Thanks Morh,

We will give the owners some business but we like to explore & see a bit of the area we are staying, we will stock the fridge & I always cook breakfast anywhere we go , I get up the same time everyday when in UK & abroad ....does my head in sometimes but I can't lay in my bed that is why I go for a walk & get the breakfast in .....the other 3 members of the family are less keen on my earlybird antics so I usually get the bulk of the morning to myself ( best part of the day )

cheers Stevie

Hi again

Like me. Winter/summer, hail, rain or snow I am up with the lark.

On holiday my daughter and son in law do the 7.00am ish walk round to the bakery for the fresh bread/rolls for the brekkie in the morning. The thought of 21 days of english brekkie just doesnt appeal.

Sticking to topic here I will be doing a review on my return about costs in Turkey this year. There seems to be a huge variation in what others are saying about prices so will give my views on that.

Cheers!

A friend of ours has just returned from Oludeniz. She saved a fortune by booking excursions and boat trips most days, and the food is thrown in. She reckons she only spent £400 for the fortnight by doing this. (she went self catering)
We've just done the same, and booked tours and boat trips for most of our fortnight stay, and got them cheaper too by booking on-line. We even booked a trip to Fethiye market for just £2 and get our lunch thrown in too!!!
Well where in the U.K. could you have a lovely day out on a boat, and a 3 course lunch thrown in for just £15-00 each?
Mind you, we're not big drinkers so if you like your booze, this could bump the spending money up.

Pandy, where online did you book your trips..?

Hi bribrian
I'm not allowed to post links yet, but if you google Carole andTarfun, it brings up their website. You can book all your trips up before you go. We have.
I've heard the sunset cruise is to die for!!!
All the trips and boat tours include transfers. They will pick you up, and drop you off at your hotel.

Hi Pandy but don't you mean Carole at Tayfun ??

Les

Many thanks.........

Just back from Turgertries for 2 weeks. Costs have risen, not by that much though. However I noticed beer prices have rocketed as have soft drinks particulary at bars where they are very pricey.

Also cans were £2.50 on Jeep Safari and expensive on the boat trip, they do love to sting you. One of the Jeep Safari stops was at a village where they had camels and the icecreams were 3 Lira + each. About 4 people purchased one.

We then stopped for another break in a village where they had Aldiga (Walls) icecreams at standard RRP. Some of these are dirt cheap (Mini Milk 10p, other fruity lollies for 20p, Twister 40p) and practically all of the people from 12 jeeps bought an icecream. And the reason why was it was so cheap and they weren't ripping us off.

The Turkish need to understand they cannot always charge over-inflated prices because people won't buy or eat. Charge the standard rate and everyone flocks. Surely there is more business sense in that.

Also noticed a complete lack of bartering on trips, no budging at all and Jeep safari £5 more each, owing to fuel apparently which is same price as last year.

Resturant prices are getting expensive, steak in particular. It's all good and well having a cheap meal for 6 Lira of a Cheese Toastie and Chips, but when I had the tiniest bread and about 5 chips, I'd hardly call that value. Portions are becoming very stingy. When we can eat at many local pubs and resturants for less here, the Turks don't believe you. They didn't believe we sell Efes for the same 5 Lira they do. I think some need to visit because England looks reasonable compared to foreign countries.

When it comes to alcohol the prices have risen due to a tax increase and meat prices have gone up a lot all over Turkey so in those cases there is not much to be done about the price increases. However I cannot see how anyone can justify charging £2.50 for a can of soft drink and there is no reason to be stingy with things like bread and pototoes as they are very cheap over there.

It is not just in Turkey though that these things happen, you go to any tourist attraction in the UK and you will find over inflated prices for soft drinks and ice creams. I don't buy drinks at this price anywhere but there are always people who will pay so they will continue to sell at ridiculous prices even though it is very unfair.

In the UK also we don't have anywher near as high a tax on alcohol so we can get cheap drinks in pubs like Wetherspoons. I'm sure the Turkish people in the resorts would love to visit England to see this for themselves but unfortunatley it isn't as easy for them as it is for us to travel.

