Your thoughts please

[sophia]

For the first time ever we went all inclusive this September, the only reason being we thought the hotel looked nice (I personally hate all inclusive and woud never normally choose it - it was never our plan to eat there every day). Anyway, when we got to the hotel we hardly got a hello, all the staff were very unfriendly & although we had booked a triple room, we were given a tiny room with 3 single beds in and you'd have to walk in single file to get from one side of the room to the other. We complained and eventually were given a family room which was much bigger, although we had to pay another £100 for it. All the staff were unfriendly, hardly ever raised a smile! The hotel was also full of unfriendly & rude russians.

A couple told us they had been ill on the food all week but hadn't had enough spending money to go and eat out so had to just deal with it. Needless to say we ate breakfast, lunch & dinner at the local restaurants. The only thing we ever had from the hotel was the odd cup of coffee/glass of wine before heading out in the evening.

I will never go all inclusive again! Considering in the May we had gone B&B at the Hotel Eda for a very reasonable price & had much better service, the Oylum Club Prestige did not compare! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone!

Bikerjambo I think your idea of a Rock bar is briliant!! The entertainment in Icmeler does need to be up-dated, as does some of the music. It was really good to see a new show in Icmeler this year - The dancing mummys - thought they were excellent. Although I thought the robot show was awful but I suppose that is good for young kids.

I like Icmeler having trees here there and everywhere and I used to prefer the old wooden bridge over the canal - I thikn it all adds charachter to the place! Despite all my moaning, to be honest, there isn't much I'd change except some of the music etc. It's my little slice of heaven!

[Susi1962]

I just wanted to add to the discussion on AI visitors. I've been to Icmeler a few times, usually AI. I go on holiday alone and, for me, going AI was a safety net of sorts - had my spending money run out in the second week, I knew at least that I'd have food and drink (and - btw - I'm meaning tea and water mostly - I have a shoulder injury that makes carrying big water bottles back to the hotel a real challenge - I've never drunk enough alcohol in a hotel to even make me merry!) I'd also add that - travelling alone - I'm constantly financially penalised by hotels charging me for the privilege of taking a two bedded room when they rarely offer the option of a single room - so it's no wonder I have to budget carefully and if I get a good AI deal I'll jump at the chance!

But the second - and more important - reason for going AI was that I didn't know the resort and didn't feel particularly safe going out of the hotel at night alone. Of course, I now know Icmeler well and feel perfectly safe going out alone in the evening for a meal. That said, on my AI visits I ate out for lunch most days in Icmeler or Marmaris. Like Starchild01 I also put money into the local economy in other ways - spending far more than I ever intend to in the local shops, buying clothes, presents and jewellery and taking day trips.

It makes me sad that people automatically assume that an AI bracelet conveys an idea of people who are unwilling to support the local economy in whichever way they can. We all do our bit for Icmeler by returning again and again.

[ian]

Having been going to icmeler for nearly ten years now looking back how it was then and how it is today i see some changes and most not for the better ! it still retains the magic it always had, and having traveled a lot in my life i still head to icmeler every year and god willing i always will. the prices back then were very low compared to other holiday destinations and found it impossible to spend £300, this year i spent nealy £1200 for two adults and a child, i find sadly greed starting to motivate our hosts rather than the genuine compassion that once could be found in every bar,hotel,market,shops,,, despite this i know im already looking to book for next year and will be bringing some friends with me who have heard me raving about icmeler,,, it,s hard to explain to someone who,s never been there just what it is about icmeler that makes it so apealling. i still remember my first time there and the day i was leaving to go home,, as the bus slowly climbed the hill leaving marmaris and i caught the last glimpse of marmaris and icmeler in the distance i knew i was hooked ! the following day i was back in the travel agents booking up for later that year.

[jivebunnie0]

As many others have said - I still think Icmeler is a wonderful place. Its charm, the friendliest people we have ever met, and let's face it they are just trying to earn a living. Yes there are probably too many restaurants, cafes, bars ( or there were, but now courtesy of the mayor, are fewer), but it offers variety.

We think that AI has spoilt it for a lot of businesses, especially where a lot of the Russians stay. We were in one bar, one night, and two Russian girls came in and wanted free drinks! They book their cheapie holiday to AI hotels, and then come with no other money whatsoever. Its hurting the local businesses as well as the restaurants and bars. A jeweller friend told us ' they only look'. We all know times are hard, but AI is not helping.

We have been going for 10 years now, and yes we have seen changes, some for the better, some not, but for us Icmeler is our favourite destination. Those who dont agree, can always opt for somewhere else after all.