On Holiday and hate it!

[Ilovemycatalot]

Was just after some moral support am on holiday with my daughter in a shit all inclusive in turkey horrible place and horrible hotel. We are here until Monday 😭honestly been in tears and just want to come home. Any words of wisdom to keep us going. They want £650 for an earlier flight home that I just can’t afford.

We went to a 5* in Antalya. It was hands down the worst holiday we've had. I wouldn't be paid to go back to that resort/hotel.

My DSis said Lara Beach wasn't any better.

I hope you have some nice beach days Op

I would rather stick pins in my eyes than go on any all inclusive holiday, and Turkey just doesn’t float my boat, can’t put my finger on it.
Had some lovely holidays in the past to Skiathos and Santorini. Stayed in in small and friendly apartments, just self catering which was great as you can pick and choose where to go to eat.
The only thing you can do is email the company direct to complain and don’t go there again! Sorry to hear you’re having a rubbish time OP.

@Mother87 liked Kalkan a lot and really loved Istanbul. The hassle factor was sod all compared to what we had in Egypt in Istanbul -- more a bit of 'enticing' into restaurants , nothing heavy

I have to say that we used Hays Travel quite a lot, back in the Teletext days, (ask your Granny), and we had no problems. Is there anyone in the UK who can try to contact them, it may be easier than doing it from Turkey.

One thing I did notice just flicking through booking.com was certain resorts in Turkey seem to have a ton of really huge AI hotels with huge water parks etc . Same goes for canaries though - I find the sheer size of these places can create problems and if you combine with unlimited booze and budget friendly prices- it often doesn't work. I do get why people, especially families book them but they tend to be very dependent on who is actually staying there at the time you are. Had a bad experience in Spain in one of these very big places - loads of stag/hens etc

I find this thread a bit weird. I've spent a lot of time in Turkey, and have lived in Turkish communities there, and I really wouldn't say that Turkish males are any more lecherous than another nationality. I'd probably say the opposite really.

I do wonder whether the experiences some people are relating is because they have misidentified the males as Turkish nationals when they are more likely to be seasonal hospitality workers from other countries. I am aware that this is somewhat of an issue in Turkey, and the locals are not happy with some of the dynamics this creates in certain areas.

Been to Turkey 7 times now in and around the Antalya area
Pick the right hotel and you can’t go wrong
Stick to Lara Beach, Belek or Side

Hays Travel are the travel agent not the Tour Operator

Always complain in resort ,not when your home

Marmaris was where I went as a kid over 20 years ago. The tourist don't tend to stay in that part of Turkey anymore.

Thing is you have to research any holiday but places like Turkey a bit more!

Although I LOVED marmaris as a kid. Everyone was friendly and polite to us me, my mum and her sister took us no husbands and no issues.

"certain resorts in Turkey seem to have a ton of really huge AI hotels with huge water parks etc . Same goes for canaries though"

Which resorts in the canaries have huge hotels with water parks? There's nothing on any of the islands that resemble Land of Legends and the like. You really can't compare the Canary Islands to Turkey!

I'm quite shocked at people writing off all of Turkey, especially for the locals not speaking English! I've had fantastic holidays there, in fact I'd sell a kidney to be sitting by the beach having lunch there right now, I thought the food was amazing! Yes the men can be pests, but I got a waiter to teach me a few handy phrases and gestures to deter them, and also covered up where appropriate. In fact I am still in touch with that waiter on Facebook, he became a good friend of ours on that holiday and invited us to stay with his family in Antalya. We never did go, but we are still in touch twenty years later!

Anyway, I don't know Antalya, but if there are any boat trips I'd recommend booking one. Or go shopping, or to a hammam. Find a restaurant that does a good mezze and stuff your faces with amazing food. If your hotel is crap, you only have to sleep there after all.

I'm quite shocked at people writing off all of Turkey, especially for the locals not speaking English!

Nobody is writing off 'the locals' for not speaking English. Nobody.

People are expressing surprise that a hotel resort doesn't have an English speaking staff member who can address problems with the hotel.

