are these hotels as "remote" from things as I have been led to believe??

Depends on what you want from a holiday. If you want to stroll around the shops at night and lots of bars this is not the place. there are three main hotels which were enough for us in the complex and we usually go to busier resorts such as palma nova and alcudia in majorca. There were four shops i think and about the same in bars.

yeah - we liked Alcudia a lot so I guess I would be looking for something that offered similar to that
perhaps not enough within walking distance of the hotel complex for us

Hi Dee, glad you had a great holiday.
We just booked our holiday about 2 hours ago
I know what you mean about the price difference though. We could only find the San Miguel hotel and beach club through Thomsons. They wanted £1900 for my wife, me and our 13 year old daughter, for 2 weeks all inclusive leaving in 3 weeks time. But we found the Hotel Galeon with First Choice on exactly the same date, same time flights but costing us £1591. And that included a premium flight upgrade too
I hear that the Galeon is much quiter and has better views of the bay.I love the entertainment and activities, so no doubt we will spend most of the time at the beach club ! But we hope that we can go back to a quiter more relaxed pool area in the Galeon when we want to.
We would love to hear what you thought of the Galeon and beach club. Would also love to see some pics if possible ?

Thanks,, Tony and Tracey

hi everyone,i was planning on booking the hotel san miguel based on the great reviews on here,for next year.the thing that is putting me off is i read on holidays uncovered that they had a sickness bug going around in may/june.but there has been no mention of it on here.can anyone reassure me

Hi Boots

we were there May 14th - May 28th. The sickness bug affected quite a number of people, mainly children. However, the hotel did everything possible to stop it's spread. They were issuing bacterial wipes before going into the restaurant and coming out also. Signs went up everywhere reminding everyone to wash their hands etc. Environmental health were called in immediately to advise. The hotel did not deny the presence of a bug (unlike the holidays reps!!). We were not affected at all, and knew many others were not. I spoke to more people who didn't have it than did.

The way in which the hotel responded, showed professionalism and the bug was laready dying out when we left. I'm sure that this was a rare incident and unavoidable.

ps another guest insisted that he look round the food and drink prep areas and was impressed by the cleanliness and hygiene standards (he is an Environmental Health Officer back in the UK)

Hi tones 1966 we had a great time at the galeon and may go again next year. The mexican bar is next to the pool and served great snacks. not got my pics back yet but will try to put them on the gallery page. The hotel did cater more for the french but this did not bother us as we sat outside alot in the evenings next to the bar. The entertainment was bland but its great fun at the san miguel next door. We did find it ap roblem getting canoes on the beach always told to come back later or there was a long wait as you can have half an hour once your on. make sure you take bread on the beach to hand feed the fish. If you need any more info send me a personal message.

Im sitting in the Hotel Galeon reception, on the internet machine here. Its 11pm and its still about 75 degrees ! Im here for another 11 days, so if anyone has any questions about the Hotel Galeon,or San Miguel beach club or hotel, then post your questions here. I will answer them as soon as possible.

Tony.

hi molliemoo, thanks for info but seems i have missed out for next year.
the dates and prices i had been looking at are now gone, so i have booked somewhere else, but i think in order to book the san miguel for 2007 i will have to book up jan 2006 my own fault for being over cautious,just shows how popular it is.
boots

Im sitting in the Hotel Galeon reception, on the internet machine here. Its 11pm and its still about 75 degrees ! Im here for another 11 days,

Tony

I'm beginning to worry about you.

You pay all this money to go on holiday and you end up doing the same thing as you do at home.

Why?

Since I've been online I've been on many foreign holidays but even if the place I'm staying in has an internet cafe, like 5 weeks ago in Cala Llonga, bored and all as I was with that holiday to a cemetry I would never think of ignoring my companion(s) to selfishly go online.

Peter

Hi Dee

due to the seemingly high cost of booking the San Miguel through Thomson for next year, it looks like we may book the Galeon through First Choice as they are a heck of a lot cheaper!! Anyway, as a Galeon guest were you able to use the San Miguel bars, Western Saloon etc on your wristband up until midnight or did everything stop at 11pm for you??

cheers

Hi We usually left about 11.15 and they still served us up till then. Would much rather have the galeon than the beach club. it was packed every time we went near with no chance of sun beds. although we loved it we have decided to book menorca cala n bosch next year. Have you booked galeon yet? May well return again as it was so peaceful a resort.

Hi Dee

thanks for that, as you know First Choice say that the A/I only goes up til 11pm in their brochure. I'd hate to have to be told after 11pm that I can't get a drink while everywhere is still serving just because I was in the Galeon

We haven't yet booked yet (I have to wait until I've obtained my son's birth certificate. He was born in an African country while I was working there, and the red tape is unbelievable. He's been able to travel on my passport up til now but it has now expired and he needs his own!! Anyway thats another story ) However, cost wise it looks as though the Galeon is the better option at present and I quite liked it there whenever we walked round to Mexican Corner, and I loved the views from there

Might be worth checking the cost for booking direct with Hotel Cartago to stay in their apartments. It was much cheaper for six of us (2 adults and 4 children) this year booking direct and is working out a few hundred pounds cheaper next year for three of us (although price seems to have gone up quite a lot). Accommodation much better than the hotels and diy was no hassle.

Hi Dylan

did you speak to them directly or email. I don't think you can't book the Cartago through the website. Are the apartments you're talking about the ones just below the car park in front of the phone box??

Cheers

I arranged the booking via e.mail (the Galeon will pass your e.mail on to Hotel Cartago) but you could phone them- they ask for a 500 euro deposit on booking and pay the balance at the end of the holiday.

Yes - it is the apartments below the phone box in the car park. Although we don't spend much time in the room, it was much better having separate bedrooms, lots of space, bathrooms were lovely and there is a fridge in the kitchen area.

Last year the rates were the same as those for the Galeon as advertised on their own website but think they may be charging slightly more for the apartments next year.

Hi Dylan

thanks for that info, I'll certainly be looking into it as an alternative option

Im sitting in ther galeon reception now and im coming home tomorrow after 2 weeks here. I will write a full report when i get back to blighty, but dont look forward to a glowing one !
I can say that the all inclusive DOES stop at 11pm in the Galeon but at 12 everywhere else. And all galeon guests DO get charged after 11pm, and thjey are VERY strict about it. Just to make matters worse, all drinks are served in a plastic cup, the type you wash your mouth out in the dentists with ! Its not very nice to actually have to drink fromthese cups, let alone pay for it too !
Zorro and his crew have been the plus point though, but thats about all.

I will tell more in a few days

Tony

Considering this hotel for next summer. Does anyone know if the twin rooms that take 4 are of a decent size or would we all be crammed in? This is for a family of 4 including 2 teens? Is it 4 proper beds or 2 beds and 2 camp bed style.

Many thanks to anyone who replies.