Recommend me a family all-inclusive with a caveat...

[MrBig]

We went to a great all inclusive place in 2023 in Kos, which I'm forced to admit was a great holiday. I generally insist on self catering, but I was forced to concede in this instance

I had only 2 issues with it, the towels on the sunbeds in the morning (which I assume is going to take place anywhere, unless there are places which don't allow it- in which case let me know!!) and the pool closing at 6pm.

It's unbelievably annoying to be walking past a perfect looking pool at 7:30pm in 30C weather. Are there any places where the pool stays open till 8/9pm?

Europe preferably but not fussed if its Greece/Turkey/Spain/Canaries etc etc..

Floor is open...

[bodhi]

On the sunbeds bit we've stayed in both Olympic Lagoon properties in Cyprus, one in Ayia Napa the other in Paphos. Both had allocated sunbeds so no scramble in the morning, and both times we had a choice where our beds were. The one in Paphos let us move around throughout the holiday, although that was in September after the kids went back to school so was a bit quieter.

Pools did close about 6:30 when we were there but both trips were in September so it was getting dark then, not sure when they are open until in summer.

Both lovely 5 Star hotels where we were well looked after and with a good choice of restaurants onsite. Paphos one is a 15 minute walk to Paphos harbour for more restaurants and stuff to do, the Ayia Napa one is a short taxi ride to either Protoras or Ayia Napa.

Paphos side of the island is better for stuff to see and do, Ayia Napa side has some stunning beaches nearby (Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay).

[GreatGranny]

The only way to guarantee a sunbed (unless you go to a hotel where they are assigned as mentioned above) and the pool to be open late is to have a swim up room.

Or shared pool between only a few rooms.

We go to an AI in Turkey and always choose the swim up rooms.
We also go out of season so there's normally a decent choice of sunbeds especially on the beach.

[ferret50]

Get up early and chuck all the towels in the pool.

Then claim sunbeds in your favoured position.



We have just sold an apartment on the Algarve that overlooked an hotel kiddies pool, think goodlooking German mum's bending straight legged over a baby buggy, and that always closed at evening feeder time. Hotel security were very good nieghbours, turning teenagers out of the swings and slides late evenings.

[Kakopetria]

The Atrium Platinum in Rhodes, strictly no lounger reservations, they have 2 pool captains to monitor this and they take their job very seriously.
Lovely 5 star hotel
,

[ukwill]

Check out IKOS group.

[MrBig]

Kakopetria said:

The Atrium Platinum in Rhodes, strictly no lounger reservations, they have 2 pool captains to monitor this and they take their job very seriously.
Lovely 5 star hotel
,

That looks great. What time do the pools close?

[MrBig]

ferret50 said:

Get up early and chuck all the towels in the pool.

Then claim sunbeds in your favoured position.


.

I’ve highlighted in bold my major complaint about your plan

[OldPal]

Green nature diamond in marmaris. Been twice now.

Huge pool with hundreds of beds and it’s got its own private beach so plenty of beds if the pool is full, kids club and plenty of entertainment, clean rooms and the food was superb. Plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby but just far away enough it doesn’t keep the kids up.

[Griffith4ever]

MrBig said:

Kakopetria said:

The Atrium Platinum in Rhodes, strictly no lounger reservations, they have 2 pool captains to monitor this and they take their job very seriously.
Lovely 5 star hotel
,

That looks great. What time do the pools close?

Wish we had them here in Thailand. Current hotel all loungers have towels on them pre 8am. We arrived and I removed two , folded them up, and took the loungers. Guy turned up an hour or so later, "did you remove my towel?", "no, they were on the floor". What could he do? Haha. Nothing. Walked off. Each day a line of them remain toweled and unused till about noon.

We also go to an independent bar restaurant setup with loungers and this is the first year they are all toweled before 9.30. This is coinciding with the takeover by Russians. They make the Germans look like amateurs when it comes to lounger blocking. They even towel deckchairs so they have a chair for the sun and a lounger for the shade.

Luckily so far this is only in the hotapots. Smaller islands with independent lounger setups dont have accom near by (isolated beaches) so its as it should be. You want a bed, you use it.

The Russians are really spoiling Thailand, and its gathering pace each year. I reckon on Koh Chang they now represent over 60% of all tourists. Perhaps more. And... They are reserving tables in restaurants. Something ive never seen on Thai islands till this year.

[Kakopetria]

The Atrium group also have the Prestige and the Palace hotels at the southern end of the island, down towards Lindos both 5 star and also strict lounger rules, I’m sorry I can’t help with pool closure time as I’m usually there late season, collectively they are the best hotels on Rhodes.

[chip*]

Griffith4ever said:

The Russians are really spoiling Thailand, and its gathering pace each year. I reckon on Koh Chang they now represent over 60% of all tourists. Perhaps more. And... They are reserving tables in restaurants. Something ive never seen on Thai islands till this year.

All encouraged by the Thai government who implemented the holiday visa exemption for Russians since last year.

[Quattr04.]

TUI blue for 2 pallazo del mare in Koz

It’s a medium sized hotel, but half of the rooms are swim up so have their own loungers and then around the main pool there’s 2 loungers to every room so there is no one at all who reserves them

[pavarotti1980]

MrBig said:

We went to a great all inclusive place in 2023 in Kos, which I'm forced to admit was a great holiday. I generally insist on self catering, but I was forced to concede in this instance

I had only 2 issues with it, the towels on the sunbeds in the morning (which I assume is going to take place anywhere, unless there are places which don't allow it- in which case let me know!!) and the pool closing at 6pm.

