Wendywu - Totally agree!

caretta i can name a bad 5* hotel in antalya we stayed in the divan talya, it was dire, holes in sheets, stains on carpet, yellow water coming from the taps, terrible food and the list goes on ,so you get good and bad everywhere you go

ellie_meg
I could not agree more...dont forget I live here in antalya...

I have seen the changes of these hotels over the years...not all AI are created equal...and just because a hotel has a star rating does not mean it is perfect...I know many other small family places and hotels that do not have star ratings and have better quailty than some of the big hotels...

some all inclusives do things as cheap as possible , this is usually where the standard of food drops big time, which is what i found in the ADR this year,

this is what I am trying to point out ...many of these hotel will do anything to keep the costs down...and then the guests suffer....because there is just NO way they can make a decent amount of money with quailty food and service...Yes the holiday may seem cheap but if one is realistic how can a hotel possibly provide top quality standards for such low prices? Take out the cost of flights and transfers and it leaves very little money actually for food and accomodation.

To be sure of good standards one needs to pay a lot of money for A.Ä°. which then makes nonsense of the 'works out cheaper' arguement.

I see the growth of AI as starting to have a negative effect on the Turkey I know and love.

blondiescot....You are sooo right....these massive resorts have changed the natural beauty..amoungst other things..

can't think of a username....have a nice time in Side but do get out and try to see some of the historical sights in the area...Aspendos, Perge, Manavgat waterfalls, and even Koprulu Kanyon...and the Side Museum...maybe a day trip to the historical Kaleiçi of Antalya..and the ancient ruins of Side ( the theater, and the apollo temple ) are amazing..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side

Caretta

Another reason I like a look of side with all the roman ruins to see and much more, we never go on holiday just to spend all the time in the hotel, dread the thought of it. It would be like the tv comedy benidorm which I love to watch.

good for you :=)) have a super time and if you get bored....and I doubt you will....he he..drop by antalya !!!!

Hi Ginkster well what a surprise - your following us lol so when are you going? We are going Aug 6th - wasnt prepared to pay £5k for a holiday when I can get a car for that lol

Children growing up has cost us double again its quite scary really - oh well there will be years when they wont want to come with us and we should save a fortune lol

Ive read that Hisaronu is lovely - have you been there before? Where are you staying?

Redcrop x

The last 2 holidays I have had in Turkey have been AI,at the Club Turban and the Hemera which I enjoyed but my favourite holiday was at the Devamli in Icmeler,a small family hotel.
I am off to Icmeler next week for 2 weeks and am looking forward to eating in the lovely restaurants again,as I am going B&B.
I can see the benefit of AI if you have children or teenagers,but I think I will be going B&B or HB from now on.It will probably cost the same but at least I wont be eating as much and my husband wont be drinking as much!

The point of going to an expensive AI is not about saving money. Its about quality of service, standard of hotel, range of sporting activities, and evening entertainment.

What i do not understand is this topic does not come up in the Dubai, Caribbean or Mexico threads people seem to accept AI there.... Why?

This year we have done a weekend in Amsterdam B&B. 5 days in Malta B&B. 2 weeks in LA and San Diego B&B. Two weeks in Turkey AI and a long weekend in Mallorca B&B.

Next year i plan to do 5 day at easter in Egypt B&B, May half term cyprus B&B. Two weeks in August Turkey AI ( changed from the Delphin Palace to the Xanadu, paid more money but better hotel better service). October half term Vegas B&B but yet again we will spend a little bit more and stay in a 5*.

I choose what i consider to be best for me at the time i am going. I think it is a tad too hot in turkey in august to go sight seeing.

HI redcrop
Going to Hisaronu Jult7th---July21st. Going for 3weeks next year but have not decided where to go for the first week yet.
Will be staying at the HILLCREST II apartments (good deal on a private letting).
Like you we are not willing to pay nearly £5k for a 2wk ALL in holliday.
I think in total flights and accom will cost us £1500 for the 3wks with 2 adults 3 kids, (beat that first choice)

We have never been to Hisaronu before so dont know what it will be like
where are you staying?

Only 3wks 5 days to go and Iam off to marmaris (with no kids) for the week.

Have fun whatever you do.

Gink

Ginkster

Our holiday in July was a brilliant price.

Booked 3 return flights early last year with Aegean at £90 each. 3 weeks accomodation in a 2 bedroom apartment with Low Cost Beds for approx £380. Paid £55 to ICR for private transfer. Total around £700.

One of my daughters had a 2 week holiday in Marmaris recently. Her total for the 2 of them was around £360. Flight and accomodation.

That would be hard to beat!!

Hi again

Actually my daughters holiday was infact only £330 in total for the 2 of them..

2 x £70 return flights = £140, plus 1 x bedroom apartment in Armutulan £190. Total £330. Amazing!

