Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Having read through a few of the latest reviews, i can't seem to get my head round that these people have been to my same paradise.

What's going on? there have been numerous reports of altercations and fights in the resort, the worst resulting in a man losing his ear! (alledgely)

I have never witnessesd anything of the sort in all the years ive visited Turkey/Icmeler. Myself and my sister (aged 22 and 18) are visitng Icmeler next year for 6 weeks and one of the major reasons we love going is because we feel safe... but im beginning to have a few doubts.

Kerry, sometimes we love something/somewhere so much we dont see anything bad going on, but in reality things do happen and sometimes we hear about them and sometimes we dont. We would all love to believe that Icmeler is a safe haven but this is 2008 and i dont think theres any safe resort anywhere in the world. It dosent stop me going though because ive property there and it needs to be maintained and used, however i couldnt leave my balcony doors open like i used to and yes i have seen fights amongst holiday makers and also between the turks themselves. Yes Icmeler is renowned for its friendliness but sometimes, and it does happen, that friendliness is for an alterior motive. Im not knocking Icmeler and i will continue to go on a regular basis but Its like everywhere else now in this day and age, you enjoy what you have and the time you spend there and you leasve with many happy memories but dont turn a blind eye to what goes on around you. After all, who would have thought that a beautiful, quiet, picturesque resort in Portugal would have made worldwide headlines

Hi Kerry

I really don't think you need worry too much - just bear in mind that things CAN happen rather than WILL happen, anywhere in the world

As for what's been reported on here, I think that one or two began airing their unhappiness with some changes this year - and folk added on to that, grumbling seems to be infectious

I reckon that if they ran a poll of the posters who'd mentioned something they're not happy with (and I must admit to also doing that), you'd find that 99% of us are going back next year - and to me that speaks for itself

have a great time when you go

We have just returned from 2 weeks there, we saw 3 different fights

1) Yakimoz beach restaurant - 2 Turks fighting, a waiter tried to stop it and got 2 big scratches down his face for his troubles.

2) The cafe bar above the underground market 2 turks got into a fight over a game of cards, rumour was one pulled a knife and accused the other of cheating.

3) AND MOST ALARMINGLY - an english couple was in a restaurant along past the Bamboo when the wife suddenly became ill, the husband keen to get her back to the hotel or to a doctor led to him asking for the drink bill. They had ordered their main meals but not had them but the waiter insisted they pay for all the meal, the husband refused and the turk performed a flying kick on the man, he fought back and then in seconds he had around 4 turks all beating him. The police arrived and arrested the english man!! the woman went to hospital and when we spoke to the husband 2 days later he had been fined and it turned out his wifes drink had been drugged.

The worst i have seen it this year...sad

a case at champagne bar where a family 4 ordered meals then decided they wanted to leave wife was ill ( drunk ) alex the front guy offered to take them to hospital he refused ,alex then asked can you pay bill then the englishman hit alex in face who needed hospital treatment.the police arrived arrested brit went court next day fined£400.

None of this surprises me. We went to Icmeler for the first time this year and I doubt we will be going back. The place itself was lovely, the Turkish people were lovely, but the Brits! Ye Gods. We often felt ashamed to be British, thanks to the number of drunk, overweight, arrogant, badly behaved Brits who seemed to think they owned the place and showed little respect fo their hosts.

When you think how wonderfully we are all looked after over there and the lack of thanks or manners shown by a proportion of our fellow countrymen, well, I am ashamed.

I know not everyone is like this and we met some fantastic people over there, but it is acertain proportion of tourists who spoil it for everyone else

We have just returned and never saw anyone of any Nationality behaving badly. We ate out every night at many different restaurants and didn't even see anyone drunk or loud! Apart from one incident at our hotel (posted under types of holidaymakers) we had a lovely, peaceful holiday which included partying until 3am. We will definitely return.

I've seen far wrose brits behaving badly in other countries, and prefer icmeler because I think it attracts a better class of holiday maker.

