we were drenched as we were a good bit away from the hotel but it was such a laugh they named us the altinkum bandits

myra313
o yes the hoilday was great i will sure go back but not next year is marmaris booked my flight for next june 2009

tony lolol lol

Hi everyone, just came back from Altinkum a couple of days ago. Not only was it my first time to Altinkum, it was my first time to Turkey.

Overall I was really impressed!! I picked up some advice and tips from this discussion board beforehand (big thanks in particular to CruiseController!) but even so I didn't realise just how warm and friendly the locals would be. Just chatting to them for a few minutes and they made you feel like you were old friends. Funnily enough the only miserable so & so's that we did encounter happened to be English!

We stayed at the Royal Marina Apartments (not far from the more well known Esra Apartments), the apartment was really nice and spacious with great views all around from the roof terrace. The complex was large and clean with an on site bar/restaurant by the pool. As it was nearing the end of the season there weren't many other residents there.

As other people have already mentioned previously, some the roads/pavements were in quite a bad way outside the complex but I've seen similar in other countries so it didn't really bother me. I wondered if they're waiting to build more apartments wherever they can before focusing on the roads. I couldn't see any roadside drains so should imagine it would be hard for rain water to drain away if the roads were all tarmacked. (Later on that week, we ended up in a (Turkish) residential part of town away from the resort and noticed they had proper roads and pavements). There were also quite a few stray dogs wandering about but at no time were they a real nuisance, we had to shoo a couple away but they weren't aggressive.

We started off several mornings by having breakfast at the Kamachi Restaurant on Second Beach, which is run by Hassan and his family. We sort of stumbled upon it by accident on our first day there. As you approach it from behind, it seems really run down but the food was excellent as was the service. They've been there 21 years so they're obviously doing something right.

We explored all around Main Beach, lots of shops, restaurants and bars. Most of them tried getting us into their establishment but it didn't really feel like we were being hassled. Even when we politely declined their invitation, they still chatted to us and wished us a good holiday etc. What was really nice was they way they still remembered our names days later and asked how we were.

We ate at several restaurants there, didn't have a bad meal at any. The ones that I can still remember the names of (I wasn't entirely sober some of the time ) Paradise, Ali Baba, Karchechi, Vista, Sunshine Cafe, Pinocchio's, Cheers, Sahil. Price wise, we were paying about 15 lira per person. Vista was probably the priciest out of the lot and we probably had the best tasting meal at Cheers. Efes cost between 3 - 3.50 lira (compared to 2.50 lira at the shops).

I'm sorry to say I can't remember the name of one fast food place, it had a long bright orange sign, but they did great jacket potatoes which really filled you up, you got to choose up to 3 toppings, all for 5 lira. I didn't get the guy's name but he was really nice and waved to us whenever we walked past.

Nightlife was good but you could tell the season was coming to an end. On a couple of nights it was really quiet. On other nights it was nice to see more Turkish people around as it made it feel less touristy. In fact I hope the resort doesn't end up going "English" like some of Spanish resorts. There are already a few places like that with Sky TV and mainly English Menus. I also got bored with the break dancing boys fairly quickly although the ladies seemed to appreciate them more, can't think why

I had already been advised by the wonderful people on this discussion board to buy my lira from inside Turkey rather than taking it from the UK. Sure enough, along Main Beach the rates varied between 2.20 to 2.40 liras per £, compared to 2.11 lira offered by the Post Office the week before we went on holiday. The best rate was 2.40 at the Palmtree Boutique.

After a couple of days, we were beginning to to find our way around and ventured further out by Dolmus, where it was less touristy. We did notice the prices in restaurants were cheaper than at the resort but the quality was just a good. I'm not the most adventurous of eaters but I do like to try local cuisine whenever I have the opportunity and enjoyed everything I ate. Even better was the fact that at no time did I ever have a dodgy tum!

As it was nearing the end of the season there were a few bargains to be had at the shops. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I really enjoyed the haggling! Several shopkeepers seemed keen to get rid of their stock and would eventually agree to sell for half the price they were originally asking for, or would throw in something else.

All in all I had a great time in Altinkum and would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm keen to visit other places in Turkey but will definitely be returning to Altinkum.

Josh

Joshman

Enjoyed reading your report. It brings back memories as we have had a few lovely holidays in Altinkum.

Hi Joshman, Pleased to read that you enjoyed both Altinkum and the good people of Turkey. I was happy to have been of service to you. All the best.

