Turkey Discussion Forum

Discussions regarding holidays in Turkey.
Reply
Sorry forgot to say sunbed sıtuatıon doesnt seem quıte so bad at the moment . You wont get a sunbed around the pool I dont thınk ıf you are later than 6.30 but plenty avaılable on the grass or beach ıf you are not too choosy . trouble ıs the spots wıth trees for shade are also very popular so you may get left wıth spot wıth no shade ıf you leave ıt too late . Beach should be fıne as theır are umbrellas.

We have now moved camp to the grassy area under the trees but next to the pool. much nıcer and your stuff doesnt get soaked .

Has got even busıer thıs week wıth the arrıval of more sunbeds . Im pretty sure there are enough beds avaılable for the number of hhotel guests whıch does at least make a change .

Im now up to about 4 ıce creams wıth double scoops each day . The lemon ıs my favouıte wıth added nuts . :rofl
Sorry about all the typos .
Reply
Lyn

I am packing shorts but I was wondering if you needed long trousers in the restaurants.

Anybody wants a anti-persperant what lasts for day and it doesn't matter how hot and humid it is your under arms will stay dry when others stop working. Driclor solution, £6 from boots but you have to follow the instructions carefully, its for excessive sweating and I thought turkeys heat could cause that or if people only like to apply once every 2 weeks or once a month.
Reply
Hi. Just got back from the Arum (3 this morning). Everyday I walked along the beach between 1 and 2, and there were always loads of sunbeds on the beach at ALL the hotels.
Reply
CloClo when you've recovered from your hols would you please write a review of the Arum here:- http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/turkey/antalya-region/side/barut-arum-hotel-resort-and-spa/

Many thanks :tup
Reply
I will get a review done over the weekend on the Hemera. Lynn, those lemon ice creams with pistachios on the top are the best. Know what you mean about some staff, we will compare notes when you get back. Enjoy the last couple of days of your holiday because it's chucking it down here :wave:
Reply
Posted my review today. Something I forgot to mention, the Turkish lessons! Every day at the pool bar with Bora, great fun and we learnt so much in just a few lessons, would recommend :wave:
Reply
Hi all . Just back last night . Had a lovely time and will try and do a review later . The teens had a ball and children of all ages will love it there as there are plenty of others to mix with . It hasnt been so sticky the last few evenings Mike so hope it holds out for you .

The Hemera really does offer a good standard of A/I . As said the quality of food and drinks etc is excellent as are the rooms and facilities . Huge measures and beer in decent sized proper glasses too.

Will leave the few negatives for my review but really these come down to the Restuarant ambience and setting , entertainment and the lack of Turkishness amongst the staff which I suppose I should have expected to a certain degree in a larger hotel . Just missed the fun and antics that usually go with turkish staff but here they are just doing a job and at times that job could be done so much better .

lyn
Reply
Welcome home Lyn :)

Glad you all enjoyed yourselves - look forward to reading your review.
Reply
Thanks Lesley. bit snowed under at the moment . Thought you would be away yourself at the moment .

lyn
Reply
Welcome home Lyn :) glad you had a good time. It sounds like the AI was a really high standard. I will probably have to go to somewhere like this to keep my teens occupied next year so cant wait to read your review. Perhaps the staff thing is just down to the size of the hotels its probably difficult to be as friendly as say the Belcekic Beach or Asena Beach which are smaller and therefore more personal, they are probably really busy just getting through all the work. Although the staff were pretty friendly at Lykia which is large. Would you go back to that area of Turkey, need to find somewhere for next year ?
Reply
hi, we have got this hotel on our shortlist for next year either end of aug or middle of july, is there many mozzies here? also i know some hotels in turkey alllow smoking in the hotel is this one of them? i'm not anti smoking but dont want the kids breathing it in for 2 weeks, thanks for any help given. also which is the best tour operator to use?
Reply
Didnt really notice any mozzie problems Hayley .We still put the repelant on of an evening just in case but we often forgot and never had any bites .

