2 coke, 2 fanta, 1 water

Carol, what do you mean you don't know what Butlins is like? Were you never in Mosney as a child? I thought every kid in Ireland went to Mosney at least once in their life... Anyway, if you did go, that's what Butlins is like....

We're going to the Holiday Palace on Sept. 4th. Has anyone been to the HP? Are the apartments the same as the HV (which look nice from the photos I've seen)? What's the deal with AI versus SC - is there separate queues at the bars etc. for SC and AI people?

We're going SC, but we're just using the apartments as a base really, we'll hire a car for the week. Went to Benalmadena last year and there's so much to do in the area we like to get out and about. Plus our 3 year old won't sit still for too long around the pool...

We'll probably use the beach club the odd day, and the bars in the evening after a meal out, are there plenty of tables to sit outside and have a drink? How much are drinks for SC people - as long as they're under Dublin prices I'll be happy...

Thanks shazzie...
We went to butlins in skeggy last year and had a fantastic time, we were self catering so didnt have to queue in half/full board resturant. There were so many things for our son to do, which made our time a lot better.... only prob was that the food/drinks cost us a bomb! Thats why we chose a.i at the hol village this year!

you'll have a bettertime han skegvegas, due to weather. enjoy

Clonee

Yes I did go to Mosney. Not as a child though went when I was a coach for a team for the Community Games in my 20's Didnt realise that this is what they meant. Because the Holiday Village was absolutly nothing like Mosney.

I have no idea how much the drinks were as we were all-inclusive. Everyone said they were very expensive.

Carol

Hola

Well we're well into our 2nd week and I've gotta say that we're having an excellent time.

Food is excellent and it's piping hot most of the time with a good selection for all tastes. Mexican and Itallian were ok. Not booking to go back in for this week felt very rushed and hubby said food in italian was tastless.

The area is very clean and the bins are emptied every half hour.

Kids club excellent. our little boy has ADHD and they have changed the programme of the sessions he attends to suit him. Over and above what we expected.

On the whole having a Fantastic time and really cannot see any evidence of other posts re food cold, dirty, bar people miserable at all. You must have all been to another place or have very high expectations!!!

I'll post my review on our return next week

Adios
The Hughesies!!!!!

Hughesema

So glad you are enjoying it. Hope the rest of you stay is as good. Cant wait to read your review on your return was beginning to get a bit worried as all seemed to be so negative.

Carol

Glad you are having a fab time.........It sounds as if they are providing a much improved service now, thats eally good news for those yet to go.

has anyone been here last year and again this year?if so how does it compare?
we have just come back from hol vill majorca,and thinking of booking costa del sol again for next year.
can anyone say if you still need to get your card swiped everytime you get a drink,this didn't happen in majorca your wristband was enough which meant there werent any queues.also in majorca in the restaurant you helped yourself to soft drinks and beer and wine from the pumps.much quicker than trying to find a waiter!
any ideas?
Debbie

Hiya

Just back this morning at around 8ish from the HV after staying two weeks. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!!!
Kaz

Usedtobekaz

Welcome back did you enjoy ?.

Carol

It was a great holiday and we all enjoyed it. Loads going on and beach club is great. The entertainer reps are superb and really try so hard and i think do a very good job comparing it to other places 4 * hotels in Spain that we have been to. We had a few niggles that annoyed us but if we wanted perfection then we would have had to book somewhere far more expensive and posher and well out of our price range!! To me the hotel does exactly what it says in on the tin!!! I will write a report but i've not been to bed since Friday night so a little bit tired so will do it during the week but feel free to ask away any questions!!

can you just confirm if you still need to show your card and wristband at the pool bar?does this still slow things down?
Debbie
is it all inclusive at the beach club?

Hi Fishface

We came back from HV 2 weeks ago and at that time the Beach Club provided AI drinks from the Atlantis Bar. Sometimes they looked at the card but on the whole your wristband was anough.

As far as the main pool bar goes, I only used it a few times on the way back from the Beach Club. On one occasion we had to show the card, on the second occasion the card was pushed aside and on the third occasion I gave up waiting after 20 minutes!

Hope this helps

Lou

Hi all, we just got back from HV and ive posted my review..had a great time..except the italian resturant..pizzas were badly burned and be wanrned they dont do chicken nuggets and chips!!! Might not be a problem for most but was for us coz our son hates pizza and pasta!!
While we were there a note went up in piano bar and outside bars saying that all inclusive can now only order 5 drinks at a time..i think this was because of a group of young lads that were buying drinks for themselves and a load of young girls!!
If anyone is going and has any questions..ask away..

Also just back today but from HP rather than HV. Knackered now as we flew out at 7am Spanish time, and had to be at the airport 3 hours beforehand.

Ahh..... just 24 hours ago I was sitting on the little train at the Benalmadena marina.... I'm depressed!

I'll try post up a report, I'm of mixed opinions about the place. One thing I am delighted about is that we had a car for the whole week as it's further out of Benalmadena than I thought it would have been. Anyway I got some pics of the room which I'll also post up.

Hope holiday palace was nice..it looked like a bit of a trek to the hv! I did take a lovely pic of hp at night from our balcony..some people we were talking to said that the entertainment was bad at hp...was it?
I have posted some pics of hv.
Also would just like to add that the buses are awful...when they eventually arrive 9 out of ten are full and drive straight past. .wish we had hired a car but hubby didnt fancy driving over there and now he has seen how they drive he vows that he never will!!

Overall we enjoyed it, thanks. The HP is like a mini HV really, the HP was very quiet while we were there, I'd say from Sept it's quiet. We went to the HV a couple of nights and it was a bit more alive. I think the rooms are practially the same (one of the good point were the rooms I thought) and there's a similar layout with the big atrium and shop/creche/restaurant etc. on the ground floor.

I thought the food in the HP and HV was average at best, and the food at the pool bar in the HP was dreadful, the worst I've ever had at ANY such snack bar (and I've stayed in some cheap places when I was younger!). Big let down really as the hotel itself is beautiful - very modern, good facilities, great rooms and nice pools.

Anyway - bed beckons - back to work tomorrow morning. Will provide more details soon.

We have booked this complex for June 06.
Whilst reading through the latest reviews, one person has reported that the all-inclusive amenities finish at noon on the day that you check out, even if you have paid for a late checkout, which we have.
Did anyone else come across this?