The Big All Inclusive Problem - Page 2 - Turkey Discussion Forum, Holiday Forums

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

caretta

2008-09-11 05:10:14

All great points and well taken....but I just wanted to say that not all of these all-inclusives are created equal...correct... I have not heard many bad reports about the ones located on the Antalya Lara beach or the Ultra all-inclusive..but then they are much more expensive..than the typical ones you find on the other coast of Turkey..

It all works down to you get what you pay for....sometimes in these all-inclusives you forgo quailty for quantity and because the consumer demands more.....and this is proved time and time again with the about of compliants about the stomach bug going around some of the big the resorts....or complaints about poor quailty service....you would be surprized if you saw the inner workings of some of these hotels...

Why are so many people getting sick these days in the big hotels...poor hygenie of the food staff, ?? low grade quailty foods, ?? cold food, and the combinations of the open buffets and high heat temps which can breed bacteria....

Also when I comes to poor service...the big hotels yes provide empolyment.....but they never seem to have the same staff year after year...why... because the hotels can pay them such minimum wages and then re-employ an new person the next year...if they kept the same staff year after year they would have to increase the wages of their employee...

The AI..also brought in hassling to Turkey ( whereas before it did not happen years ago ) in the resorts..because each restaurant, bar or shop has to work that much harder to bring in guests or customers..did anyone ever think of that ???...I agree that the shops outside of the big hotels mark up their products far more....but if you research where to shop you will find better bargains..

For example I never recommend the toursitic bazaars...visit the non-touristy ones that the local visit...or for the previous poster...instead of shopping outside the hotel in Belek..take a day trip to Antalya ( 45mins ) and shop there...yes Antalya is toursity but it is also place where shopping for goods is cheaper than the resorts...

anyways my point is that not all these all-inclusives are created equal and look before you leap..research your trip before you buy...

Kedi Yavrusu

2008-09-11 08:47:07

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Good post Caretta. I don't think it is the big AI in the purpose built resorts that are so much the problem because they are away from the main resorts, but the newer ones in the resorts that are causing the problems.

Wendywu, haggling is a part of Turkish life, people haggle in shops and markets all over Turkey, indeed all over the middle east, it isn't a silly game, it is a way of life. If you choose to go to a shop opposite a very expensive hotel of course they are going to start the price high and tourists always pay more for things than locals anyway. There are plenty of bargains if you shop in the right place and experience the way of haglgin properly.

wendywu

2008-09-11 11:50:25

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

I dont go on holiday to spend time in the shops, we did once go to belek market because my teenage daughter wanted to. That was not to bad on the hassle front.

This year we were just showing a couple of teenagers where the bus stop was outside the Delphin Palace. My husband was looking through the rack of t shirts outside a near by shop. Thats how we knew how much the price was.

Elaine

2008-09-11 11:58:06

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Caretta I can't agree that its AI that started the "hassling" from smaller establishments.
Kedi and I know Gumbet well - until a few years ago, there were no AI there, and yet as far back as 1996 (ie long before there were AI in Gumbet) front men in bars and restaurants would literally chase you along the street, hassling you (the resort was a lot busier then too, and a lot more compact).

I was very glad when local law changed, to allow frontmen no farther than the boundary of their bar/restaurant, to hassle people walking by.

Elaine

caretta

2008-09-11 12:52:48

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Good point Elaine and no you are right I cannot comment about the area of Gumbet..I can only comment about the area I live in Antalya and Cirali...where I can say no hassling occurs...Have been here since 1997...I read so many reports about hassling and its seems to be much higher in the more built up british resorts on the Aegean coast side of Turkey as opposed to the Med. Coast..but again just speaking in regards to Antalya and Cirali..but in any touristic area this will be bound to happen...and even in the eastern resorts of Side and Alanya...

greenshoes

2008-09-11 13:17:47

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

I would 100% go AI if returning to marmaris. The drink prices were unbelievable out there and much more expensive
than Rhodes last year and even Ayia Napa. I loved Turkey and had a great time but I will be going AI next time. Perhaps if bars lowered
drink prices then it may sway some people. The soft drinks were ridiculous and I had to ask for more vodka in my drink
so many times as some bars can be really mean with their measures. I did have a fab time but it was a lessoned learned
for our party. Downside though is the food in Marmaris was lovely and reasonable price.

