ust back last night and another good holiday

Flights
Booked these with Aegean last July 2 flight from Glasgow for £340. Flight was delayed fro 1 hour. Coming back another 1 hour delay, bit of a pain but not too bad, unlike the prices with Onur Air for drinks and snacks
Can of coke, £3.50, small can of beer £3, bottle of water, £2.60, sandwich about £6 you get the picture.

Now for the Victor Meldrew moments. I always seem to sit very near the family with the screaming weans or the very drunk women. I won a watch on both counts this time, The 4 women managed to devour 2x 1 litre bottle of duty free vodka on way out, so were very loud and found everything hilariously funny. Bad enough on a day flight but at 3 in the morning, AHHHHHHHHH

TRANSFERS

I booked the shuttle bus for, me and the missus, £15 each return. Fabulous is the word. Off the plane at 03.20, through to get Visa and passport control, and out to shuttle bus which already had 3 families on it and away for 03.55. We did stop but only for 10 minutes and as we were in Icmeler we were last off, as usual, but was still in bed for 05.45. The mini bus had a largish screen and we watched a very new DVD, with Jo Lo

Coming back even better, picked up at 13.00 as they advised, 1 pick up in Marmaris then on to airport for 14.50 including 15 minute stop. Mini bus was new very clean and I can highly recommend the shuttle bus.

APARTMENTS

Stayed at OZLEM 1 apartments, located in village near Pinewood and Kurt Apartments. 24 apartments most of which were occupied for the 2 weeks. the first week there was 1 family there with 3 youngish kids thereafter it was all middle aged couples
Decent sized swimming pool, plenty sunbeds to go round, no getting up a silly oclock for a sunbed, nice restaurant area and bar. Best of all the bedrooms were to the rear of the complex so no noise from the bar at night. Huge bedroom although kitchen area was a little small. Not much in the way of kitchen utensils although that did not bother as we ate out

One of barmen tried to convice me to go to the Turkish night. As I have been to Turkey on many occasions and seen these before I said no. He was a little persistant bot overly so. About 20 minutes later the Turkish manager tried an even harder sell, not a good idea from him as I hate the hard sell. he eventually gave up and dont think he even acknowledged my presece for the rest of th holiday. Not that I was even slightly bothered. I think as long as you eat at the resturant and drink at the bar they will all talk with you which be be honest suited us down to the ground. Having said that there was very little pressure to stay and eat at the apartments

AROUND ICMELER

Not really a great deal of changes to the front, Erdem cafe area etc looked very similar, except the tables now on decking. A few places closed including some jeweler shops. New square area just down from Harry steakhouse with fountains looked very good.I did not think that the resort was that busy. Walikng at canal area or on front at night was never crowded. During the day though the beach did seem quite busy, beds were certainly packed quite close together.

RESTAURANTS

Had my worst meal ever in Icmeler, lunch at Erdem cafe. I ordered tomato soup and should have reported them to trade description people. This soup had never seen a tomato in its life, perhaps it had been next to the tomato ketchup and thats why they called it tomato soup. The chicken doner kebab had about 3 very small pices of chicken so 0 out of 10 to them. Apart from that food was the usual high standard
Highly recommend OZZYS in the village, about 5 minute waslk from Romance Palace. Superb food very well priced and great atmospher in the place. Apart from steak dishes his prices were sama as last year.
RED LION was also very good, excellent portions, very well priced
3 BELLS, the Korean food is simply wonderful
Finally found the Lemon Tree and whilst the food was OK it was not a patch on the others.

Tandoori Sizzler was most expensive set meal at 36.75TL for starter, main course with rice or nan and a drink

Set meals could be had around the resort in some restuarants. Typically 20 TL for Mezes Soups and a chicken dish, or 24 TL for Meze soup and a steak dish. Otherwise, Typcally 5TL for soups, 7 for garlic mushrooms etc, 16/19 for chicken dishes, 22/30 for steak dishes. Pizzas around 15 TL.

