Help finding holiday

dseventy

Hi all

Having a special holiday this year. We had a family "conference" and came up with a list of "must haves" ( I know I know, quiet at the back!) . I think its so niche I need to go to a high street, but I quite like DIY bookings if I can. The requests we have don't appear on holiday searchs, so I hoped someone could help me find a hotel (or a wesbite that allows me to pick the following as a search option):

• Not in Turkey or Tunisia or Egypt
• Swim up bar at pool
• On the beach with beach Bar
• Swim up rooms
• All Inclusive with family rooms

Any ideas? Do I need to visit a travel agent?

Thanks
D70

missbiggles1

I can understand a swim up bar but I've never heard of swim up rooms - don't they get damp?

Caz3121

you have not mentioned budget....I think a number of these will come from a high £ resort...I was thinking Maldives

dseventy

Hi both

Re:swim up rooms. Its like a small private pool next your ground floor room. sunbed next to it.

Budget : 1K (ish) per person. Prefer Europe. Thinking Greek islands, Balarics (sp?) and canary islands.

Thanks for the replies.

D70

duchy

Doesn't sound particually niche to me

Swim up rooms are a pain however as they tend to have mosquito problems at night - if anyone in the party is especially prone to getting bitten might not be ideal .or failing that never turn your room lights on after dark with the doors or windows open.
They are one of those features that sound great but the idea is not always as good as it sounds.

Thomsons do them both in Majorca or Mexico for starters so you probably don't really need a travel agent unless you feel the need for one. It's pretty much a bog standard brochured holiday to a hotel that fits your wish list. Just pick the hotel and cost it both ways -and book whichever is cheaper.

eg do a google search for swim up rooms - then check if the hotels listed have the other facilities you want. Then do your costings. and then compare with the package price.

Where swim up rooms are located can make a difference -this review lays out a couple of cons http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g4053317-d1010527-r62849872-El_Dorado_Maroma_a_Beachfront_Resort_by_Karisma-Playa_Maroma_Playa_del_Carmen_Yu.html

dseventy

Hi duchy

Nice tips thank you.

Any ideas which hotel or agent/site to use?

Will happily take personal reccomendations.

Thanks
D70

duchy

I'd start by seeing which hotels Thomson and First Choice feature that meet your wish list then search for them on https://www.kayak.co.uk to see who sells them seperately.

ibizafan_2

You could look at the Thomson Sensatori in Cala Tarida, Ibiza, but think you might need to compromise on the swim up bar. I have only come across these in places like Mexico with your other requirements.

duchy

I think swim up rooms could be potentially very noisy.
Seems the layout ( straight onto the main pool versus onto a lazy river that feed the main pool) would make a difference .

I tend to avoid poolside rooms in high season because you can be woken early by loud pool users and it seems with most swim up rooms in the mid/mass market hotels the chances would be even higher due to proximity.

Seems to be a handful of them in Europe mainly in the Balearics and Greece but many more in Mexico.