The thing is, an ear infection can be serious because they wont allow you to fly home if its bad. My daughter had an ear infection in Spain and we were told she could not fly home, at the last minute a different doctor said it was ok. I want to go to the Tropical next year but all these cases of ear infections are putting me off, especially as we wont be able to buy anything in advance to treat it.

You could always ask your own GP for a script for antibiotics incase your kids get ear infections, they are usually OK about doing this for you. Then at first sign of ear trouble you could start antibiotics. Denny

My oh my. FC haven't learnt a thing. I was there first year, son had a raging ear infection for a week and I ended up on a drip for 24 hours with a"holiday bug" according to the doctor. You will get the standard fob off letter from FC, it really is a waste of time complaining unless you are prepared as some have to bring home a sample of water from the pool and if you have an upset stomach, unfortunately a stool sample in a "sealed" container!!

after reading all these reports about ear infections, I did indeed ask my doctor if he would prescribe antibiotics for my 2 kids, one of whom is allergic to penicillin, but I was told he couldn't or wouldn;t.

I've been really worried about this and whilst shopping in Asda came across something called AUDICLEAN -ear cleansing wash and on the box it says its good for swimming pool users . Think the main reason for using this is to prevent build up of wax.

it contains 100% natural sea water rich in bicarbonates

Isotonic PH adapted to the physiology of the external ear canal

Sterile and preservative free.

Whether it does help or not I'm not sure but it only cost £4.98 for a 60 ml bottle - it comes with a syringe type thing and looks easy enough to use. I've got 2 bottles and plan on using this on us all at least 3 times a day - may even go and buy another bottle.

I'm also stocking up on the Ibrufen and calpol for the kids and going to get some ear plugs but I really don;t think they'll use them.

Oh well, lets hope it does work. Was considering putting youngest in the swim kids but after hearing lots of kids from here got the infection think I'll leave it now.

Wish me luck!

Carol

Sorry to bother you all - please can you tell us which is best - lira or sterling and what do the pool tables/ games machines take for my son as no doubt be'll want to use them.

Would we be best to take lots of £10.00 notes with us - I know we need £10 for each of our visa's but wondered if that was best to keep with us as well, was planning on taking about 50lira and the rest in sterling for any trips etc we may do. Also we plan on doing the high ropes with my son can we pay for this in sterling and is it a better rate?

Also were is the nearest cash machine as I was planning on taking my Halifax cash card with me or can I pay for things with this.

IS there an iron in the room - have packed small travel iron but could easily pull it out.

Off on Monday from Manchester at 9.35 looking forward to it now.

Thanks

Hi

There are no irons in the rooms. I'd take the travel iron if I were you.

FC price everything in pounds (stagecoach, swimkids, excursions etc) then convert to YTL at 2.75, if you have cause to use the doctor he charges at 3YTL.

The Hotel operate a bureau de change for sterling and travellers cheques at uk comparable rates (~2.5), but of course each transaction will attract a small fee.

So in summary if you are planning paying FC for anything take sterling, small items in resort are best paid for in YTL (eg games room tokens, sweets, bingo etc), and for those unplanned expenses, take a credit card and sort out the payment later - don't let an unexpected bill from the doctor ruin your holiday spending plans.

I believe from other reports that the nearest ATM is in Ortaca, there certainly is not one in the tin pot village of Sarigerme.

Hope this helps, have a lovely holiday.

YES you can get a cash point in the village, Its a mobile ATM/BANK bus that is there most days .if you ask the locals they will be able to tell you days and times the mobile ATM is there.
We went to the tropical side last year and it was the best holiday my familay have ever had (3 kids aged 1,4,8.)
We went to the Petra Mare in crete with FC this year and all enjoyed it , but it did not match the standards of the HV turkey, so we have booked the HV again for next year.
Dont listen to reports that say the local village is just a "tin pot" it is just a quaint wee village.
If you are expecting the local village to be lined with 2 for1 bars or fast food joints then you will be disappointed, as it is just a typical turkish place.
Try the website called sarigerme.net or com. and you wil find that this area has more to offer than just the hotel.
We can not comment about the ear infections because last year all we got were mosquito bites.
Dont keep the kids out of the pool , as the pool is a major +++++ that the hotel have , just be prepared for any problems.
I (we) could go on for ages about the good things this hotel +area have to offer, but we find it hard to point out any bad bits, so please feel free to ask any questions you have.
PS: dont be scared to leave the hotel as the local area is FAB.
Have a good time BREEZERC, Iam totaly jealous that you are going soon.
WE only have 10 months till our next visit to Sarigerme.

