Struggling to make ends meet?

[JonnyH]

I'm not one to get into peoples business - especially not on holiday. But we tried out a lot of new bars, some of which were very empty, and we do know a couple of owners very well, from past visits, who own bars/restaraunts in and around Icmeler.

Whilst we were there last month there seemed to be a lot of complaints by Turkish/Kurdish bar owners who have basically said they're struggling to make ends meet because they can't make any profit. What I mean by that is that they're struggling to make money. Obviously, there is many reasons for this - the huge amounts of restaurants/bars in Icmeler now, the higher taxing from the Government (I believe it's 11 lira or 110 lira per metre of lighting on a restaraunt/bar), the large amount of hassling and sometimes fines off the Police for their shows and the large workforce they now have to have.

We always hear that theres a been few restaraunts/bars going down under but how long is it before a lot of them pack it in all together? Why would you work 6 months of the year if you're not going to make money?

Also, the Celik Apartments was half full (I stayed right next to it) in early July. How on earth are you supposed to make money in high season when your apartments are only half full? I know there was the demise of Scott Travel but it's still dreadful to see an apartments only half full during July. This bears the thought also that there maybe too many hotels/apartments now in Icmeler too!

Your opinions are more than welcome.

Jonny.

[John V]

Hi Jonny, You have stated one of the main reason in your conclusion more seats than bums in retaurant capacities.

[JonnyH]

Hi Jonny, You have stated one of the main reason in your conclusion more seats than bums in retaurant capacities.

Yes, very true. I, for one, expected more people to be in Turkey this year than last but I was met with a shock when I arrived as there wasn't.

Can anyone verify if it's busier this August than last year? I do know a few people who are opting to go to Turkey instead of the EU because of the rate of the Euro.

[swc24]

The other side of the coin is the number of people travelling due to redundancies in this country
and thoes who are fortunate to go on holiday are watching the pennies or going all inclusive
The bars and resturants are losing out to the AI and hassling people to go in is not paying off
There will be a lot more closing if thing do not improve


Steve

[John V]

Hi Jonny,Don't know a bout August but when in Icmeler during May there were more people on holiday than in the corresponding periods for last couple of years.
Icmeler has developed over recent times with the introduction of many new restaurants and bars but the number of visitors is governed mainly by the number of flights provided by the various companies. These have been cut back from what was a previously available and now we have the situation that there are not many non full flights leaving the UK.
This leaves the position of no matter what it would be impossible to fill all the restaurants at the same time.

[Tigerlily]

Well i am a partner in a business in Icmeler, and we for 1are definately quieter than normal, although i have been told past week or so it is picking up.... probably 95 % of the hotels around us are now all inclusive, and where in the past we did get (british anyway) all inclusive customers still coming in to eat etc. it is definately not happening as much this year. The restaurant next door to us (which is very popular on here!) has also been much quieter than normal as he has been there +10yrs. I agree there are less flights also and flight only prices are extortionate compared to the past 2-3 years! Think people are sticking to budgets much more due to the credit crunch. I could go over for much cheaper all inclusive, but its not worth it once im there, cos i eat n drink for free lol! but just comparing flight only + paying for hotel or apartment, not much different to all inclusive packages that were around.

[smc4761]

When we were there the last 2 weeks in May the majority of the resaturants were quit at night, perhaps only 3/4 couples/families. I have no idea how these places could possibly make any money. Even our apartments were half full

I know there is a recession at home but we keep getting told that people were not booking for Spain Greece etc due to the poor Euro rate, everyone was going to Turkey, but certainly did not seem that way in May

Even looking at the holiday reviews this year on the forum, there seems to be less of them this year

Stewart

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

well ı arrıved today and ı was here 2 weeks ago as well
and ıt was busıer 2 weeks ago than ıt ıs now
and ıts august the heıght of the season
ı feel really sorry for all the boys that work theır butts off and dont get much for theır long hard hours they work
xxxxx

[blondie]

I'm sure the bar owners and restaurateurs of Icmeler would love more visitors like you, katie - you're very lucky to be able to visit so often. Unfortunately, with the extortionate price of flights at the moment, especially from Scotland, many folk are struggling to afford even the one holiday, never mind two. We'd planned to return in October, but the way the flights are looking, I don't know if we'll be able to afford it. I'm sure we're not the only ones.