Hi
We got a good price for our marmaris holliday.
£420 1wk B+B for 2.(not each)
Flights for next year cost us £156 each.
Only 3wks 5 days to go

Gink - That is a brilliant price too. Enjoy your holiday when it comes!

With this credit crunch getting worse and we haven't seen anything yet, everybody will be booking A/I they will be able to pay for the holiday but nothing left for spending money.

I am hoping for really cheap deals next year to get a second holiday in.

well to be honest we wont be able to afford anything in 2010

We went away this year allinc and it cost us £2200 for the package
Next years allinc holiday is booked and it cost us £3088

for the year after we just cant do it,not on our wages

BTW thats for 2 adults and 2 kids

Indeed a big problem

I always come to Bodrum and I have the feeling the restaurants are more busy now then 2-3 years ago.
But maybe I'm wrong

Jeroen

Jeroen wrote:

Indeed a big problem

I always come to Bodrum and I have the feeling the restaurants are more busy now then 2-3 years ago.
But maybe I'm wrong

Jeroen

How is it a big problem then if the restaurants in Bodrum are more busy ??

Doesn't make sense, surely if the restaurants are more busy then AI isn't a problem.
Perhaps its time for this one to go as well as it's stopped making sense ?

It doesnt make sense does it . I have also been told by my family members in kusadasi that its been the busiest season for years at their restuarant . I think that has been due to most nationalities trying to avoid euro countries due to the bad exchange rate .

It does go to show though that there are plenty of tourists out there that dont always want A/I and that Turkey should be enticing them there and not just choose to blame A/Is . As has already been mentioned people will be very careful about where and how they spend their hard earned money next year and if the turkish bar/restuarant owners have any business sense they will try to be prepared.

This argument could rage on for ever because we all have individual opinions and what suits me may not be for everyone else!

I and my friends and family have never been ill from the food on a all-inclusive holiday.

We have stayed all over turkey always all-inclusive but now prefer the Antalya region because yes the hotels are more expensive than marmaris for example but are better quality and most serve food and drink 24 hours and serve quality branded drinks. The food is lovely and I certainly do not get bored after 2 weeks because i enjoy the rest from cooking at home! If people get bored than I ask what do you eat at home because these quality hotels serve a wide variety of lovely food!! Not just turkish food but foods from around the world in an effort to please everyone. You could choose something different every day!!

In the heat in summer i do not want to trudge around looking for food. My son now 15 has never known anything other than all-inclusives in turkey and would hate to make friends and perhaps not have the same ammount of money has them. He has the freedom to go off with friends and we have the peace of mind of knowing exactly where he is but he feels more grown up and he can choose where he eats with his new friends at the many snack bars and restaurants these luxury all-inclusives have!!
I think that the all-inclusives are keeping lots of turkish people in work and we do also tip these lovely people who look after us so well.

Lots of people go all-inclusive and go stupid with the drink and blame it on the hotel when they feel so ill. I have seen people not take care of their kids because they are so drunk. These are the type of people though who would do that where ever they stay but do give all-inclusives a bad name. usually this happens at the lower end all-inclusives! hence why we prefer to pay more and go to the more exclusive hotels.

We went to marmaris several years ago and it was Easter and the bars were getting ready for the next season and we saw the bar /restaurant prices of the previous season on a board and could not believe how expensive it was. I would add I would not venture there again even to a luxury all-inclusive if there is such a thing there?? but again that is just my personal opinion, others love it! I would imagine though the younger party animals get ripped off there in the bars and disco's when out in the evenings and to busy enjoying themselves to notice!!

If i stopped going to Turkey all-inclusive then i would go elsewhere but still all-inclusive so it is better don't you think that i go to Turkey 2 or 3 times a year and help keep people in the all-inclusive hotels in a job???
I will not feel guilty for choosing all-inclusive holidays that suit us has a family!!! we spend the money we earn as we see fit.Each time we visit we pay £10 to enter.

My grown up daughter has been to turkey twice, once in a B and B with her father my x husband and both were very ill eating out and about, and the second time she was back packing around Europe , Turkey and Goa and areas in India and the place they were both ill with tummy bugs was in Turkey eating out and about. The point of this is to say her bad experiences have put her off taking my small grandchildren there !!!

How many people who go self catering are indeed ill but have eaten at several restaurants so therefore cannot blame it on one particular place and we do not get to hear of their suffering????
I have recommended Turkey to friends and family and all have come back and been hooked on my favourite country!!! I am taking my 81 year old father at xmas with us for his first visit.I feel safe in the Knowledge he will not be made ill by going and eating the food there!! Yes we are going 5 star all-inclusive! to the superb Barut lara in the lara beach area.
One last point, the secret is to book early if you want to sample the quality hotels because they never get offered at bargin bucket prices because they are booked up early!! I saved £770 by booking early for the 3 of us for xmas and new year. My father booked later when I persuaded him to give Turkey a try!!.