General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips

General Holiday Enquiries? Got General Hints & Tips? Post Them Here.
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Bangkok looks beautiful but getting there would be out of our budget :(
I should have said that I was looking at going in either June, september or October and have up to £1000 for 4 (2xadult + 2x13) for self catering or £1500 half board.

We just went to Portinatx for 2 weeks in May, half board for 3 people for under £800 (Thompsons) so I hope I'm not being unrealistic. I don't mind doing a diy if it works out a better deal to the right place.

Thanks for the suggestion anyways :)
-Angela-
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Menorca is a pretty island, much greener than the Canary Islands, sea much warmer too as it's in the Med and it's beautifully clear, we snorkelled off Santo Tomas. It's not an island I'd associate with lager louts or touts, it's just not that sort of place! :D

I went to Santo Tomas but I think you'd find it too quiet. Have a read through some of the posts in the Menorca forum, lots of advice on the various resorts.

Not sure about your budget, you'd need to shop around I should imagine.

Philippa :D
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Hi Phillipa :waves

Menorca looks really lovely, I'm sure I have a friend who went there but for the life of me I can't think who it was to pick their brains about it!

Could you just give me a rough idea how much things cost, like water, bread, cheese, icecream, a basic meal, a nice meal (no wine) a glass of pop and a beer? As if it is reasonable enough to eat in the resort we can spend a bit more on the holiday.

Also is the sea nice and calm? I love snorkeling and watching the fish, but in bigger waves I get to tired (M.E./CFS) and sit on my hands wishing lol.

I've just been checking Expedia and Bangkok isn't as much as I thought. Although it's still too much for our next holiday maybe it's something to save for the year after :)
Thanks 8)
-Angela-
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We had a couple of days when the sea was rough, apparently Santo Tomas is known for the odd rough day sea wise, most days it was lovely and calm and always warm! :D

I honestly can't remember exactly how much basics were. We were on a very tight budget as we'd intended going to Bulgaria but cancelled at the last minute (long story :? ) and re-booked Menorca. Had we gone to Bulgaria as planned we'd have been A/I, the holiday in Menorca was S/C. Have a look at THIS for a rough idea about the price of a meal.

When we snorkelled, we hired a pedallo and went in the water in turns so there was always dry land close by if we got tired!
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Thank you Phillipa, that's a big help :) That's Menorca deffinatly on my list 8)

-Angela-
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Hi Angela.

Crete,Turkey or a family favourite is Salou in Costa Daurada.

All those above locations are cheap,friendly and family orientated.
Salou would be a great hit with the kids with the theme park and Universal studios close by.

Hope thats a couple of pointers for you?
Cheers Ken. :)
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Hiya Ken :0)

I have been to Turunc near Marmaris around 10 years ago and always wanted to go back, but with the recent troubles I'm not sure if I want to chance what it's going to be like in a years time as I have a feeling that we are just seeing the beginning :(
My ex went to Crete a couple of years ago and said that he found it expensive, I don't know where abouts he went though. I'd love to see some of the ancient sites there. Are the beaches and sea nice?

I don't know if I'm being daft, but I always picture Salou as being a bit like Benidorm, all high rise? I heard the beaches are lovely though.

I've been thinking of Cyprus too, my mum goes to Fig tree bay in Protaras most years and swears it cheap to eat and drink, but they are more comfortably off than us and can never remember actual prices :roll: My sister went with them a couple of years ago and she says it's more expensive to eat and drink than Spain and the Canaries?