[weetoony]

I don't find this in the least surprising when I see the hordes that are descending on the west coast of Scotland. My work takes me around the west side of Argyll and its islands and for the last two months it has been bedlam trying to avoid towrists and to get accommodation. Last week, it took me over 30 phone calls to get a single ensuite room in Oban, a bigger armpit than Marmaris and some of the prices I was quoted would have given me a week's accommodation in Icmeler. It really is years since I have seen the mainland as busy and the islands are even busier.

With the cost of accommodation, petrol (it was 109.9 here last night) and ferries etc., I still think that Turkey/Icmeler is a much better option with guaranteed weather and nae damned midges.

[duffaire]

Katie
How did you like the Eda.
We were there in May and found Icmeler was not busy, lot of restaurants were empty, but the good ones were full.

[sheepy]

With the cost of accommodation, petrol (it was 109.9 here last night) and ferries etc., I still think that Turkey/Icmeler is a much better option with guaranteed weather and nae damned midges.

Indeed. Many go to Scotland mind for the experience, and almost expect a bit (Or a lot) of rain It's not so much the midges for me though, as those nasty little things that burrow into you (Ticks?)
Mind you, I got bitten by something dodgy in Icmeler in July, think it might have been a spider lurking in the plantlife, and got a right swelling.

I'm digressing though.

I was a bit shocked to see how quiet some restaurants were. One place I recommended and pretty much gushed about on here after visiting in May, was Angels. We went a walk up there in July, and quiet doesn't even begin to describe it. There wasn't even a hassle guy anymore trying to bring in the punters, maybe they just gave up

We must have all seen that broken down closed restaurant on what must otherwise be surely one of the potental prime sites in Icmeler - the corner just as you turn down to walk by the canal. Surely in any busy economic climate, someone would have snapped this site up. You don't have to walk far to find former closed restaurants elsewhere either.

I'd dispute that all inclusive is cheaper. Maybe it's a good option if you want to go somewhere and stay at a "resort in itself", not leave the millions of swimming pools, in house massage, tennis courts etc etc. In a place like Icmeler though, I'd way rather stay in one of the family owned apartments, spend my days walking around exploring, doing my photography, and instead of joining the bunfight in the all inclusive restaurant, fighting over some lukewarm chicken stew, I'd rather budget to eat out in one of the very many splendid restaurants, chatting to usually some decent guys working there, and just soaking up the atmosphere you simply don't get sat in a dining hall the size of Wembley.
I can only speak for myself, but when I've budgetted in the cost of eating out, and the cost of the holiday - it still comes out cheaper than going to an all inclusive.

Must agree mind with the cost of flights. Oil has come down in price compared to it's high a little while ago. Why on earth are they so high? I just don't get this at all. In a recession you'd think the hol companies who own many flights would want to bring down the cost to get in more punters. Oh well

[pop282828]

We all must do more to promote icmeler

if we want this great place to stay the same

everyone of you already know it's the best place on earth for our family holidays

some people I meet seem to think Turkey is a dirty underdeveloped country

we have to change this perception

every single person I meet I tell them about icmeler

I ask them if they have an email address

I have an email already set up with links to this web site, other icmeler sites & links to Turkeytube best place on earth youtube my videos

we are leaving today for 18 days at the Dursun apartments we stay here every year & every year I run a couple of pool tournaments for the people staying here & anyone who is passing

the most people we have had entered was 32 it took 2 nights to finish

i do this to help the apartments we stay at have a couple of really good nights where everyone stays in for meals/drinks all night

which in turn will hopefully keep the apartment going for us in the future

if anyone wants the email I use please pm me

thanks for reading this

john

[tinkerbelle]

Empty restaurants are not solely due to AI and economic factors. A restaurant owner explained that when Icmeler got going apartments, bars and restaurants were all separate businesses each making money. Now nealy all S/C has a bar and a restaurant attached and they will try to persuade you to eat there because the cost of the apartments are so cheap and this gives extra profit to the money being made during the day with drinks, food around the pool. We have done this ourselves, eaten in and stayed there all night and really enjoyed it. Many apartment restaurants are busy while the restaurants that are independant are empty.

