Lyn that is so not true!! Lots of people have jobs because of these hotels! Turkish charm, not so when you are harrassed in some of these areas, and yes Side being one of them!!
If like wallbash the hotel is important then you cannot beat this stretch!
I am not saying these hotels are for everyone!!
The le Blanche is okay, but my friend went for her first visit to Turkey and was not blown away by it!! Yes lovely views but her room was noisy and over looking the street and she had a struggle to get moved! Not an hotel I suggested for her by the way!

I take it that you have got children going with you??

Last time we took the girls , they never saw breakfast . lucky if they saw lunch .
No its school hols for us .. teacher by profession

Will let you Know.

Wallbash we've just booked into Voyage, Torba it looks fab!!

Hiya

Been to the WOW been to La Blanche (been to a lot on the Peninsula, so I can answer with some knowledge.)

WOW is bigger, staff are absolutely fantastic, the views are stunning, and yes there is shade a plenty, especially the tented area on the beach that double as the fish a la carte of an evening...............serves wonderful snacks and turkish tea during the day.
The Turkish a la carte is al fresco as is the Italian, and they both double up during the day, the Turkish does the wonderful kebabs and lamb kofte, pide and flat breads, and serve good red wine too. The Italian does salads, and breads, cheeses and desserts, but something for all.

There is a quiet pool, with sunloungers and a shaded area with tables and comfy chairs.............a little bar that serves beer and tea plus herbal teas, coffee and cakes. A lovely touch, and very few little ones, so peaceful at most times.
The only down side with this hotel are the rooms, they are a bit 3*, but you don't holiday in your room, a bit cramped, and could do with a make over. They are in stepped positions, with stairs or lifts taking you up to the pool level and to the main dining area. 24 hour bar, good activities, and brilliant live bands of an evening.

A good hotel within easy walking distance of Gumbet which is lively, colourful and a must visit place.

La Blanche, is a beautiful location, easy walking into Treis about 15 minutes, very flat and lots of friendly people too. Pedestrianised area leading in both directions.
The hotel is in 7 or 8 4 storied blocks, the rooms are superior to the WOW, but the facilities are not as good, and pound for pound you do get more at WOW, although in saying this, the La Blanche is so chilled, that you are in a trance like state for the entire holiday....................honest, very laid back and very easy on the eye. Beautiful views, and sunsets that are, well, breathtaking.
The quality of drinks is not as high at the La Blanche, but that is not a high priority for us, as long as the beer is cold, and the white wine is quaffable, then that is fine. Some of the cocktails were like rocket fuel, but novice staff I think, no real problems really.

So, if the price is similar for both hotels, at a push I would go for WOW, but get on the Dolmus and go into Turgutreis for the day, have a look at the La Blanche, it may be one for your next holiday? I recommended the Voyage Torba to Hishanders,(sorry if I got name wrong) she has booked today, that looks amazing. have just booked to go end of September too, so I am really pleased.

Hope this has helped you make your mind up....or maybe confused you even more. Sorry

Let us know.

1st a big thank you to all who tried to help . Holidays are fun , but booking is stressful.
Yes I booked this afternoon , not easy , Flights are filling fast for the Summer school Holidays ,
Where am I going ...
Barut Hotel Lara Beach , a touch more than I wanted to pay , so cutting the days down a couple, made the expense bearable.Flying out 24th July.
Again many thanks.

Will be back next year , for more advice, wonder if I should have started earlier.

Hi Triflebum

Maybe we'll see you at Voyage Torba. We arrive on 25th Sept with 2 more couples arriving on 27th. It does look good.
We stayed at La Blanche last year and WoW is on our to visit list. Seems like we have similar tastes.
Roll on September.

Dave & Pat

Glad you got something sorted, you were lucky to get a hotel of that calibre, especially in the school holidays. It is more expensive than the WOW or La Blanche, but,
as with most of the hotels in Belek or Lara Beach, they are high end, and most of them are luxury all the way.................a few to steer clear of, but that is a different site to browse.

I would suggest you look at going to WOW at a later date, it is an excellent place for kids, (and oldies too) and the entertainment and staff are up there with the best.

So, get packing and well done you.

violet123 and Triflebum you are both a credit to the forum.

And yes I will get to ( flights and rooms willing ) WOW one day.

