Hi Dave
Welcome to HT.
We do not appear to have these apartments in our database, so I have requested that they are added

Biff

Hi there

I haven't stayed at these apartments but did have a look when booking my holiday for next Aug. I agree they do look very nice but as you mentioned they are quite expensive. They appear to be exclusive to Thomson in the UK and I know that when I was looking the price for the 4 of us was just under £4k! Have you priced up your weeks on the hotels website http://www.grupotel.com - I think this works out slightly cheaper, obviously depends on what you can get your flights for though.

Have you been to Cala'n Bosch before? I've been once and am going back again for 2 weeks next August, it's a lovely resort and perfect for families. I've been comparing prices recently and unfortunately the prices are all pretty high for school holidays and much of the accomodation appears to be fully booked already.

Good Luck with your search and hope you get something sorted.

Hi, nicJW

Many thanks for replying to me and for all of your holiday tips! Yes we have been to Cala'n Bosch twice before 2005 & 2006. Stayed in Paradise Club first time round and then Viva Menorca. Both were ok perhaps Viva had slight edge over the other one. Like yourself, knew where the Grupotel Macarella were, right by beach, and that they appeared to be really nice - it is a shame the same cannot be said about the prices!
We'll no doubt keep an eye on things and I will definately check out their website. Have you had a good deal for next August?
Once again, thank you so much for advice and I hope we have some luck soon!

Hi Davlyn

Shame you said you preferred the Viva as it was a choice between those or the Paradise and I picked the Paradise for next year!! Chose these though mainly on the basis that they have been refurbed this year and the photo's on their website look great...also I know the location is good. At the time that I booked in Aug I thought it was fairly pricy (never having booked during school hols before) but looking back I think we've got quite a good deal, just over £2k for 2ad and 2 ch. Have you been during school hols before? I'm a bit concerned as to how busy it might be, went in June before and it was quite busy then. When we went before we stayed at another Grupotel property 'Tamariscos', these might be worth you having a look at as I know they are a bit cheaper than the Macarella and in a really good location by the Cala'n Bosch hotel next to beach. They too have been refurbed since I went in 2003. I chose the Paradise over these mainly for the childrens club and entertainment that's advertised...hopefully I won't regret it!

Let us know if you get anything sorted

Happy New Year

Nic

Hi

Haven't been to Cala'n Bosch but to Arenal. However, I do book DIY most of the time. The trick with booking everything yourself is to get the flights cheap. The hotels can be cheaper if you travel out of school holiday season but it is usually the flights that will make the difference. To get cheap flights you either have to be quick and get tickets when the low cost and scheduled companies release their tickets or wait until late when the tour operators want to get rid of theirs. In August this is not really an option. I booked our holiday in mid July at the beginning of October and managed to get it around £600-800 cheaper than going with a tour operator. We will fly EasyJet and the hotel is booked through Travel Republic. I have used Travel Republic before and their quotes have been good compared to others. It might vary from hotel to hotel though. I later found a discount code for Med Hotels and that would then have been slightly cheaper. But that's life. The hotels tend to book up quickly in August as the tour operators buy most of the rooms in advance I guess. Good Luck!

Hi there, many thanks for your reply all advice is very greatly appreciated!! I have looked at the Travel Republic site and compared to tour operators the prices in general are considerably cheaper. Still coming out at £2,500 for a family of four in August. I think something will have to be done soon with regard to the situation of schools not looking kindly at parents taking their children out of school term time. If this has to be the case holiday firms will have to consider not charging such incredible prices for their holidays at peak times. I know I am living in 'dreamland' and that this will never happen - therefore I will carry on searching, at least I know of some good cheaper options thankyou.

Hi Nic,
Just a message to say thank you for your reply. Did not mean to put you off Paradise Club, we did enjoy these appartments and the location is fantastic. We, unfortunately, went before the refurbishment and were put in an appartment located at the back of the complex. They did need updating which it looks like they have been now also my son was poorly so that too brought back bad memories! The kids entertainment was really good though - my children loved the kids disco!
We visted Viva Menorca in August 2006. As it was peak time obviously it was busy - make sure if you are eating out don't leave it much past 7 pm as you may have to wait a while for a seat. Sunbeds were in demand and involved an early dart for my husband! However, I think the resort itself is so lovely and 'child friendly' you can put up with any little inconveniences!! My husband will go nowhere else. I'll let you know as soon as I am sorted. Best wishes to you too for 2008!!!

We struck lucky booking our hols to cala n bosch in August 08. I booked our flights in october, 5 adults and one child for £750 with Jet2 from leeds/bradford and our accomodation cost the same for 2 3 bedroom apartments at the Mirinda Gardens, I have booked this with alpharooms. We still have to arrange a transfer or maybe hire a car which will push the cost up a fair bit, but its a very reasonable holiday for £2000ish in the summer hols for six people.I never book package holidays anymore, we have gone d.i.y for the last four years and have saved a fortune which means more spending money
Good luck in finding something

jackie 15

That sounds really good Jackie, a bargain! When I go in August next year I think I'll have a good look around the other apartments that I know you can get DIY and suss them out for next time.

Nic

Hi

I got our flights for five persons flying from Bristol for £470. The hotel around £2000 (2 weeks) as we go half board and need two rooms. Last year we got interconnecting rooms and of course two bathrooms as we have two rooms, which I think is really good. However, having two rooms makes it a lot more expensive for us. So if there had been four of us I think it would have been around £1200 for the hotel. I like half board as I do not want to cook or do the dishes when on holiday and last year I think we spend around £220 while there including a rental car for three days. So it is easier to know how much the holiday will be. We have tried All inclusive but found that a bit too much. Last year I got us there over mid term in May for £1500, flights, hotel and transfer so it is much more expensive when the school holidays start.

Hi nicJW

Sorry to jump in on the thread but wondering if you can let me have the web address for Paradise Club. Friends of mine were looking at these at the weekend but I can't seem to find a web page for them.

Thank you

Ali x

Hi there

It's http://www.marhotels.com I think!

If they are thinking of booking the only 'tour op' I found it through was either Airtours or Direct Hols. I did see them on some DIY operators sites, if I recall correctly...Travel Republic, Low Cost Beds and others but sorry can't remember which? I booked with Direct Hols in the end.

Just to add though if you book directly you can only book half board (I emailed reservations who confirmed this) and it is quite expensive.

Hope this helps your friends.

Nic

Nic

Thanks for your reply - I will pass the info on