Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

The last time we were in Turkey (Olu Deniz), as much as we really enjoyed it, the one thing, that really got on my nerves was the constant hassle we got off the guys trying to get you into the various bars and restaurants.
Yes, I get it, they're just doing a job, I understand that, its just reading through various posts on here, has just brought it all back to me - how damn annoying it can be.
Dont get me wrong, they wern't all bad, some were really good fun and just shrugged their shoulders when we told them we had already eaten, but some, really did get quite annoyed...look, Im getting irate now, lol.
But seriously, is this still the case? We've only ever found it in turkey, think maybe, most places we've been on holiday are quite small places, so there's not too many places struggling for the custom in the same area.
If it is the case, is there any hints or tips or, fool proof method to simply say no and not to offend! I know Im asking the impossible, ha ah ha

Just tell them you are AI and have eaten in your hotel,

you will hardly find any hassle at all now in Icmeler. There are strict 'no hassle' rules and if an establishment is seen to be breaking them they can face closure and/or fines.
years ago it could take you forever to walk down to the beach passing all the restaurants and bars having to stop and chat to everyone, giving them reasons why you didn't want to go into their restaurant, that you didn't want a drink/food, that you didn't want to book a table for that evening and ending up with half a dozen cards and menus
not the case any more I've found. they are not allowed to approach you anymore, so you may find them still calling out to you from inside the restuarant if you would like to come in, but a polite 'no thank you' should do the trick - they are not allowed to chase you down the road any more!!

I had no idea they had such rules in place. Good thing though, and a relief!! Thanks.

hi i tell them that me and the wife are meeting friends elsewhere in the town,or we are fullboard,or we will eat at there place before we go back to england. it is much improved now ,but it was annoying,so most of the time we eat where we never get bothered i.e. ida bar,okimo bar .cafe rose,pek king.cafe anne BILL ATKINSON

bill atkinson wrote:so most of the time we eat where we never get bothered

I agree - there are some places that I have never been to just because of hassle in previous years - total turn-off, regardless of the good reviews I have read about the food!

yeh I know. Eating out is SUCH a big part of our hols. So we've always got our ears open for the best (i know its a personal thing) places to eat, especially fresh fish dishes. Trying different things and tastes, but getting bugged where and when you go to eat, does put you off.
Glad to know things are a changing.
We're staying up near the old village.

It was a lot better last year and amazing due to this I actually started to chat with a few of them which I rarely did during my previous 6 visits, I enjoyed the conversations and by the end of my holiday quite a few would shout hello and how are you Dave as we walked around the resort.


Dave

We found everywhere to be perfectly acceptable with a little gentle persuasion from the bars, except down near the canal, it was a nightmare !! We never went back down near the canal at night because of the hassle we had received and it was a shame as we were there for a month and could have tried many more places

we found it ok bit pussy by the beach but its a lot better

LynnJenny wrote:we found it ok bit pussy by the beach but its a lot better

Wow a bit p***y by the beach!!!!!!!!!!!! will have to check it out when the wifes not looking .

I was stopped on the steps of our hotel most nights at our hotel in Alanya, and he put his arm around me so tight i couldn't move and he got very aggressive because we would not eat in his restaurant, and as im disabled it was very frightening and we were going back to our hotel 2'o'clock in the morning just to avoid this person, but my brother has persuaded us to come to icmeler, and we wont be disappointed as their is hardly any hassle when in icmeler and the people do make your holiday a good one.

Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect, but the improvement over the years has been drastic i've found. You will probably find that there will be one or two places you will avoid (and find different routes past them ) but on the whole, nothing that would ruin your holiday or Icmeler experience!

This year we have our own guide so everything should be ok, but he has been known to land us innit on the odd occassion, while standing back and grinning to himself eg. (time shares people) but the more i read about icmeler the more i cannot wait to visit.

As you've probably all worked out by now i'm not quite wired up correctly(joke) and here's some more proof.

I love stopping at every restaurant and talking to the "vendors". I politely take their card and then walk on to the next restaurant, once i've got a couple of cards i hand one of the "competition" cards to the next restauranteur who stops me as he gives me his. It confuses the hell out of them and we all have a good laugh, except the wife who hates it cos it takes me 2 hrs to finally get sat down.lol

jambo....good spot made me laugh


John

To be honest when we were there last year in June we found the bars/restaurants not too bad.
For us the worse were the Jewellers and the hairdressers who were constantly pestering us to go in.

Must agree with Rachel06 the hairdressers/ barbers were the worst.. i just kept telling them that at my age i needed to keep as much hair as i could...some laughed.. but most didnt understand the joke. ...Rog.

thats funny, and I do love cummo's idea of swapping the cards about, could have loads of fun with that.

tipsy wrote::lol:
thats funny, and I do love cummo's idea of swapping the cards about, could have loads of fun with that.

The card swapping sounds like a good laugh ,Play the front staff at their own game...Like It.

At the end of the week, we had a routine for at which point we could cross the road to avoid a certain twonk who was just too annoying. Just couldn't be bothered arguing anymore.