Glad you said that ginkster because I feel the description "tin pot village" is insulting.

Thanks Sorong , I hate it when folk knock a place just because its wee and traditional.
Smurf could not have left the hotel often enough if he thinks the nearest ATM is in Ortaca!!!!!

Can anyone tell me how the ear infection that is going around is doing? Will ear plugs do the trick?

Ear plugs didnt work for me or my son, sorry, only the slightest drop of water made my ears sting about an hour of them being wet. But this was last year and they may have sorted it all out now

I totally agree that Sarigerme, although small, is very nice to spend an hour or two wandering around the shops and having an apple tea in one of the restaurants.

Breezerc - keeping your kids out of swim kids will probably not prevent them getting an ear infection. Swim kids is run in one end of the main pool so unless you plan on staying out of the water completely there is no way to say that the water at swim kids is any worse than any of the other pool water I'm afraid. Out of my 3 kids the only one who DIDN'T get the ear infection was the one who went to SK's!!

The official FC line when asked about the ear infections went something like this "The heat of the sun melts the wax that naturally occurs in the ear. Any bacteria that is in the water, which cannot be totally prevented regardless of chemical treatment by kids etc peeing in the pool, is then able to find it's way further into the ear canal than it normally would as the wax has melted and therefore not acting as a protective barrier. As the day wears on and the heat goes, the wax solidifies, trapping any bacteria which then multiplies and causes the ear infection". I was given this speech literally word for word by a rep and one of the wavelength guys so I think they'd all been given a memo and told to reherse it!!

My kids aren't ones to stay above the water - they like to snorkel and dive etc so it's inevitable that they would be at risk. Although they were a bit reluctant to wear the ear plugs I took (called putty buddies from a web shop called swimstop) it was either wear them or not swim. They soon decided the ear plugs were quite cool as they come in a variety of funky colours. They are also waterproof so if they did go under the water, no water could get in.

Please don't let these things ruin your holiday - simple preventative measures and quick response to any complaints of sore ears will prevent it from spoiling your time at HV. Yes I know the Dr's fees are expensive but it was worth it to continue enjoying our holiday.

Lynda xx

We spent a whole day in Sarigerme, I would recommend it. When the market is on it can take a couple of hours to look at all the stuff. The village is OK. I was a little botered about the pushy jewellry shops but was impressed with my turkish shave and apple tea pipe/bong thing I had downstairs. Speak to someone like Mustafa at Sarigerme tours for the best resturant or services from the village.

It is bigger than made out in older posts and have some cheapesh shops, including getting some groceries if you want something different from the AI

Dont seem to have sorted it, they have 55 cases at present, I have just rang them.
Going a week on Mon, the ear problem is really worrying me. I have 2 children who love the pool you see.

We will be there in Sept, going end of Aug. Worried re the ear infection thing.

Try not to worry and have a good holiday. Personally, I wish I never read anything about the holiday until I was there as it was always at the back of my mind!

Our doctor actually gave us some eardrops before we went but it didn't work.

FC's statement is a load of bull as why have we not had it before in equally as hot places?

Do go to the doctors for any sign of tummy or ear problems. Get insurance with no excess and claim it all back. As someone has already said, it is worth enjoying the rest of your holiday. I didnt go to the doctors until I could no longer walk and it turned out cheaper than I thought. Being away andf ill as I was is really not very nice or enjoyable but I could have had a few days of enjoyment if I had gone to the quacks!

mmm, visit the doctor before you go and get some advice. Try not to let it spoil your holiday but I completly understand your concerns. It is very difficult to comfort a chilld who is in so much pain having first hand experince in Turkey. An idea you could try is to take cotton wool and put it in the ears after swimming to mop up the excess water?

Print off the comments before you go as well, the reps dismiss any illness as viral or that you are over consuming the AI!

Thanks Mcfester, nowt like dreading your holiday is there? Its such a worry, for the kids not me, as I dont put my head under anyhow.
I am taking so many precautions, so fingers crossed. I feel like printing off the ear infection info and handing copies round at the welcome meeting! That will annoy FC, but it wont win me any friends, lol so I wont really cause trouble.

mcfester wrote:

Get insurance with no excess and claim it all back

That's what I did. I get my travel insurance free with my bank account but I paid a £20 premium to waive my excess for a whole year with no limit to claims. Bearing in mind the ear infection trips to the Doc's were £60 it was money well spent!