Thanks for al the sugestions :)
-Angela-
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Might I suggest Crete (Aphrodite Beach Hotel in Gouves) or even Alsace - plenty to do, though not exactly at the seaside! There are super swimming pools, thermal ones just over the border in Germany and lots of places to visit of historical and cultural interest, good shops and entertainment of various types.
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Angela,
Lanzerote is nice, especially the quieter part of Teguise, very clear warm sea, enough nightlife to have fun but not roudy also the taxis are readily available from most apt doors. We stayed in a private let (£80 a week!) the flights were around £280 each tho... I went with my then 13 yr old daughter & her 13 yr old mate.. but the complex had security & staff 24 hours so you felt very comfortable, it only consisted of blocks of 2 floors (all with their own stair & front door) There were two pools.. both medium size, one with bar in the centre. I also found the Teguise part very flat...no hills to manage.
I hated Salou btw, scruffy & gangs walking about at night, my cousins son was mugged & my kids (9, 10 & 13) found pornographic playing cards in most shops to show me...involving animals!! Will never go back there.
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I love Lanzarote, have had several holidays there. I'd have to disagree about the sea being warm though :?
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Bulgaria was incredibly cheap when we there a few years ago but as it's a while ago someone would have to comment on up to date prices.

Polycrono in Halkidiki is very flat with a promonade but your daughter would need to go into Hanioti (just along the road) for a better choice of stuff to keep her busy during the day. It cost us £550 for 2 weeks SC for 2 and then about £700 for food, drinks, trips etc.

Not been but I've heard that Turkey is cheap too.
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Angela, I would suggest you have a look at Albena in Bulgaria. The main resort centre is flat, although some of the newer hotels are on the hillside, but there is a "noddy train" that runs every 10 - 15 minutes or so into the centre, plus the taxis are fairly cheap.
The Ralitsa, where we stayed last time we were there, is currently offering 2 weeks AI at £575/adult and £199/child, departing 19/06/06 Have a look here: http://www.balkanholidays.co.uk/bh5/acc.do;jsessionid=A3F3693FF442CC696EF60286651B49A0?su=&acc=1051&per=6&dur=14&mon=06&day=19&r=1

I can thoroughly recommend the Ralitsa, especially the newly refurbished part.
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Give Fethiye a try. There are plenty of touts around the harbour restaurants but I never found them pushy. It's nice and flat around the town, plenty life and we never saw any trouble. Gold and jewellry shoping to die for and pay later.

My next holiday - almost certain, now.

8) 8)
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Bulgaria would be cheaper for earing out in the evenings but can I suggest Purto Pollensa in Majorca, for a bit livelier Cala D'or in Majorca.

Menorca maybe a bit quiet for your daughter who I guess will be 14 then.

Kind Regards
Stewart
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Try Bitez in Turkey. The bay is next to Gumbet and the next bay is Bodrum, so something to suit everyone.

Bitez is flat with a beautiful beach and is extremely pretty as it's surrounded by olive groves. It also has wonderful restaurants. Gumbet is lively and has the clubs and bars, Bodrum has the shops and the local bars and restaurants.

There are plentiful boat trips from the beach which can be booked locally rather than through the reps and you can snorkle at the bays the boat stops at, or from the beach in Bitez.

You should be able to get a reasonably priced holiday during June.

You aren't looking for the impossible at all, but I do think Turkey fits the bill better than most places!!

Karen
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If you like snorkelling and warm sea, it may be worth saving for a first choice (better air cabin space) A/I to the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus in Bayahibe in the DR at some point in the far future. It is all on the flat, highest rooms are second floor. The beach is part of the hotel, the sand is not gritty, the Caribbean sea is warm enough for me to stay in for over an hour at a time. There is an artificial reef in about 5ft water where plenty of fish live and approach you. Closer to shore are rocks where smaller fish life in abundance. On one trip we snorkelled in 3-4 metres of water from a boat , which i thought would be chilly, but afterwards I did not recollect feeling a change getting in or out of the water.
The hotel is a ways from a town or village but we had no complaints with the on site entertainment. By the time we had eaten and watched the show we were ready for bed what with the time difference. That could be a drawback as it took me some time to get over on my return.
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If you fancy Turunc again there is a website with a virtual tour to let you see what it is like Probably bigger than when you were last there. We were there in May and enjoyed it It still has a lot of charm and no hassle! For more action what about Icmeler near Turunc and Marmaris
http://www.turunc-village.com/turunc.htm

Fi
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