Holiday report 16th Sept - 2 weeks
09 Oct 2007 13:05
The holiday started well, flight with Onur on time, lots of leg room, food (breakfast) not too bad, excellent cheerful staff, plenty of free soft drinks, transfer coach filled up quickly and away we went. Rep told us that those going to Icmeler were transferring to a mini bus to save the trek through Marmaris – excellent idea. Got to the Diva - “double booked”. The receptionist playing pop as it had happened to her several times this year, especially as we were “returning friends”.
Told we had been booked into the Blue Rainbow, as I had never heard of it I put my shirty head on and said no way to the rep as she was disappearing out of the hotel. I asked her were it was and she replied “it will only take you 5 or 10 minutes to walk there”, with two suitcases and hand luggage – I don’t think so!!
After a 45min wait for the hotel car we were in the Blue Rainbow and were being told it was an upgrade. When I questioned where the upgrade was I was told “you can have half board here”. Had I wanted half board I would have booked it! A point that seemed to go completely over the head of the young Turkish girl who does the actual bookings and apart from the fact that every question I asked her was answered directly to the rep she was so b****y rude I struggled to keep my calm.
I eventually got half board (that I didn’t want), free safety deposit box (that I didn’t need) and free air conditioning (that I don’t like) for my trouble.
Met up with a party of 6 including 2 kids who were also supposed to be in the Diva who tell me that they had had to spend the night in what they described as a brothel. They had been going to the Diva for 9 years and the kids had grown up with the staff and felt safe there – they were not happy.
Eventually we were given a room on the front of the hotel opposite what must be the noisiest bar in Turkey – music goes off at 12 midnight and back on at 12.30am till around 4.30 am (except for small bits of time when I supposed the police were patrolling).
Morning dawns, had breakfast (OK) went out to the pool – now I see where the upgrade was, the pool is excellent.
Had a brilliant time with everyone around the pool as Scorpioto has already described – great laugh, great company – although some people must have thought we were mad.
Ate out every evening (why do they bother with half board??) and didn’t have a bad meal once. Because we were out of our usual location we tried several bars that we hadn’t come across before and particularly liked Timeless, on one day Oscar there had three different football matches on at the same time much to other half’s delight.
Joined the ICR boat trip and truly laughed the whole time (managed to avoid getting on the photos that have been posted
), especially liked Phil’s dancing, Donna’s impression of Tina Turner – dressed as a pirate, and the way all the Turunc shop keepers ran out of their shops when we paraded through the village to the local, especially when someone started break-dancing in the middle of the road – sorry didn’t catch his name. Excellent value for money and the food was great.
Basically a great holiday, meeting up with people we have seen both June and September for the past 7 years – home from home it really is, but could have done without the raised blood pressure early on.
Told we had been booked into the Blue Rainbow, as I had never heard of it I put my shirty head on and said no way to the rep as she was disappearing out of the hotel. I asked her were it was and she replied “it will only take you 5 or 10 minutes to walk there”, with two suitcases and hand luggage – I don’t think so!!
After a 45min wait for the hotel car we were in the Blue Rainbow and were being told it was an upgrade. When I questioned where the upgrade was I was told “you can have half board here”. Had I wanted half board I would have booked it! A point that seemed to go completely over the head of the young Turkish girl who does the actual bookings and apart from the fact that every question I asked her was answered directly to the rep she was so b****y rude I struggled to keep my calm.
I eventually got half board (that I didn’t want), free safety deposit box (that I didn’t need) and free air conditioning (that I don’t like) for my trouble.
Met up with a party of 6 including 2 kids who were also supposed to be in the Diva who tell me that they had had to spend the night in what they described as a brothel. They had been going to the Diva for 9 years and the kids had grown up with the staff and felt safe there – they were not happy.
Eventually we were given a room on the front of the hotel opposite what must be the noisiest bar in Turkey – music goes off at 12 midnight and back on at 12.30am till around 4.30 am (except for small bits of time when I supposed the police were patrolling).
Morning dawns, had breakfast (OK) went out to the pool – now I see where the upgrade was, the pool is excellent.
Had a brilliant time with everyone around the pool as Scorpioto has already described – great laugh, great company – although some people must have thought we were mad.
Ate out every evening (why do they bother with half board??) and didn’t have a bad meal once. Because we were out of our usual location we tried several bars that we hadn’t come across before and particularly liked Timeless, on one day Oscar there had three different football matches on at the same time much to other half’s delight.
Joined the ICR boat trip and truly laughed the whole time (managed to avoid getting on the photos that have been posted
), especially liked Phil’s dancing, Donna’s impression of Tina Turner – dressed as a pirate, and the way all the Turunc shop keepers ran out of their shops when we paraded through the village to the local, especially when someone started break-dancing in the middle of the road – sorry didn’t catch his name. Excellent value for money and the food was great.
Basically a great holiday, meeting up with people we have seen both June and September for the past 7 years – home from home it really is, but could have done without the raised blood pressure early on.
09 Oct 2007 14:54
I haven't finished with the photo's yet
09 Oct 2007 18:28
Hi Babs I don't know what the hell was going on with all the overbooking, as I said in my report we were shipped into a box room in the Mersoy for a night well 4 hours and we had to walk and drag our cases with us at 06:00 in the morning (not a happy bunny), 
and other people were the same, otherwise can't fault the Blue Rainbow, we did have some fun around the pool,only wish I could have been well enough to go on the boat trip. Hope to see you and Norman again next year.
Tony
and other people were the same, otherwise can't fault the Blue Rainbow, we did have some fun around the pool,only wish I could have been well enough to go on the boat trip. Hope to see you and Norman again next year.
Tony