Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

We have been going to Icmeler since 1999. We went twice a year until three years ago when somebody persuaded us to try somewhere else. The place was lindos on the island of Rhodes NEVER AGAIN !. when we arrived at the resort we were left at the top of a big hill because the streets and roads in Lindos were too narrow for cars and coaches to go down. They thrown all our cases in a big heap and told us that we had to walk down the big hill and all find our accommodation. We were told that our cases would be delivered to us at our accomodation. well the long treck to ther appartment was enough but when we got there we found our cases just plonked outside our appartment apparently they had been deliverd by greek men on motorbikes with carts at the back and just chucked our cases on the street. When we looked inside our cases there was lots of advertisement cards from various pubs from the resort advertisiing them. We were very annoyed at the fact that they must have opened our cases to put these in. Also when we went out to pubs and restaurants they were all so boring no dancing waiters no entertainment. Why did we go there nobody knows but i know one thing i will never stray from icmeler again

Like you we strayed from the Icmeler path in March this year and went to Lanzarote. Whilst it was red hot and quite a pleasant place it just does not come close to Icmeler. There was no charm and the locals dont interact with you at all. Not somewhere i would particuarly wish to return to as I think once youve experienced Turkey you wont ever find anything else that compares

We used to make Icmeler our main 2 week holiday then go somewhere different for a week. The last couple of years though we have just been coming back to Icmeler twice a year.

This year though we are going to "stray" we have booked a week in Hisaronu then back to Icmeler for the second, and in Sept we are going to try Dalyan for a week then back home to Icmeler.

We thought that this way we would be seeing other sights but then return to see all our friends.

Berni

We stayed in Lindos in Rhodes too...this was before we were introduced to Icmeler though.
But i agree, Rhodes was the worst holiday i've had.
The pool was full of sand and bugs and everything,just dirty,my parents wouldnt let us near it.
Our room was 2 double beds for 5 of us!! ... We opened the curtains and flying ants came out,were everywhere.
The floor was soaking!!

We pitched up in reception and wouldnt leave until they moved us...moved to a much nicer place,but wouldnt go back to Rhodes again.

Sorry to go on about that haha

But also in August last year i went to Tenerife with friends,i had already been to Icmeler in March and May,but i compared everything to Icmeler...was a good holiday but couldnt wait to get home,where as in Icmeler its different.I booked to go back to Icmeler in Sept and Oct to make up for it hehe

Bec x

Hi, we went to Roquetas de mar in almeria, beautiful place for a chill out, but it just wasn't icmeler, the people our not so friendly its more exspensive and you just didn't get that feeling like you do when your in icmeler, it just feels like home! i think we all have that icmeler bug, anyone else agree.
julie x

we went to Bulgaria 2 years ago which is not a patch on Icmeler but we have bought several properties over there so we have no choice but to go to Bulgaria every year to check them out but i do have to fit in 2 weeks in Icmeler it is crucial

My wife and i had agreat time in icmeler last year, we dont like going back to the same place as a rule and we booked a 2 week a/i break at a 5+ hotel in belek (HUGE MISTAKE) just arrived back 3.am thismorning.
the hotels appearance was amazing very clean and very nice, the drinks excellent coctails ect ect 24hrs a day. Unfortunately its all down hill from there !!!! loads of russians (very rude ignorant and arrogant) about 70% thestaff pamapered to there every need, then the germans they were fine here and then 2% english the staff all spoke russian and german but very little english. the food was very poor excpected much better. then there's the resort, BELEK is purpose built no charm, or charcater very expensive and not even on the sea front about 4 bars because every1 is a/i, we went on daytrips all the second week 2 get away from the hotel, all in all some people may like this but it wasnt for us, we had a great day at side good history and culture and nice seaside bars !!!!.
put this hotel in icmeler and remove the russians and it would of been amazing (sack the chef also) but we all make mistakes, role on september definatley going back icmeler

We had our normal two holidays in Icmeler last year,but decided to have a week in Benidorm at Easter, this was to try and re- live happy memories of holidays we used to have with our children 33 years ago.
What a mistake, the place was a concrete jungle,the local people quite indifferent to our needs.
We were pleased with our hotel that was situated on the sea front and our sea view room and the Hotel food was very good,we were on full board.
But there was no magic,no warmth,no feeling of belonging.
Now what is it again I like about Icmeler?