Well.. my partner and i are off to altinkum on the 26th July... 21sleeps!!!!

We're taking 2400 Lira.... for 2 weeks self catering..
we arent taking kids, and will probably only have a main evening meal as i dont each much when its very hot, which im assuming it will be in July/August!! We do drink but not excessive... and plan on going on 1 or 2 trips if possible.

do you think this will be enough?

Hello Sarahste
When you say your taking 2400 lira,have you already changed your currency.

I understand taxes have risen and meat prices have and that I don't mind as such. What bothers me is that some are banging on about how great and cheap there restaurant is when it is very expensive. And there is no reason to be stingy on portions of chips/rice/cheese etc if its relatively cheap still.

Of course drinks are more in our tourist areas, again I never pay those sort of prices.

Oh and I love Turkey still but time for a break after four years!

Hi gulliver

Sorry i didnt explain myself properly!

Yes its foreign currency, we've been getting bits changed now and again and we now have 2400 lira.. its about £1200 i think!

All in all i think there are many contributing factors to price rises, Turkey is certainly not alone when it comes to price hikes on fuel ( which affects the price of every thing ) and tax on alcohol and tobacco..the U.K can certainly give them a run for there money.
The fact that our British pound is weak the world over is the hardest thing to stomach, doesnt seem to matter what other currencies do, ours always seems to be worth less. 4 years ago i got nearly ytl6000 for £2000 now you get, if your lucky ytl4400 thats a huge drop and makes any price increases seem far worse.
I am heading to Gumbet shortly with my family, 7 in total and am dreading it to be honest ( from a financial point of view ) this will be trip #6 to Gumbet and if prices have gone up that much i guess it will be my last ( i hope not as i really enjoy the place ) we are self catering and have always enjoyed eating out but will be cutting down this year, although to be honest because of how many of us there are we can sometimes get quite good discounts for eating in resturaunts.
Really enjoy the place, never had any problems, and fingers crossed price hikes not to much.
Truth be told though its the weak pound thats affecting us all the most, and thats not Turkeys fault.

Somebody just back (from Altinkum mind) was getting 2.35 to the pound in resort...

There's another 300 Lira for you then

John

Exchange rate has gone up in the past month or so, nearly hit 2.40 at one point, just .10 short of the 2.50 highs of 2009. Better than 2.20 anyway!

Hi all,

I have just returned from Icmeler. There was just myself and my 4 year old who went. Maybe I am being blind, but most of the prices of food seamed the same, not a rise that I noticed since last year, however, the portion sizes did seam smaller. But if I said something more was always brought at no extra cost. I felt that the prices of alcohol were more than last year but being with a child I seldom drink, so was not affected there too much. Yeah I sometimes had cocktail or 2 inafternoon but nothing ott...

We went self catering so tended to wake late some day's have late breakfast and late lunch etc... A couple of times had cooked breakfast. Ate out, again I often ordered child's portion plus mine which was plenty plus the 'free' meze's (unsure of spelling), ice-cream for my daughter and coffee after, I must say I have few complaints.

We did not do any trips as I don't feel confident on a boat with my lively 4 year old, would be on edge all day. We tended to go to beach or just stay in pool area. All in all I spent just £400 in 2 weeks. I did not skimp on drinks, ice-creams for daughter oh and myself or anything, we just has a fun relaxing time.

So brought money back for the next trip which I am looking at booking right now!!

Happy Holiday's everyone.
Ruth and Carmen

hello sarahste,
We go to Altinkum nearly every year,but we stay halfboard,drink every night,and have to buy our lunch.Theres only the two of us ,and we usually spend about£600-700 for the fortnight.We always change our money in Altinkum,as you always get a better rate over there.I suppose it depends on what you eat and drink and where,as to how much you spend,but as it's about £100 a day your taking,you should be ok.After being there for a couple of days you'll soon know yourself where to go.

Its looking better all ready John, 300ytl buys a fair amount of effes