8 weeks to go, a few questions

[Joules]

8 weeks time we'll be at the pool bar in the Alvaro debating where to eat, excited lots

A few questions spring up.

Where can the hubby get a Turkish shave? How much roughly does it cost?
Can it be done whilst we're enjoying a Turkish bath? People mention being offered extras at the Turkish baths. What's included as standard and what's the extras? How much extra are we talking for 2 of us?
We arrive in Icmeler around 2am on the Sunday morning, is it realistic to think we'll be able to have a Turkish bath that day?

Most importantly how much cash should we bring?

Apart from breakfast and evening meal, hubby will probably have 5/6 efes a day, me a few cocktails. Lots of bottled water for during the day.

We're hoping to go on a few boat trips, not the ai ones.

Hubby will be trying the diving, if he likes it he'll want to dive a few days instead of the normal boat trips.

So far I've got £400 in lira. Will another £300 be enough for 2 weeks? We will have access to more if needed but hoping not.

Cheers

Joules

[MrT]

My own thought is that £700 may be enough for everyday spends, based on what your daily usage is likely to be, but add £200 more for trips! Good luck and enjoy

[blondie]

Your hubby can certainly get a Turkish shave - my OH recommends the barber just along from the Florida restaurant, which isn't that far from the Alvaro.

[madazahatter]

I think you may have severely underestimated the cost of things. Would that be £700 each?

My wife and I do similar things to what you've said, we don't go stupid but we don't scrimp either, usually spend between £1100 and £1300 between us in two weeks. Includes all meals, drinks usually about 3 trips and a couple of trips to Marmaris and Turunc. Neither of us smoke and we do not go to the markets or buy lots of souvenirs/fakes etc.

The Turkish bath is good value through ICR but be prepared for the hard sell for extra treatments, up to an extra £30 each, there are plenty of barbers who will do a shave, I usually pay around 20 lira for my face and head shaved.

[smc4761]

I think you may struggle if you are taking £700 between you, especially if you are doing diving. Eating out for each meal and doing a couple of trips plus drinkypoos and I would think that £800-£1000 be enough for 2 weeks, diving would be extra on top of this

[dksbbs]

Budget £50 per person per day and you won't go far wrong, best to have money to bring home than not enough while you are out there.

Dave

[Joules]

Cheers folks

[mupton]

Hi Joules

Yes I reckon you need approx £ 40 to £ 50.00 each per day these days.
£ 700.00 for 2 people for 2 weeks = dull holiday
Take too much and you can always bring it home.
Too little can be very disappointing.
Its a long way to go
Make sure you make the most of it and enjoy it

Mupton

[Mandy Mo]

We went through about £700 for the two of us for 2 weeks last September. This included all our drinks, meals, trips, taxi boats to Marmaris and Turunc, dolmus and a few goodies to bring home with us. We have already changed £600 worth this year as the rate has been exceptional - we normally take sterling with us and change at resort because you usually get a better rate out there, but weren't going to chance that this year!! We will also take £400 sterling with us - just in case!!! And there's always our bank cards should we need them - but I'm sure it won't come to that! lol

It does really depend on what your needs are - we tend to bulk up on brekkie at the hotel, that keeps us going til our evening meal, but if we do get peckish lunchtime to mid afternoon, we will usually have some fruit or a small meal between us somewhere like Jimmy's Okomo or Cafe Anne's, plenty of water of course and, depending on our day, where we are, etc., one or three efes along the way as well! We will then have our evening meal at whichever restaurant we choose, washed down by a few efes/cocktails somewhere like the Buffalo bar which is really cheap and Sugar the owner and his staff are very accommodating. Like I say we are hoping the £600 will be enough for this September as the exchange rate has been so good now for a while, but the sterling back up is always handy to have. Enjoy. x

[mupton]

Hi Mandy Mo

Yours works out at approx £ 25.00 each per day.
I don't think that will be enough this year.
We spent more than this on our first visit in 2004 when we were millionaires
I had heard the tax has been increased on the alcohol for this year ??? Some say 15%
If you stop in your apartment and only eat and drink from Tansas and such like you may survive
Enjoy

Mupton

[markglasgow]

Quite correct Mumpton.

