looking forward to some new suggestions Chris. D you have a preference if its A/I /HB/SC??

lyn

Not really. We are very flexible although if it's SC or BnB it will need to be less expensive to allow for food costs for 4, Quite happy with HB or AI. Have you got any ideas Lyn? Did wonder about the med coast, Turkey (lara beach, side) but the decent hotels over there are really expensive in school hols.

Havnt really got any new ideas . Going to keep an eye on prices for the Hemera in turkey and Letoonia but would also love some ideas for different countries where I can get my hands on some budget flights i.e spanish Islands and portugal but we would be looking for A/I . Dont want to hijack your thread too much but im really keen to try and get costs down for next year or we shall have to wave bye to our Easter holiday as I cant justify spending £3000 + on a week at easter when if I try a bit harder I can probobly do the summer one (2 weeks) for not much more than that . Its cost me £3700 for this summer for 6 and im now looking at around £3000 for 5 for a week next easter . Silly money

lyn

I know it's difficult isn't it Lyn, and I am quite happy for you to hijack my thread. I'm just hoping there are some people on HT who have had similar holidays in the past and can make recommendations. Looking at the 'what did you pay' thread in the Turkey forum, a self-catering break to Icmeler might be good, people have got some brilliant deals, but I wouldn't have a clue what apartments to go for, or where in resort, although I could pm John, but I'm after some other ideas as well.

The Algarve was great and I would go back like a shot, but for one thing, the sea is always freezing (Atlantic) which we can get over, but so are the pools even in July, so the kids can't manage more than 30 mins in them. Unlike Greece, Turkey & the Med where by July/Aug pools everywhere are lovely and they can spend a couple of hours both morning & afternoon in them.

DIY to Icmeler should be very cost effective as you have probably found by looking at the DIY thread.

There isn't really an all singing all dancing super family type place to stay but the money you save on theholiday would enable you to go out on some of the trips should you need to occupy your teens - Scuba , jeep and quad safari's and boat trips are relatively inexpensive aswell as the water park in Marmaris.

Are they boys or girls? My 16yr daughter old loves the bars of Icmeler (with mum and dad off course) because of all of the dancing and doesnt get bored - most places also have free pool tables and internet.

The best apartments for families in my opinion are the alvaro and the moonlight , both have water slides and larger 2 bed apartments which can be booked direct - Staff at both excellent but the Alvaro has a slightly better location as its in the centre where the moonlight is in the village which is very nice but a 15min walk to the centre.

Thanks swimsuit. Eldest is girl youngest is a boy.I dont really want all singing all dancing as such. It is definately one for the shortlist and many thanks for the apartment recommendations a two bed would be great. Something is holding me back though, it isn't too big and brash is it ? I have read things that say the music is turned off at midnight but that actually that is ignored etc or it's turned down when people complain for 10 mins and then is turned right up again till the small hours etc. I want enough to keep us entertained without being kept awake half the night. Sorry I sound so fussy. (cant get the embarrased smilie to work). As you say it might suit my budget. leaving money for trips and if I stayed out of the area where all the bars are that might work. Are the pools good at those two apartments ?

The moonlight apartments can be found on this website http://www.apartmoonlight.com - I plan to go back there next year and have friends staying there this yr as they couldnt get in to where we are staying.

The pools are both of these apartments are very good for turkey apartments but obivously will not compare to lykia world , I have stayed at the alvaro at the height of the season and didnt find it too busy , stayed at the moonlight out of season so dont know how busy it gets in the height of the season.

I have stayed at one place which used to turn the music back up after the police had done their rounds but I think all of the apartment residents were in the bar .......I certainly never had these problems at these apartments , and it wouldnt be the worth the risk for the apartments/bars in the centre to flaunt closure for a fe months for breaking the rules.

As for big and brash , thats a difficult one - I've been to olu deniz before and found it too quiet outside of the hotel for our family - Didnt find the same sort of welcome in the bars and certainly none of the dancing that happens in Icmeler , we all agreed as a family aged 16 , 12 and 10 that we prefered Icmeler and wouldnt return to olu - Thats not to say everyone else is the same and what I find big and brash might be different to other people.Most people will find something to keep them happy , whether it be in the charm of the old village or along the lit canal.

I almost didnt go to Icmeler because everyone seemed to rave about it and it felt like I was joining a cult but I priced up my first DIY holiday in 2003 and the price comparision to a package made my mind up for me , I thought if I hate it , it hasnt broke the bank to get there.
Well I am glad that I did go , I am only sorry I didnt find it sooner , you won't find any shortage of Icmelerites on this forum and lots of people will say how wonderful it is - Off course its not for everyone but it depends what your reservations are.

I now get the brochures out and cant see anywhere I Would rather be than Icmeler

Thanks swimsuit, I am very grateful to you for taking the time to do such a detailed reply.

swimsuit wrote:

I almost didnt go to Icmeler because everyone seemed to rave about it and it felt like I was joining a cult

I know what you mean, I stayed at the Belcekic Beach hotel in OD and it seems to have a cult following, I always recommend it and I'm sure one day someone will come on and say 'what were you thinking, recommending it ?'. We found OD busy enough but we travel in peak season, plus got to Fethyie, Hisoranu, Kayakoy, Dalyan etc Icmeler is definately on the shortlist. I did nearly book the Badaban apartments a few years back, probably the year I went to the Bel Beach.