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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Anyone been on a Neilson beach club holiday, and did you enjoy it? Any alternatives?

9 replies

TheWomanOnTheBus · 26/04/2011 12:46

As the subject suggests .... did you enjoy it?

.... am thinking about doing it for the first time. It appeals because of the dinghy sailing: we would all like to learn. However, we are a bit worried about being in a holiday camp environment with little interaction with the country being visited. Normally we would travel "independent".

So, other than their competitors (Sunsail, Mark Warner, etc), are there any alternatives where you might stay in a non-camp hotel perhaps in a village or town (ideally picturesque with some local charm and history and sites) and - crucially - in which you can locally get dinghy sailing with courses
(adults and children) - my internet searches have failed me!

Otherwise, Neilson it is likely to be - as they seem to be cheaper than Sunsail or MW ...

Thanks

OP posts:
Abr1de · 26/04/2011 21:15

I LOVED Neilson. We went to Lemnos. I know what you mean about contact with the host country but if you have active children and like being active yourself, go for it.

TheWomanOnTheBus · 27/04/2011 09:38

Thanks, Abr1de. That's reassuring.

Need to make a decision soon ......

OP posts:
Abr1de · 27/04/2011 10:53

My only caveat would be not to do what I did and throw yourself into everything all the time. I probably should have spent the odd couple of hours reading on the beach or by the pool. I came home very fit and relaxed but a little weary. It was one of the best family holidays we've had, though. I wish we could go again this year.

Kiwinyc · 27/04/2011 13:45

Have done Sunsail and loved it, would love to try Neilson. At Sunsail we rented a car for some of the time and got out of the resort area and visited some other areas which was good. We didn't do any of the sailing stuff, apart from blagging a ride on a boat that someone qualified as a Skipper was taking out, which was nice! Oh we did take the sea kayaks out a few times!

beautifulgirls · 27/04/2011 21:13

Try actually calling Mark Warner for a price. Compared to their online booking thingy they quoted us a lot less when we called.

AF62 · 02/05/2011 17:56

Yes, a few times, and enjoyed them all (last year was at Lemonos), and is nothing like a holiday camp. Taking the positive aspects first -

It is very well organised, both for the activities and the general running of the hotel. The activities staff are all British (apart from the waterski people who are usually locals due to licensing issues), and are some of the most helpful, friendly and pleasant people that you will ever deal with.

The first time I went on a Neilson holiday I had never been near a dingy or windsurfer and was more than slightly concerned that I was outside the age / fitness profile of their average customer. I need not have worried, the activities are organised so that people are split into new / medium / expert groups, and the staff are very skilled in getting people to learn new skills, but without forgetting that people are on holiday.

As for getting out and seeing the locality, if you don't turn up for a lesson or an event, because you have decided to do something else, nobody is going to even mention it. The meal plan (all lunches and 4 evening meals included) also encourages you to get out for several evenings, but also allows you to relax on other nights and not have to find yet another restaurant.

Also if you take some of the bike tours you will get to see quite a lot of the surrounding area.

Now for the downsides, apart from the horrid charter flight, the only downside it that with they type of person Neilson attracts, it can feel a bit like 'Waitrose on Sea' at times. On more than one occasion I have seen mummy & daddy puzzled by what to feed the little one at breakfast, because the nanny normally does that.

But overall, if you throw yourself into it, if you totted up at the end of the week what it would have cost you for all those tennis, dingy, windsurfing lessons, hiring tennis courts, dingys, windurfing gear, bikes, etc, it is a steal.

TheWomanOnTheBus · 05/05/2011 11:35

Great. Thanks, all

AF62. We are giving up on finding alternatives, will go to a club, and our shortlist now is the Porto Heli or Halkidiki (both are cheaper than the Lemnos one). Any views on either of those if you know them?

Other than that we are also looking at Mark Warner in Corsica - but some of the reviews on TripAdvisor are really depressing ....

Thanks!

OP posts:
TheWomanOnTheBus · 06/05/2011 13:36

Neilson Lesbos it is in the end! Booked and looking forward to it.

OP posts:
Kiwinyc · 06/05/2011 16:19

ohh lucky you! You're gonna have a great time. v. jealous here!

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