Holidays For Young Families – Go The All Inclusive Way

All inclusive holidays were never really our thing. Way back as a newly married couple, my husband and I took pride in our dogged persistence to look for great deals for flights and hotels. However, two kids and a busier lifestyle later, we started looking at one stop options which saved us the hassle of scouting through websites. We started taking the all inclusive holiday option seriously after friends with young families swore that it was a great way to have a good, stress free time, which is after all, what holidays are about.

All Inclusive – Meaning?

All inclusive holidays generally means a package of flights, accommodation and food that is paid up front. This means that once you book the holiday, you need to carry just enough money for shopping trips or sight-seeing if you are the adventurous touristy kind.

As a young family, we found all inclusive holidays a great idea.  Looking for a way to swap the grey English skies for something more cheerful, we opted for the sun, sand and seafront of Turkey and started looking at family friendly options.

All inclusive holidays topped the list and after much debate we booked a holiday package at a Turkey resort. Despite great reviews and personal recommendations, the cynic in us questioned the decision. For once, we were delighted to be proved wrong.

Eat Your Heart Out

Not only did the resort offer a variety of restaurants to choose from (it can eat into a budget for a family of four), but the restaurants were timed in such a way that culinary options were always available at any given time of the day. This was a boon considering the children's appetites kept odd holiday hours too. It was convenient to nip down to the nearest restaurant and grab a bite instead of getting caught with opening hours. Food outlets were never more than a few steps away. Near the pool, by the beach, there was always something to munch on. My personal favourite was the beach bar. There is nothing like a cool drink or an ice cream to keep you hydrated on hot days.

Children-centred activities

Besides, the all inclusive holiday also included activities and entertainment for children.  There is only so much time that you can lounge around the pool and younger children demand activities to stimulate and channelise their energy. We found that the children's club offered myriad activities from painting, craft art, dramatics and accommodated the interests of all ages. What was reassuring was that all the activities were held at the clubhouse on site well within the vicinity.

In addition, there was also a set of kiddie rides scheduled in the evenings, just before dinner, to work up small appetites.

After dinner entertainment

The highlight of their all inclusive offering was the after dinner entertainment. Every day, the resort put on a new show, circus acts, skits, dance acts that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It felt good to walk over to their amphitheatre after a hearty evening meal, basking in the light evening breeze as we sat down the stone steps, winding down after a great day.

Touristy sights and sounds

The days are structured in such a way that you don't need to get out of the resort at all, there is always something do. However, we did venture outside. The resort had arranged transport to take us to the nearest town for a see around and it was quite convenient for us to make frequent trips over the week that we were there. It also allowed us to book sightseeing tours that picked us up at a designated time from the hotel, which was an added plus.

In a nutshell

Overall, we had a great time and have been recommending all inclusive holidays to Turkey ever since. Not only is the place tourist friendly but we really enjoyed the first-hand experience of an all inclusive holiday. Travelling with kids can be quite unpredictable at times and such holiday options are a great way of enjoying a break and spending quality time as a family. When it comes to looking for all inclusive options, I would highly recommend using an online centre for discount holidays and travel comparisons websites, as they will compare the best deals for you and put them in one handy place.

(Photo courtesy of Sun Set Pack)

Author Bio: Asha Krishna is an independent author and writes about her experiences in travel, in an attempt to help others book a holiday to meet all their requirements

Cheap Holidays To Greece: Is Dining Out Expensive?

Summer is just around the corner, which means many of us will be scouting travel agents, online centres for discount holidays and travel comparison websites, in order to find ourselves a holiday discount. Cheap holidays to Greece are a popular choice among many tourists for summer holidays between the months of June and September, due to the guaranteed warm weather and many things to do and see.

Many of us go on holiday to experience a culture that is totally different from our own. One way to do this is through trying traditional local cuisine by going to the many restaurants and cafés dotted around. So, with this in mind, when booking cheap holidays to Greece, will you go over budget with eating out? 

Cheaper than the UK

You will be glad to know that eating out in Greece is generally cheaper than the UK. Meaning that you can keep within your budget during the holiday you purchased through a discount centre.

However, prices in restaurants do vary and you will more likely pay more if you eat somewhere that overlooks a harbour, as you will be ‘paying’ for the privilege of looking at the views. Alternatively, if you stick to places in side streets, they will tend to be cheaper. This is the same with regards to bars and pubs.

Pay more for the Reputation

Like anywhere else in the world, there are restaurants that are expensive due to its good reputation, but then again there are places that are cheaper, but the food will still be of a good standard. Most eating places will show a menu outside, so that you can check prices before walking in and sitting down. This prevents any awkwardness that comes with committing to a restaurant and only realising after ordering a drink that it is out of your price range. Most important tip; never go into a place that has no prices on show, as this is an indication that you will most likely end up getting ripped off and end up out of pocket.

To draw tourists in, many places will offer special offers and discounts, where you will pay for a fixed price for up to 3 courses. Just ensure first that everyone is not only hungry enough for 3 courses but that everyone is happy with the dishes on offer. As a general rule of thumb, everyone during cheap holidays to Greece can eat well for no more than €15pp.

Traditional Dishes

So you have managed to grab a holiday discount and now have the tips of how to dine out and still stay within your budget. Below are 5 of the most common Greek traditional meals and deserts, which will definitely tantalise those taste buds of yours:

Moussaka- This is the most widely renowned dish in Greece. It is an oven-baked casserole dish, using layers of eggplant and spiced mincemeat, topped with creamy béchamel.

Trilobites – This is a great accompaniment to any Greek meal. They are triangles made from phyllo pastry and then filled with a variety of Greek cheeses.

Tzatiki- This is not a dish, but a sauce, great for dipping bread and vegetable sticks into. It is also sometimes used as a condiment for souvlaki.  Flavoured with garlic, this tangy cucumber flavoured dip, is flavoursome and refreshing.

