Club Med Da Balaia & Travel Club Elite Review

Date: 23rd September 2012

Subject: Club Med Da Balaia &Travel Club Elite Review

Dear Staff at Travel Club Elite,

Thank you, for once again arranging my second holiday this year with Club Med.

This review is about Club Med Da Balaia, Portugal.

Travel Agents:

I have booked Club Med Holidays each year for over the last 5 years. I usually holiday with my 2 grown up children - my son and daughter both in their 30's.

Sadly I didn’t find Travel club Elite until around 3 years ago - and found them on a recommendation from a friend. I say sadly as they really are a fantastically, helpful, travel agency who have good contacts with Club Med and wide experience of Club Med Holidays (and I am sure all other holidays as well!).

  

Sue has also been extremely helpful in researching possible dates for my trips to Portugal - finding out the best (cheapest) days to travel /arrive. For example arriving on a weekday as opposed to a weekend can save over a £150 a person. She does this willingly and patiently even though sometimes the dates / prices mean that I don’t book on that occasion. I am a widower and had previously paid Club Med a single occupancy charge - whereas travel Club Elite told me about single room availability -  again saving me £100's.

And for every Club Med Holiday they offer a 5% discount off the Club Med brochure prices - quite a significant amount for our party of 3 adults!  

Club Med Da Balaia:

Club Med Da Balaia, Portugal

Club Med Holidays are usually very well organised, nice clean premises and lots of very well prepared food. The accommodation is usually as described and comfortable.

Club Med Da Balaia is an excellent resort - very well kept - with very friendly GO staff where most of them speak English. The food is exceptional and is truly 5-star dining where guests do dress up for the evening meals. It’s impossible to be hungry - with both an option for late breakfasts and late afternoon teas/ pancakes/ice creams -as well as the 3 main meals a day.

The evening shows and other daytime entertainment and sports tuition is given in several languages and English is prominent.  Lots of possible sports including kayaking in the summer, archery, poolside games, and of course Golf.

On arrival at the resort you are met by a GO/s with a welcome cocktail - and your luggage is taken to your room for you.

Da Balaia caters for all languages offering translations as part of any announcements / entertainments etc. The Resort is close to a really nice sandy beach with a Club Med private area, seating and private life guards. However getting to the beach is down a really long flight of stairs and some people could find this difficult. The outdoor swimming pool is very clean but is usually really cold in spite of being "heated'.

To summarise if you are thinking about a club med holiday discuss it with Travel club Elite; they know what they are talking about and you will save money if you go.

  

A Club Med holiday at the right resort is brilliant.

Kind regards

B.Winterflood

Club Med Portomyrina Palace Review

Date: 8th September 2012
Subject: Club Med Portomyrina Palace Review

We (8 of us) travelled to Lemnos on 8th September for our second Neilson beach club holiday as veterans of umpteen Mark Warner Summer Sun and Sunsail Clubs. The flight times were good although early Gatwick for Brummies is a pain but with the benefit of twilight check-in and a really cheap hotel / parking deal at the Europa hotel we travelled down the night before dumped our luggage, checked in and started the holiday early.

We arrived at the resort at about 1.30 after the bonus of a short transfer (25 minutes) and were welcomed with a drink and after a quick check in went straight in to lunch. With a welcome meeting at 5 which involves sorting your weeks commitments the first day passed reasonably quickly.

The return coach left the resort at 11.00 - a nice time almost straightafter breakfast. 

Club Med Portomyrina Palace, Lemnos, Greece

The activities programme at the resort was brilliant although Equipment quality was mixed - Tennis courts were OK  mountain bikes good, dinghies good, windsurfers ageing, water skiing / wake boarding good. Spa excellent.

The beach was badly organised and not really "managed" (like the last Neilson resort - Neilson Club Teos, Turkey that we went to) and with a couple of exceptions beach staff neither helped nor interacted with clients. Staff generally (and there were some great ones) in the resort didn't seem to enjoy their jobs and it reflected in the way they did them. Chefs were fantastic in responding to non dairy vegans in our party. Fitness instructor was very enthusiastic.

The hotel itself was very clean, comfortable and modern and very spacious. It is spread over a wide area and depending on your point of view could either be a bit soulless in some areas or very peaceful. Prices were reasonable for a hotel. Food was good if a little repetitive and very plentiful. The indoor dining areas lacked atmosphere and were very noisy. The location was great being only 20 minutes walk or 5 euros taxi to Myrina which is a pretty little port with nice shops and restaurants.

