Hassle

[sanjo]

I have been going to Icmeler for the last 5 years now. I remember the first year we went I hated the hassle as I'd never experienced anything like it before. After a few days though I found I got used to it and a firm no thankyou was all that was required.
The hassle has got a lot less over the years and to be honest its part of the holiday. We had no hassle this year from the restaurants but had a fair bit from the gold shops and the hairdressers. There was one particular hairdresser that really insulted my 14yr olds hair style and made some comment every time we walked past which I thought was really rude and in the end my husband got a bit annoyed and told him to keep his mouth shut and leave us alone or he would be reported.
Needless to say he never bothered us again. I just find it a shame that it had to come to this.
There is a BIG difference in banter and rudeness. So perhaps the officials should leave the restaurant owners alone and check up on some of the shop owners who hassle.

Sandra

[Happy Ann]

Hi All
I have not been on here since he day i came home from holiday 28th June... maybe coz I been feeling a bit low about leaving such a lovely place with such lovely people.
Compared to last September.. well I actually missed all the guys from the restaraunts coming to "talk" to us as we passed, yes some may call it hassle but in fact a little conversation with them is good, and they get used to you and accept you dont want to eat there, but just being polite to them all is all they ask. They need to make a living and that is how they did it, visitors should accept that. I missed the banter.
I did read on her that the Baron has been closed twice since I came home ......... Well I think that is a real shame as I found all the guys there very nice and all are pleasent to all whom pass, Much better than being ignored, its really nice that the guys all remember people from the year before. And as pauline has said .... the hassle in our own streets is bad... but heyyyy we put up with that becuse its on our doorsetep. I mostly dislike people who try to change the places they go on holiday to, to something they think is idyllic instead of appreciating what is there and the way people are.

Phew . .... think I said what i wanted..... except ... Bring back the guys who meet you in the street with a "good evening"

[juneflo]

Ann - I agree. We mised the banter - it's a great way to meet people. I don't mind the hassle (thought I don't see it like that) but a few people have said it's of concern to them and I can how it can be awkward on a first visit.

Let's hope some kind of balance is restored as soon as possible.

[archieb]

Hi all,

I am just back and welcome the new rules, although this was our fourth visit in a row I do think you get hardened to it all and also a lot more tolerant. There can be no reason to get upset if the punters and the hassle guys are polite. A quick no thanks is normally enough. I ignore most shouts if I am not looking at the person shouting which is not rude. The guys are not supposed to leave the restaraunt boundary and are not allowed to wave at passers by now. I have found that if you stick to the most popular venues they do not need to hassle as they get the business anyway. We have only had one incident in four years which was pushing the boundaries and has never spoiled our holiday. Another pointer on shopping is if you do not want to buy, do not shop i.e window shopping is out - just do not go.



Archieb

[robert123]

I can cope with the restaurant hassle, in fact some of it is quite funny, but not being able to browse in a shop drives Mrs mad, although the stalls by the canal do not hassle that much, I do agree when you have been a few times you do get hardened to it.

[sylvnclive]

I feel that the council don't seem to understand what is hassle and what isn't. It's a'one brush tars all' approach and this is to the detriment of the restaurants. As a lot of people have said, there are restaurants and other establishments that should be 'warned' of their hassle, but is closure the correct way as once money is lost they have to work harder to make this up. Last week, the Baron was shut for 7 nights up until last Friday and the Romance was shut for 7 nights from this Tuesday. The Romance had a sign up that said' Sorry, it's our turn, see you next Tuesday', which sums up the attitude out there. It looks like every restaurant will be closed once during the season just to 'wave the big stick' and to me this is wrong. Pop Inn Oscars is due to close for 3 nights and Hussain doesn't hassle, just greets people as friends and the Council don't understand this. There has been a lot of discussion that the restaurants are taking the brunt of the councils action, when there is worse hassle elsewhere from other establishments and I agree that you have to plan your route for the night both ways. Being hassled to buy t shirts at 1am isn't very good and I hate it.

Perhaps the way forward is for Rami to make our representations to the Mayor and ask them to look at their approach and possibly widen it to include the jewellers, shops etc. There is a similar forum to this in Altinkum and this was done there to very good effect and there are now regular meetings between forum representatives and the Mayor to look at our concerns and for him to try to quell them to the benefit of both sides.

I know that takings are down in Icmeler this year on last year and that wasn't a good year, so they are working hard to get us to spend our money in the restaurants and pubs. But the Mayor must understand that if we get fed up and go away, the takings will come down even further. But we mustn't forget that Icmeler belongs to Turkey and not us and we don't want to turn it into Spain (well I don't anyway). We can ask nicely, but if we don't get we have two options stay or go and I hope it's the former.

[skilly]

I have just commented on a thread about English chippies and felt I had to return to this topic.

I agree with a previous post stating that Altinkum council have meetings to discuss hassle etc with forum reps and other parties involved.