Baklava- This is a classic Greek pastry and a perennial favourite. Made from flaky phyllo dough, it is layered with a cinnamon-spiced nut filling and then generously covered with sweet syrup.

Horta Vrasta- Did you know that Greeks love their leafy greens. This is because not only are they healthy but tasty too! Full with nutrients 

and flavour, Horta Vrasta can add to any main meal. Normally drizzled with oil and lemon juice, you will be in food heaven with the first bite.

All Inclusive

If trying different restaurants and cafes isn’t important to you, going for all inclusive cheap holidays to Greece is definitely the option for you. Don’t worry, you will still be able to enjoy and try local cuisine, but in the comfort of your resort. This is a great option if you can’t go afford to go over budget on your holiday discount, as you pay up front for everything and you can eat and drink to your hearts content.

What are you waiting for, hit an online centre for discount holidays and start comparing cheap holidays to Greece, in order to find yourself the best possible deal.

(Photo courtesy of Palm Royal Resort)

Nightlife In Greece

Whether you are planning a romantic break for two or time away with a group of friends, we would highly recommend cheap holidays to Greece, as these islands are famous across the globe for their varied nightlife. Not only do they have some of the hottest clubs in the world, where you can stay up dancing till the early hours, but they also have stunning, intimate bars ideal for couples to spend a night enjoying each other’s company. 

Local culture

Greece nightlife is a key aspect of their local culture. Most nights start with a late dinner at taverns and restaurants dotted around the Greek islands. How the night ends depends on the night you want. You could either continue to small, intimate bars, to enjoy sophisticated cocktails or hit a club, heaving with people and blaring music till sunrise.

Bars 

So what can I expect from bars whilst on cheap holidays to Greece? Firstly, most bars will stay open until the early hours and are a great way to end a romantic evening, before heading off to bed. Music is very important in Greece and traditional Greek music substantially varies, meaning that there is something to suit every taste. Genres include everything from Greek and international pop to Latin and jazz to alternative rock. Bars such as these are found dotted throughout the Greek islands and this includes remote, secluded places too. In most cases, Greek cafés will open to serve food in the day, but when night time hits totally transform into something different, where you can enjoy various types of live music and drinks. Most bars will stay open until the music stops or when the last person leaves, which is typically around 2 or 3 am. 

Clubs 

When it comes to clubs, seeing as nightlife plays an important role in Greek culture, they can be found in most destinations in Greece. Most clubs won’t open till midnight but will stay open till 7am, meaning you won’t be going to bed until sunrise. If you are planning a big night, make sure that you have no sight-seeing plans the next day, as you will probably just want to laze on a beach or around the pool to catch up on sleep. Clubs located in the following islands; Myconos, Paros, Ios, Crete, Rhodes and Kos often have famous DJs, so if you want a guaranteed good night out, make sure that you check these islands out.

Where to book

When it comes to actually finding cheap holidays to Greece, it can be hard to know which package to go for, as many travel agents will say they have the best deal. We recommend using an online centre for discount holidays, as they do the hard work for you, comparing the different packages and putting them all in one handy place. Another great benefit of using travel comparison websites is that you can also tailor make your holiday before ‘clicking search’, you can control everything from board basis and airport to star rating and location. So what are you waiting for? Bag a great deal today!

(Photo courtesy of _dChris)

Cheap Holidays to Turkey: Planning A Trip Away With Friends

Planning a trip away with a group of friends? Not only should you be on the lookout for a great holiday discount, but you should also take into consideration what the nightlife will be like at the chosen destination.

With this in mind, carry on reading our blog, as we explore cheap holidays to Turkey and what you can expect from the nightlife on the island.

Location

For those of you whose geography is a little rusty, Turkey is in the Mediterranean and is known for having a lively culture of eating, drinking and great entertainment, with a wide variety of clubs, bars and restaurants. By visiting an online centre for discount holidays, you will be able to bag you and your friends a great deal, meaning that you will have more money to spend whilst out there.

Nightlife

Similar to taverns, nightlife in turkey is traditionally centred around meyhanes, where you can enjoy a range of mezes (small dishes), which is washed down with the national drink of Turkey, raki. Raki is renowned for its strong aniseed flavour and whilst some people love it, it proves too strong a flavour for others. This is a popular way to dine for all ages, where this dining experience is often supplemented with lively music.

Music

If you love submerging yourself in a countries culture, the best way to do this whilst enjoying cheap holidays in Turkey, is by the music. Both new and renowned musicians, DJs and performers are attracted to the big cities in Turkey, often during summer music festivals, where genres range from classical to rock.

Anatolian folk music, Turkish classical music and Balkan-influenced fasil music, whilst all very different, are all traditional music genres of Turkey and are still popular today. Many venues will host live music nights, where you can enjoy these types of music, in a lively and fun atmosphere.

Turkey can suit every taste, as when it comes to bars, there is everything from low-key to the funkier and modern places. If you are on cheap holidays to Turkey in the summer, make sure you hit the coastline, as many drinking venues are water-side and open-air, meaning that you can party with others under the stars. Can you think of anything better, we know we can’t!

Istanbul

For you serious party goes make sure you visit Istanbul, as it is known as one of the coolest city break locations in the world. Today there are boutique resturants and cafes, quirky new hangouts and rooftop bars, which are in close proximity to the central Istikal Street in Taksim. 

Bosphorus is also a popular area for party goes, as it is home to a selection of trendy bars for sipping cocktails and big night clubs, where you can dance to the early hours of the morning.

So what are you waiting for? Hop onto an online centre for discount holidays and bag yourself cheap holidays to Turkey now with your friends.

(Photo courtesy of Chris)