I can only assume that the people looking down on the OP for wanting to communicate in English at the hotel are either:

(a) extraordinarily talented polyglots who can converse at a proficient level in Turkish, Croatian, Maltese, Lithuanian (etc) - indeed, wherever they might take a two-week trip abroad; or

(b) not actually particularly well travelled themselves and haven't seen how English is used as the lingua franca in tourist areas across large parts of the world (especially Europe). I can assure you, the average German or Spanish holiday maker in Turkey will not have learnt Turkish to any significant degree. They will, however, expect to use English.

Obviously, if someone travels away from tourist areas they will need to learn the local language to a greater degree, as does anyone who goes and lives abroad. I was extremely unimpressed by a member of my family who lived abroad for about five years and didn't learn the local language at all. However, none of this applies to the OP.

I didn't say anyone was writing off the locals for not speaking English though. I said I was shocked at people writing off the whole country because the locals couldn't speak English. I don't believe for a second that the OP couldn't find anyone in a hotel in Antalya that spoke English, of course they wont all be fluent but I'm quite sure she could find someone to assist her.

Explain you don’t feel safe to rep or head office and see if they can transfer you to a different hotel if you think that will help and you have enough time left to make it worth it? Hope you manage to have a good few days.

Are there any good points to where you are currently staying?

I'm so sorry that you're not having a good time. I'm sure all of us have been disappointed in a holiday at some time. Realistically some of the things you're unhappy about are not things the holiday company are responsible for, eg drunken holidaymakers. There is a big difference between not liking the food and it being unsafe. If everyone else in the hotel is eating the food and is ok then while you can complain it's not something they need to fix.

Focus on the good things about the holiday. Like the lovely weather. Relax with a book and a cool drink. Maybe, as others have suggested, book a trip or seek out some local culture or history.

Hope it improves for you.

It's partially in Europe - not in EU though!

posts like this are irrelevant and dramatic very dramatic in fact. OP picked her own hotel and to hold some of these opinions and concerns she does.... one would ask didn't she think of these things before?

Land of legands is a huge hotel yes and it's busy because its a tourist attraction also but it is OPS hotel on that same exact scale? Again its OPS responsibility before booking a huge hotel furthermore.

Brits need to also stop this ignorance and borderline racists entitlement of "people not speaking English". Turkey is a poor Country so forgive the workers in the hotel if they don't speak English and to be honest OP is the foreigner in their Country, as you and I are when we go anywhere in the world.

The way I hear Btits moaning about people not speaking their language FFS 🙄

"JubileeTissues
"certain resorts in Turkey seem to have a ton of really huge AI hotels with huge water parks etc . Same goes for canaries though"

Which resorts in the canaries have huge hotels with water parks? There's nothing on any of the islands that resemble Land of Legends and the like. You really can't compare the Canary Islands to Turkey!

posts like this are irrelevant and dramatic very dramatic in fact. OP picked her own hotel and to hold some of these opinions and concerns she does.... one would ask didn't she think of these things before?

Land of legands is a huge hotel yes and it's busy because its a tourist attraction also but it is OPS hotel on that same exact scale? Again its OPS responsibility before booking a huge hotel furthermore.

Brits need to also stop this ignorance and borderline racists entitlement of "people not speaking English". Turkey is a poor Country so forgive the workers in the hotel if they don't speak English and to be honest OP is the foreigner in their Country, as you and I are when we go anywhere in the world.

The way I hear Btits moaning about people not speaking their language FFS 🙄"

@Day20 did you mean to quote me there? I haven't mentioned anything about languages and I was responding to a poster that said the canaries are similar to turkey in that they have resorts which are full of humongous hotels with huge water parks. I asked where that might be. I don't believe the described resort exists tbh.

Don't shove me in with the racists thanks

Her post was deleted but she did NOT say there were no English-speaking staff members. She said that their English wasn't very good so she couldn't express herself fully.

Having said that, she hasn't exactly explained in loads of detail here what exactly the problem is (other than there are drunk people at an AI resort, and that the food is 'disgusting') but it's done a good job of dogwhistling everyone who wants to rant about how lecherous and rude 'forriners' are and to describe entire countries as 'awful' and 'disgusting'.

We had a really good time in Antalya, stayed in the touristy town area, full of nice bars, cafes and shops rather than at the beach areas (they are separate). Then had a couple of nights at Land of Legends, also really good fun. However I realise that some Turkish men have a reputation for being creepy and inappropriate toward young women, so perhaps not the right place if there isn’t a man there.

