(member)

17/06/2009 23:36

Have you visited Turkey?

We are planning to visit Turkey for the first time for a week in September. We are looking for a not too expensive package deal, the brochures make everywhere sound wonderful, the Lonely Planet is rather negative about most places we have looked up! We want to have a relaxing lazy time, good beach, good local food, quaint/as unspoilt as possible not interested in bars/clubs etc. Any suggestions?
Many thanks!

(member)

18/06/2009 09:47

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Hi Suzie

I recently went to Calis Beach which is next to Fethiye. Calis has a small pebble beach so if you're looking for sand how about Oli Deniz? I went there for the day and although the beach is sandy it is rocky when you first go in the sea so I needed my flip flops. I loved Calis, it's just a tiny promenade with about 3 or 4 hotels and row of restaurants (not an English menu in sight) and a few little shops. Not at all commercialised as I also hate that.

I went with Solos as I'm single but when I holiday with my daughter Cosmos do some good online deals or try otbeach.com as they have some great bargains.

Sue Ellen x

(member)

18/06/2009 10:11

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Go there you will see very different and exotic world!
First will be fun tryst me here in Balkans we have a very hot blood!
So do ti , and you will not be sorry for that ! show us pictures after that!

(member)

18/06/2009 10:33

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

went to wow resort near bodrum at easter all inc. they could not do enough for you. not too expensive due to the fact you do not have to spend a penny if you don`t want. really peaceful
and you can take a dolmus into bodrum for about a pound. really clean and a good choice of food all day and night.

(member)

18/06/2009 16:06

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Hi Suzie
Go to 'Holidays Uncovered' website, also 'Trip Advisor' before you actually book anywhere. I have been to Turkey many times and loved it. I particularly like Olu Deniz but it's all a matter of personal taste.

(member)

18/06/2009 20:27

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

we went to icmeler which is ideal if you want a holiday thats not too hectic. there are numerous bars and restaurants but still manages to be very relaxing. you can take a boat trip to marmaris if you feel its too quiet.Scenery is wonderful. we stayed at the hotel aqua.

(member)

19/06/2009 07:43

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Hi Suzie

I lived in Marmaris for several years so I would suggest stay away from the main big resorts like Marmaris, Bodrum and Kusadasi and try somewhere like Kalkan,Kas, Gocek, or the Datca peninsular where you will see of the real Turkey. Dalyan is also good, its on a river which leads to the sea and is not far from the airport.You are near rock tombs, a fantastic beach and plenty of restaurants.

Stick with a big tour operator like TC though, some of the others will not survive this year.

Hope this helps.Have a lovely time.

Suzie88

(member)

19/06/2009 16:16

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

When you have found a hotel go on Trip Adviser. Tourists write their own reviews about the places and hotels.

I have been to Altinkum, Icmelar, Fethiye, Olu Deniz and Bodrum.

I like Altinkum and Fethiye.

Found a really nice hotel in Fethiye called the Tuanu Majesty. It was all inclusive. Didn't need to spend a penny if you didn't want to.

The markets in Turkey are great. Really nice leather handbags. Copies of course, but well worth it.

Have fun

(member)

20/06/2009 20:58

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

My favourite place in Turkey is Dalyan - have been many times and already twice this year. It's a village on a beautiful river, with a fantastic 6km beach nearby.
It's the ideal place for a laid back holiday. The people are very friendly and will do anything to help you.
Although packages work out cheaper, it's very easy to book it yourself and hotels and apartments are fairly cheap.
Another plus is that it's only 25 minutes from Dalaman airport.
For packages try TC or Holidays4U.
For really helpful info. go to Tripadvisor or Dalyanlive.
Wherever you go, have a great time.

(member)

25/06/2009 11:11

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Suziekettles,
I went to Kalkan last year, it has a lovely harbour, the tavernas are excellent ok the beach is not so great but you can go to others nearby by taxi or car, Kalkan is very friendly shop keepers are not pushy in the way we found them to be in Marmaris and there are some nice sighteeing trips like Saklikent gorge/ Myra/Kas etc. Olu Deniz is not somewhere I'd go again, we went for a day, yes the beach is very good, but it is very (er.. don't want to offend anyone) very english-isied, bars seving fry ups etc. We went late September and got 2 weeks for Ł320 each with Thomson. We are thinking of going again this Sept so may see you there.
Lynne

(member)

26/06/2009 10:54

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Hi
Just got back from Turkey - good points.....weather up in the 40s.

Downside - all-inclusive package with Thomas Cook which was fine, but location rubbish - Balek in Antalya. Purpose built tourist area - nothing turkish about the place, nowhere to walk at night, taxis rip off tourists, buses not efficient; couple of people we spoke to did venture out but the nearby "towns" were deserted.

We only went to this place as friends had already booked ages ago and asked us at last mo if we wanted to join them, so we did so without knowing much about the place. Not our normal type of holiday, so you live and learn!

Another word of advise - we were told we could only use Turkish Lira there - everything is priced up in Euros and by using their Lira you paid alot more. They prefer Ł sterling and Euros. Airport prices were ridiculous too.

Hope you find a nice place to visit and enjoy.

amelica2

(member)

08/07/2009 14:23

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

Hi know this thread started off as somewhere in Turkey not to expensive... but as I love Turkey I just had to tell you about the most fabulous villa we discovered this year. It is called villa Mahal in Kalkan.

I first saw a picture of this villa in the top 10 pools of the world and searched the internet to find it... I found it on Exclusive Escapes website and the villa is just as stunning as the view from the pool.

Hope you agree.

(member)

31/08/2009 12:50

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

I am sure this is a bit late now (been away from the forum for a time). Yes, most things are priced in euros and the last thing they want is their own currency BUT seeing as our currency here is tl (turkish lira), we only took tl. They will take it but make sure you know the days fluctuating exchange rate AND always barter! We have never paid the asking price.

We visit Turkey often as it is only a half hour hop over by plane and they are lovely people, so hope you enjoy your stay. If you can learn a few Turkish words all the better, they love it if you try.

(member)

31/08/2009 13:43

Re: Have you visited Turkey?

I went for the 1st time in Mayhtis year, we stayed in a small hotel at the Icmeler end of Marmaris..... cannot fault it or the staff...

Amelica you are clearly internet savvy, so why did you not check it out prior to saying yes!!! I have never booked ayhtign without first checking it out online.....

As for the airport we bought quite a lot of goods there and did not find it as you describe...

Again the same goes for the Lira, I think it must have been only the place you were at, we found all the local shops very good and when we converted the lira in our heads ot what they were asking in sterling, it was in point of fact marginally cheaper....

I would not slate a place or country just because it was not "my usual type of holiday "

Thats why there are sites like trip advisor for a kick off........

I cannot understand why you never thoguth to do some reasearch prior to saying you would go!

I am going back in May next year, alrteady booked......

I would also look at sunmaster, they are actually cheaper than on the beach...

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