louise, no I have not been to this part of turkey before and I hope that the beaches are nice I have heard that they are. We are flying form Manchester, not long now to wait

the beaches are extensive ...
there are many diving sites in and around alanya and many diving schools etc.
Most dives take place off the promontary where there are several caves. also night time dives are possible

hi all
I am just wondering if anyone can tell me if there are plenty of cash machines available in alanya. We are going for two weeks in july and have decided that this might be the best way to handle our cash whilst we are there.
thanks

i live in alanya and there are a few misconceptions here.
someone enquired about malaria on this side of Turkey...thats a fallacy there is no malaria bearing mossies..but they are a nuisance. Actually Marmaris is much more plagued by mossies than Alanya as any decent tour guide will tell you.. and any Turk thats lived there will agree.
things to do for young kids...there is a nice free childrens park near ataturk square ..theres an open air swimming pool on the east beach and there are bouncy trampolines etc. Night time on the harbour there is usually a bouncy castle for kids.
Centre of Alanya is an aqua park which is a fun day out.
i'm surprised that nobody mentioned the Dim river which has to be the greatest place ever...magic.
there is a cinema near the town hall which shows latest films in english.

the town used to cater more to germans but thats no longer true. there are very many Dutch and Danish people here and they get confused with germans sometimes..The difference is that they WİLL speak english..whilst the germans refuse to there are also loads of Fins(great fun) Swedes,Norwegians Poles, and Russians
Alanya is a big town much bigger than Marmaris Kusadasi or Bodrum.
Nearly everybody here welcomes the english...i've never heard any negative criticisms of the english..but the majority of Turks don't like the germans personally i find them ok.
i used to own a restaurant opposite the Margarita and it is ok pricey in their restaurant and bar but its clean and well managed..

hi ibnlancs there are loads of cash macines but they tend to be all in the centre. where are you staying

hi shirley
we are staying at the green park appartments. i've been told they are about 1km from the centre

green park is about 10 minutes to the beach but i believe they have a bus..and yes it is outside the centre but its not too far to walk and there are loads of shops and bars on the way. Or get the beach bus down and walk into the centre from there.
Green park is also not far from the Margarita where somebody else on the forum enquired about. Fridays there is a street market just down the road from Green Park and a bigger market in the centre of town also on a friday. the town market is mainly produce fruit and veg.
the hotel has a nice pool for kids with water slides..so you won't be able to drag them away

shirleyanntr, Thanks a lot for giving the weather report daily, its been a real good help, I'm glad I asked you to do it now, thanks again.

Hi,
Just back from Alanya, had a great two weeks there. Temperature in the thirties with a nice breeze at the beach. The resort is beginning to get really busy with most of the holidaymakers coming from Northern Europeand Russia. This is my second visit to Alanya and fifth to Turkey. Shopping is great both in the bazaar in the Centrum and in the tuesday market in Mahmutlar. Great quality jeans, t-shirts, shirts, jewellery etc can be bought at bargain prices. As regards food and drink, this is first year that I really noticed the increase in prices. From conversations with barstaff and waiters, they explained that businesses have had to increase their prices as the number of tourists coming to Turkey are down and that a lot of them are now staying in AI hotels thus are not eating or drinking outside the complexes. Still really enjoyed our two weeks and will post a review of the hotel later.

Tony

Hello everyone,

haven't been on here for quite a while!! Got back from Alanya beggining of the month. Another fantastic time had by all.

Noticed there are more British there this year, maybe because Thomas Cook have started going to more hotels there.

There is a new aqua park near Damlatas (Cleopatra beach) which I would recommend. It's about 20 million to get in but well worth it if you have kids and are gonna stay most of the day. The prices of food and drink inside is not that cheap though.

We also did the Aspendos trip this year. Probably the most amazing thing I have done since going to Alanya. It's a 2000 year old Ampitheatre near Side and they have open air concerts there. Most of the tour shops sell this trip and I would recommend it!!! Fabulous!!

If anyone needs any info just let me know!!!

FAO Shirleyanntr

You don't happen to go in Taffy's do you??

hi crazyangel..no don2t go to Taffys..but i do know June..and she does run a nice place. i fry in other parts glad you liked it here best place in Turkey when we have a night out we go to the Dedi Kodu bar for live turkish music and dancing always a great atmosphere.

I was just wondering because my mum knows someone called Shirley who she met through June at Taffy's. I prefer other places to Taffy's but that just because I am not a fan of English food abroad, I prefer a taste of Turkey and know some lovely Turkish restaurants.

Yeah we go to the Dedi Kodu, They have a different people there this year though, Izzet wasn't singing there any more, I think him and his band are playing in Cubar (not sure how it is spelt!!) which is above Dedi Kodu.

hi crazyangel..different shirley. and i dont like english food either .izzet is singing in a bar near the red tower..cant remember the name off hand but its a great place too. (i teach him english but he's useless!!)
the best turkish food in town is Mini Mutfak have you tried it...in the centre..can hardly get a seat at lunch time. evenings there is live music in the place above.

Hi everyone!

We'reoff to Alanya on 17th July and was wondering if anyone can tell me what the Aytap Hotel is like. How far is it from the centre? Has anyone stayed there? Is it OK?

Another question - we've received conflicting advice about what currency to take. The travel agent told us to take Euros but everyone is saying Sterling? What do you all think? Is it because the resort is mainly German that they are advising Euros?

I'd appreciate any info.....thanks

Hi Mhairi,

Don't know about the Aytap Hotel but as regards currency, the Euro is probably used more in Alanya, most prices in the shops markets are quoted in Lira, Euro or Dollar. I always lodge my holiday money into my Visa account and withdraw it in Lira as needed from one of the many ATM machines in Alanya. Not many people know that if you lodge your holiday money into your Visa/Mastercard account and keep it in credit, there is no foreign currency conversion charge, therefore more cash for Efes. It is safer as you don't carry a lot of cash and you don't have the hassle of converting Travellers' cheques.

Tony

thats a handy tip Tony..about the foreign currency. and youre right about drawing money when you need it..much better than fiddling with travellers cheques.
the Aytap is a minutes walk away from where i am sitting.
its in a good location .opposite the east beach. looks ok from the outside..
it gets mixed reports some love it others say the food is lousy etc.
the location as i said is super.

Hi

The Aytap is a nice hotel. Pretty typical of any Turkish hotel really. We found the staff friendly and the rooms clean, The pool is not massive but it's adequate. Can't help with the food though as I only ever go Bed and breakfast, you miss out on the fab restaurants otherwise!! the location is good, a little way out of the centre but close enough to everything you'll want.

Shirley,

Where abouts in the centre is Mini Mutfak?? Don't think I have been there.

I only saw Izzet once in May. Our friend Baris is playing keyboard in the band now, but unfortunately I didn't get down there as much as I would have liked.

Yeah his English is not great but he always comes and says hello - you will have to keep helping him - he will get there in the end!! Baris speaks perfect English as he was a translator at the hospital for a while. maybe he should help Izzet!!

well i havent been to alanya....altho im going in 7weeks time...and looking forward to it. ive read lots of good reviews on the website and hoping it will be like everyone says it is....

anyone stayed in the hayat???? if so could you let me know what its like cheers
summerfairy1985