Turkey All inclusive info ( never been, never done all in)

moneysavvy35

Hi everyone

Finally made my mind up - cannot afford my dream of going all inclusive Jamaica this year. So going to turkey instead. I have never been to Turkey or never experienced all inclusive. Ive started my research and it seems it can be just about in budget.

I don't know where the best place to stay is - bodrum & Antalya keeps coming up are these areas ok? I'm looking for somewhere near the beach close to the town. Somewhere lively but not rowdy. It will be me hubby and 2 boys 10 & 13.

I'm quite comfortable booking everything myself...can someone recommend hotel comparison websites that are god for all inclusive's (are thier any?) otherwise I'll jus use the normal ones...

Does all inclusive mean all excursions are free also?

Can anyone give me hints, pointers or tips on anything all inclusive turkey holidays.

Any blogs or reading up I can do...trip advisors excellent but I will probably need to decide my area before I research anymore.

Thanks in advance

C_Mababejive

In a country such as Turkey..why go all inclusive when there are so many fab tavernas and restaurants on every street in the touristy areas?

moneysavvy35

I've decided after all these years that we spend too much money on food and drink and want to see if the all in approach works better. Average in the past has been breakky £15-20 lunch £40 dinner £40 that could easily be a oner per day Not counting drinks and all the other stuff..trust me my kids eat ALOT..

maman

C_Mababejive wrote: »

In a country such as Turkey..why go all inclusive when there are so many fab tavernas and restaurants on every street in the touristy areas?

moneysavvy35 wrote: »

I've decided after all these years that we spend too much money on food and drink and want to see if the all in approach works better. Average in the past has been breakky £15-20 lunch £40 dinner £40 that could easily be a oner per day Not counting drinks and all the other stuff..trust me my kids eat ALOT..

Fair enough if that's your decision. Personally I'd go for a villa, and do SC if I needed to save money, markets in Turkey have amazing produce but that's me not you.

I have no experience of AI but I do travel to Turkey a lot. Antalya has a really lovely Old Town and beach, whereas Bodrun although attractive in parts caters a bit more for mass tourism IMO. I'd be surprised if excursions were included but try not to be anywhere too isolated as you'll miss so much if you stay on site all the time (as many AI people do). Anywhere that's on a public transport route will be fine as bus and dolmus (minibus) fares are reasonable.

lea2012

My first piece of advise would actually be don't do it. I lived and worked in Turkey for three years and can safely say that in at least 80% of the hotels All Inclusive is a false economy and you will not save money.

If you want a decent all inclusive in Turkey you will need to pay for it. If you think that you are getting a bed, 3 meals, snacks and drinks then you should expect to pay at least £60pp per night for All Inclusive and perhaps more in the height of season. Yes you can get AI in turkey for £20 a night in high season but be realistic about what you will get for your money.

AI in it's most basic concept is 3 meals plus drinks, and in the cheaper hotels in Turkey this is what you will get. No snacks and no extras. The meals will be a turkish breakfast, simple lunches with salad / pasta and perhaps some meat and then evening meals can sometimes be just one choice (a meat casserole in most cases) with rice, chips and salad. Like it or lump it.

Make sure you do your research before hand and know exactly what you get for your AI.

As you seem quite keen to try it I would go for Bodrum over Antalya based on what you want from your resort. Antalya has many good AI (4* and 5*) but they are on the more expensive side. There are some good beaches but in terms of lots of bars etc away from the hotel there's not that many. Alanya and Side are in the same area and are livelier but do have lengthy transfers. The antalya area as a whole mainly caters more for German and Russian guests too.

Bodrum is livelier and has plenty to do. It caters well for brits and there are lots of great bars and shops etc to keep you busy. In terms of AI there are a few decent ones, check out the WOW Resort and the Ersan Resort. Just outside of Bodrum try the Voyage Torba or the La Blanche or Aegean Dreams in Turgiutreis.

Generally speaking excursions would not be included on AI and I have never known any hotels that offer this as part of the package.

jhe

we stayed here all inclusive a few years ago http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g298033-d673676-Reviews-Grand_Pasa_Hotel-Marmaris_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html, a short walk to shops and beach, but well away from bar st

PompeyPete

I wouldn't bother with AI in Turkey either.

So far on the beachy side of Turkey we've stayed in Icmeler, Fethiye, Calis Beach, Antalya (Kaleici), Side and Alanya. We've also visited Hisaronu and Olu Deniz.

For convenience, ie shortest transfer I'd go for somewhere in the Antalya area like Lara Beach, or in the Fethiye area such as Hisaronu (slightly inland), Olu Deniz (best beach) or Calis Beach (naff beach).

We didn't like Side apart from the excellent coastal path.

Our favourite is Icmeler, which has all you'll need without being a rowdy place, but it's a 90 minute transer from Dalaman. Here's the TA forum...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g609056-i10890-Icmeler_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html

Not been to the Bodrum area, so can't comment.

Turkey is a beautiful country, with an excellent transport infrastructure. And at the moment the exchange rate is very good.

Pollycat

lea2012 wrote: »

Make sure you do your research before hand and know exactly what you get for your AI.

Excellent advice. Don't assume everything is free.

lea2012 wrote: »

Just outside of Bodrum try the Voyage Torba or the La Blanche or Aegean Dreams in Turgiutreis.

We've stayed in Turgutreis (not AI) and these 2 hotels are on the beach and within walking distance of the village.

I would have hated (with a capital H :cool:) to stay at either of these hotels.
The sunbeds were so close together you couldn't have moved them around at all.
The 'entertainment' team were screaming and shouting, 'encouraging' guests to play some sort of game - at 10:00am in the morning.

We also saw in another resort (Yalikavak, also on the Bodrum Peninsular) guests queuing up, plates in hand, for lunch.

Just my idea of holiday hell, I'm afraid.

lea2012 wrote: »

Generally speaking excursions would not be included on AI and I have never known any hotels that offer this as part of the package.

I would agree with this too.

If you're set on AI, do your homework carefully.

Read the Tripadvisor reviews about any hotel you're looking at, pay attention to what is said about food.

Also check location. Some AI hotels are in the middle of nowhere, making it very difficult to get anywhere without booking a taxi.

Moto2

With two hungry boys, I can see why AI is attractive to you, but as other have alluded to, it's a minefield.
You'll generally get what you pay for, what sort of budget do you have?

citykid5

I wouldn't go all inclusive either. The current exchange rate is the best it's been for over 10 yrs at 3.50 tl to the pound. We went last year to fetihe excuses spelling and a good breakfast was 4 tl a bottle of effete 4.50 tl and a fantastic 3 course meal at gemlek restaraunt about 50tl including drinks. Most other restaraunts I wouldn't expect to pay anymore than 30tl for 3 courses and drinks for a adult and half that for a child.

travellerboy

With a young family AI is very, very tempting. As long as you don't set your sights too high I am sure it will be great. All AI holidays will have their down sides but knowing that your budget is relatively fixed will probably be a big comfort and possibly out way the negatives. Try it and see if it satisfies your family, best of luck.