Fights between locals can happen in any country. If you look at what is going on in this country then if you compare the 2, then these fights seem nothing compared to the knife and gun crime her.

Steve

Gosh, it just gets worse drinks being drugged???

Im not naive and know things go on everywhere in the world, and from reading posts it does seem that brits are usually the cause, however it does worry me as we will be two young girls going on our own, without the same support and amenities as in this country. As for turks having an alterior motive there may be the odd case but after having friends in the resort for over 10 years i very much think they are few and far between, and because of this theres no doubt we will be going next year!

Having just come back yesterday, it saddens me that some fellow icmelerites have had these experiences as it holds a special place in my heart. That said, if i put my brain into gear and not my heart, i live in a tiny village and a neighbour had a lad knock on her door the other day who had been attacked with a crowbar. So, i suppose it can happen anywhere, even though that doesn't make it any better. I still feel safer on my own in Icmeler than i do in my own village.

KerryM wrote:Gosh, it just gets worse drinks being drugged???

Im not naive and know things go on everywhere in the world, and from reading posts it does seem that brits are usually the cause, however it does worry me as we will be two young girls going on our own, without the same support and amenities as in this country. As for turks having an alterior motive there may be the odd case but after having friends in the resort for over 10 years i very much think they are few and far between, and because of this theres no doubt we will be going next year!

good on you Kerry, like you say, you've made good friends who you've known a long time so am sure you'll be fine

I feel more threatened in this country walking past my local 24hour shop at the end of my road than I have ever felt in Icmeler so please first time visitors do not be put off by isolated incidents.

I think on occasions the Turks do have their spats with each other. We witnessed a particularly nasty fight between Turks & Kurds NINE years ago, so it's not just a recent thing, but fortunately quite rare.

With regards to the Brits, I think it's because in recent years (due to the internet), holidays have become cheaper and cheaper. We paid more 10 years ago than we pay now. Our first holiday there cost us £550 each - we only pay that now for the both of us (for 2 weeks May/June or Sept/Oct). This I feel is what is attracting the wrong type of people. Also may be because they are now offering more all-inclusives - people are drinking all day, then causing trouble at night.

overweight ? whats this got to do with how you behave I feel this uncalled for

anyhow back to the main topic I still feel safer here than in my home town but now I just be extra carefull

hope no ones hoilday has been or will be spoiled due to trouble

Obviously you've got to be careful and aware of your security and safety wherever you go, but I honestly felt completely safe walking around on my own in Icmeler, even when I was walking back to our apartments in the early hours after my daughter and her friend went on to Pleasure nightclub. Unfortunately, you can find trouble anywhere these days, but a few isolated incidents certainly wouldn't put me off holidaying in my favourite place!

i did post a reply to kerry here last night but seems to have disappeared...must have been something i said!

victoria b wrote:Kerry, sometimes we love something/somewhere so much we dont see anything bad going on, but in reality things do happen and sometimes we hear about them and sometimes we dont. We would all love to believe that Icmeler is a safe haven but this is 2008 and i dont think theres any safe resort anywhere in the world. It dosent stop me going though because ive property there and it needs to be maintained and used, however i couldnt leave my balcony doors open like i used to and yes i have seen fights amongst holiday makers and also between the turks themselves. Yes Icmeler is renowned for its friendliness but sometimes, and it does happen, that friendliness is for an alterior motive. Im not knocking Icmeler and i will continue to go on a regular basis but Its like everywhere else now in this day and age, you enjoy what you have and the time you spend there and you leasve with many happy memories but dont turn a blind eye to what goes on around you. After all, who would have thought that a beautiful, quiet, picturesque resort in Portugal would have made worldwide headlines

I can see your reply

Lynn wake up your reply is the second one down

you did behave badly on the jeep safari in june haha only kidding
Donna .
in june we were in the Sevgi bar & a brit in his 60's gave the bar staff a lot of abuse that was not called for how the staff kept there cool i dont know but that was the only incident that i noticed Icmeler is a safe place but no matter were you are you need to keep alert .
pete

I did put another reply in after that