Impossible to find good 4* hotel for under £3000

[mike1969]

Hi all,

It seems it must be a long time since I booked a holiday. I just assumed I would be able to find a really nice 4* hotel with excellent reviews for about £3,000. We have two toddlers and an infant.

All the travel agents are quoting around £4,500-£6000. Have I missed something?

I know you get what you pay for but it just seems so much.

We were looking at nice hotels in Lara Beach, Turkey but can go anywhere really. I just wanted a really nice rated hotel.

So it looks like we are left bargain hunting. Does anyone have any ideas of great websites offering the best bargains. This has taken up the whole day - nice problem to have but it gets frustrating after a while.

Thank you so much!

when are you looking at going?

2 adults and kids in a 4 star hotel for 3k seems ambitious tbh

I have recently booked a holiday to Turkey for me and 2 dcs in school holidays.

Ok it is 3 star hb but it is to a quiet resort last 2 weeks of summer hols and cost me £1,400

I did it through Holiday Hypermarket website.

I rang them actually,I am recently widowed and explained to v nice booking lady I wanted something fairly quiet with beach and pool nothing more than 4 hr flight from local airport and she was lovely and spent ages searching for something.I am paying top whack for 1st child who is adult price due to me being lp.Maybe worth giving them a call.

Yes, we are looking at prime time - school holidays. Thanks for the tips : ) will look at holiday hypermarket. Hope you have a nice break - sounds like you deserve a lovely break.

have you tried emailing hotels direct, I've found this can be cheaper

www.firstchoice.co.uk/fcsun/page/flightoptions/flightoptions.page?packageNumber=46059030116WEGUEG128 1117300000128113890000052812817473000001281755700000529&selectedBoardBasis=AI

Have you tried On The Beach website?

I would book flights/hotel seperately.

Los Gigantes Spa and Suites hotel in Tenerife is lovely.

Princes Yaiza in Lanzarote

Tripadvisor is your friend

Yes, Princess Yaiza looks lovely - but is coming out at about 4 and a half grand. You have good taste though. And thanks for the advice on websites - hypersupermarket is fab!

try these guys

Have you looked at Tunisia? Still shorthaul and cheaper than Europe.

and alpharooms.com

Which airport?

How long you wanting to go for?

Gran Melia in Lanzerote is also lovely

through alpharoooms, a week at the end of July or Aug to Princess Yaiza is coming in at £3k, inc flights, flying from London

Aah, thanks Geordieminx, really sweet. Will look at alpharooms - haven't got that one on my list. We can go from any London airport. Only thing is I was searching for 10 days - I know, I know - you can't have everything. I just find that with three very little ones, by the time you get unpacked and into some vague routine it is time to come home if you're only there for a week. Last time we did a week we came home more exhausted than we left. Oh well, nice problem to have.

Yes, we have been to Tunisia but we had a bad food experience which left my hubby having tests in hospital when we got back. Don't want to take chances as I am five months pregnant. Surprised no-one has told me to just stay at home and stop moaning : )

Really fancy Turkey - the hotels look fab. Will see where we end up - Brighton probably ; )

You have 2 toddlers, an infant and are 5 months pregnant? Fuck me no wonder you need a holiday!

Ha ha, yeah, and finishing my dissertation for my degree, due in in two weeks time (has taken me five years). Up til 2am each night working. And just got hooked on mumsnet - bad bad timing : )

Good Luck with that!

Just a quick word of advice... I would maybe consider changing your user name a bit, as it looks like you are a man (assuming you arent given that you are pregnant )

Its not a problem, but if you post some stuff people might get confused IYKWIM?

I know, I realised that when someone called me Mike. Didn't realise it was my nickname for on here - brain not working recently. Was going to change it the other day but not sure how too and not time to look into it. Will do it soon. Thank you : )

Its not a problem really, and there are a few blokes on here, that contribute greatly to the site, its just if you launch into a converstaion about periods/morning sickness, bras or whatever you might get a few

Hope you find the right holiday.

Have you looked at the Mr & Mrs Smith website?

Not sure if you're still looking but we just booked a break of 8 nights to the Greek Island Zakynthos (Zante). For 3 adults and one child we paid £2K.
The hotel, Adreolas Luxury Suites has great reviews (see Tripadvisor) and they offer 2 bedroom suites with full ocean views. You are directly on the beach, 5mins out of town.
We don't go for another 2.5 weeks but I'm not feeling any fear
Easyjet fly direct and the transfers are about 15mins because it's a small island.
We've been to Santorini before and adored it. Thought about going back but didn't want to jinx the wonderful time we had. We didn't stay 4* in Santorini though

Good luck. But it's definitely doable.

I agree, that is why we are not going away this year! I had prices from £3 - £5K. Last year we had a bargin through a company that just specialises on hotels - on the beach.com and booked the flights seperate. It worked out £1k less than Soverign but still was £4,000 incl spending money for 10 nights B&B!!!!

The Euro is really knocking up the prices and found Tenerife very expensive and the food pretty poor unless you paid top end.

Personally, unless I get great standards I wont go. No way would be sleep on a sofabed or expect basic accommodation for the hastle and expense of going abroad. We have to have two bedrooms which bumps up the price.

We have a nice touring caravan and think its the only way of getting away now. Last year was pure luxury but cant justify parting with so much money for 2 weeks away.

Hi Bacon,

Just to let you know that we have found somewhere! Not exactly the place I wanted as we go there all the time and I really wanted something different. but after trawling through the internet for hurs and hours I rang Thomson after looking at their late deals on the inernet.

We have booked 7 nights at the Natura Palace in Playa Blanca which is a platinum Thomson hotel and gets good reviews. for two bedrooms and half board it is £2400 - so I am really chuffed. Felt a bit bad as my little boy looked at the picture of the playground and was disappointed after looking at all the hotels in the brochure with funky slides etc - but they are just soooo expensive.

So now everyone will probably tell me how awful the natura palace is!!! I have learnt my lesson though -going out to get the brochures for next summer : ))
Good luck and thanks everyone for your advice.