Yes. I so agree with you.

I've got a few other pet hates as well.

Two of the classics that I see time and time again are 'dont go there it's just like Butlins in the sun'

What the heck is that supposed to mean ??? So what you are saying is it's popular and loved by lots of folk ? So how is that a bad thing exactly ?

It's a classic way of running down a place without having to prove what is actually wrong and producing hard evidence to back up the glibe and superficial comment.

Another one is people saying ' I wouldn't be seen dead in............................ insert as appropriate, but it is normally somewhere like Benidorm, Magaluf, Marmaris, Blackpool ad nauseum

When probed nine times off ten you find the person who makes the comment has never been to Benidorm, Marmaris, Blackpool etc etc :rofl

I must admit that I've never fancied Benidorm but that's mainly due to the high rise buildings - plus we (hubby and I - sometimes 23yr old son) tend nowadays to go to small, quiet resorts. BUT am off to Beni with 3 girlfriends on 15th and am looking forward to it

Not been myself Glynis, but I am sure I will get there one day. Just not keen on those kind of random unqualified comments.

Hope you have an absolutely brilliant time with your girlfriends.

Doe

'dont go there it's just like Butlins in the sun'

What the heck is that supposed to mean ??? So what you are saying is it's popular and loved by lots of folk ? So how is that a bad thing exactly ?

It's a bad thing for me personally because I've always taken this to be shorthand for:

A large AI hotel/complex

Catering mainly for the UK mass market

Food that reflects the tastes of visitors not really looking to sample the local cuisine

Minimal local culture or colour

A big programme of activities aimed at families who rarely leave the complex

I appreciate that this is exactly what a lot of people are looking for, especially if you've young kids or teenagers to keep entertained, but it's not my cup of tea. I had a great time at Butlins on a family holiday when I was a child but now I'm looking for something different. I'm not a big fan of Center Parcs either, even though my nieces adored the family holiday we had there and I know that loads of people love it for exactly the same reasons as they did. The information that somewhere IS like 'Butlins in the sun' is probably a great recommendation for some but not for me.

Similarly, if somewhere is beng compared to Blackpool then it signals to me that it's a big resort where the visitors outnumber the locals, it has no real life beyond being a magnet holiday destination for mainly British visitors, modst of whom who are quite probably half my age! Again, I loved Blackpool as a kid (as an October born child, my favourite birthday treat was always going to see the 'lights') but now I again look for something different and that is why I can't ever imagine large, high rise resorts like Benidorm rising very far up my list of places I want to visit. I've just added a few days in Varadero onto a tour of Cuba simply because it was so cheap and I'm hoping to be surprised by what it's like but I would never go to Cuba just to stay in such a resort.

As for other peoples' complaints, I often find them useful! I used to go to Tunisia quite frequently and enjoyed staying in the hotels that received the sort of reviews where other visitors were complaining that:

The food was too Tunisian and there was no children's menu;

It was too quiet and there was nothing to do;

There was no children's club;

There were too many non-UK visitors staying there,

It was used by Tunisian families on weekend breaks.

In other words, all the reasons they hated it were like music to my ears because they were describing the sort of hotel that I knew that I would probably like and that there was a good chance it was just the place to help me recharge my batteries with a bit of early or late season sun. We're never all going to be looking for the same things from a holiday and for good or bad, other people's reviews can help us decide on where we want to go - even if for entirely different reasons to those of the original posters

SM

Know what you mean about Magaluf, Benidorm etc - you feel like you have to
make excuses/apologise for going there!! Many people visit and enjoy it so they must
have something to offer! We like to go to all the popular places,(including Ibiza,
Torremolinos, Algarve etc) for a 3 night break in and out of season because at least
we know the shops and bars will be open and the flights are only two hours.
I hope you will enjoy your visit to Benidorm.

Another thing that makes me uncomfortable is when staying in a hotel, I tell
another guest that we have stayed there before and they reply with "really?"
meaning how could you come back to this and you must be easily pleased!!!!!!
Do you know what I mean?

I think everybody has different ideas about what they want from their holidays and there is
something for everyone. We have just got back from ours and we have seen couples reading
their books all day and not speaking a word to each other or to anyone else.
That is not for us but I can appreciate that is what they want from their holiday.
We like to make friends on our holiday and have a laugh. We have met some lovely like-minded
people over the years who still keep in touch.

Wherever you choose to go and whatever you choose to do, I hope you all have a great holiday!

Or when they moan about things that can't be helped, ie, it rained all day, well you can't help the weather can you?

SomersetSuzie wrote:

Another thing that makes me uncomfortable is when staying in a hotel, I tell
another guest that we have stayed there before and they reply with "really?"
meaning how could you come back to this and you must be easily pleased!!!!!!
Do you know what I mean?

