Turkey hotels

[Hadenough1234567]

Is there a difference between AI hotels in Turkey and say Ikos type resorts or other high end Greek resorts?

Is there a difference in clientele? Or standards?

I know hotels obviously vary but I’m talking the “naice” places.

We’re considering for next year and a friends suggested they attract a different type of clientele. This sounds a bit snobby to me but is there any truth in it?

Also, how do service standards compare? Friends suggested that might be unfavourable too.

Looking at 5 start hotels that get pretty much 5/5 on trip advisor. Friend Sara people going to these places are more easily satisfied because they tend to have different preferences/standards.

Can anyone comment if you’ve stayed in both types?

I’m not inclined to believe friend but don’t want to spend a lot and discover she’s right!
Would be 2 adults and toddler travelling.

The travel company Kuoni does A/I in Turkey.

Ikos will also be a different league of their own. Hence the £12k price tag for 2 adults.

The best Turkey hotels far exceed Greek 5 stars

However there is a strong difference between 5 star hotels in Turkey. some should be downgraded to 4*

For the best have a Look at Cullinan, Regnum Cara, Rixos Premium, Anda Barut, Xanadu Island, Liberty Signa, Liberty Cape Arnna, Maxx Royal, Voyage

the best turkey hotels will have Al a cartes, waiters around pool etc so the standards / service are much higher than a lot of places!

not sure about the comment about them attracting certain type? A lot of these hotels are expensive. Turkey isn’t cheap unless you go cheap.

I would say it’s more the staff than the hoteliers. Absolute perves from my experiences there as a teenager.

When was that? It’s a different place now! Places like Egypt etc I feel are still the same but I’ve found everyone to be friendly and respectful in Turkey (last went 6 months ago)

Personally I'd ignore the star rating for a measure of how nice it is. It's largely based on facilities available rather than quality.
I tend to ignore the good reviews and read the 1 and 2 star reviews on trip adviser, take note of the tone and language of the person commenting and decide whether the things they're objecting to would put me off. "A nice hotel, but ruined by rowdy stag parties" would be a red flag in a way that "Me and my mom and my dad and my nan were disgusted that they didnt have proper bacon and stopped serving cocktails at midnight in the pool bar" for example.
Ive stayed in a few AI in Turkey. Very happy each time, but never stayed peak time so that will probably make a difference.

Thanks - that’s helpful.

You can get a week in Ikos for 7k for 2 adults in a basic main building room - similar to costs in some of the hotels you mentioned in Turkey. I don’t think it’s about cost.

We found Ikos great but didn’t consider it to be in a league of its own other than the fact that they include room service and so many a la carte choices in AI. Otherwise, we found the standards in some respects slightly lower than in other non AI hotels.

Friend suggested they tend to attract “lower class” type people with money.

I was a bit surprised because I wouldn’t normally see this friend as a snob so it made me wonder.

A long time ago in fairness, I’m 35 now ! But I did have some awful experiences there and my mum kept taking us there on holiday each year because it was cheap.

Thanks - apologies if I’m being a bit daft but how does this feed into the question?

Probably because Kunoi is seen to some as Upper class - or rather a "better class of people"

Personally if I was going to Turkey, where I have been 20 or 30 times , to all different areas, DONT GO ALL INCLUSIVE

Same as Greece, I wouldn't bother unless your idea of a holiday is room to sunbed, back to room and food which is catered to the main customer base

Stars are given for facilities, not how nice the decor is

Ive gone 5 and 3 , all supplied the same, room and a bathroom. some might have a balcony , others will have had swim ups

Some have had AC in all room, some just in the bedroom , others - pay for a fan

But it all depends on what you want from a holiday tbh

I dont think ( I hope I dont ) judge people for their choice of holiday. We have met and spent company with all sorts, the typical youngsters having a ball and taking advantage of the all inclusive, to those that thought nothing of dropping a couple of grand buying a neckless or ring and eating out in the most exclusive restuarants and standing for the bar bill come the end of the night

Surely a holiday is what you make of it?

This and the whole lower class thing really grates to be honest. Lots of "lower class" people get loans to go to swanky hotels and you still have to sit on the plane with all the ghastly unwashed. Similarly lots of "naice" people love a bargain.

AI in Turkey means you miss out on exploring all the amazing local eateries. Same with Greece.

@sandrapinchedmysandwich @suki1964 Normally we’d love exploring and never used to go AI - we’d go away to all different places several times a year but will have 2 under 4 by next year so our exploring is on hold for now. looking for a big resort with lots for them to enjoy, little slides, play park etc, good food for us. Would like a bit of luxury since we’ll stay there the whole time and very very good service - we want to be really looked after, decent room service etc.

