The holiday: Two weeks at the Aldemar Olympian Village in the Peloponnese, Grece
The holidaymakers: Julie Isherwood, partner Neil Killingback, and twins Robert and Jack
Julie and Neil took Robert and Jack, aged eight, to the Aldemar Olympian Village last July.
They booked their two-week Olympic Holidays package through Travelwise in Muswell Hill, London. Olympic Holidays sells the four-star-plus hotel from £3,232 for 14 nights for two adults and two children on a half-board basis, departing Gatwick on May 27.
Why did you choose the holiday and how did the agent sell it to you?
We are quite specific about our requirements – we need good kids’ facilities, reasonable flight times, transfers and accommodation. The Internet doesn’t work for us because you can’t put in all that information and expect it to come up with a holiday.
Our budget was around £3,000, which is quite a tall order in the school holidays for a quality hotel. The agent came up with about 10 suggestions which she e-mailed to us. Aldemar seemed to offer a good standard of accommodation.
Did the holiday meet your expectations?
It met some of our requirements. We were in the cheaper accommodation in the hotel, so we weren’t really well placed in the grounds. There was plenty of room in our apartment – the boys’ room doubled up as a living room and there was a mini kitchen. The food was good and plentiful.
What was the highlight?
This hotel had one of the best children’s clubs I’ve come across. The boys were supervised, given drinks and snacks, and mixed with other children. The club had its own mini pool, a garden, football nets, DVDs, crafts and other activities.
What was the hotel like?
The hotel building was a bit anonymous, but it had three big pools which never felt crowded.
Did you do any excursions? If so, what did you think of them?
We did one trip to Olympia, and took a taxi there and back. We hired bikes and rode around the countryside and went to a beach. Although there wasn’t a rep, the hotel organises excursions to Olympia, but that meant us getting a taxi all the way.
Any low points?
The hotel was quite isolated. There weren’t many beaches or bars nearby, so you really had to make an effort to go somewhere else. I also wouldn’t rate the evening entertainment in the hotel – the shows weren’t great.
What advice would you give agents selling this hotel to families?
Stress the children’s facilities – they are fabulous, especially for younger children. There’s a good activities programme for adults, including yoga and quizzes. There weren’t many English people there, though.
If a family wants to be cosseted, have a rep in resort and go on excursions with other families, this isn’t the place for them.
Would you go back?
No, but only because the boys are growing up and need different things from their holiday next year.
How did the holiday score?
Agent service: 5/5
Check-in: 3/5
Hotel: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Total: 25/30
