Hi

It's a difficult one isn't it? I have to say in all the AIs we've done I can't say we've seen anyone drinking to excess to take advantage of the 'free' element and causing trouble, but I think you do need to look carefully at where you go.

We've been to the iberostar Tucan in Mexico which was great and at the upper price end and then last year to Albena in Bulgaria which was much cheaper and had no problems. I think it's a case of reading the reviews and reading between the lines to find places that would seem to attract like minded people.

This year we are heading to Lara beach in Turkey and from what I've read the hotels there may well suit you. In the main they are 5* and vary enormously in the range of activities. Our children are younger than yours and some places can be a bit OTT, so finding the right mix is the key. These hotels do seem to attract other nationalities in greater numbers than the British, and we are unfortunately the ones with the reputation for the yobbish behaviour.

I tend to look for certain key words in the descriptions, quiet is good, lively I avoid, similarly if there are mentions of english bars etc close by. Your research will lead you to the right place, not all AI have to be rowdy.

Good luck

Pam

let me know as we are of the same opinion........

we tend not to go peak season, i think that helps, and, we dont go AI for the booze, just to save keep putting our hand in pocket every time you want a drink, even a soft drink, or glass of wine or two with lunch or evening meal.
all adds up.
and we dont let ourselves get tied to AI, if we want to breakfast elsewhere, or go for lunch or dinner someone recommended or with people we meet we do..................
but i dont like commercial, or fast foods, or english pubs/bars or karaoke, and all that.
just want quiet, R&R, local type of holiday with beach, pool, AI.

any suggestions
PLEASE let me know, i am desperate and need to book something for september, or i am in the doghouse!!!!!

I think Keepupwith has got it right, you have to do your homework. We have stayed at many hotels both AI and half board and never come across anyone who has taken advantage of the free booze or drank to excess. We do tend to go for the more upmarket hotels. We work hard all year and want to remember our holiday for all the right reasons. We have young children so all the places we have stayed at have usually had other families in the same situation. ie Not really bothered about drinking through the day and maybe a couple of drinks at the evening entertainment and then off to bed with the children. We also tend to book just before or at the start of the school hols and I think this also makes a differance as the hotels don't tend to be as busy.

Hi, Lakota. We had a super holiday in the Jardine del Teide in Adeje, Tenerife. Though it was AI we never saw anyone the worse for drink and although the booze was freely available no one seemed to be guzzling it down. The food was excellent and therewas fridges everywhere with bottled water for taking away. The rooms were spacious and we were on floor 5 which though it sounds odd was the floor the reception and one of the pools was on. The hotel is built as though into a mountain and we took a bus down to the beach in the morning but because of the hill had to climb all the way back or take a taxi. The area was very quiet at night which meant there was definately no yobs. A terrific hotel, spotless and lovely staff What more could one want

We have done several AIs , mainly in the Med. (Greece, Turkey, Tunisia etc) and mainly (but not exclusively) Iberostar chain of hotels.

......from experience if you pick a good quality 'family' or 'quiet' 4* or 5* AI hotel, particuarly if they are situated 'out of town', I don't think you will go too far wrong.

We particularly liked the Iberostar Panorama (Psalidi) on Kos, Iberostar Panorama (Rythmenon) on Crete and the Titanic Beach Resort (Lara Beach -Antalya) in Turkey. You would not be disappointed with any of these....they are certainly not frequented by yobs.

hi,

you could try some of the nicer hotels in Dom Rep.

Iberostar anywhere on the island are excellent.

Our two came to Sunscape The Beach (now Dreams) in Punta Cana two years ago. They are now 21 & 18, and both agreed they had a great time. Plenty to do, if you like reg beach sports, tennis etc.
Good food and nobody falling down drunk.

I think First Choice fly there.

good luck

JR

Thanks guys for all your replies. I was a bit reluctant to mention yobs, but finding nemo reassured me I wasn't on my own. I shall definitely research Iberostar as so many of you have mentioned it. And of course, read between the lines in the hotel reviews. I've read "quiet" before, not AI, I must admit, and we've found ourselves in the middle of nowhere with only the goats for company.

Wherever we decide to go, I'll post a reply accordingly, though you'll have to wait until September.

Cheers!

I have been to two, the Louis Creta Princess (isolated) on Crete and the Belcekic Beach (not isolated) in Olu Deniz, Turkey. I went in the six week school holidays. Neither of these hotels were frequented by yobs, whatever that might mean and I didn't see any drunken behaviours. They are family hotels in the summer. The second one was more lively than the first, but I would think that outside of the peak both would be more 'sedate'.

