cyberspacekadette
This will be my third year this year, so obviously we like it here. We went up to the galeon hotel last year for a look around and it's ok. However it is quite a trek to the SM hotel and beach club which is where all the action is. Personally I would say the SM hotel is the better bet

However it is quite a trek to the SM hotel and beach club

It takes just a few minutes to stroll between the hotels, however the path would not be ideal if you are less mobile as there are some steps involved, however if you wished you could go out through reception and up the road. but this is slightly longer.

Ps A tip for those going to the 'hippy market' by bus, this is very busy, so to be sure of a seat go up to the Galeon and get on the bus there you will then be guaranteed a seat

Although it's only a few minutes stroll between the galeon and the sm, I was only thinking that if you've got young kids and are staying at the galeon, then it could be a problem at midnight after the entertainment in the sm, if you've got to negotiate the rocky path to the galeon, - especially if you've been on Joses' cocktails.

We don't have any mobility problems and my kids are energetic teenagers (aged 17 and 14 on the holiday) so trekking the extra distance isn't really a problem - we usually have to walk quite far back to whatever hotel we're in when we're staying in a big resort anyway, so it will be nice not to have to walk a huge distance after an evening at the bar.
Is it possible to 'cut-through' the Cartago hotel to get to the Galeon without negotiating rocky paths in the dark?
I was looking at the Galeon in the Eclipse brochure and it works out quite a bit cheaper than Thomson's over-inflated prices for the Cartago and Beach Club; and I heard that it was a bit quieter up in the Galeon, so you can get a good sleep in the evening and a sunbed round the pool in the day I'll have another look at the prices when the Summer 07 brochures come out next month, we're already sorted for Turkey this year, but I'm very keen on San Miguel next year

You can 'cut through' the SM hotel to the galeon by going up to the 8th floor (which is essentially the groung floor) then it's just a couple of minutes walk to the galeon.

Hi

if anyone has found the San Miguel Prices high this year, you may be interested to know that Thomson have a sale on this weekend and there's a reasonably sized discount off the adult price.

To my cost I've realised that Thomsons prices are high. I booked in July last year for this year. At the time of booking, I was told that there would be no free kids places this year, due to the popularity of the hotel. So I paid £2730 for two weeks, (last week of June and first week July), for me the wife and 2 kids. A friend of mine has decided that he would like to join us, and asked me to look on the net for him to check availability. Imagine my horror when I found he can get the same two weeks for £2040 including a free child place. I feel that I've been well and truly stitched up by Thomson, and I will think carefully about using them again. there are two options that I will consider next year, - book direct with the hotel and arrange my own flights, - does anyone know the rough cost of a room direct from the hotel? Alternatively I could book self catering with Skytours for approx £1100, and then pay for the AI upgrade on arrival. This cost roughly £900 for 2 adults and 2 kids. The reason I booked early was to guarentee getting the 2 weeks that we wanted, but by doing so it's cost me £700. NOT IMPRESSED.

Hi

I started to watch the prices for July 2006, around July last year also. We really wanted to go back to the San Miguel, but were finding the prices far to high I left it until January this year, and managed to get 2 weeks (10th July) for adults, a child and an infant for £1630. We were very very lucky. The price included adult discount, free child place and Travel Agent discount. The prices fluctuate so much, it's just not funny, especially when we are encouraged to book in advance to get the best prices.

Thanks Molliemoo, that's really made me feel better!! Serously, if we all left our bookings until Feb/March, we would all get beter deals as they would start to worry that they will be left with loads of unsold places. I'll certainly be doing this in future.

Micknmill -you can check out the prices per person booking direct with the hotel on their website. Round about 59 - 65 euros per day for June/July per adult and 60% discount for children in 2006. We have also been given an additional 10% discount when we have booked with them. Can book hotel rooms at the Galeon or a 2-bed apartment at the Cartago (recommended - very good standard ). Lots of cheap flights available if you book as soon as they are released.

I had a look at their website and could only find prices for the Galeon, I couldn't find any price list or room choice for the Cartago. Anyway, according to their prices they only give child discount to age 12 and under, whereas Thomsons do child prices for up to age 16 in their brochure - my daughter will be 14, so I would have to pay adult price for her (minus 25% 3rd person discount) if I booked direct with the hotel.
What I really want to know (but can't seem to find out) is how much for an apartment (instead of a hotel room) on all-inclusive for 2 weeks in August - 2 adults and a 14 year-old?

Hi Cyberspacekadette = will cost about 2400 euros (or £1700) for the apartment. We have already booked first two weeks in August and our daughter is 13 - they actually give discounts up to 16 and last year we were only charged half price for our eldest daughter and her friend who were both 17 at the time = I think that may have been because it was the first year they were letting out the apartments. They really are much nicer than the hotel rooms with two en-suite bedrooms and separate kitchen/living area (that can take two single beds).

If you e.mail the Galeon they will forward your enquiry about the apartments to the Hotel Cartago

Thanks Dylan What sort of prices would I be looking at for flights? (from Manchester, August, 3 people)
I priced up the Galeon on the Eclipse website (whole package) and it came to around £2250 for 3 of us including airport transfer and everything, so the flights would have to be quite reasonably priced to match that, although I suppose it could be worth paying the extra to have a nice spacious apartment at the Cartago nearer the beach

We booked flights with Jet2.com and paid £270 for the the three of us - could have got them cheaper if we had booked them as soon as they were released but we hadn't intended to go back to San Miguel this year. Taxi transfers cost about £50.

I would rather pay slightly more for the apartments having stayed in Hotel Cartago rooms three times, as the apartments are 4* standard compared to the hotel rooms which are very basic and the rooms for three people are not very spacious - although you don't spend much time in the room.

Enjoy whatever you decide

Thanks for your help dylan Just waiting for the Summer 07 brochures to come out at the end of this month and then I'll make my mind up whether to go with Thomsons, First Choice (Eclipse) or book direct.

Hi all

Can you help??? We are going to San Miguel Beach Club Hotel on 22nd May for 2 weeks can anyone tell me whether the rooms are equipped with Hairdryers and Irons.

Thanks

Hi Mobster.
I've been twice and stayed on the 3rd & 4th floors where neither rooms had hair dryers or irons. I've heard that some of the bigger rooms or apartments have hair dryers but you won't know which room you are staying in until you get there, so take them with you. Have a great time and let us know if all the entertainment team are still there.

Hi Mobster

I'm not sure about the hairdryers, I can't really recall. There are no irons in the rooms, but you can use an iron and ironing board in the laundry, which is located at the souvenir shop in the Hotel San Miguel

ps Mobster don't forget to take a plug adaptor. I know it sounds obvious but we came across loads of people last year who hadn't packed them