Definatley LOL I had that said to me when I returned to the El Paso hotel in Salou. Someone quite clearly thought we were mad to return. Seemed odd to me, as it was the kind of place where you certainly knew what you were getting into before you booked. It's quite an expensive theme park hotel for a theme park holiday. If it's not your bag why book it?

BTW Great topic SomersetSuzie.

Hi doepsmc - Glad you knew what I meant!
I am not up with the jargon - what does BTW mean? Hope it is nice!!!!

By The Way

Thanks!

I always try to read between the lines of reviews. Nine times out of ten I can usually gauge that what they are complaining about is actually a plus point for me.

It's true what's one man's meat etc. I've got close friends and we all obviously get on well together but we like different types of holiday. They like bars that stay open late that have people in they can natter to. Hubby and I don't mind late bars but we aren't that bothered if there's anyone in or not (as long as they serve drinks we don't care ). So some resorts can be too quiet for them yet we like them.

One of the girls who's coming with me to Benidorm came with me to Tossa de Mar a few weeks ago. She liked Tossa but was excited when I said 'how about Benidorm' for this trip (I only picked it because it's a mini break and the flights suited us better). She said 'we had a quiet one last time - we'll have one livelier this time'

I'll soon find out - but I think hubby thinks it's all boom boom boom so wouldn't be his cup of tea - so really I'll just tell him I'm going on a recreational holiday

You are so lucky Glynis! Don't think my Hubby would be too keen on me going away
with the girls. Don't suppose I can blame him though as I can get a bit carried
away after a few drinks!!! He says my singing(!) would get me locked up so
I need him there to keep me on the straight and narrow!
I prefer Benidorm to Tossa - hope you will too!

Most people are sensible enough to read between the lines and IMO where you stay on holiday is usually reflected by how much it costs, which is my priority as I have to spread the cost with going away as many times as possible (you are a long time dead!!).

I don't really take much notice of throw away comments but if there are several complaints about the hotel, resort etc then thats different.

Glynis, The high rise element in Benidorm is a fascination for me and makes me think of New York although I have to say I have never been there.
I'm sure you'll all have a great break, there is so much entertainment and the beach and prom are lovely....Caz

One of these days I'm going to get to Benidorm. It is somewhere that seems a little to busy and bustling for my main holiday you see, but a short break or a week there I would probably have a whale of a time.

In my opinion, there is room for all of these different types of holidays and hotels. For instance if I were in Benidorm, I don't think I would even try to find myself a nice, quiet 3 storey hotel, I would throw myself into the holiday and embrace it!

Yet I completely understand that those who like to holiday in busy resorts like Beni and Magaluf or similar would probably not be able to embrace my preferred holiday of a quiet seaside or riverside resort with no british food or pubs or karaoke and lots of local culture (which can always be combined with staying up late/all night drinking however small the resort!).

Suzie hubby works away during the week so am freeeeeeeeeeee!! He's really laid back bless him so doesn't mind (or so he says )

I know what you mean SandC regarding peace and quiet on holiday. Last year we went to Salema in the Algarve and it was tiny. 2 proper bars (one of which was full if there were 6 people in it But there were about 7 restaurants (a couple overlooking the beach) and a hotel that had a bar that stayed open late. We always hire a car so get ourselves out and about during the day but the evenings were heaven. Listening to the waves of an evening.

We rented an apartment right on the sea front

I read a review on the accomodation that we stayed in last year just after I put ours on. It listed so many problems with the apartment, like loose fittings in the bathroom, sharp corners on furniture, the list was endless, it made the place sound like a death trap for children and was obviously a real problem for the reviewer. When I read the review I thought back and remembered that most of the problems that were such a big deal to them were the same in our apartment but really didn't bother us and we had a great holiday. Does it really matter if the loo roll holders a bit loose? As long as nothing is seriously wrong with our apartment I just get on with it. I think some people maybe expect too much or perhaps it's me?

Last October before I went to Icmeler I got a text off a friend who had gone to the same hotel 1 week before I was going.
The text said Hotel Cr#* so have moved hotels.She also said the hotel was filthy.
Naturally I was worried so went to Thomas Cook and asked if I could change hotels.They advised me to wait until I got there and if it was bad the rep would move us.
We arrived at 2 am and the first thing I did was check the bed,which looked brand new and the toilet which was very clean.
We went on to have 2 fabulous weeks and I hope to return this October.
The only thing is all our mutual friends think I stayed in a dump! She went to Austria on Saturday to the same hotel we went to last July and I am wondering if she has changed hotels yet.

I'm going to Blackpool for a couple of days next week, so I hope it's not too much like Benidorm. Too many high-rises for me - - .

I was walking through a hotel in Kusadasi and 4 senior citizens were seated by the double glazed door counting the number of people who tripped over the step. "That's 12," said one. I was sorely tempted to come back with a glass of something highly coloured, trip over the door step and say, "That's 13!".

I thought I was a miserable owd giffer!

Parky