All Inclusive

[smc4761]

Apologies if this is slightly off topic and I have no intention of promoting First Choice.
Earlier this week First Choice advised that from 2012 they will only sell all inclusive holidays. I have no idea how many holidaymakers visit Icmeler with them but wonder how this may affect the resort.

I believe that generally AI hotels tend to be fairly large hotels, which again personally I do not like. I much prefer the smaller self catering palces which I have found to be much friendlier. Because the aprtments are smaller you also tend to mix better with fellow holidaymakers

Personally I think this is a dreadful thing as I do not like AI.I beieve that typically many of those who are AI tend to stay in the hotel to eat and drink, which I can understand. I am lucky that when I now go on holiday it is only the better half and I, so we do not have to worry about children constantly wanting drinks or ice creams etc. Surely this may them impact on the local bars and restuaurants. Over the years I have seen a good many bars close, was this as a result of the AI that Icmeler currently has?. Will this attrract a different type of holidaymaker to Icmeler?

There is nothing better in Icmeler that eating at different restaurants each night and trying different bars which have different atmospheres, it all adds to the holiday experience.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Stewart

[blondie]

All I would add is that I'm in complete agreement with yourself, and I hope this doesn't encourage a proliferation of AI hotels and a subsequent change in the Icmeler we all know and love.

[Chocoholic]

Its obvious First Choice is making a mistake doing this and will not be doing their company any favours. It is my opinion that a good company should offer many different types of holidays and cater for all. Simple answer is ....boycott them! It will be another one of the travel companies that before long will hit the dust.

[jimbella]

Hi quite agree with you .Think its better to have the choice of self catering or hotel of your choice and not being pushed into a situation of having to go all inclusive. Not good.

[robbie2536]

it could be bad if alot of apartments /hotels go all inclusive
as it could put a lot of bars at risk,
only time will tell

[juju]

First Choice are part of Tui which includes thomson. The other main group is the Thomas Cook group.They are the biggest two groups in the UK I think.I did read about the AI and First Choice and would think they are doing it because thats what the majority of their customers want.I agree its short sighted and not in the best interests of somewhere like Icmeler although in Egypt and Tunisia and Mexico where people tend to stay in whatever complex they have booked its the best thing.Not enough nice places to visit around wherever you stay.I would hope that the mayor would see the pitfalls of AI and not allow too many hotels to go that way.I only holiday with my husband as the kids are well grown and long gone but I do understand the reason people will choose AI even to Icmeler which has enough really good bars and restaurants to keep you going for weeks,when they get unlimited soft drinks and ice creams for their kids.Hopefully a balance will prevail.

[JT]

If you scan the Daily Mail online for the last 2 days you will find this report there and 99.9999% of the people said exactly what has been said here.

if I go to Sharm El Sheik then its AI as there is nothing outside to interest me at all but Turkey is another matter

[lmw311277]

From what I can understand the mayor of icmeler is dead set against all inclusive resorts/hotels so I wouldn't imagine this causing any major problems out there.

[jemma]

That's good to know lets hope the mayor doesnt change his mind! lets hope he don't make too many more changes in icmeler either as i like it just the way it is!

Jemma

[mazz]

There should be tougher rules on all inclusive hotels especially in resorts the size of Icmeler, so I'm glad to hear the mayor is also anti-all inclusive. I feel hotels should only be allowed to offer all inclusive if they're outside of a resort, that is not within walking distance of bars/restaurants - isn't that how it used to be?!

I have a friend who is a receptionist at an all inclusive hotel in Marmaris, he says so many tourists who stay there never leave the complex (it's on the beach and central to everything!) until it's time to get on the bus back to Dalaman... so sad when there's so much to see/try/do/soak up!

Mazz

[John V]

This is one of many reasons why Icmeler is such a great holiday resort you are able to chose the type of holiday that suits your needs and thankfully ICR are on hand to help you get it.

We much prefer the Self Catering / Bed & Breakfast and the freedom of choice for the rest of the day.

[Rami Off Work]

As far as Icmeler should be concerned, there is not a serious problem here with this sort of offer since the hotels that are capable of offering AI are already doing so.

Apartments, small hotels in this area will never be able to offer AI board option and even if they try (know from past experience) soon enough they will learn quick and revert back to offering BB or whatever they are capable of.

"Leave your wallet at home" - It sounds great at first but to me it sounds like, give me your wallet altogether and I will make sure no one else will have a piece of whats in it...
BTW
This campaign just made me think of those Tourists from a "certain country" that literally come to Turkey without their wallets and where some actually go back home with money!...so maybe this sort of campaign is not something new at all? ))



Rami

[ashington44]

Cant imagine going to Icmeler and not having the excitement of deciding where we will eat in the evening. So much choice, so many lovely places and so many friends to catch up with. No standing in line for buffet food for me.

[stevew]

Can`t agree with you more, ashington44, that is part of our holiday.................
Steve

[duffaire]

The very first time we went to Icmeler we stayed at the Aqua half board, didn't eat many meals there, so it was a waist of money, now just go B&B and have the best choice for meals every night, would not go AI if you paid us, really looking forward to dining out in May, know exactly where we be eating as well lol

[smc4761]

Might see you there duffaire as we also go 21 May for 2 weeks. Any particular restaurants or bars that you enjoy?

Like you I would need to be paid to go AI

Stewart

[adewolves]

To me Icmeler is about sampling the food in the restraunts, amazing food. Now lets get to All inc. I know people who have worked in hotel trade and there is not a cat in hells chance you are going to eat or drink the price of your holiday, most food in all inc is of a low standard, unless you're in a 5 star ...The Marti I can't afford. I can only drink about 14 bottles of effes a day in self catering, if I was all inc because its already paid for it doesn't mean I can drink more...a limit to my body is a limit. The same with food, I've been to Spain twice half board( bloody never again) and people were trying to build towers of food on their plates, pure greed that eventually will make you bad.

I love Icmeler for what it is, and it is a place that offers supberb restraunts, incredible people who work like no other buggers I've ever seen. The first time I ever went to Icemler was with first choice, if they are only doing ai then that is a bad decision, I'll never use them again.

[devon dave]

Being able to walk around icmeler with a superb choice of restraunts and bars i can't understand why any one would want to go all inclusive,and having just spent a week in sharm el sheik with no where to outside the resort to go i was ready to come home after 3 days

[Jula]

Well i won't be booking with First Choice anytime soon then.
AI doesn't appeal to me at all, a big part of my holiday is going out to different restaurants each night for our meal, I enjoy that. I also enjoy wandering in and out of all the bars.
AI is great for some,but for me no thanks i'll stick to my self catering.

[worlass]

AI in Icmeler has no appeal for me either. Such a fantastic choice of restaurants out there....and just never enough days on your hols to try them all. i have only ever heard bad reports of AI in icmeler so would never take the chance.
We have done AI in other countries -Spain when my kids were little and Cuba a couple of years ago -and they were both fantastic .......but definitely NOT something i would ever consider in Turkey.