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Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Recommend me a TUI package as a holiday amendment?
zzzz31 · 07/05/2022 15:11
Due to a complicated cancellation, I am trying to change my current TUI booking to anything in 2023. Anything and anywhere. I have about £2000 in an holiday I don't want to take any more (originally to Turkey) and looking for a week somewhere next summer or May half term to spend my £2K credit on. I've realised that I am not at all keen on the package-holiday vibe at all so looking for as little vibe as that as possible. Is that possible with TUI?
Went with TUI last summer to the Appollonian in Kefalonia and really liked that. Sadly, unlikely to go again as although we loved the hotel, had a great stay and hired a car, I found the driving around the island v scary (wimp).
Also went independently once to the Iberostar in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote (first time holidaying in a hotel ever, lol!) and really liked that too. Was pleasantly surprised.
Can anyone help me spend my £2K on something unpackagy before I retreat back to DIY trips for ever more? Don't want to top up that much as I am treating it as a rather expensive mistake I just want replaced like for like.
Thank you!
zzzz31 · 07/05/2022 15:46
Family. Me, DP and DD8. Thanks!
I just like going on holiday and hiring a car, doing our own thing, walking, swimming. Have done camping and a bit of Eurocamp in the past. Also love sunny hols too but just not into great big complexes. Thank you! Have DIY planned for Austria this summer, otherwise I might have considered that for TUI.
beachcitygirl · 07/05/2022 15:50
I loved loved loved grand Hotel President in Sorrento. Bus into main town (2mins) ferries around the bay of Naples. Fab food, gorgeous pools. Beautiful views. TUI package
zzzz31 · 07/05/2022 15:57
Thank you! Sorrento is a great idea! Off to check it out.
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 07/05/2022 16:00
Take a look at TUI’s Quinta Splendida option on Madeira (I usually do a DIY version).
A hotel set in botanic gardens, low rise, with cooking facilities (if you get a studio).
Good public transport (buses) to the capital and plenty of levada (old waterways) walking
You will not feel you’re on a package holiday
BobblyBlueJumper · 07/05/2022 16:07
They do cruises and tours now as well, would that be more your thing?
I think an 'un-packagey' destination is what you need though. Download the app and see what's on there. I don't bother with the website now.
zzzz31 · 07/05/2022 16:10
Cruise sounds a possibility @BobblyBlueJumper But even more the unpackagey destination. I agree. Any suggestions? Also, is the app different to the website in terms of content? Thank you, by the way!
Thank you for the Madeira recommendation too, @MyrtlethePurpleTurtle
BobblyBlueJumper · 07/05/2022 21:00
@zzzz31 I liked Madeira too when I went. Haven't been to the hotel that PP suggested but it's a low key tourist destination overall I think. I love hiking so it was great - went on some proper adventures.
No the app isn't any different I just find it more convenient than having to get the laptop out 😂
uggmum · 07/05/2022 21:06
I would recommend the Riu palace, Santa Maria. In Cape Verde.
It's a brand new hotel. On the beach. Great food. Plenty of loungers. Excellent pools and a mini water park.
titchy · 07/05/2022 21:11
Italian or Austrian lakes? Lido di Jesolo by Venice? Costa Rica? Sorrento for Pompeii?
ISeeTheLight · 07/05/2022 21:12
Have a look at Rhodes. We stayed at Cosmos Maris a few years ago (2019) and it was brilliant. Small hotel, not fancy, with a pool and lovely staff. We hired a car and discovered Rhodes (Lindos and Rhodes Town were particular highlights), but public transport is decent, pretty cheap and air conditioned buses! Self catering, there's a shop next to the hotel which we found better value than the nearest carrefour and other supermarkets. Should be able to get it in budget possible even for 2 weeks if you're lucky.
CraazyCatLady · 07/05/2022 21:48
I used to go to Kefalonia a lot. It's beautiful. The only place I found a bit similar in European holidays is Carvoeiro, Portugal. It's really nice there. Small friendly and very pretty. Perfect for family holidays and feels really safe. Plus there's other things nearby that you can visit in a hire car. The roads are all brilliant and car hire is very cheap compared to Greece.
watertheroses · 07/05/2022 22:38
TUI fly direct to the Cape Verde Islands. Just over 6 hours from London. Not a well known destination. Average temperatures 24-30C and rainy season July to September which is also the best time to see the turtles laying their eggs on the beach.
bellamountain · 07/05/2022 22:53
TUI do villa holidays if that helps? Menorca is a great island, 2 hour flight and plenty of holidays available on TUI. I'd recommend staying anyway near Mahon / Es Castell, definitely not package vibes. Crete, Reythmnon and Chania are both very cosmopolitan, traditional and easy enough to go with TUI.