I don't know how everyone else feels but the real Icmeler is slowly being wore away and that is very sad

[hamish1966]

we have just returned from icmeler and what atime we had with regards to hassle we stayed at elif hotel which was fine but the elif bar staff are horrid they have ruined our holiday i spoke to several people who had the same problems with thier hotels/apartments im far to upset and angry to post an acurate description of our holiday we found the hassle a lot worse in some cases i think that the new rules regarding hassle has made the bar owners frustrated and many of them have become abussive i was called all kinds of names for not giving bars our buisness it realy was hellish sorry but im going to take a break from this site and gather my thoughts i was so looking forward to my break and it was very stressful every night we went out
ps we did not eat in the same place twice and spent well over two thousand pounds so they got ther pound of flesh off me mabe for the last time

[robert123]

Hamish don't go I would like to hear more of your experiance

[Pauline]

So sorry Hamish to hear of your experience at the Elif, i have stayed there 3 times and only got back 2 weeks ago and i agree they were very upset when we didnt eat there, but they had to except it as we wanted to go and try different places. It hasnt stopped me from staying there again because we like the position of the hotel.
I really hope it hasn't stopped you going to icmeler again, i think it will all have to die down with the police but maybe write to the restaurant as the hotel is a seperate business. I am sure ilyas would like to know how you feel.

Pauline

[Karemolinos]

Like everybody else, the police are only doing their job!

But they might like to lay off the Hasslers who after all are just really, really annoying and patrol the very dark, and very quiet roads leading back to the village, anytime after dark as I know of 2 people who were recently approached and asked for money....fortunately they could run fast!!
Surely this is more of a potential problem?

[bibbs]

hi karemolinos,
when you say asked for money do you mean begging or mugging,if its the latter im very concerned as i and my family will have to do that walk every night next year

[Yorkshire Rose]

The people who read and comment on here are only a fraction of the people who visit Icmeler, so a lot of people will have no idea what is happening behind the scenes and will probably be glad that the hassle has subsided.

I for one wouldnt miss the hassle as such, but do think its a real shame that you cant even talk to the hassler for fear of getting them into trouble, some one earlier said that if the restuarants worked with each other to combat this, then maybe things would be better, I think that they should be able to give you a card and let you go on your way - therefore leaving you to decide where you want to eat. I for one am put off going somewhere who is OTT with the hassle, therefore it is counter productive.

I would much rather eat somewhere that is easy come easy go and you are left to choose. We fell out with "good friends" at the Titanic because they took offence that we were eating in other places - we were warmly welcomed the year before last and ate there most morning for breakfast and a couple of times in the evening. Last year we went there on our first night and the seemed to expect us to eat there every night which was unrealistic, eventually Mehmet the hassler started say you are my friends why arent you eating here, we said we are just trying somewhere new, eventually he started getting stroppy with us, and by the end of the holiday made comments whenever we passed, therefore we used to walk a long way round the avoid him - we thought he was our "friend".

[Karemolinos]

hi karemolinos,
when you say asked for money do you mean begging or mugging,if its the latter im very concerned as i and my family will have to do that walk every night next year

Hi bibbs, I dont think your family needs to worry, Our family walk that way every night, feeling completely safe, but a couple of teenagers (well early 20's and my daughter) were walking home LATE when they were approaches by a scruffy tall Turkish guy demanding money! fortunately they weren't drunk, told him to get lost and ran!!
Previously (a month before) the same thing happend to my friends son. I think if it happens its opportunists who pick on what they consider easy prey. I have been staying in the village for years and always felt safe walking back, just be careful and walk back the best lit route. I must say we didnt report it so we must take some of the responsibility for the lack of policing.

[bibbs]

ok thanks karemolinos,
we have never been to icmeler,next may will be our first time,as you say i will have to look into the best route home as we are staying a fair bit towards the back of the resort,are there any dolmus still running late at night or would it have to be a taxi,i dont mind the walk home but the other half and the girls are not that keen,and thats without them knowing about the incidents you mentioned, there excuse is heels ?,

[redrhino12]

Hi bibbs,
You will find that a lot of the bars and restaurents run a free taxi/dolmus/car service for customers who have spent an evening in their bar/restaurent.
Dont be afraid to mention it to the waiter in the place you have been eating,drinking.

Gene

[scallyally]

Hi Bibbs you will love the Old Village, it has so much charm and well its beautiful. We were there last week for a fortnight and we walked back most evenings sometimes rolling in at 3am. We didnt experience anything untoward but as in this country keep your wits about you. The latest we got the Dolmus back was midnight which is great for the high heels wearers amongst us!!

Gene is right though in that 99% of bars/restaurants will actually collect you from your apartment/hotel and return you when your evening is over, we did this several times, they are very punctual so dont be late!!

I would say though that you wouldnt walk about willy nilly in the UK after dark and Icmeler is no different but you will love the Old Village its so gorgeous.

[cassie]

with regards to the hassle i came back last friday and felt it wasnt as bad as last year a few good friends who own bars were upset to find themselves being close down for 3 days while we were taking a stroll one evening i noticed a turkish freind sitting in a bar knowing he was in the army doing his national service i was really surprised to see him he spotted us at the same time i called out his name and he came out onto the pavement after a lot of hugs and kisses he explained he was on leave whilst talking he quickly said lets move on and walk incase the bar was shut for hassling there is hassling and general frienship that needs to be recognised by the council otherwise our dear turkish friends will be frightend to greet us,

[bibbs]

sorry for going off topic guys,just wanted to say thanks to gene and scallally for the replies,how much do i like the pick up and drop off idea,

[Xlou-louX]

Heya Everyone just got bck from icmeler on saturday! and yes they are now crackin down on icmeler also! while i was there they had closed a few resterants! they can be closed from 1 day onwards! there was one resterant tht was shut for 10 days! as they are quite bad for hassling! we found tht they could get quite nasty about it also! after they had bin shut for 10 days u would have thought they would learn! but the night they opened they were bck hassling again!
then you get resterants tht get closed down when they are the ones tht hassle the least! soz for the long comment!