£6500 for a weeks holiday?!?!

[schoolsgettingonmynerves]

There are 3 adults and 3 kids (2 toddlers one new born), going to a 5 star all inclusive for a week in Greece….

Does this price seem wildly high?? I know its high and I choked when I saw the cost but is this what you have to pay these days to stay 5 star?? I am in shock.

September is not going to be expensive last-minute.

We always book last minute (outbound on one airline, inbound on another sometimes) and providing you are flexible it's never expensive.

Depends what you are looking for.

If you can afford it then why not- if you like these types of hotels.
I find these big 5 star resorts very impersonal and cold.
Greece is such a beautiful vibrant country with some stunning islands, many peopole still leading an authentic simple life.

My tastes are for a much more rustic holiday than this, where we can watch fisherman bringing in their catch, dinner at small harbour restaurants sharing the wobbly tables with locals.

I have spent much more than this on holidays to the Seychelles for instance, but even then it's the simple style that I crave, not the 5* opulence.

It depends where and when you're going. I just did a pretty random search on Thomson and found an AI 5* holiday for 3 adults, 3 children, two rooms, Rhodes (no idea what children's ages are or how many rooms you actually need or where you're going!) for just over £5K. Found another one in Crete for just under £4K. So you might want to shop around a bit.

This was for August, by the way - so those prices are the absolute max they will be.

Crazy. All inclusive 4 star on the Greek islands, peak season, you could get for under 3k I reckon.

Greek 5 star hotels aren't really 5 star anyway - guarantee it.

What is the hotel called? Perhaps some of us travelholics could help you get either it or similar for cheaper.

Really need advice that's a brilliant price , was it last minute? Do you have any tips on deals?

I think you're being ripped off too. Have you looked at booking the flights and hotel separately?
Transfers can't be that much which will be the only missing factor.

I agree about otbeach- great site.

Just priced a holiday for 2 adults and 3 kids ( free) in Crete for a week in August at a 5 star hotel all inclusive. total cost £1300.

www.onthebeach.co.uk/hotel_searches/show/381666739

Lots more good holidays in that last link.

soon to be six, Greece was booked about 4 months before we went, money is tight so I spend ages looking online and check the trip advisor reviews before I book.

There are some fab deals but you just have to keep looking, I like on the beach and teletext. com

Have seen a great deal flying from my local airport for the last week in July, it was £997 for 2 adults and 2 kids (not tsking dss this time) All inclusive, but I can't get the time off work!!

Sounds expensive if you're not going school holidays. I'd expect to pay £2-3k for 5* AI for family of 4 outside school holidays. If you try to go half term then it probably is about that

when you see it as 4 and 5 star then please be very very aware this is not based on the UK star rating system! often the stars are awarded by the holiday company. what you know is 5 star in the UK will almost certainly not be what you get abroad. I would concentrate on finding somewhere that you want to go and then a hotel that has all the facilities you want. disregard the star ratings - they are made up

Unless you go to Dubai and then a 5 is like a 6 in the UK.

That us very pricey. Sharm 5 star for example would be much cheaper

We are going to a 5 star hotel in paphos that we have stayed in before. All inclusive, junior suite, two adults one child in July/Aug.

We are spending £4,500 for two weeks including our flights with BA.

I have stayed at more expensive hotels in Greece, but you need to ask yourself "do I really need a helipad, marina and own infinity pool", then shop around

Thanks needadvice

I agree about the star ratings, it's all a bit vague in places like Greece. Stars are awarded by local tourist bodies, tour operators, even the hotel chains themselves.

Features that can command a 5 star ratings may be availability of motorised aqua sports, a bar open after midnight, 24 hour reception, a games room, a late night disco, a boutique or hairdressers on site- some or none of these may be uneccessary to you.

Some of the public areas in these "5 star" hotels can be quite child unfriendly, lots of glass, marble and sharp chrome at toddler height.

Decide what you need from a hotel, we have found the smaller 3/4 star hotels are often far more child friendly and flexible towards those with young families.

We paid £3000 for a week's half board in Greece in a junior suite in a 5 star hotel last week - 2 adults and one child. Granted, it was half term week when prices are higher, but we had such a fabulous holiday we felt it was worth every penny. You get what you pay for.

"You get what you pay for." I can't say that is always true.

Greece is exceptionally expensive. I have priced up holidays there for the past few years as DP wants to go, but we can't justify the cost. The flights seem to be particularly pricey compared to other places of similar distance, can't work out why that should be.

It was a sweeping statement and there are always exceptions. We once went on a really cheap and nasty budget holiday in Tunisia, and never again. I want to be as comfortable as I am at home on holiday. I don't want to rough it any more - we've done years and years of that.

We don't have small children and avoid places with children's clubs and activities. DD was never one to join in and we prefer low key resorts and places where we can make our own entertainment. OH loathes "entertainment" laid on in hotels anyway.

I agree that star ratings aren't reliable because it might simply be to do with the facilities a hotel has rather than how good it is. However we struck lucky this year. I wish we could take the hotel we stayed in with us on every holiday.

All that said, I actually prefer self catering - and eating out for most meals, after all it is a holiday.

Definitely do your research. We've just returned from Greece and had looked at tripadvisor reviews which said the resort was fab, great food. Etc. turned up. Resort is in a really shitty town, food was chips with everything, horrible beach. The only things it had that were brilliant were the Staff and the pool. The reviews were great because the people who went liked British food. Didn't care for Greek food. And didn't venture out of the resort so didn't care what the beach and town looked like.

So google images, ask questions of tripadvisor rather than taking reviews at face value, go on other forums, ask here, etc.

We paid £2.2k and really regret it so next year we are doing self catering in Norfolk for a fraction and saving for a whopper of a hol in the states next year.

No, not a ridiculous price for that many people at a 5 star all inclusive.

Yes, I agree about doing the research. When I draw up a shortlist I use google earth and street view to check out potential holiday destinations.

Our hotel got great ratings on TripAdvisor, but I took the trouble to read a lot of reviews as well. Luckily they were justified and I wrote a glowing review as well. We ate loads of Greek dishes and the chef even gave me the recipe for our favourite dessert.