Hiya forrest22

Oh how good is that. We stayed at La Blanche end September, and we really enjoyed it. Loved the walks into town, and had a few laughs with Jack on the albatross tours, what a nice guy. The WOW is a better hotel for facilities, and the staff are incredible, but La Blanche I think is just a chill out zone for everyone. Food excellent at WOW and surroundings are far superior, but, they both have things that the other one needs, so I am sure you will enjoy.

So, we may meet up in Torba in September.........only just booked for September, flying out 27th for a week, so have a drink ready at the bar for us, just me and the hubby, so lots to talk about. We are going to the Kadikale resort early September too, so we may as well move out there, (I live in hope)......................Off to the Voyage in May also, just couldn't resist booking it again though, saw it, and the deal was too good to miss, work hard enough, so why not..........................

You seem like you are addicted to Turkey also???? It just gets under your skin, so many other places to visit, but, it just keeps calling us back.

Take care.

wallbash

Thankyou so much for that wonderful comment. Gobsmacked................................

I think everyone tries to help everyone on this site, and it is a joy to pass on any information.

So again Thankyou.

Hi wallbash,
Glad you got the holiday sorted yesterday!
It is really hotting up and loads of people are looking to book their holidays.I have to say you are right and it is best to book early!
One lady on another forum spent to long thinking about it that her holiday price shot up to much and she is now having to look for other hotels!
The Barut Lara gets many repeat guests, and I am sure it will tick the boxes!!
I will report back on what changes have been made during the current refurbishment after we have been at Easter!
Being a teacher you are still tied to paying top prices even now that your family are grown up!

So pleased you are sorted wallbash . Now relax and enjoy the wait

Hi guys, before you all settle down for a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon, I need help! I am usually booked up for the summer long before Christmas but I really can't decide on a hotel this year.
We enjoy al fresco dining, sitting outside at night too either chilling with a drink or watching the entertainment. Don't want a really busy claustrophobic restaurant, we are basically looking for a good quality AI in any area of Turkey. Not Lara Beach as I have the same opinion as Lyn on that area. Some hotels I have shortlisted are; Voyage Bodrum, WOW Bodrum and our favourite so far [been three times] The Belcekiz Beach in Olu. Help! really wanted to get booked this weekend. Oh, just thought of something else that's important to us, being able to go for a nice stroll after dinner, so somewhere not too isolated.

what, nothing booked yet sharon

Thanks to TB we now have a fairly extensive list to look at and actually hotels that I knew of but had always thought would be unsuitable for us and isolated . I know you have similar requirements to me and teens with you and must say I'm quite tempted by the Wow bodrum . I hadnt reliased it was within walking distance of Gumbet . I think my lads would be happy as pigs in poo with that location and i've read through the reviews and they are mostly very good . With the belcekiz still in my heart The extra friendly staff is screaming at me too .

The location sounds perfect too as far as scenary goes . I found that coast just as scenic as the Dalaman stretch but very different in a good way and from what i've read you should be able to hop around on the dolmus easily should we want to lift our behinds from the sunbed.

TB . I know youve probably already told us but is the voyage more isolated ??

lyn

ps . I know TB has said the rooms are a little on the small side and could do with a reburb but as long as they are clean that wouldnt worry me too much . Lets be honest the rooms at the Belcekiz are not the biggest and most stylish we've stayed in .

minione and lynwestie,

Hope I can answer your questions.

Firstly, yes Lara Beach is fabulous for AI hotels, and Belek too, some of the best hotels to stay at for luxury, top end international drinks and good quality rooms......they are everything you could want for a holiday if you want to laze around a pool, and take the odd trip out, and lets face it, the cost of some of the hotels are now very steep, so once the money has been paid, we tend to stay in and around the complex.............however, you can get fabulous AI hotels outside these areas, that offer you the chance to see more than just a hotel complex, there are walks to be had and fabulous little coves to discover.

Side is just down the road from Belek, and has some good quality AI hotels, a wonderful beach area, and an amphitheatre plus a lovely harbour area with little bars.........problem with Side is the hassle from shop keepers, too much at times, and this can be very off putting. There are some equally good hotels further out, near Manavgat and Colakli, and the Dolmus is always handy to take you wherever you want to go.

But, for an excellent mixture of good quality hotels, excellent walking and brilliant al fresco dining, it has to be the Peninsula..............