Another compromise would be to go to a hotel that offered half board, at least that way you would know all your breakfasts and evening meals were paid for so it would be easy to budget. We hardly bothered with lunch on either AI holiday as too full from breakfast and dinner to look forward to.

Anybody who wanted to drink on a HB holiday would be paying for alcohol & far less likey to over indulge if that is your worry. I suppose the only possibility is it may be a bit boring.

Doe

Try Cuba Paradisus Rio de Oro Adults Only loads of water sports Scuba included in AI. FC or TC

We went to the Paradisus Rio de Oro in October last year and I agree with Busterbill that it was a fabulous hotel - however, since November it has been over 18's only so wouldn't be suitable for Lakota this year as she is travelling with a 17yo.

Hi
I have stayed in several AI properties and find that if you are willing to pay a little bit more or travel further afield the ' all you can drink crowd' is not a problem.

I have recently stayed in 2 properties in Mexico that were AI and I could not fault either! The 'Excellence' in Puerto Morelos was amazing but adults only! I have also stayed at the Riu Tequila in Playa Car this is more for families and has very good facilities and the food was excellent. There are a lot of Americans that holiday in Mexico and the drink aspect is never a problem because they dont seem to have the same drinking culture! Good entertainment, sports, beach etc at the tequila !

Avoid most Riu hotels then- Mexico,Miami,Bahamas,Dom Rep.

Seriously though, try Cape Verde Riu i've heard good things about them- but maybe too quiet for your lads.

yeah this post was really for all inc away from the yobs for P&Q in turkey...............:wave:


dont know where mexico came in to it? far too commercial with fast food chains and english theme bars, can get that in brighton and blackpool

I stayed in the Club Turban between Marmaris and Icmeler last June and it was fabulous.The rooms consisted of a double bedroom with a full bathroom and a door leading to a twin bedroom with shower room.Both rooms had flat screen TVs.There werent many British guests and I didnt see anyone who resembled a yob or anyone drunk.It is in the Thomson Beach club brochure.

will have alook at that one then lakota1557............
did it have a private beach??? and was the food great???

dont know where mexico came in to it? far too commercial with fast food chains and english theme bars

The OP asked

Any suggestions on where to go please? I've been looking at Cape Verde, Mauritius and even Cuba, but am more than happy to go to Turkey

so naturally people with a good experience have mentioned the hotels they have stayed at.

As for me.
My last holiday right up to the booking was going to be DR or Cuba, but we got a good deal to Mexico, we saw one of the modern 7 wonders of the world, we swam down the river at Xel Ha with a giant turtle, we floated down the underground river at XCarat and saw a spectacular show and very impressive graveyard.
The only fast food chains and english theme bars I saw were in the departure lounge at Cancun airport, so I obviously missed out a bit whilst we were there.

August is right in the bad season for the Caribbean but the facilities, especially the water sports can be a lot better than the med. At the Playa Pesquero, which is off the normal hurricane tracks, the cats were available all day as were the windsurfers. There are supposed to be time limits but there is not that much take up, so they were lax,
however evening entertainment for the lads would probably consist of the bar!
Back over to Turkey and there are some great hotels with water parks which may keep the lads amused.

We have never been troubled by "all you can drink"ers, we have been plagued by young kids hanging around with nothing to do and so causing mayhem, and we have heard of fracas involving drunks, but luckily have not been close enough to be aware of it. Most of the reviews or threads on the hotels will mention this type of problem. Best hints are to go as upmarket as you can afford, but make sure there is something for your lads to do that they will enjoy. But before booking check the reviews!
My lads enjoyed snorkelling of the beach in Sharm, but we were lucky at the Conrad as we were the only people who wanted to play snooker the week we were there so had a dedicated table more or less for entertainment. At the LTI Grand Azure, evening entertainment was a bit lacking and they ended up in the bar every night.

Have a nice holiday.

hi jaytrip

i did pm you, in think.

can you tell me if the club turban is known by any other name and, with whom you booked it, i am finding it difficult to find on many websites and get more info.
i keep getting club marmaris palace, but guessing this is not the same?????

Club Turban is only available through Thomson, though check to see if their direct arm, Portland, do it too as you may get a better price with Portland.

http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/turkey/turkey-dalaman/marmaris/hotels/hotel-club-turban.html

Cazz

hi

does anyone know if club turban is know by another name?????
and does anyone know if it has an ice skating rink?