Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Would just like to know why they are changing Icmeler so much, for me it has lost all it's character of the Icmeler that we all know and loved

For me it gets better every year. The roads are better, the prom is wider, the fountains are welcome, looking forward to my next visit. As long as they don't turn it into a mini marmaris i'm happy.

Dave

Berni what is it that has changed that you personally don't like

Most alterations that have been done in Icmeler to me have been for the better ,Except for the Canal stalls and they have been the biggest loss to the Ambience of the Canal at night.

Gene

I agree with Gene - I think most of the changes have been positive, to be honest, but the removal of the canal stalls was a mistake as far as I am concerned. I think that spoiled the whole atmosphere of that area, especially at night.

I agree most changes have been for the better, but I must admit I personally used to like it when all the boats for trips went from the beach, and when they came back you could hear the music, and see everyone having a great time. Also all the bars now are putting up the windows and closing themselves in to be able to open later, i liked it before when all the bars were open, yes, they had to turn the music down at twelve but I liked it that way.The changes over eleven years that I have been visiting have been lots and not all for the best janine

We/I agree with Gene that in the main the alterations have all been positive and have improved Icmeler. However the loss of the stalls by the canal was a Big Mistake. It is now a scruffy, down at heel wasteland that nobody wishes to visit, all the charm of that area has gone. Most holiday resorts in the world would give their right arm for something that would give the same type of focal point with the same ambience that the canal + stalls gave.

But hey ho thats progress - or so they say.

David & Maureen

I agree the canal is a great plus for the resort and should be one of its main attractions . With all the money being spent on other developments & improvements i am suprised the council dont recognise this.

Al

What i would like to know why is there a sign at the top of the canal "saying Welcome to Icmeler canal" when there is nothing down there to see unless you want to visit the resturants down there. The sign makes it look realy inviting but its not even nice to walk down there now & i feel a bit unsafe walking down it.

I agree with others that the canal area looks pretty grim at the moment but hopefully it'll be better by next year. I'm probably in the minority in that I think that the promenade, even though it looks nice, is now very much like loads of other resorts. Personally I preferred it as it was and often used to take pictures there especially in the evening.

most of the improvements have been positive, the new promenade in particular I think is a big improvement. As with the others there needs to be something done about the canal area. This should be a big selling point for Icmeler and the council should be doing as much as they can to promote the area.

One of the negative things I have noticed about Icmeler over past few years is an increase in the number of groups of single females and males walking about a bit the worse for wear for drink. I have been going to Icmeler since 2000 and when we first started going I cant recall ever seeing anyone drunk, seems to be a recent thing. Is this perhaps the clientele that are now going to Icmeler, the all iclusive hotels, a combination of both or am I just talking nonsense

Stewart

When we started going to Turkey, we used to stay in Marmaris. Then they changed it to the extent it is now almost unrecognisable. It could be almost any city in the world. We moved on to Icmeler, a fairly quiet, beautiful small resort with loads of character, where you soon got to know everybody, and they you. Over the last 2 -3 years, it's changed quite a bit. Apart from the old village, it's losing it's character, and a lot of it's charm. Even the people in the restaurants and bars have changed. The newcommers aren't as friendly as the ones who've been there for years. Some are downright rude. When we were there in october, we witnessed three fights between rival gangs of bar boys. Two in the street outside a very popular restaurant, and one outside our hotel at 4am one morning. Usually by now we'd have two holidays planned for next year, but at the moment we're undecided if we really want to return.

I would say icmeler has lost some of its innocence over the years,the traders have wised up a bit in my opinion - also the loss of the canel stalls,underground market,the road train and the pie man(lovely jubbely) have not helped but would i go any where else ? - Not a chance !!

south coast hero wrote:I would say icmeler has lost some of its innocence over the years,the traders have wised up a bit in my opinion - also the loss of the canel stalls,underground market,the road train and the pie man(lovely jubbely) have not helped but would i go any where else ? - Not a chance !!

Well said. I feel the same.

Hi South Coast Hero

The Apple Pie man Luverly Jubbly was there last June during our stay.
He seemed to be doing ok and is a very happy jolly man.

Heading into our 4th year of Icmeler, I am probably not the best to answer this. But in my opinion with the exception of the removal of the canal stalls which I consider a negative the changes over recent times have been very well received, the promanade especially.

All things must evolve and change to meet new challenges, Icmeler seems to be doing that and whilst it retains the characteristics that we all enjoy then great.

Pete.

I used to love walking along the canal and looking at the stalls in the evenings,it was quite eerie this year with nothing there

Ref SMC quote:

I think your talking nonsense, I have been to Icmeler 7 times since 2008 both as a girls holiday and also with my husband and friends and I think to say groups of single females and males are worse for ware is very unfair as most people like a drink of alcohol when they are on holiday and im pretty sure single or married theyre have been alot of drunk people falling about Icmeler over the years!

Oh and I also agree about the stalls, total eyesore now.

But would you not agree that the clientele has changed drastically over the many years?

for instance; Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians and Belgians are now replaced with Russians, Polish, Bulgarians and now Iranians.. (not that I have anything against these groups as long as they bring added value to the resort, after all, holiday resorts depend on revenue gained from tourists)

Another change I see in particular is not on the amount of singles visiting but more on the amount of very young teens hanging out with some of the singles for obvious reasons.

Another change I have seen over the years is the amount of people who dine and wine with tank tops or at times with no shirt at all. This in particular bothers me and everyone I speak to around me because Icmeler used to be that resort where everyone would dress to impress at evening times..

One more change... the menus... The food offered now is no where near to the cuisines that were offered back in those years...Lobsters, crabs, fish, anatolian kebabs, beautiful appetizers etc etc were all on offer back then and now maybe one or two places offer such meals and not consistently as far as I know. Everything is down to menus now like McDonalds.

Last but not least, the change in the amount of Leather shops and carpet shops, I dont know if there is any left now.

I agree with a lot of your comments Rami.

The nationalities who visit Icmeler have changed, it was more noticeable this year for me than ever. I also hate to see bare chests at night when I'm out having a meal. I know people are on holiday and its hot but really would you go out in the UK dressed like this? Why wouldn't you put on a shirt or t-shirt for goodness sake? Would you go round Tesco's in the UK in your bikini? Even if I had the body of Elle Macpherson (I wish lol!) I wouldn't.

For me the most changes to restaurant menu's have been due to the economic downturn and the rise of the all-inclusives. Everyone is vying for your custom and visitors want the best deal, particularly if you have children with you. The menu's in the majority of places are all the same, meal deals. I wonder how many restaurants and bars will be open in 2012? I noticed that the Irish Bar was up for sale the other week when I walked past.

I think it's a great shame Icmeler is changing every year, and not always for the better. I don't like the "Britishness" of some places, names of restaurants and themed bars and some of the entertainment. I would love to see more "Turkishness" as that's where I am. If I want Blackpool I can go there.

Im back to Icmeler on Boxing Day and I can't wait. Only been back in the UK for 3 weeks and I've had enough. Icmeler has always had a draw for me (obviously!) and I look forward to seeing how things will be at the start of the new season. I hope there are some good changes and that a little bit of Turkey returns!