icmeler just now

[jimmy glasgow]

how many shops, pubs shut down at this time of year,,, i cant imagine the place being empty !! our usual haunt is friends bar across from the love boat.. ROLL ON NEXT JULY !!

[LaneyICR]

Jimmy glasgow the majority of places do actually close down for the winter. In Icmeler just a handful of bars stay open to provide residents with meeting points and good food, drink & entertainment. The supermarkets stay open & again just a few of the small markets stay open but literally everything else in the resort closes. Everywhere becomes very sleepy, but given we have still got blue skies and sunshine the residents are getting out and about to enjoy the resort without the hustle and bustle of all the tourists!!! lol!!

[Sami]

Laney, that actually sounds blissful. What are the flights like over to Dalaman at this time of the year, I mean can you get there directly and where can you stay?

[JT]

Ok as people seem to think after reading other posts that there are certain places open in Icmeler, here is the ones that are open

The only place open to stay is Greenmar apartments bookable through us at ICR

Bars open that we know will stay open ALL winter are.....

3 Bells on road to village and Bar One further up the road

They are the only two that are a definite for every day

Some that did open for the odd day last year were Sonys further on from 3 Bells and the Irish bar once or twice

Supermarkets are open but not like the normal Ronnie Barker opening times.

A couple of fruit shops open.

The bar that was Cafe Ann a few years ago on the beach next to Coco Beach was open through the winter for cay in the mornings but the only person I ever saw there was the owner and myself

Deniz Kapisi is nice to sit all day and is open in the evenings for meals and gets busy with Turkish people

I believe Onbasi is staying open this year at his Botanic Miami bar

The change shops seem to stay open for a while as this time of year there is a few people visiting but mainly ladies going out to visit their boy/men friends as they can now relax as all their work is done

Flights are not direct but THY do great flights and most of the time connections are not bad if you search for your days

I believe Pegasus may still have their flights on via Stansted to Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side of Istanbul where you could connect then to Dalaman

As Elaine said it is the best time of year for the ex pats as tourists have gone home, they can let their dogs have a good run about along the beach and relax in the 3 bells with a cold Efes (or hot tea) and just watch the world go by very slowly

Marmaris Marina is still bustling and a great place to sit and soak the winter sun in one of the many bars and eat Hamsi which should I think be in season soon

Beam me up Scotty

[Sami]

You are selling it to me JT

[LaneyICR]

Well Sami if you do want to come over for the winter, let us know. I am here all year round (except Christmas) and Michelle is here also so we would gladly meet up with you for a drink.... or two

[LaneyICR]

For anybody wanting to fly to Turkey during the winter I have found the cheapest flights with Turkish airlines flying from Izmir to either Manchester or Birmingham. The bus from Izmir to Marmaris is only 4hours and cost 45tl and refreshments are served on the bus. This flight is not direct, there is a 2hour stop at Istanbul, but it beat flying to Dalaman where I would have had to have a 10hour wait at Istanbul. Also booking with turkish airlines beats travelling with other holiday companies as the price quoted includes your luggage and you refreshments on both flights, plus extra leg room.

[patsiej]

JT I understand that the Kontes is opening in the winter.

[JT]

First I heard about Knotes

Peli they did say they were going to be open ALL last winter too along with a few other places so only time will tell and that is why I named only the ones I knew for certain

[Sami]

Well Sami if you do want to come over for the winter, let us know. I am here all year round (except Christmas) and Michelle is here also so we would gladly meet up with you for a drink.... or two

Ah thanks. What's January like? I might look at coming out then instead of before Xmas.

[JT]

Last January was very wet but when the sun shone it was perfect but freezing at night time

Same bars as stated open

[Sami]

Cool. Thanks JT. Need some early year sunshine.