It's unbelievably annoying to be walking past a perfect looking pool at 7:30pm in 30C weather. Are there any places where the pool stays open till 8/9pm?

Europe preferably but not fussed if its Greece/Turkey/Spain/Canaries etc etc..

Floor is open...

We are booked up for an AI to Majorca with a swim up room , which you can use 24/7. It is shared with 2 other rooms though. You have 2 or 3 loungers on your bit of private decking

Tui Blue Sensatori Biomar

[havoc]

chip* said:

All encouraged by the Thai government who implemented the holiday visa exemption for Russians since last year.

That's really unfortunate.

We really liked Thailand the times we went 15/20 years ago (st...that long), and we were starting to think about taking the kids once the youngest was old enough for the flights.

...but if there's one thing I can't stand on holiday (even moreso than beered-up Brits-on-tour) it's fking Russians.

[John D.]

ukwill said:

Check out IKOS group.

We've done a few holidays in their Greek resorts over past few years. I'd never stayed in a resort, or even big/fancy hotels really prior to that. Not my style, or my family's growing up. Was really good when our daughter was small, and the food/staff/facilities are brilliant. Found I got a bit bored with the last trip, so maybe I'm done with it now. Put their prices up too I think.

They supply all the towels for a start

[Griffith4ever]

havoc said:

chip* said:

All encouraged by the Thai government who implemented the holiday visa exemption for Russians since last year.

That's really unfortunate.

We really liked Thailand the times we went 15/20 years ago (st...that long), and we were starting to think about taking the kids once the youngest was old enough for the flights.

...but if there's one thing I can't stand on holiday (even moreso than beered-up Brits-on-tour) it's fking Russians.

They are very much avoidable - you just need to go to smaller islands that require a ferry. Islands that have less facilities, islands without cars. Theyinitially focossed on Phuket Ilittle Moscow) and then expanded to Pattaya, Samui and the likes. Now Koh Chang. But in lovely islads like Koh jum or Koh Muk you hardly hear any. It won't last though.

Been happening more than a year. They started encourageing Russian toursist post covid, and they have largely replaced the Chinese for whom Thailand fell out of favour.

Edit. Omg we've just moved from mid island to the south (koh Chang) £100 a night Vs £75 and it's night and day. Butlins-on-Moscow to Maldives in Thailand. Pea wcul, beautiful, nice quiet respectful customers. What difference a little extra effort and distance makes !

Edited by Griffith4ever on Wednesday 22 January 04:25

[chip*]

havoc said:

chip* said:

All encouraged by the Thai government who implemented the holiday visa exemption for Russians since last year.

That's really unfortunate.

We really liked Thailand the times we went 15/20 years ago (st...that long), and we were starting to think about taking the kids once the youngest was old enough for the flights.

...but if there's one thing I can't stand on holiday (even moreso than beered-up Brits-on-tour) it's fking Russians.

I have wonderful memories of Thailand too (Koh Samui in 2000 when the airport was a single wooden shack adorned with tropical floral and plants), and like you, wanting to share these great experiences with my kids when they get older. However, my last visit was Ao Nang (back in 2016?), and the resort was just a mile long of tat shops and bars, and on another early trip to Koh Tao, we transited through Koh Samui which was sadly the same As Griffith post shown, there are idyllic resorts around, but you just need to get out of town!

[havoc]

chip* said:

I have wonderful memories of Thailand too (Koh Samui in 2000 when the airport was a single wooden shack adorned with tropical floral and plants), and like you, wanting to share these great experiences with my kids when they get older. However, my last visit was Ao Nang (back in 2016?), and the resort was just a mile long of tat shops and bars, and on another early trip to Koh Tao, we transited through Koh Samui which was sadly the same As Griffith post shown, there are idyllic resorts around, but you just need to get out of town!

2004 for us - supposed to go to Krabi, but the tsunami hit 3 days before our departure so we rebooked that portion to Koh Samui. And yes, I remember being absolutely bowled over by the simplicity of the (wall-less) airport 'terminal' and the welcome greeting / orchid garland we received.

I suppose i shouldn't be surprised at the change...but I'm still disappointed.


@Griff - I hear you and that does look just right, but the headache there is if we have to take 2 flights (most directs are to BKK) and a ferry then the journey time with a junior-school-age girl becomes too much again. Be quicker (albeit not cheaper) to go to the Maldives.


Quick thought - are the Russians pretty much only on the beaches, or have they infected Bangkok and Chiangs Mai and Rai too?

[Griffith4ever]

havoc said:

2004 for us - supposed to go to Krabi, but the tsunami hit 3 days before our departure so we rebooked that portion to Koh Samui. And yes, I remember being absolutely bowled over by the simplicity of the (wall-less) airport 'terminal' and the welcome greeting / orchid garland we received.

I suppose i shouldn't be surprised at the change...but I'm still disappointed.


@Griff - I hear you and that does look just right, but the headache there is if we have to take 2 flights (most directs are to BKK) and a ferry then the journey time with a junior-school-age girl becomes too much again. Be quicker (albeit not cheaper) to go to the Maldives.


Quick thought - are the Russians pretty much only on the beaches, or have they infected Bangkok and Chiangs Mai and Rai too?

Beaches really. They loves it, da! And its getting worse each year. I made a post in the Phuket thread. Koh Chang, peak season (now) is like Moscow. Sadly