Les

hi joshman
please to her you enjoyed your holiday in alkinkum,
you will want to go back to turkey
tony

Hi Anthony, Pleased that you had a great time in Altinkum. You saw the hotel we stayed at next to Tuntas, Kusmez Hotel. We were a little messed up with XL for our holiday in September to Ovacik but went out one week later through Holidays4u, apart from this, we too, also had a good time despite the hotel being like something out of Fawlty Towers with the exception that Manuel was running the show !!!! All the best.

Les

Returned from Altinkum yesterday, having stayed at the Toros Hotel(report to follow). We found that we were paying a little more for food this year but the quality was as good as 2008. The restaurants we used were Crystal, Swan Lake, Queens Head, Temmuz, The Bistro(Ege Road), Tulip, The Four Seasons, Mercury, Altinkum Restaurant, M & Z Cafe(Kuguk Aga), Kusmez Restaurant, Toros Hotel, Our Restaurant, Ephesus(under new management) and Secret Spice(formerly International Garden of Spice, now relocated near Big Nose Bar, Swan Lake and Our Restaurant). Once again, the local people made the holiday for us with their warmth and friendship.

Les

hi cruisecontroller,
we're off to altinkum in 4 weeks, i presume you flew into bodrum. we've only used dalaman before when going to turkey.
any advice on bodrum airport or is it much the same as dalaman?

thank you

Sandra x

Hi Sandra, Bodrum Airport is pretty muchly expensive as is Dalaman when you are returning, so make sure you've got plenty of snacks. On the drinks front, we took a bottle of water from resort and went all the way through to the departure lounge with it. A small bottle of water at the airport will set you back 6 ytl. Your transfer time to resort will be 1hr 30mins-1hr 45mins. If you want anymore info, just give me a shout.

Les

just got back from Altinkum yesterday and loved it.
we stayed at Aegean Park, i was going to put a review on but couldn't work out how to do it for a hotel/appartments not listed. maybe someone will post me a link.
wish i was back there now rather than rainy england

Love
Sandra x

There is a topic at the top of the Help and Assistance forum where you can ask for a hotel to be added. It would be really helpful if you could provide a link to the hotel or site you booked from or, failing that, mention the tour operator you booked with.

luci

Returned from Altinkum yesterday, the resort continues to grow on us, as do the people, fantastic. Here are the restaurants we used, Panormos Hotel(4 main meals, 1 snack), Crystal Terrace, Altinkum, Pat's Pantry, Our, Bistro(Sirin Cafe, Senalik Caddesi), Harry Ramsdens Fish & Chips(your eyes don't deceive you, top quality meal), Mola(Try Toros kebab and Dana Sote, steaks are also highly commendable as is the English Breakfast) and Victoria.

Les

Just had a working holiday, getting things sorted with the apartment. Whilst there, we used the following food establishments, Mola, Cadde Takeaway, Pizza pizza, Burger King, Alo 24, Waterwheel(formerly a Bistro), Bistro(just off bottom of Ataturk Boulevard), Pinocchios and new for this year, Cakir Restaurant(this provides traditional Turkish fayre and is located next to Carrefour and opposite Alo24).

Les

hiya

going to esra apartments in june, booked 1 bed apt for 4
can anyone help with the annexe building info - the
balconies look small are these the 1 bed or studios
any info on the annexe would help
thanks

Hi Steph, go to the top of the forum and click on Hotel Reviews then click on Turkey and scroll down to Esra apartments, there is a very comprehensive list of reviews and hopefully you will find the information you seek.

Les

I fancy Altinkum, I've heard its really cheap there and you can get great bargains like flats for 20 grand which is my cup of tea! downside I've heard it's a bit on the fish and chip side with scruffy pads and hotels and is a bit like a Turkish butlins with lots of cafs and egg and chips and is not a very pretty area like other resorts in Turkey. I personaly don't mind coz that's what I like, I used to go to Marm and Icmeler and that was up my street but the wife now wants somewhere different. Do you think I could twist her arm to try Altinkum? She said she's sick of Southend and folks have told us it's a bit like that. Dunno how true that is?
gb

Noooooooo it's not like Butlins at all.
we found it lovely, usual turkish hospitality. beautiful beaches.
give it a go...and if you can persuade your wife mention the excellent market....that's bound to swing it in your favour.

Sandra x

Sandra, I sent a pm to Groovybaby on the day they posted but obviously they've not been back in here recently, UNLESS, they are sorting out a hotel and are going for it. As you say, there is the weekly market as well as the nightly one at Mavisehir. The people in this resort are just something else, so welcoming and as we've discovered since buying a property there, very, very helpful.

Les