My review - sorry it's a bit long
Posted: 12 Sep 2007 20:35Well I've been home just over a week now and boy am I so wishing I was back in Icmeler now.
It was my 13th visit to Icmeler and every holiday seems to get get better and better. I stayed at the Mandalin hotel this time which was lovely, in fact better than I expected. I couldn't believe how quiet the hotel is given it's right in the centre of Icmeler. I'd definitely stay there again.
We Mostly ate at our favourite restaurants - The Lighthouse, where the food was up to its usual high standards, The Chef with Elivs and his team and we also had several meals at The Olive Tree, the restaurant under the Bonjour Hotel which has been taken over by "King" and Charlie (some of you may remember them from the Lighthouse a couple of years ago), the food is superb here.
We also went to Rosa's Cafe for lunch a couple of times and booked for her "Turkish cuisine" night - 25ytl for 3 courses of fantastic, home-cooked (by Rosa herself) Turkish food. If you've never been to Rosa's Cafe add it to your list for the next time you go. The food was amazing, I was full up after the starter - but of course forced the main course and sweet down as you do. It was all delicious. She only does her Turkish night on a Wednesday and Friday night and you have to book. Excellent value for money!
Spent quite a lot of time in the Magic Garden which is so laid back and quiet, you can't believe you're in the resort centre with all the dancing and bars and music going on just seconds away. Briggy, daughter of the owner makes costume jewellery in the winter and it's on display for sale in their lounge - superb pieces and very reasonable - if you stop there for a drink ask to go and have a look.
I also spent some lovely nights (or should I say "early mornings") at the Cafe Del Mar, just chilling with Turkish friends over a few Efes.... one of my absolute favourite places.
It really was so hot we ended up spending most days lazing on the beach in front of the Yakamoz Restaurant, which in my opinion is the best and cleanest part of the beach and the beach guys are fab there - they'll escort you to your sunbed, unpack your bag and spread your towel out for you... they work so hard there. I can hear them now running around shouting "sunbed, icecream, boat trips, sunshine, bling bling...."
We did a couple of very good boat trips which were lovely lazy days with a nice breeze, swimming is fantastic out of Icmeler, the water is unbelievably clear..... aaahhhh that's the life!
Treated myself to a manicure and pedicure and had my eyebrows shaped with cotton thread (ouch) along with other facial hair the guy doing the threading thought I didn't need (ouch) and yes it hurt like hell.... but was followed by mud pack and an arm, hand and neck massage (I guess to calm you down after the torture of threading)... all for a fraction of the price you'd pay for treatments like that at home.
For once, I'm glad to say, the holiday didn't race by, in fact I felt like I'd been there forever - I came away feeling that I'd enjoyed every single second I was there, that I'd soaked up every single drop of sun possible and made quite a big dent in the stocks of Doluca Rose wine (delicious!), Efes and voddy....oooh someone send me back there now. Please!!!!
So I've booked my accommodation for next May, I'm just waiting on the flight prices to come down... now how many weeks is it....
Mazz
It was my 13th visit to Icmeler and every holiday seems to get get better and better. I stayed at the Mandalin hotel this time which was lovely, in fact better than I expected. I couldn't believe how quiet the hotel is given it's right in the centre of Icmeler. I'd definitely stay there again.
We Mostly ate at our favourite restaurants - The Lighthouse, where the food was up to its usual high standards, The Chef with Elivs and his team and we also had several meals at The Olive Tree, the restaurant under the Bonjour Hotel which has been taken over by "King" and Charlie (some of you may remember them from the Lighthouse a couple of years ago), the food is superb here.
We also went to Rosa's Cafe for lunch a couple of times and booked for her "Turkish cuisine" night - 25ytl for 3 courses of fantastic, home-cooked (by Rosa herself) Turkish food. If you've never been to Rosa's Cafe add it to your list for the next time you go. The food was amazing, I was full up after the starter - but of course forced the main course and sweet down as you do. It was all delicious. She only does her Turkish night on a Wednesday and Friday night and you have to book. Excellent value for money!
Spent quite a lot of time in the Magic Garden which is so laid back and quiet, you can't believe you're in the resort centre with all the dancing and bars and music going on just seconds away. Briggy, daughter of the owner makes costume jewellery in the winter and it's on display for sale in their lounge - superb pieces and very reasonable - if you stop there for a drink ask to go and have a look.
I also spent some lovely nights (or should I say "early mornings") at the Cafe Del Mar, just chilling with Turkish friends over a few Efes.... one of my absolute favourite places.
It really was so hot we ended up spending most days lazing on the beach in front of the Yakamoz Restaurant, which in my opinion is the best and cleanest part of the beach and the beach guys are fab there - they'll escort you to your sunbed, unpack your bag and spread your towel out for you... they work so hard there. I can hear them now running around shouting "sunbed, icecream, boat trips, sunshine, bling bling...."
We did a couple of very good boat trips which were lovely lazy days with a nice breeze, swimming is fantastic out of Icmeler, the water is unbelievably clear..... aaahhhh that's the life!
Treated myself to a manicure and pedicure and had my eyebrows shaped with cotton thread (ouch) along with other facial hair the guy doing the threading thought I didn't need (ouch) and yes it hurt like hell.... but was followed by mud pack and an arm, hand and neck massage (I guess to calm you down after the torture of threading)... all for a fraction of the price you'd pay for treatments like that at home.
For once, I'm glad to say, the holiday didn't race by, in fact I felt like I'd been there forever - I came away feeling that I'd enjoyed every single second I was there, that I'd soaked up every single drop of sun possible and made quite a big dent in the stocks of Doluca Rose wine (delicious!), Efes and voddy....oooh someone send me back there now. Please!!!!
So I've booked my accommodation for next May, I'm just waiting on the flight prices to come down... now how many weeks is it....
Mazz