@Mosso

We went to a 5 in Antalya. It was hands down the worst holiday we've had. I wouldn't be paid to go back to that resort/hotel*

I think the downtown touristy Antalya area away from the beaches is probably your best bet - taking a taxi for an afternoon or two at the beach if that’s what you fancy. We drove past some of the beach areas/resorts and it didn’t look attractive at all. Meanwhile we had a fun time exploring the bustling and attractive downtown areas. Wouldn’t go again, but it was a fun and reasonably attractive place. Tricky for vegetarians though but that seems the same across most of Turkey.

As others have said, phone Hays in UK and give them opportunity to switch your hotel for remainder. State this is what you want or to fly home. They are not a tour operator so don’t run the planes like TUI and I’d assume cheaper for them to change your accommodation. Take photos as evidence of everything you have described so you can at least complain and seek refund on return. We did this once and when offered a very minimal voucher took a travel company to the ombudsman and got a full refund plus compensation for basically losing our holiday. We did have photos of gone off food, ants in the tea urns, major building works that were not in the errata when booking etc. I’m not sure other holiday guest behaviour would come under a refund though - that’s just bad luck. Meanwhile go for day trips and see if the other nearby hotels offer use of facilities if you pay for lunch there, many do have restaurants you can book.

100% agree with you @alwayscrashinginthesamecar1

Just back from Antalya / Side - for those of you who have booked this area and worried, please don't. Most hotels are lovely, Sorry for you OP, but I wanted to reassure other people who might have booked a holiday here.

Hays should help you out if you state what is going on and be very firm about the outcome that you would like - moved, refund etc.

We stayed at acanthus hotel which is one of Barut collection - it was outstanding, lovely private beach and amazing food, hardly any brits there! lots of yoga, aqua gym and beach volleyball etc... The other hotel group worth checking out is Voyage - we've stayed at their Sorgun hotel - again, outstanding.

OP very sorry to hear about your bad experience - I had to post about this area of Turkey, as we've only had lovely holidays there. Side is a beautiful ancient town with amphitheater, Apollos temple, lovely harbour and ruins everywhere, and nice places to eat and drink.

Hope you get sorted with a hotel move OP and can enjoy your last few days!

Sounds like an awful hotel OP. The best way to find a good all inclusive hotel is to find the ones which the Germans use. I did this when in Antalya and the hotel and food were great. Just me, DH and a lot of Germans. All well behaved.

I've spent time alone in Istanbul and felt safer when back home, going out for a quick meal at night alone, walking about the city, honestly it was great and people were so respectful. But I think a certain type gravitates to a place like Antalya. There was one running a photography business at a tourist sight where I had my photos taken, gave me email address to have them sent to who then pestered me and turned quite nasty when I told him to stop. And even in our mainly German hotel, we had a problem at reception when we first checked in, we waited about 40 minutes with our luggage with staff all claiming they couldn't find our booking, no-one doing anything or taking responsibility. Eventually sorted out but quite tiring.

I much prefer self catering on holiday anyway.

Can you contact the travel agency and request to be moved to another hotel? Maybe leave a poor review on Trip Advisor to encourage them to respond.

I have Turkish family. English tourists are not the majority in that area, Russian, Germans and Scandinavian tourists are. No doubt they speak those languages more, as it makes commercial sense. The UK is a small country but with a big ego when it comes to language expectations for foreign countries.

Do hotels elsewhere speak every international language, I think not.

The men are no worse than any other men. There are cultural differences Watch Turkish women interactions. It sounds nuts but lots of smiling and being overly polite can be interrupted as interest.

Keep interactions polite but formal and business like. If you are being harassed for real in the hotel then complain. That's totally unprofessional. If the food is really disgusting and just not to your taste, again complain. I've eaten some horrible food in every country I've been too.

I spent a number of years there in my 20s and 30s and in the main was treated well by the men. Of course there are exceptions to that, like in every country and like London a higher number of arseholes congregate to touristic places.

Try and get out and eat where the Turks eat, they don't have to look fancy the best normally look like small cafes. Try and interact with families. Turkish people are very friendly and don't judge the nation on a few rogue men.