[John_Lane]

Also, the Celik Apartments was half full (I stayed right next to it) in early July. Jonny.

We are at the Celik in first week in September and ICR Site is now reporting no more availibilty for this period. So I guess the Scott Travel vacumm has been filled now.

Any recomendations for restaurants, bars etc near to Celik as it looks like its a fair way from the centre? Can you estimate the time to walk to the canal Area and then the Beach Front for me. How practical is the walk in the heat or should we opt for taxis or buses.

Thanks

John

[mr magoo]

hi john,

celik aparts are a short stroll to the centre.....10 minutes maximum, then another 5 minutes to the beach.

plenty restaurants close by....deja vu, wayside, sylvia's, ozzy's to name a few.

someone said on a recent post that the food at celik is quite good, especially the breakfasts. Pinewood aparts are next door to celik and they do really nice evening meals and you'd be ok to eat there.

one of the maps on the forum shows celik aparts in the wrong location, so maybe that's what's making you think they're far away from everything.



magoo

[JonnyH]

Also, the Celik Apartments was half full (I stayed right next to it) in early July. Jonny.

We are at the Celik in first week in September and ICR Site is now reporting no more availibilty for this period. So I guess the Scott Travel vacumm has been filled now.

Any recomendations for restaurants, bars etc near to Celik as it looks like its a fair way from the centre? Can you estimate the time to walk to the canal Area and then the Beach Front for me. How practical is the walk in the heat or should we opt for taxis or buses.

Thanks

John

I'd agree with the above post. We ate in the Pinewood once or twice, as thats where we stayed, and the food was very nice and cheap and this is next door to the Celik. I don't know anything about the food in the Celik, unfortunatley.

The food in Deja Vu, The Wayside and Sylvia's has all been nice when I've ate in there. I wouldn't reccomend the Garden but it's down to choice - the food has been minging and it was empty every day we were in there in July! Speaks volumes to myself. I've seen once on here that the Tratorria Bistro has had some ok views so you could also try that if you wish.

The beach/canal is about 10 minutes maximum. It's a very pleasent walk and I would probably say you'll be fine walking down there in September both at night and during the day. It was a bit harder for us walking down too there during the day as the heat was 45 degrees plus!

Enjoy your holiday.

[salford_steve]

I'd agree with the above post. We ate in the Pinewood once or twice, as thats where we stayed, and the food was very nice and cheap and this is next door to the Celik. I don't know anything about the food in the Celik, unfortunatley.

The food in Deja Vu, The Wayside and Sylvia's has all been nice when I've ate in there. I wouldn't reccomend the Garden but it's down to choice - the food has been minging and it was empty every day we were in there in July! Speaks volumes to myself. I've seen once on here that the Tratorria Bistro has had some ok views so you could also try that if you wish.

The beach/canal is about 10 minutes maximum. It's a very pleasent walk and I would probably say you'll be fine walking down there in September both at night and during the day. It was a bit harder for us walking down too there during the day as the heat was 45 degrees plus!

Enjoy your holiday.

I'd have to agree with you on the Gardens, we only ever had breakfast there and I swear to god the bacon came out and it was green, and smelles off. He always asks us to go in and I just wouldn't risk it after that as I don't want to be ill.

As for the Tratoria bistro, has to be the worst meal I have ever had in Icmeler. Waited an hour for our food and when it came out my partners food had a very funny taste to it, and mine which was chicken was stone cold. We complained and were just given the bill, stupidly I actaully paid must need my head looking at, but I was in a rush as we had to be somewhere. But if this guy had any customer service skills, he could see we had literally taken one mouthfull and spat it back out on the plate, not like we were looking for a free meal, he should of offered us not to pay, I would of paid for my drinks. I know people have had some good experiences there but I wont be going back there again.

Steve

[Diane Rigby]

Agree with all the above comments but The Sampati Restuarant is also very near these apartments and is excellent for food in the evening. Di

[tom]

we stayed at the Pinewood in june had some of the best meals there a lot better than some of the restaurants in the town centre.