Linda 1972, were there some nice restaraunts in Sarigerme? I get the impression its tiny, but then you say you can spend a few hours there, so it must be bigger than I was thinking. I was imagining some sort of shantie town.

Sarigerme is small; there are a couple of restaurants, handful of bars, tourist shops, Sarigerme Tours, jewellers (4 I think) and a taxi rank. On our first visit, we had done both sides of the road in less than a hour so not sure if Linda 1972 stopped off for a brew but we certainly couldn't spend a few hours there.

On Sunday when the market is in, we were still only there 2 hours in total on both visits.

I'm sure we'll have a fab time, just finished packing all minor bits in the cases and hand luggage and after speaking with friends have put most of my make up and lipsticks in the main case - lets hope they don't go missing - got some make-up in hand luggage but just small things and couple of lipsticks.

will update you all once we get back, thanks for all your help and advice 1.5 sleeps left....all excited now.

See ya

father christmas yes sarigerme is small but there are lots of shops and we ate out 3 evenings for a change from the hotel. we had lovely meals and all the people were friendly. we ate in the dolphin restaurant twice and the food was fab. we would have had a few more meals there but the kids always wanted to go back to the hotel to meet up with their new friends.Re the cashpoint machine.ther was definetely not one in sarigerme in june.apparantly there is one during the high season but it may not be there by the end of august

We were there 16/7 til 30/7 and we saw the mobile cash machine (it's in a blue bus type thing) when we were there. It parks up by the taxi rank.

There were 3 or 4 restaurant/cafes in Sarigerme. We didn't eat there but the menus looked good and I know other people on here who have eaten at both the Dolphin and Paradise restaurants and said the food was good.

One thing I would recommend is going to Sarigerme beach. Either get a taxi straight there or into the village and catch the free road train from the village car park. I think it cost us 1.5 lira per adult, kids were free to get into the beach area. The beach was nice sand and the water shelved gently so was safe to paddle out to swim. Ice creams and drinks were very reasonable at the cafe and the gozalme (pancakes) were good too. There were banana boat rides and possibly windsurfer hire there. The British were the minority here which was nice for a change!

I wish all who are going soon a happy holiday!

Lynda xx

Might sound sad ,but i think i will be taking a sample of the pool water home with me . Just too many complaints been read about and . Looks like its a rethink on the insurance and make sure the excess is waived.

going on the 10th September , all the responses have helped us tremendously to prepare for our holiday.

Thanks guys

Andy

We return on the 10th so wont be able to help you out on the ear infection latest, Carney.
E Mailed First choice, 3rd time, got the bog standard reply about the Swimmers Ear, Yawn. When will they admit, its an infection!? Arghh.

Santa,

They will never admit to an infection going round because then the flood gates would literally open up for claims. They work (i think) on the theory that once you get home after your holiday, they can fob you off easily because nobody is likely to bring home the necessary samples to prove that there IS an infection going round and that it can be proven that it is the fault of FC. They are a company backed with millions of pounds and have a better chance with their resources of defending any action against you and me(ie joe public) who may not be prepared to risk losing a claim and therefore paying both sides legal costs.

I know its a sad situation and I am right behind the holidaymaker and not FC on this one but once again it's a case of the large company winning and hiding behind their terms and conditions and standard holiday company fob off letters. Like I've said before, I ended up on a drip for the day, along with countless others and my son suffered with a bad ear infection, he was literally in agony, although the on site medical centre and the doctor did a good job in getting him well again. That side of it I couldn't fault but they were Turks and not employee's of FC.

Everyone who went to the Doctor with earache, including me, would have been given a Doctor's report that officially states "Ear Infection". There were three of us in our group that caught it. If enough of us on here send copies of this Doctor's report to FC, then surely they will then have to admit there is a problem?

I'd be willing to do that if it prevents any further cases in the future.

Yes Duncan, I agree with you, however the diagnosis of an ear infection will not necessarily give cause for FC to admit that there is a problem. I am not trying to be negative and once again stress that I am right behind everybody who has had a problem but I don't think you stand a chance as individuals unfortunatley. If you look at how many people have holidayed there this year, compare that with the amount of people that contribute on here who know about the problem and it is a drop in the ocean. If on the other hand you could get enough people to back up your claims en masse then it might be a different matter. It happened one year when we had visited the Club Aguamar in Majorca on an AI basis. Hundreds of people claimed against Sun World as they were then and they won. Somebody may correct me but I think to date it is the largest compensation payout in the history of British Tour Operators. (it was 1998).

I think people on holiday get quite irate (rightly so) when they have to visit the doctor for infections such as this however when they return home, are glad that they are back and just let it go. Maybe they send a letter of complaint and on receipt of the standard fob off just forget all about it.

We spoke with !st Choice today and they gave us this response via email

"Thank you for contacting First Choice expressing your concerns with the
Holiday Village Turkey.

I can confirm that the hotel has had 4 official reported cases on a
virus like infection within the pool. However, First Choice is aware of
this and has checked out the pool. We tested chlorine levels etc, and
found the pool to be highly satisfactory. Here at First Choice we take
health and safety very seriously, and would never send any of our
customers that fail to meet our strict health and safety tests. Please
be aware that if circumstances were to change at the Holiday Village
Turkey, then we will notify all of our customers"

To me this is FC admitting that there is a waterbourne virus which is causing all these problems, and nothing to do with swimmers ear etc

We are going in 2 weeks time and are keenly watching this thread as people return to see whether the problem has improved or not.

