OMG that is outrageous

If you went with a pakage you need to get in touch with the company you went with, I know you said you emailed the rep but you need to complain to their head office too. Also get in touch with the tourism board in Marmaris.

I have had hotel staff get huffy once when we didn't spend enough time there but to actually threaten you is totally wrong, they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it....

I am a lover of Turkey but I do believe what the poster is saying.

I have heard occasional stories from family/friends /work colleagues over the years where they have stayed in accomodations where they have been made to feel uncomfortable when going out in the evening to eat elsewhere. Owners and staff do sometimes pressure tourists into eating where they are staying but it is a minority.

Sure we all agree that it is up to the individual whether they want to stay "in" to eat or whether to try some of the
lovely restaurants. I know that Turkish people do rely on tourism and want guests to spend money during their stay
but most of us wouldnt want to spend every single day of our holiday and every single evening eating in the same place.

Whilst on holiday this year we spent a lot of time during the day around the pool area buying drinks/snacks/ice cream but in the evening we liked to go out and about. We would return after dinner and have a few drinks with the owner and family and they were fine with this. We were never made to feel uncomfortable and infact the family would always ask where we had eaten that night and if we enjoyed it.

It is certainly most unacceptable to experience the sort of behaviour that the poster has mentioned.

I agree, I stayed at a hotel in Bitez once and me and my friend liked to go out to eat at different places each night, sometimes we would have a drink at the bar but not always but they really didn't like that. They would tell us the bar was closed if we asked for a drink on the way in even though it obviously wasn't or they would just ignore us. I don't see why people should have to stay at a hotel all the time, they have paid for their accomodation and although I fully understand they want to encourage you to stay there, they should never try to pressurise people or make them uncomfortable if they don't. And as for threatening that is disgusting behaviour.

my daughter had a problem in icmeler with a hotel her and her mates stayed at, the bar staff were very friendly with them the first few nights and encouraged them to stay and drink with them, giving them very strong drinks etc, the guys were great fun and they had a good laugh etc but as soon as my daughter and her mates decided to go out they totally blanked them and the atmosphere was awful , so much so they decided to even eat out, although it was an all inclusive, so they werent gaining financially from them ,but wanted their attention etc. the situation didnt get threatening but the felt very uncomfortable there ,which isnt very nice

i wouldnt give in, complain everywhere you can, this sort of behaviour isnt acceptable

The link is to the council but they control the Zabita which would deal with the situation. There are numbers on the Turkish site but not on the English. I'm sure if you sent an email to them it would be investigated.
There is a reason why this "eat in" culture exists. the holday companies get the aparts/rooms for as little as 3 euros per night. So an hotel might contract all it's rooms to the company for very little money. it's main income would then be the restaurant, bar and extras(aircon, safes etc). This is why they push there "turkish nights" and BBQs etc. Some hotels even have "deals" with doctors and certainly commission from tour agencies. So you can see why it happens but it in no way excuses their behaviour.
REMEMBER .... If you don't report it someone else will suffer!

I take your point CB and agree that it isn't any excuses for the behaviour of some of the hotel staff.

If you add on the cost of air con, fridge , safe .. say around £100 -£150 easy for a 2 week holiday that then brings the cost of your room up to over £10 - £20 a night which isn't really that cheap IMO.

That is why alot of people choose DIY which has air con included and transfers check around there are alot about in nice area's