WOW is a big complex, the converted windmill offers you views across the bay, and at night when lit up, drink in hand and a cool breeze blowing, then it is everything you could want. Live bands are tooooo good, dancing every night, and excellent firework party too.
Al fresco dining every day, the main dining area has outside tables under canvas and completely under the sun, so up to you, each a la carte double up during the day, so you also have a choice of where you want to eat.

It is a good 20 minute stroll from the hotel to the shops and bars of Gumbet, and although we did this each day for walk and a look around, if going in high season, jump on the dolmus for the short journey.....gets too hot, especially for little ones.

Just the rooms a bit tired looking, but, they are not bad, just need a make over. The staff are wonderful and the quiet pool area is just the thing for chillin your bones.

Voyage hotel is in Torba. Torba is a lovely little village, and surrounded by mountains. It has some lovely little bars and restaurants and the beach isn't all that, but the hotel offers so much that the beach not being brilliant is a small price to pay.
It isn't isolated, there are a few little bars and shops nearby, and only about 4 miles away from Bodrum itself, which is good to go to for the day.

For al fresco dining in any of the hotels on the peninsula it is not a problem, they all have areas where you can sit outdoors, the a la cartes have dining areas of choice and there are numerous little sections that serve snacks during the day.

The La Blanche, Aegean Dreams, Yelken Hotel are all in or quite near Turgutreis.

Voyage Torba, The Rixos Bodrum,The Club Isil are all in or very near Torba. The Isil has been recommended to us, and I must say it looks fantastic. You would need to check reviews and do some homework for it though.....................

The WOW and Joy Club in Gumbet are the only ones I can offer up as recommendations in Gumbet, would not want to give you names of hotels in an area that I haven't stayed at too many times...I only know the places I know, if that makes any sense??!! not much point in telling people where to stay if I know nothing about them......................lol

Olu Deniz and Dalyan are equally beautiful areas, and I have stayed at 5 AI hotels in that area, I can highly recommend the Letoonia, really excellent, and al fresco dining on tap, I think it will be exquisite after the re furb, but prices to match I would imagine............The Belcekiz Beach is another good quality hotel........but you have stayed there, so no need to sell it...............TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE................Noa Sun City, is ok, but not one I would recommend for anyone travelling without kids, and even then, there are better ones in and around Olu.Hillside Beach Club is full board plus, and you only get drinks with evening meals..............can work out very expensive.

So all in all, I think that is a good selection for you to look at, read reviews on ones you fancy, but please get booking, they are going very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Hi Triflebum, We are one of the couples that are staying at the Torba from 27/9/10 for 2 weeks with' forrest'. We are also at the WOW Bodrum Resort from 17/5/10 for 2 weeks ,both holidays with Thomas Cook from Gatwick.Where are flying from & what date are you going in May? It seems we all have similar tastes as we stayed at La Blanche in May last year with' forrest & family' & met Jack & Gerkin on the Albatros boat trips, both great guys! We also stayed at the Concorde at Lara Beach in September last & the Barut Hemera in Side 2 years ago. Needless to say we absolutely love Turkey & the Turkish people.Were travelling with my sister & hubby in September & are also meeting up with some other friends( who are also coincidently at the Torba in May & September,) during our stay for a drink or 3.Hopefully we can all meet up in September,to identify us we will be wearing a red carnation in our speedos ( the girls will have them in their hair )! Regards Tel & Sue

Oh hiya, seems like we are going to be having one big party at the Voyage in September............quite a few Brits going.

We go on the 27th too, early flight with Thomsons, and we go early May, beginning of season.

I will keep my eye open for the speedos, and just to be different we will be wearing boiler suits carrying a monkey wrench, We pretend to be workers, so we can stay for free........................(only joking)

Turkey is just so addictive isn't it? Hope there isn't a cure.

Take care.

Thanks guys, knew you would be of help. Bodrum area is looking favourite at the moment, WOW sounds what we are looking for. Near enough to the nightlife for the girls too. Quite right Lyn, think if you were paying this years silly prices for the BB and you hadn't been before you would be dissapointed with the rooms. Having said that, room size isn't really top of my list. waiting on our daughter's friend to get back to us hopefully tonight because I feel I need to book tomorrow. Didn't want to panic buy and then discover it wasn't really for us. Been looking on review sites virtually all weekend but nothing beats getting advice from you lot! give yourselves a pat on the back.

I looked at the prices for wow earlier and it wasnt cheap though . Have you found it cheaper than the BB Sharon .