Hi hope you have a lovely infection free holiday but I don't see how the following statement is admitting to anything :-

"I can confirm that the hotel has had 4 official reported cases on a
virus like infection within the pool. However, First Choice is aware of
this and has checked out the pool. We tested chlorine levels etc, and
found the pool to be highly satisfactory."

I think it is the exact opposite to admitting and they are trying to sweep it under the carpet. Anyway, like I said have a great holiday and try not to let any of this spoil the build up.

Well in my E mail, they tell me its not an infection, but swimmers ear. But on the swimmers ear info I got from the net, it says SE is an infection. I think I will e mail FC back and tell them this.
I am going on Monday. Actually looking forward to it now, but am forcing the girls to wear ear plugs in the pool.
I am going into Ortaca on morning one to buy the anti biotic ear drops, so I can nip it in the bud if it happens. I dont mind having to use a Dr if I have to, I am taking a credit card, its just the kids losing a few days of their hols that bothers me.
I keep coming on here in the hope someone will say "its gone" LOL. Too much to hope for methinks. Oh well, if anyone can say that please do! Only 6 more nights, and then we fly.

Hi forgot to ask what is the entertainment like in the bars in town at night? Anything happening or should we give it a miss at night? Is there any particular bar I should try?
We will be going out of the Hotel we always do, but its nice to have a heads up. Cheers.

Hi GillG/Smurf, just to say we had no mozzie bites at all, me and my hubby used boots own mozzie spray 50% deet, silver bottle, one bottle lasted the two week and the kids used boots own kids version, yellow bottle with blue top, they also had mozzie bands from Aldi, so dont know if they helped or not, but I was worried about those mozzies before we went as I had a bad experience in the Dom Rep once but no probs at all. Did see loads of people with quite nasty bites though.

Its sad to see that those blasted ear infections are still rife, we saw and spoke to loads of people who were suffering, my oldest daughter had a problem for a day or two, we gave her anti inflammatory stuff and paracetamol and it cleared up but she did then wear her ear plugs that my gp had recommended(boots own childrens ones, they can still hear with them 2, £4.99 for two pairs). She had started to wear them then stopped and that must have been when she had the problem. She obviously didnt have it too bad.I asked my gp for something to take with me as I had read about the prob before we went but he refused saying that he wasnt allowed to precribe just in case!

HolidayMad, the steakhouse, you did have to pay for, the main courses were about 20-30 lira but were stunning, the steak just melted in your mouth and it all comes very nicely presented, we didnt pay for any extras or for any of our drinks and we had wine, beer and soft drinks. I dont know if that is usual or not, the waitress kept saying'my present to you' when she brought another round of drinks and she kept then coming The setting was just lovely, that was the nicest meal we had.

JackieM, such a shame we didnt bump into one another, we sat either to the right of the slide pools or at the main pool towards the shallow end for little one, in front of the snack bar.We did sit in front of the big flume things one day but it was a bit manic there so didnt go back.My little one went to Swim Kids, so I was there a few times, I pulled up a chair at the end by the bar and sat and watched her-she didnt like the instructors mind and only went for 3 out of the 5 sessions, refused to go back! Glad you had a great time.

I hope all of you going now or soon have a fab time, we did and the kids had a ball, it is a fantastic place for them and if they are happy then its easy for us Fingers crossed they get this infection thing sorted, FC just dont seem to care as long as they have your dollar

I must say though, even though we had a great time and the kids loved it, I thought the place was fab, so clean and well laid out, I would prefer somewhere a bit smaller and more personal where you get a chance to meet more people and see then again!!We met a lovely couple form Cheshire but that was only through our daughters going to stagecoach together, if they hadnt arranged to meet we might not have seen them for a week! We met a couple on the mud bath trip and we saw them a couple of times in the bar, their room was dead opposite ours and we didnt realise!!

Shar
xx

Hiya everyoner

DO not panic, im at the holiday village right now and its great, there are alot of kids with earplugs in and cotton wool but i havent seen anyone upset or ill, i was worried like you all. but its great, we have been here since the 13th and no infections with the 5 of us what so ever. the food is lovely and there is plenty of choice, its very hot though, but as long as you bag an umbrella its fine. the entertainment is good and my 2 year old has over night become really confident. im also 13 weeks pregnant and im finding it ok. my partner had a bad stomach but i think to much beer rather than the food as we are all ok. i will log on again tomorrow to answer any questions.

bye for now
Leanne xx

Leanne, my 9 yr old wants to know is it still the Girls Allowed show one night?
How is Stagecoach if you have one in that?
And what are you doing on the net on hols? LOL Get some sun!

I've Just seen the sunbed footage on the photo sight, not a single sunbed free @ 7.am :O

i know the video is from 2005 but wondered if the situation had improved ?

hiya

the girls allowed show was on tonight it was really good. Stage coach is on everyday apart from monday and seems really popular. it reached 45 degress so i came in from the sun with the baby, that why i was on internet lol. im not sad honest.

sunbed situation is bad. i have been getting up at the crack of dawn to get a bed. by 8 there is no parasols and very few beds.

hope thats helped a bit

leanne x