PhilFlute · 07/05/2022 23:07
zzzz31 · 07/05/2022 15:11
Due to a complicated cancellation, I am trying to change my current TUI booking to anything in 2023. Anything and anywhere. I have about £2000 in an holiday I don't want to take any more (originally to Turkey) and looking for a week somewhere next summer or May half term to spend my £2K credit on. I've realised that I am not at all keen on the package-holiday vibe at all so looking for as little vibe as that as possible. Is that possible with TUI?
Went with TUI last summer to the Appollonian in Kefalonia and really liked that. Sadly, unlikely to go again as although we loved the hotel, had a great stay and hired a car, I found the driving around the island v scary (wimp).
Also went independently once to the Iberostar in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote (first time holidaying in a hotel ever, lol!) and really liked that too. Was pleasantly surprised.
Can anyone help me spend my £2K on something unpackagy before I retreat back to DIY trips for ever more? Don't want to top up that much as I am treating it as a rather expensive mistake I just want replaced like for like.
Thank you!
Wow - my suggestion was Apollonian Asterias resort in Kefalonia!!!
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 08/05/2022 07:42
titchy · 07/05/2022 21:11
Iceland?
Would OP get change from £2k for even one person for Iceland?!
zzzz31 · 08/05/2022 09:00
Thank you for these great suggestions, everyone! They have definitely given me a few great ideas to think about. Crete has definitely been on my list, so I'll see how I might work that through Tui. Currently can't seem to see any villa options when I look @bellamountain but I might need to hunt around a bit more. Menorca has been on my radar for a while, as I really love Mallorca, so I will definitely look into it.
@PhilFlute so funny about your Appollonian recommendation! That is exactly right and I loved the non-packaging vibe about that hotel, and the amazing rural location. Such a nice place. I do think places like that are a bit far and few on Tui... maybe we'll go back...
Italy / Alps / Austria are definitely my number number one type holidays. We went to the Dolomites in 2019. The problem I am finding with booking a TUI package there is I am really keen on having a car for those places so would rather book independently... However, will have to make a compromise somewhere....!!
Thanks again for all these great ideas.
Verite1 · 08/05/2022 09:18
I would look at Italian lakes. We are going to lake Garda this summer. Great for kids of all ages. We are travelling independently but I know Tui go there. I can’t see that it would be at all like a package holiday.
PhilFlute · 08/05/2022 09:19
@PhilFlute so funny about your Appollonian recommendation! That is exactly right and I loved the non-packaging vibe about that hotel, and the amazing rural location. Such a nice place. I do think places like that are a bit far and few on Tui... maybe we'll go back..
I keep checking for availability at apollonion asterias for this summer for our family, but it's fully booked for when we want to go 😞
I am following this thread with interest for any further recommendations ☺️
Verite1 · 08/05/2022 09:23
Just seen your comment about car hire. Cant you skip the transfer and hire a car instead? Don’t know if that’s possible or not, but can’t see why not?? However I warn you - car hire is astronomical in Italy this year. We have hired one as traveling round but was much more than flights!
LIZS · 08/05/2022 09:24
You really don't need a car to do a lakes and mountains holiday. The lift, rail and bus systems are easy to navigate and make it accessible by public transport. Italy might be easier covid wise than Austria.
titchy · 08/05/2022 11:25
Would OP get change from £2k for even one person for Iceland?!
Yep! Can go in August for 5 days, 2 adults one child for £1900. Includes trips.
zzzz31 · 08/05/2022 13:30
Thank you all you lovely ladies for your great help!
Sorry if this now sounds like a drip feed (tried to spare the boring detail!) but my current package booking is in fact to Austria THIS summer, which I switched to in a panic when I was cancelling the Turkey trip for May. We were always planning to go to Austria this summer, so that seemed the easy solution. I booked the Sport Strass Hotel in Mayrhofen. Once I'd read more reviews and looked at google earth etc etc, I decided I really didn't like the look of it, and would move the package again and book an independent trip this summer, flying to Munich, hiring a car (MUCH cheaper in Munich) and going to three different places. So hence I was looking for somewhere else for the future (and still am - so thanks for tips). @LIZS Thanks, that's reassuring re no car and I'm sure you're right. Not having a car there (plus the mad three hour transfer from Salzburg and not very nice hotel😂😂😂) may just be the compromise for this year.... car hire in Salzburg incredibly expensive, as you've suggested,@Verite1 but was still hoping to find a more perfect solution... 😆
I'm driving myself mad, let alone my DH, so time to decide quickly😂🙄
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