If I thought things couldn’t get any worse was I in for a surprise, arrived at Manchester airport to find the flight was already delayed by 1 hour and eventually we took off nearly 3 hours late. AVOID FLYJET LIKE THE PLAGUE. (a couple on our flight told us they had flown 3 times before with
them and had always been delayed)
Arrived at Dalaman feeling really bad, got luggage and went looking for ICR transfer, I said to the wife that I was glad we didn’t have to go by normal transfer and we would be on our way soon, wrong again, we had to wait over 45 minutes for other passengers before we left, if I had been OK it wouldn’t have bothered me but I felt so ill I just wanted to get to bed. ( Those other passengers were John, Sharon and their party, it was a lively transfer which I would have enjoyed under normal circumstances, sorry if I wasn't very sociable I was just feeling too ill to get involved)
We eventually arrived at the Blue Rainbow at 06:00 on Saturday morning to be told by the desk clerk that there was no room for us and that we would have to stay in another hotel until later that day, we had to walk to the Mersoy where we were put in nothing short of a box room with 2 tiny windows and a balcony that would take 1 chair. I was feeling so bad by now I really didn’t care I just wanted to get to bed by now it was nearly 07:00. At 09:30 the phone woke us up only to be told by the front desk, sorry wrong number.
We eventually got a room in the Blue Rainbow around 12:00 and I spent the rest of the day in bed, I didn’t get out of bed until Sunday morning feeling no better, I couldn’t eat or drink and again spent most of the time in bed.
On Monday I went to the pharmacy and was given 3 lots of tablets which almost sorted me out by Tuesday night when I ate for the 1st time since Saturday and I had my 1st Efes.
So our holiday basically started on Wednesday when we took our 1st walk around Icmeler.
That’s the moan over with, now the good parts. The Blue Rainbow is a really nice hotel in a great position, the food to be honest wasn’t that bad, better than expected, lovely big pool and very clean, the maid done the usual floral décor on the beds a few times.
We had some good nights out: Dreamboys – meal was good, but the best part was the enthusiasm of the staff who really looked like they enjoyed themselves with the dancing ect. Venice – probably the most organised and efficient place we visited, excellent meal and service, again good show by the staff, really made welcome. Majestic – again another very good meal and entertainment. Harmony; Stella Show – if anything this was a disappointment, a 2 hour show that could probably been fitted comfortably into half the time, not what I would call great entertainment (just my opinion) and greatly overcharged, the night cost me about twice as much as anywhere else and we got half the enjoyment, no free naan bread with dips, no complimentary drink at the end of the night that we received everywhere else, I wouldn’t put anyone off going but I won’t be going back.
We went to plenty of pubs for a few drinks and to watch a couple of matches, Wonderboys, Havanna, Timeless, too many to name them all, but I must make a special mention to MR COOK located facing the entrance to the Elif Hotel, the staff are brilliant and they make the best steak and onion rolls with salad and chips, we also had a meal on our last night which was excellent.
We also visited Marmaris twice walked around the harbour and the bazaar where I bought the wife her usual holiday jewellery, I hardly recognised the place from 3 years back, it seems like they have built on every space available. Took the taxi boat back to Icmeler.
The exchange rate is terrible, the best I received was 2.43 from the market under the ICR office, it looks like it is getting worse.
We met a few people from the forum, Babs and her husband were there, also met Collette and Diane, John and Sharon and saw Gene lying on his sunbed viewed from the ICR office.
Unfortunately because of my dicky stomach we couldn’t chance any trips which was very disappointing as I was looking forward to the boat trip which Babs told me was great, maybe next time.
Overall a mixed holiday, first 3 days were basically a disaster but after that we had a great time, I am looking forward to going back and would definitely recommend the Blue Rainbow even though they messed up our booking. We crammed as much into the last 6 days as we could just not enough time to eat in places like the Lemon Tree and Love Boat to name a couple, they will be top of the list next visit.
Just a word on the hassle, we didn’t get very much it just seemed normal to me, I just had a laugh and joke with them which they seem to enjoy.
Just a special mention to Babs and Norman, Adele and Tony and Gordon and Frances for the great times we had around the pool with our afternoon quizzes and name that tune games, hope to see you all next year.
p.s I will be sending some photos to Collette to put on the site when I get the chance.
I havn't been so ill in years, and what a time for it to happen, I wasn't complaining about the hold up on the 