K&R

2008-09-11 13:58:59

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

we have not done AI in turkey, only self catering, to bodrum and icmeler....

this year, we found prices to be higher than in england for some things, we also noticed if i asked for malibu at a cost of 8 lira, i was given the cheap alternative......to which i sent back, it tasted awful....

we have booked self catering for next year, but i am afraid after that, we will be priced out , and have to consider AI, as with 2 big sized children, food/drinks etc, and "extras" that seem to be added to some bills, to just gets too much....

the exchange rate doesnt help at all, but july did seem fairly quiet in icmeler this year.......

also, the amount of loud bars doesnt do it any favours.....maybe people are put off by this too, so stay away....

wolvo girl

2008-09-11 17:28:28

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

k&R agree with you. We went in July to Icmeler self catering and some places were charging up to 6lira for a large coke (£3 at today's rates). We also have 2 teenagers and are also considering AI next year. We spent 3/4 of our spending money on drinks and food (although food I thought was still reasonable). Di.

scotty323

2008-09-11 19:25:42

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

My last 2 holidays to Marmaris have been AI and I will be doing the same again next year. It saves you a fortune during the day when you are constantly drinking fluids whether it is water, soft drinks or alcohol. Most hotels and apartments charge you about 3 to 4 pounds for a coke or a beer. Take this over two weeks and it would put a huge dent in your spending money. You do tend to get bored of the food after about 10 days so I do go out for a meal or two towards the end of my two weeks. The bar prices in Marmaris this year are now on a par with back home and often more expensive. The average price for a vodka and coke was £4 this year. I tend to drink in my hotel until 11pm then go out for a few drinks later. I also had to complain about the lack of alcohol in my drinks when I went out to the bars later on at night. They obviously knew they were doing this as there was never any argument when you complained. These bars cannot complain about AI as when you see the price of drinks in the large supermarkets. They must be making huge profits at the prices they sell it at. They only have themselves to blame in my opinion if they are losing trade to AI hotels

caretta

2008-09-11 20:01:18

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

I keep saying this over an over again....you must all be going to the wrong resorts then..because an average can of coke is 2.5 liras !!!!!!! 1.13527 GBP....a far cry from your 6 liras....and a large efes bottle of bira...5 liras...2.27054 GBP !!!!!!! :cheers

Kedi Yavrusu

2008-09-11 20:16:12

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

That's about what we were paying last week, 2 - 3 ytl for a soft drink and 4 - 5ytl for a beer.

Becky67

2008-09-11 20:59:18

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Been to Turkey last 4 years on AI. Love the country and the people. We have travelled up and down the coast.

Lara Beach this year and only really stayed in the complex because there was little immediately outside the hotel.

All three other occassions much closer to local town/village and had day trips and boat trips out were we freely and happily paid money to the local economy.

Price is such a major factor now and if you have a young family then the AI option does offer genuine cost savings - even if you are going in at the Ultra 5*AI end. It is cheaper than the more UK focused holiday market in say Spain and people will travel further afield to make the money stretch further.

ellie_meg

2008-09-12 07:22:02

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

we have recently returned from turkey and the area we were staying at the pops (lemonade, coke etc) were 2-2.5 lira and beer 3.5 lira, it didnt change in price hardly from 1 place to another including the beach bars and restaurants. i do agree that a lot of money goes on drinks during the day, so we used to take a cool bag and buy large bottles of water and pop each day i reckon that saved us loads of money, hubby had a few beers from the local bars, we ate out every lunch and dinner but had breakfast at our apt and we didnt spend as much as we expected, although i dont drink alcohol so that saved us a fair amount too. we didnt stay in a typical holiday resort were the prices are inflated so that makes a difference

we went to a 5* all inc in may/june and didnt enjoy the food much, the quality and choice wasnt the best, so this has put me off all inc again, some days i'd fancied a steak or beef which we never had so you end up eating things you dont particularly want that day :que

, i know it suits some people and can save money, we have been to some good ones but i do prefer to do our own thing. when i add the total spend price of both holidays the all inc and sc came out slightly cheaper for our family

Edited by ellie_meg 2008-09-12 11:18:34

bluepeterno1

2008-09-12 08:25:51

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Hi ellie ,i think that most AI hotels are getting a whole lot better now they are offering ala carte theme restaurants ,we went to the club voyage in belek in june and are off there again next week ,there are nine of these ,mexican ,french,turkish,indian,chinese,japanese,greek,italian and seafood ,each one beter than the last ,if people get fed up (pardon the pun)with the dining room ,restauants like these make a great change,plus the fact you can get all dressed up get waiter service and feel like your a toff .