Re different class - I don’t like this term either but trying to get to the bottom of what my friend meant hence why I asked - it’s her term.

We’ve done AI once and even thought was 5 star. Ikos, there was definitely a different vibe compared to the usual 5 star places we’d stay that don’t offer AI. There was something “louder” about the place. For want of a better expression. Wasn’t a problem for us though!

I thought AI was by definition a bit lacking in class, no matter what the country?

@Hazel665 I sort of agree but it’s b b convenient with young children.

Absolutely, so who cares about the perceived class of it? Do what makes you and your kids happy! Caravan holidays also come under the same heading but less ££s, but goodness, they can be great fun and safe and convenient. Don't give it another thought.

I can only go my my experience of Turkey - it is a very hospitable country

We had made friends with shop keepers, restaurant owners, been invited into their homes, been treated as true friends

We have travelled across the country using local buses and the infamous dolmus

Will a five star AI , live up to your expectations - possibly - other then the food ( seriously in some places you can find better food in a Lokanta for a couple of quid )

This is my favourite place in Turkey
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g297964-d302360-Reviews-Samira_Exclusive_Hotel_Apartments-Kalkan_Turkish_Mediterranean_Coast.html

But Kalkan isnt child friendly, well they love children, but there is no beach in Kalkan, steep hills etc

There was a time back in the 90's and 00's where huge AI resorts were being built in areas where there was sod all else, think perhaps first choice? Hotels were magnificent, but there was nothing outside them, even the staff were being bussed in

Just pick your hotel on transfer time having such little ones , and choose the region well, some regions are more favoured by the Germans and Russians so catering is geared to them, others are more Western European.

Thanks - I’m not concerned about the perception. I couldn’t give a stuff about that. It was the concern that somehow there would be something unspecified that might spoil the enjoyment.

Caravan holidays are definitely not for me. Not because they’re low class but because having space and decent buffet food on tap makes our holiday with kids easier!

Thanks - yes definitely needs to be child friendly! We’ve travelled lots with my eldest and short transfer, private, not shared coach is a must for us. Decent buffet food instantly available few a la carte options is all we need food wise. Having to go to outside restaurants or order and wait would be hell. Plus we’re looking for lots of things for kids on site. These big resorts really weren’t us pre kids but are very practical.

Definitely concerned about the Russian guests - in the big resorts in Antalya I’m finding they’re the majority and also favoured by the staff, many of whose speak Russian.

Gosh, lower classes and Russians! Very concerning.

What I’ve heard from my MC friends is that in Turkey you can get a more luxurious hotel than what you could get in, say, Greece for less money. When we stayed at a 5 in Greece, though it just wasn’t a 5 by UK standards. AI holidays are not seen as very elite no matter where you go, but let’s face it, if you’ve got small children it just makes life so much easier. But I hate being surrounded by people who smoke - it’s my pet hate. And also drunk people throwing their kids in the pool. These days I try to avoid massive hotels.

Well it is annoying when you go on holiday somewhere you’re seen as less than others and it does happen, believe me!

If you read any reviews about hotels with a majority Russian guests, people don’t have anything good to say about the situation. They’re notorious on holiday!

I’m actively distancing myself from the “lower class” type attitude. I’m asking about what a friend said, which in my first post I said seemed very snobby. If you read properly, you’d have grasped that.

I’ve found this too - you have to choose carefully.

Lots of people smoking and getting drunk would bother me too.

In terms of package type holidays, I’ve found that 5 star, excellent trip advisor reviews which don’t offer AI feel the most “refined”.

Even Ikos which is expensive and has excellent AI seemed to attract a cross section of people who are a more lively crowd. Sweet Caroline belting out on the beach at the white party wasn't up my street at all. It didn’t really affect us - resort is spaced out, was 1 night and finished up at 11. But that sort of thing nightly doesn’t appeal.

I wonder if this is what my friend meant,

Lots of people smoking and getting drunk would bother me too.

In terms of package type holidays, I’ve found that 5 star, excellent trip advisor reviews which don’t offer AI feel the most “refined” including in Greece. But agree lots aren’t true 5 star.

Even Ikos which is expensive and has excellent AI and high quality food/drink seemed to attract a cross section of people who are a more lively crowd. Sweet Caroline belting out on the beach at the white party wasn't up my street at all. It didn’t really affect us - resort is spaced out, was 1 night and finished up at 11. But that sort of thing nightly really doesn’t appeal.

I think there probably is a bit of a class divide in terms of what people enjoy and the vibe.

But AI does work for us at present I have to say.

Oh no - that sounds so annoying. I wanted to go somewhere SC this year, I must admit but dp doesn’t want to because we have a 5 yr old. I think I am getting old, too. Younger people go to these party hotels - have you seen them??