The Turkish government increased Special Consumption Tax by 15% for beer and 10% for other alcohol earlier this year. We can expect this to be passed on to the consumer in the resorts when the season opens.

http://www.tax-news.com/news/Consumers_ ... 63219.html

[chezza100]

With the rate as it is though, I doubt it will make much difference compared to last year's prices.

As long as it stays that way of course.

[jillyhuck]

My partner and I would have spent that in oct last year and we were half board and only there 11 nights so you may struggle a little

[geordie1970]

Hi,

Me and Mrs G generally use the same rule of thumb as many others on here and aim for £100 per day to include Trips, Meals, Drinks, extra Sun Lotions, Shopping etc ... But we went Scuba Diving from Marmaris a couple of years ago and it was about £90 for the 2 of us approx?

All I'd say is if you can afford to take more then do, you can always bring money back and feel relaxed that you've got more than enough to last and have a great time!

We've went All-inclusive for June this year, 1st time ever! ... But we're still going to have many a meal out on an evening with Drinks etc but use our Hotel for Breakfast, Lunch, Drinks through the day and a couple of tasters on an evening before and when we get back! Hic hic ... I'm sure we'll still get our monies worth, or should I say we better!!

[mansy]

I'm with you on this one Geordie1970, we budget for £100 a day + expected trip spends, then take extra just in case money.
Better to have to much than not enough, any left over can always be put towards the next holiday spends.
That's what we do, it works for us.

[redrhino12]

I must be a skinflint,because I never spend more than £700 for the 2 of us on food and drink for 14 days.
I would spend extra if we went on trips,two trips say £100.I like a couple of drinks at lunchtime along with a chicken wrap and in the evening we usually have a chicken based meal,finishing of with copious amounts of Efes,the wife drinks pints also,maybe the odd cocktail BOGOF.
I also frequent the Buffalo Bar as I like the people and Karaoke.

Gene

[JohnJill]

Jill why are you posting on here as Jillyhuck (must be the irish in you) your user name is JohnJill you numpty

[Chris221273]

I think £700 would be a real struggle personally.
Assuming prices have gone up with in relation to 2 years ago when we went I think you'd struggle.
With all the shops in Icmeler selling real good fake designer clothes etc, trinkets etc it's hard to not grab a few bargains.
We went with my 16 year old daughter 2 years ago and budgeted on £1,600 being more than ample.
We did one trip while away, add in brekkie, lunch sometimes, evening meals and drinks through out the day/evening and having bought a few tshirts etc and the last 2 days we had to really tighten our belts.
Icmeler is a lot cheaper than the uk, but I think you get caught up in it all and don't really keep an eye on the bills!
Also factor in tipping is customary, and that can soon add up too!
Chris

[mupton]

I think you need £ 100.00 per day per couple to be able to enjoy your holiday.
You have travelled a long way and need to really enjoy it.
Most of us have worked hard for our holidays
Don't skimp when you are there, spread you money around.
We have to keep the Shops, Hotels, Bars and Restaurants busy and thriving
otherwise they may not be there next year.
Especially with the All Inclusives coming more and more into the resort
Icmeler would not be as it is now if AI Hotels take over.
I would be a sad loss for all of us

M.Upton

[redrhino12]

A little breakdown of last years cost at the Buffalo.
16 pints of Efes between 2 of us a day @ £1 a pint x 14 days =.............£224.00
2 chicken wraps at lunchtime @ £4 for both x 14 =...........................£ 56.00
2 chicken breast meals at night @ £7 each x 14 =...........................£196.00
Fruit for the fortnight............................................................£ 30.00
Water for the fortnight..........................................................£ 30.00
maybe 4 breakfasts each @ £1..................................................£ 8.00

total.......£554.00 for 2 weeks
We take Sugar,coffee,cereals with us, buy milk and bread in resort and the odd toilet roll.
You see it all depends on were you eat and drink or if you have steak in the evening or fancy cocktails and imported drinks.
Good job we are all different or they wouldnt be any chickens left in Turkey lol.

Gene with the tightest pockets in Icmeler.
No tipping done.