Bluepeterno1

Kedi Yavrusu

2008-09-12 09:16:03

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Another thing you have to bear in mind is that you were getting more lira to the pound in previous years, it has gone down from around 2.7 to 2.1 so your money wont go as far. That has nothing to do with people putting prices up, I haven't noticed prices increasing that much this year.

ellie_meg

2008-09-12 11:27:53

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

peter this all inc had 4 ala cartes, italian, turkish ,fish and international

firstly the international was charged for at a normal price only the drinks that were on all inc were free so no way were we going to pay for food on an all inc, a supplement for waiting staff of a few £ no prbs but not same price as guests outside our hotel

we dont eat fish so that was out

italian was ok, some good some bad ie a tiny pizza to start with that was a really cheap tasting like 10 for £1 frozen ones lol :duh

, pasta was nice, main course poor quality and dessert was horrid dried cheesecake

turkish was lovely and we really enjoyed that

all were fully booked a week ahead too so this was annoying

your hotel choices sound good , but we prefer to be in an area where we can go out and about and not man made resort, ive heard the lara hotels are great but i would hate to be hotel bound with not much around the hotels . its trying to find an all inc in a lovely area with plenty around it thats not so easy :think

rwb46

2008-09-12 12:05:10

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

Kedi Yavrusu wrote:
Another thing you have to bear in mind is that you were getting more lira to the pound in previous years, it has gone down from around 2.7 to 2.1 so your money wont go as far. That has nothing to do with people putting prices up, I haven't noticed prices increasing that much this year.

I have to agree with the above quote as it's 100% correct, Im sick of people here saying it's the Restauraunt/Bars that put up the prices, Yet I still see the same prices for set meals of £6.99 in abundance everywhere in the Marmaris region, It was the same price 5 years ago, Of course their is more expensive places to eat in but you pay your money to wherever you go.

doe

2008-09-12 12:34:58

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

To be honest if I couldn't go AI to Turkey I don't think I would be bothered to go there at all. The hassle walking up the high street and through a market just isn't worth it for me. TC rep said its so dear she gets her Mum to send all her clothes from the UK.

One of the great things about Turkey is the exceptionally high standards it offers in the AI sector, probably better than most other places in Europe, and without the Long Haul grief of having to go to the Caribean.

People work hard all year for their two week holiday not to have the 'emotional blackmail card shoved in their face of 'oh but it's damaging the Turkish Economy'. People seem more interested in the Turkish economy than they are their own here in the UK.

Half the time I see these posts I wonder if they are from people who have a vested interest in the Turkish economy, a restaurant perhaps or run an airport transfer service or similar and are therefore not 100% independant and have a vested interest in getting us out of AI's regardless of our personal preferences.

For every post we get still trying to convince us it's still cheap there we get two or three more which tell the truth, which is that it is more or less the same price as most other med destinations now.

I personally am not happy to restrict my children to a couple of drinks a day when it is 40 degrees, as I beleive this is how stomach bugs and viruses happen. I'm also not prepared to do hours and hours of reasearch into where the few cheap bars and restaurants are. It's a holiday after all not a school project or piece of work !

Not everybody wants to go to large resorts like Marmaris just to get the prices which we are told are still cheap.

One person tells us AI's are responsible for the hassle and another tells us that it is part of the culture and we should love and respect it. So who's telling the truth and who is lying, both can't be true. :que

Edited by doe 2008-09-12 12:50:00

caretta

2008-09-12 12:49:39

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

To be honest if I couldn't go AI to Turkey I don't think I would be bothered to go there at all. The hassle walking up the high street and through a market just isn't worth it for me.

that's sad....and if you are all visited the larger resorts..I guess that this is bound to happen...but so many of you dont realize how big Turkey is ..and how many other places that there is out there ...and sadly these forums seem to concentrate on the Aegean side of Turkey or to the areas that surround the Dalaman airport..

Rarely do I ever read any post about Istanbul or the Cappadocia area...sad as there is so much history and culture...

If Turkey was soooo expensive like you all say then how can the local turks survive on their own salaries ????? so that means you must find a place where the average turks makes their holidays..which usually is not the large resorts...

so to each there own....and I will enjoy my Efes and cola :cheers

doe

2008-09-12 12:53:52

Re: The Big All Inclusive Problem

The reason local Turks can survive is I suspect there are often two prices in a lot of places, one prices for locals and one for tourists.

Occassionaly this comes to light if you travel abroad in the company of a local and they are actually honest with you and tell you you are being ripped off. I have an Egyptian married into my family who can get us far better prices in Egypt than we can on our own.

I dont for a moment expect it is any different in Turkey to Egypt.

As you say each to their own. If they want my 3 or 4K a year I am afraid the most likely way they will get it will be through the AI route. (and yes I know before people jump down my throat, a fair bit of it will go to some huge German tour operator, but I am sure some of it will filter through to the Turks)

Id love to know if the German and Russian tourists have these debates on their holiday boards about if its good for the Turkish economy if they go AI.

I wonder if they do............................ :rofl

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