my second home!!

Jak xx

Thank you all again for the great advice. If I was excited before then I'm bursting now!

Hi Ella,

I'm sure you are really looking forward to your holiday in Turkey!

The weather is lovely in May, it will certanly be hot enough to sunbathe and swim, make sure you take plenty of sun cream especially for your boys as the sun is strong even at that time of the year.

Sorry I can't help with AI as I have never done it but Sun Hill Suites aren't bad as far as AI goes.

There are some lovely cake shops in Gumbet so you don't need to take anything with you, they will make up something amazing if you ask.

I think a boat trip would be a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary, or you could go to the castle in Bodrum, that is lovely and your kids will love it there. My girls always want to go on a boat and go to the castle.

As you are going AI £2,000 will be loads. We don't normally spend that for 2 weeks and we always go sc and eat out every night and we always buy loads of stuff too.

I lived out in Gumbet for a few years so if there is anything else I can help you with just ask

Kedi x

A couple of other things spring to mind - If you've booked through a tour operator don't be tempted to book the trips at the welcome meeting, they will be ridiculously expensive compared to what you can get locally, always better to go on recommendations like Jakki's!
If you are planning on taking cash, I wouldn't advise changing it before you go, the rate of exchange is always much better, maybe not necessarily in your hotel, but there will be plenty of places around that will change it for you.
Regarding your son's birthday, if you tell the hotel staff they are more than likely to do something special for it, the Turks are great for things like that, especially with children.
Its a great country for a family holiday, I'm sure you'll love it!

You have been given great advice here. I would just like to add, take a cardi or pashmina for the evenings as it can get quite chilly in May.Enjoy your first trip to Turkey

Dont use change offices for changing cash as they charge commission,We used the supermarkets for a better rate.

Hi I can see a lot of you have helped with Gumbet, I would like to say this is my first time there, been to Marmaris for the last 8 years, I have booked a private Apartment which is at the Bitez end of Gumbet just up the hill from the Sun Corner Bar, can any give me any more information, also my partner wants to do some scuba diving any information would be gratefully received.

Thanks Wendy

The Sun Corner Bar is at the far end of Gumbet but from there, you can walk into Gumbet centre in about 10 minutes, passing loads of shops, bars and restaurants on the way. What is the name of the apartment complex, do you know? The dolmus that runs between Gumbet and Bodrum goes up past that way.

Jak xx

Hi the apartment is called Gumbet Goldenhouse Apartments thanks for the information you have given me

Thanks Wendy

Hi I have posted something earlier but does anyone know where Chico's Bar is

Thanks

Wendy

Chico's bar is about 10 minutes from where you are staying, if you walk into Gumbet by the main street you will see it on the right hand side.