Beer mainly 4 TL although some at 5 TL. Local spirit about 7 TL some were at 5 TL, branded spirits about 10 TL glass o f wine about 6 TL. Biggest rip off is still however soft drinks which were typically 3TL

Some places were very busy, the usual suspects, Venice, Dream 3 Bells, Romance Palace, Majestic. Otheres were very quiet, Kingsland, Set, and most of the places in Village, Deja Vu, Lovestar. Robin Hood opened around 29 May and everytime we passed I dont think anyone was in, Harry Rams and Wembley bar was also deserted. Ozzys was about half full most nights except for Sunday and Wednesday, quiz nights which are great fun, the place was packed

Lunch times spent mainly at KARADENIZ Pide, near Syvias in village area. Fabulous food, try the Turkish Pide, similar but better than pizza and very low prices

BARS

Finally found Sabri,s after 6 years and what a find great bar soft music in background, good prices and just a lovely place to be. Champion bar was much quiter this year, probably because most went to Buffalo Bar. Cant see the attraction myself to be honest, OK the prices are good, but mainly tuneless Karaoke evry night, not my cup of tea
Canary bar very loud music and very quiet, Bamboo very loud but busy. Even the bars around the Dream 3 bells the music seemed quietr but still very loud. Sports bar did not seem as busy and looked to be very similar to last year, Florida, much quiter than normal.Friends not as busy muisc was much quiter

Walking up the road with Titanic Melissa etc some of these places were closed or only a few folk in a t midnight ,never seen that before.

TRIPS

A few palces offering 4 trips for 70TL, baths, jeep safari, boat trip and village tour I think. Boat trips, typically 20 TL or 30 TL for all incusive. Did 2 boat trips, firt one was an all inclusive, but we took the lunch only option. Booked through one of the agencies and worst boat trip in 13 years going to Turkey. Picked up at hotle, but taken to Marmaris. The boat was full but all got sunbed. Did the usual trip around Phosporus cave fish farm etc. Lunch, Oh my god when they said chicken curry I thought they were taking the mick but no. This green gloop with a few measly bits of chicken, spahgetti, salad and bread. It looked disgusting although in fairness it tasted OK. Left at 10.00 and back at 15.45

2nd boat trip booked with the guy who has a stand opposite the ERDEM cafe on front. He has been there for about 15 years. 20 TL and no all inclusive, simply lunch. Left at 10.00 from Icmeler and returned at 6 pm. Went a different route, Amos bay pirate bay and a few other palces plus an hour in Turunc. Lunch was BBQ chicken, meatballs salad and bread, fabulous. Drinks prices were alittle steep 6 TL for small beer and 5 TL for soft drink but I suppouse they need to make money from some where. Music was on but not loud and the guide gave useful information about the trip throughout. Highly recommended

ODDS AND ENDS

Taxi boat still 7.5 TL to Marmaris and dolmus now 2 TL to Marmaris

In Tansas, bottle of coke etc 2 litres for around 2 TL, fruit and veg is very cheap, litre of milk 1.5 TL cereals eg corn flakes about 4 TL altough a very limited choice of cereals. Coffee and UK branded goods etc are pricey as are meat prices

Clothes prices in shops and market very similar to UK prices at Primark Matalan etc

Hassle was almost non existant a polite no thanks to restaurants was enough. A few palces closed, perhaps due to hassle, Deja Vu and the Loveboat was closed for 2 days due to unforseen circumstances

In one stall by the canal a silver jewellers, Mrs smc4761 spent around 5/10 minutes browisng trying on a bout 30 different rings with no hassle at all as did several other people. She eventually picked one she liked as did the others. They all bought their rings bracelets etc. Now if she had been hassled or had a persitent shopkeeper she would have walked away. She loves to browse in shops as do countless other Brits. I appreciate that it may be the Turkish custom to hassle, etc, but will tehy ever learn that many Brits simply love to browse and buy at their leisure

Special mention to a new place called TIMOTHYS which is where POP INN used to be. Mrs smc 4761 loves her Starbucks and Costa coffee and it can be difficult to get a decent coffee in Icmeler. Well she loved this palce, proper coffee even better than Starbucks etc, classy surroundings and fixtures, beautiful toilets. A bit pricey maybe at 5.5 TL for a coffee, same as UK prices but well worth it and if it keeps her happy well......

A few observations about the resort this year. Seemed to be a an increase in the number of wome in groups of 3 or 4 aged around 40ish. Did not hear that many Russians or as many German accents this year. Do all British women under 40ish have a tatoo, and does everyone in Turkey smoke. No smoking signs were up and in some bars and retaurants some people did go outside for a ciggie

Back again next year, well I might just check out flight prices just now

Hope you all have a great time when you are there

Stewart