The beach and pool had plenty of beds and the pool is so large that it never seemed crowded. The beach itself is of gritty sand and great for sailing - launch straight off the beach - but beware the concrete blocks securing the Neilson buoys - I sustained an incapacitating toe stub on one which was not sunk below the surface in the launching area.

Overall we had a great holiday and would happily recommend both Neilson Beachclubs and the Porto Myrina Palace to anyone.

Mr Darby

The Ottoman Residence Review

Date: 2nd September 2012

Subject: The Ottoman Residence Turkey Review

We spent two weeks relaxing at this beautiful hotel.  We were first time guests and it was our maiden trip to Turkey.  If you are looking for total relaxation in a peaceful setting then this is the place for you!  The hotel has quite an intimate atmosphere, there are only 39 rooms.  It is furnished in the Ottoman style and maintained to a very high standard.  The food was delicious and so fresh.  The staff were very friendly and hard-working, nothing was too much trouble for them, even offering us insect repellent when dining outside! The pool area was kept spotlessly clean with a never ending supply of clean towels and plenty of sunloungers.  I had the misfortune to fall ill and needed medical assistance whilst there.  The hotel staff and local rep were of great help and were most caring.  We are already looking forward to returning to this delightful hotel again next year! 

Mrs Lyons

Club Med Sandpiper Bay & Kids Club Review

Date: 14th September 2012

Subject: Club Med Sandpiper Bay Review

We are a family of 4 - children age 15 and 10 ,returning from Club Med Sandpiper Bay. We thoroughly enjoyed our weeks stay.  Kids club for the 10 yr old was perfect as she could sign in and out as she pleased.  Latitude 27 was superb (run by GO Ethan who was amazing)  We saw glimpses only of our children during the week as they ate every meal (stacked burgers, paninis, pasta and pizza only I believe!!) with new found friends.  My husband and I sat in the adults only section of the restaurant and enjoyed some fantastic food - a good selection for everyone.  The wine however is shocking!

The GO staff were by far the best we've experienced at Club Meds - probably the USA service side of life and no tips would be accepted,even by porters with luggage. Check in and departure were a breeze and we even had a stretch Hummer to take us to the airport!  The chef du village , Lionel , was superb.  The evening shows run by Fernando were again the best we have experienced !  The fitness classes run by Audrey were phenomenal - wow!  She has trained celebs and athletes and Club Med are so lucky to have her - she beats any personal trainer I have ever been to!  Washing machines and tumble dryers at $1 a cycle are fantastic!  This is a predominately English speaking CM compared to others I have been to (although Americans there thought it very French!)

Club Med Sandpiper Bay

 

On a more negative side be careful of room selection - apparently there are various Family Rooms - some have segmented areas ( one area with King bed segmented by a wall housing two singles or bunks separated by bathrooms)  Others ( which we were given) are one large room with all beds in one space.  This is the poorest set up with Club Meds we have stayed in.  I asked agent before I left but she was unaware - be aware and ask to see room before hand!  In busy times this may not be possible, but we were their when it was quiet ( Florida schools had gone back) .  The airconditioning sounds like a 747 at take off speed - you get used to it after a 7 nights!!

They also only have 4 catamarans - come on CM - buy some more!!  Also, water skiing used to take place of another Jetty which now looks like its not used - water skiing was stopped due to expense but the bay is perfect for water skiing and not so much for boats!  Paddle boards are readily available - look out for dolphins!

The Discovery centre is exhorbitant- day trips are more than quadruple the cost of a family of four hiring a car.   A local round trip to shops is $35pp Its only 6 miles !! Does anyone use them???   Hire a car independently if you decide and they will deliver and collect from CM ( Avis )  Booking Car rental before you go is much cheaper than when you get there.

All in all, Club Med delivers for a family holiday - it caters for everyone!  We booked through Travel Club Elite who were extremely efficient ,on the ball and got us a good price from CM -- Will definitely be back to use them again!  

Parkinson Family

Mark Warner San Lucianu Review

Date: 5th September 2012
Subject: Mark Warner San Lucianu Review

Just back from two weeks in Mark Warner San Lucianu resort in Corsica. The accommodation is a bit “tired” and entertainment limited compared for example to Mark Warner Sea Garden in Turkey but the Mark Warner formula works well for families. My 17 year old son had a great time so much so that in the queue to check in at the end of the holiday a fellow traveller commented “ oh, you do have a son then” because he had hardly been seen with us. A good transition for him before going on holiday completely independently. He is disappointed that he will be too old for Indies next year. For me, as a coeliac, a huge bonus was that all menus specified which dishes were gluten free and (unlike my previous experience) most dishes were, and if not could be modified.

Juliet Black