Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Got back last week,the other half wants to go to Spain but everyone coming back from there is saying it is mega dear to eat out ect. So we have come to a compromise we can go to Turkey next year but she want to try Alanya,anybody know anything about there?All info greatly apprieciated.Don`t worry we`re back to Icmeler in 2010 for defo

Hi, my friend visited Alanya this year, she said theres only a couple of English hotels in the resort so therefore most visitors are Dutch and German. Being some of the only British in the resort led her to unbearable hassle from shopkeepers, bars and even the men, she had a particular distrubing event happen to her from one man, which has left her afraid to go back to anywhere in Turkey. Personally i would stick to Icmeler!

We we're in Alanya in 1996 and had a great holiday. We stayed a km away from the city centre at Cleopatras beach and would highly recommend the beaches there. Mile upon mile of golden sands. watersports are also abundant as is the Turkish culture. There were more traditional Turkish restaurants here at that time with a few bars dotted along the strip ( it is a working city so I don't think the local population would put up with what's going on in Icmeler). The German and Dutch tend to stay at the other end of the Castle to cleopatras beach but never did have any grievences with them. Because the beaches are so big you weren't stepping onto peoples toes.There are also more historical sites around the area especially near Side.
It is very scenic too and the restaurants at the harbour offer some superb seafood dishes.One of our friends are going there soon so will keep you posted. Word of warning though the main road running along the beach is very fast and dangerous ( may have been calmed since then though! )
Definitly going to give it another try soon.

Hi Unitedman
Ianwesty has just endorsed what I was going to say, it is a big working town, and where you stay in Alanya, depends on the type of holiday you get. reminds me of Larnaca in Cyprus all be it totaly differant coastal layout
Without apearing controversial, the comment you make about ,people returning from Spain and saying its dear, more or less confirms our thought about Turkey being the " big bad wolf" in regard to price rises is unfounded ,and that it is universial what is happening in regard to this price problem.
Peli

I've just been over my local off licence and the owners went to Cyprus for 2 weeks, got back yesterday, they was spending 120 euros a day on food, man wife and 2 young kids, that didn't include drinks. First time to Icemeler this year and looking at what he told me we had reall value for money considering the food was amazing.

My Friend has just come back from Alanya and she said the hassel she got as they were british was a nightmare. It seems that the brits aren't going there.


Ola

Last year while we repeatedly returned to Icmeler, the family who came with us in July tried Alanya because they found a cheaper deal (and obviously hadnt felt the same about Icmeler as we do). From the photographs their hotel was one of those huge mulit storey things which would immediately put me off -- just conjures up images of Majorca. They also said that the hassling was terrible, and had to keep crossing the road to avoid the places which were the worst. Because the hassling was so bad they tended to go to the same bar every night because it was close to their hotel and they couldnt face people literally trying to drag them into their bars.

On the other hand they did say it was very a beautiful place.

I convinced a few of my colleagues to try Turkey - those who've been to Icmeler loved it, similar responses to Fethiye too. Only one has been to Alanya and she said the same as the previous post: large hotels - much too busy and inadequate loungers/pool area for number in hotel. Busy and highly touristy - fewer Brits than Dutch/German. A real shame because it was a special holiday for her, she wanted an old village experience and got one similar to Magaluf.

We're going to Gumbet this year - big decision but I want to keep exploring Turkey and can get to a few more places from Bodrum. I want my next time in Icmeler to be with fresh eyes, it's become a little too predictable - or maybe i have! Well if it all goes pear shaped, i can get to Marmaris from Bodrum and get a room in icmeler easily enough.