Smoking is allowed in all outside eating/drinking areas but not inside .

We went with Direct holidays (part of thomas cook) as they were giving the best price by a mile when we booked . Thomson/portland also go there as do cosmos . Not sure about next year but those are who were opering there at the moment .

There was a tv crew there our first week . Believe it was TC . We were on a sunbed right behind where they were filming a couple so hope my fat backside and constant sweaty look will not be appearing on TV any time soon .

Would you go back to that area of Turkey, need to find somewhere for next year ?


Probably not Chris . Side was very nice . Well at least It would of been had it not been high season . It was packed . Felt like christmas shopping in lakeside but worse. I would say from what we saw there and on the hours coach journey it was the least attractive coast . I was amazed at how busy the beach was in both directions . A lot more hotels than I actually expected . It just didnt feel like Turkey to me and that is quite important to us .
Reply
Welcome home Lynn, look forward to comparing notes, although from your comments already, think those notes are going to be the same. Like you we really missed the Turkish banter,this and a few other reasons are why I wouldn't go to that area of Turkey again. Been spoiled by Olu and the BB I suppose :wave:
Reply
Yes I think so , although it felt much bigger so I suppose was to be expected . I always remember our first visit to turkey (Asena Beach) where the staff were the entertainment . All of them jumping onto the bar dancing to Kiss kiss . The water polo games of an afternoon that they would organise themselves (turkey V England ) and the easy going way they would perch on your sun bed with you chatting . Then on to the Belcekiz with the Omlette tossing chefs ,standing with a plate on your head waiting for your omlette to fly through the air . The bottle juggling bar staff (cant remember their names) with the guests all clapping in time with them and the music and the easy going atmosphere where you felt the staff enjoyed their job .

I didnt feel any of that at the Hemera but I did hear plenty of people moaning that it just wasnt the same this year without the old entertainment team . And what was that dull music around the pool . some of it was older than me and thats saying something . :rofl
Reply
I said in my review th Hemera is very good value for money, but there are some things you can't buy.
Atmosphere and ambience are a couple that spring to mind. The guy tossing the bottles is called Ritchie by the way and he is still there.
Wasn't it a relief when they played the odd Micheal Jackson CD around the pool? :rofl
Entertainment was dire I thought, but like your boys, our girl's really had a whale of a time. Having said that the youngest is trying to work out if she can squeeze a week to Olu in before she starts Uni, good luck to her paying for that :rofl
Reply
Maybe we are just not cut out for 5* minone .

My sons are trying to convince us that they were out one evening with Mr Barut . Not sure if it's true or that they will believe anything . :rofl
Reply
PSML I dont think I am cut out to be a 5* customer either then. :rofl I love the idea of all the superb food, and posh rooms and presumably lots of different restaurants and I am sure having lots of Germans about the place seems to raise the standards in the hotels on this coast as I expect they pay a lot for their holidays and in return expect an excellent hotel.

I liked the chap at the BB who used to walk about with the huge frond from one of the plants and fan you when you were not looking he was brilliant, but always forget his name. When we went to leave 5 members of staff including the Manager stood ont the steps and waved goodbye, then they all proceeded to get on the coach and pretend they were coming home with us. So funny. OMG just realised I want to go back. I often have this scary thought that I found the best place in Turkey first time out.

lynwestie wrote:
We were on a sunbed right behind where they were filming a couple so hope my fat backside and constant sweaty look will not be appearing on TV any time soon .

.


Thats something for us all to be looking forward to on Thomas Cook TV then Lyn. Fame at last Eh ! ;)
Reply
Holiday Truths Forum

Post a Reply

Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.

Sign in / Register

Holiday Truths Forum Ship image

Get the best deals!

from our cruise, ski and holiday partners

You can change your email preferences at any time.

Yes, I want to save money by receiving personalised travel emails with awesome deals from Holiday Truths group companies which are hotholidays.co.uk,getrcuising.co.uk and getskiing.co.uk. By subscribing I agree to the Privacy Policy

No, thank you.