Gene

Yes Julie I think we all can honestly say we have got the ICMELER bug but would not want it any other way

I've had a week in Ibiza during the times I've stayed in Icmeler, and never again. Everything was so expensive and the people over there could learn a lot from our friends in Turkey! Just a couple of examples...food & manners!!! Isn't worth the risk, won't be straying again!

More of the same from me I'm afraid. One year for a change we went to Crete and it was the longest two weeks of our lives. We tried to like it and made the most of it, but it just didn't compare to Icmeler lesson learned.

Since we found Icmeler we have been going twice a year, May and August and on the odd occasion October too. Last year we decided to try Egypt in May which was lovely but have to say Icmeler is still my favourite place. Nowhere will you find more friendlier people and I don't know what it is I am just hooked and love the place. Unfortunately we have done the same again this year booking Egypt for May then Icmeler in August. Leave next week and seeing the webcam already wishing we had just booked for May as well. (how selfish is that?) Anyway can't wait for August. Will count the sleeps when we come back from Egypt. To all going shortly HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!!!

Carolx

I think we have all learnt our lesson and will never stray from our lovely Icmeler again

We strayed and went to Lanzarote. Never again, thought it was quite dirty and didn't find the locals very friendly at all.
The other half wanted to try Tunisia this year but I said NO WAY! I want to go home and I think secretly he was quite happy with that.

19 days to go

When our children were young we never went anywhere twice I wanted to go to as many places as possible (also tried Rhodes and hated it) we went to most of Greek islands and mainland, spain, majorca and the canaries even America in 2000 our first holiday alone I booked a week in Icmeler hubby wasnt too keen on going but loved it on arrival we have not been anywhere else since we normally go June and Sept its like going home when you get in the taxi from airport we love it. Its also nice to be on these sites and know others feel the same and we know the same bars and people. My daughter is going with her hubby and children to Blue Bay at Marmaris the week before us and will be in icmeler whilst we there the kids dont know we going so it will be a shock to see nana and grandad there. At least I will have someone to go on banana boat and ringos with (hubby dont like beach)

We also go in June and September so we will see you twice this year then Megan

Surprised you didn't like Crete, molly malone. It's the only place that remotely approaches the natural friendliness of the Turkish.(IMHO) Can't say the same for mainland Greece!!
We've been to Altinkum, OluDeniz and Alanya (too many Germans).
We've gained different perspectives of a warm and fascinating country each place we have visited but we're coming back to Icmeler this year and it's the ONLY place we have been to twice. I suppose that says it all.

Yes, we have strayed from Icmeler quite a few times, but have not found anywhere that betters (or matches it even) in any way. Sept/Oct will be our 16th visit - so I guess we have definitely got the "bug".

Last June we decided we would try a different resort in Turkey and went to Hisaronu. The place is absolutely gorgeous - beautiful scenery, great hotel. lovely town and good food etc., The only problem was - IT WASN'T ICMELER. So after 3 days of thinking that we were so close, yet so far away and being utterly miserable, we decided to pack our cases, catch a taxi, and head "back home" to Icmeler. It cost us £80 for the taxi, £170 for another Hotel and £40 for a taxi back to the airport, but it was worth every penny and we had a great time. Then we returned again in September for a Turkish/English wedding which was amazing.

Again, not learning from our mistakes, we went to Cuba this March - nice place, nice people etc but very boring and not Icmeler. So we have to wait months now for a great holiday !!!

We go to Icmeler at least once a year.this year we are going to thr TRNC for two weeks.Been once before and no its not Icmeler but was very peaceful and unspoiled and now you can fly direct and trnsfer from the south it should be a lot easier.Also one year went to Side and Antalya.Stayed in old towns in both of them.Beautiful beach at Side.Lovely ottoman mansion we stayed in Antalya.However we found both areas much more expensive than Icmeler.Antalya didnt seem to like tourists!We were charged £2 for can of coke there.Side was better than antalya but not a patch on Icmeler.Went to Spain last year with whole family.Was ok but got bronchitus and pneumonia and altho we got agreement withEU for their health service...try finding a doc thats not private!Icmeler for us later on this year.

Kazz - what a story at least you a had a great time in the end.

Sharnig - The people were fine it was the place that had nothing going for it. (Gouves )don't know if you've heard of it. We'd been to Corfu twice and loved it, anyway for the last six years it's been Icmeler and don't think there's anywhwere as good.