About me:I work in IT and am married with 2 young daughters (aged 9 years and 4 years) - so most of spare tim...
Member since:08.02.2001
Reviews:26
Members who trust:2
Review rated by 5 Ciao members on average: very helpful
I usually take 1 foreign holiday per year, lasting about 2 weeks and always as a package holiday. I have tried the usual (Thomson, Airtours, Skytours, First Choice) and last year (May 2000) I tried something different.
My wife and I, along with my 2 young daughters (aged 6 years and 6 months respectively at the time) opted to travel to Santa Ponsa in Mallorca (see seperate opinion). After perusing the multitude of holiday brochures, we settled on Virgin Sun as they appeared to offer us what we wanted (2 weeks in Mallorca, H/B and less than 1 hour from the airport), at the price we wanted (about £1000 budget), with the facilties we wanted (kids club, near the beach and resort, family oriented hotel).
The holiday started off with an argument - at check in at Manchester Airport, we were told that the changing bag for my baby daughter was not hand luggage and would have to go into the hold (despite this being the only piece of hand luggage we had.) This was resolved when I explained that all her changing and feeding facilties were in there.
The flight was excellent (apart from the usual cramped legroom so beloved of us package holidaymakers). My first impression was that the plane was clean inside - no discarded bits of food wrappings etc. We had prebooked seats and were 3 rows from the front of the aircraft. The flight attendants were very helpful and even honoured my request for my 6 year old and myself to visit the flight deck (it was for my benefit really!). The food was better than average, and we even had a selection!.
The arrival at Palma airport was unevenful and we were directed to our air conditioned coach, which was very welcome as we arrived mid afternoon.
On arrival at our hotel we were welcomed by our rep and efficiently checked in. The rep (Angie) was very helpful and had a very refreshing 'open door' approach - she had a very honest and humorous Northern personality (although coming from Rochdale like myself, I may be a bit biased!) but others seemed to agree.
The kids club reps were brilliant - my 6 year old daughter loved it! The year before we went with First Choice and she wouldn't go near the Kids Club. The range of activities were first class and my daughter was allowed 6 mornings per week and 3 evening sessions. The kids were taken to the beach, to family friednly bars for burger treats etc. The reps even went as far as taking my baby daughter with them for walks in her pram!.
What about the brochure description? The brochure stated that the Hotel Pionero/Santa Ponsa Park were we staying was a 'family friendly hotel, with excellent facilities, being less than 5 minutes from the beach and the centre of the resort'. This was no lie! The hotel(s) were part of a complex of three, all sharing their facilties - the only stipulation was that you ate your meals in the hotel you were staying in. The hotel was about 3 minutes walk from the beach, along a reasonably busy (flat) street and about 4 minutes from the centre of the resort.
The return flight was just as good as the outbound.
All in all - an excellent holiday with an excellent tour operator. So much so, that as soon as we got back we were planning the 2001 jolly with Virgin Sun!
I was also very impressed with virgin sun - I particularly liked the flight. Apart from the fun of flying in a big banana - I enjoyed the ice lollies and comics they gave us - and we don't have kids.
12.02.2001 11:34
I was also very impressed with virgin sun - I particularly liked the flight. Apart from the fun of flying in a big banana - I enjoyed the ice lollies and comics they gave us - and we don't have kids.
12.02.2001 11:15
I always seem to hear good things about Virgin Holidays. Enjoyed reading your op - a good blend of facts and experiences.
12.02.2001 11:14
I must admit that my own experience with Virgin has always been a good one. Great opinion.