Do cheap PACKAGE HOLIDAYS have to be IN NASTY RESORTS full of...

[noonar]

... a certain type of brits abroad .

we went on a cheap deal to greece with thomas cook last summer, but found it a bit depressing to be surrounded by grown men in football kit. the resort was fine but we found the accommodation depressing.

we have a budget of £1800 for a family of 4 in august. i just dont have the energy to start booking flights / apartment seperately.

is there a nice little (cheap) tour operator out there that caters for people who dont wear football shorts?

How about Menorca? Tends to be less of the type of people you are trying to avoid.

I found the hotel Carema Club Playa via direct holidays. Costs around £350 each for a week in August. According to Tripadvisor a lot of italians stay at this hotel and not bad reviews.

Menorca is very family friendly.

How long are you hoping to be away for?

I know you say you don't have the energy to book separately but you will probably get somewhere a lot nicer for your money than by booking a package.

I wouldnt do a shorthaul package again. The last trip booked seperatly and saved a fortune. Even booked the taxi transfer on-line and saved £50! Even so the holiday cost £3k plus spends!

I know what you mean too, what about croatia?

Best thing is to avoid the high street travel agents go via google. All high streets are part of thomson so you have little chose. There are loads of smaller book direct on-line.

I second bacon's recommendation for Croatia. We stayed on the Makarska riviera a couple of years ago. It was very pretty and chav free

thanks guys. i'd love to go to croatia and have actually started a thread on the subject, but had no replies as yet...

we have a budget of £2k for 2 weeks, btw

Menorca was lovely.

Try tripadvisor.com there is also forums on there and I have read loads of positives.

i also vouch for booking the travel and accommodation seperately, i don't like being tied into a small list of hotels/resorts with the airline package deals.

you should check out some travel websites, get an idea of what you like, and then post two or three of the best looking hotels/resorts on here (or on trip adviser) and then see what people say, that REALLY is the best approach i've found for getting a good deal and finding somewhere suitable. a 2k budget isn't a bad starting point though! :)

We booked with lowcostholidays.com five of us (one is infant) to Majorca for under £1500 this summer the hotel / resort had good reviews on the the sites and we made sure they are abta bonded etc.

PIL have been with them before and not had a problem.

HTH

ummm Low Cost Hols - see trip advisor recent report ... someone posted it on here

I saw some el cheapo deals on expedia.co.uk - thje package holiday bit.

Yesterday saw £250 - £350 each for 2 weeks in august - Portugal, Fuerteventura, Majorca.

We are thinking of going to Portugal - I have been to Alvor before and it is very quiet.

I remember a sorry 3 days spent in Lloret de Mar and am with you on the hideousness of resorts with 'Tony and Marlene's English Bar' with all day breakfasts with Heinz beans and PG tips teabags.

Do me a favour.

ANother for booking yourself.

I had 2 of the best (single and late teens/20's) holidays in Lloret. My best friend and I have a way of talking about them so that our husband's don't know as I think they'd be horrified by our behaviour at the time!

Ok get the Thomson style brochure, think it is the 4 star one, pick out something you like and then price it up separately. If it isa week you going for you should be able to get something for around your budget.

I'd recommend a package in the Algarve. And avoid all inclusive as that attracts the visitors you wish to avoid.