I have also booked with icmeleronline for my accomodation and transfers this year,going to Icmeler,its a beautiful resort.I would recommend self catering,so many restaurants with entertainment and serving excellent food,lovely promenade,beautiful scenery,the people are so lovely.Im sure you wouldnt be disappointed if you chose this resort.

doepsmc

Although I thought AI on this occasion would be better for Hels in that it would make life a little easier for the duration of her stay, we have done the DIY thing to Turkey as well . It worked out brilliant., Last summer we got cheap flights £90 return to Dalaman, booked our own accomodation (3 weeks in apartment) plus private transfer, total in the region of £700.

I do agree with other posters that Icmeler would be worth considering. I am an Icmeler fan and first visited there 20 years ago, been back many times. Loads of excellent restaurants and a very child friendly resort. I will be watching with interest to find out where Hels finally picks.

Good luck Hels with your searching. Sure you will make a good choice.

Hels, definitely have a look at the Easy Jet prices when they come out as I got a great deal with them, you have to book quick when they come out though as they go up very quickly. Although £1,752 for a package sounds a very good deal, I hope you can find it again

I'm sure wherever you go you will have a great time anyway

Ellie Meg, the reason I recommend the Bodrum peninsular is because that is where I lived. I have not been on holiday in another part of Turkey for some years so I wouldn't want to give recommendations for somewhere I haven't been to recently as places cahnge too much.

I am not going to keep discussing the beach at Bitez but I do have to say that it is not rocky. I agree it isn't soft white sand, I would describe it as shingly but if you walk further along the beach it does get more sandy, I have seen it and sat on it so I'm not lying. Yes there are some stones going into the sea but "rocky" is not an accurate description. I know you don't like the Bodrum peninsular much but many people do love it and return year after year and it is a very popular place.

Hels,

You mention hassle in Turkey; you will find people trying to get you in their bars, restaurants and shops but I always find that a polite "no thank you" works perfectly well. The bigger resorts are worse for this, you wont find it so bad in the smaller resorts. On the whole though it is more the friendly banter type than real hassle.

Kedi

Marmaris is a big resort but I must say that I didnt feel hassled on our last visit there in July 2008. We were left to look at menus at the entrance and go in if we wanted to. Sometimes, if we decided not to go into a particular restaurant we would be invited to eat there another time. Even strolling round the marina deciding where to eat, we didnt feel pressurised at all. There is definately a big improvement since I started visiting Turkey 20 years ago when I did get slightly frazzled by the persistance of some! What started as a bit of fun used to become irritating.

Jay Trip wrote:

Hels,Have you tried ringing ICR?They have an office in Liverpool and may be able to get you flights to suit your needs from Manchester.

Doe,The Litera hotels in Icmeler are only 2-3 star and sold by Goldtrail.
Last October we met a couple staying there who had never been to Turkey before and they ate out every night.We used to meet up with them on an evening and waiters joked that they had their hospital bracelets on!It hasnt put them off Turkey and they are going back this October but B&B.
We heard that lots of people were hospitalized! Just read the reviews. :yikes

Sounds dire Jean definately somewhere to avoid.

Sorry for taking so long to reply, we nare still looking for somewhere, I keep pricing different flights up and managed to get it down to just under £1300, have found a couple of BB's that interested us, till I read reviews, also a couple of apartments but again reviews have totally put me off, I shall continue to look though.

Is Side similar to Icmeler?

I have also heard that Litera hotels are very poor standard. There have been lots of complaints about them so definitely avoid them.

Side and Icmeler are totally different.
Side is a lovely old town with Roman ruins and most of the hotels are on the outskirts.The beaches are sandy here.It is very popular with other Europeans and British are in the minority.I first when to Side in May 1994,then went back 3 years ago.It had not changed but it is more expensive than Icmeler.You have to fly to Antalya to go to Side and there is usually less choice of flights than Dalaman.
Side is very flat with no islands out to sea and the mountains are a fair distance away.
Icmerer has grown from a small village to a lovely resort.There are no Roman ruins in the town but it is set on a lovely scenic bay.
It is popular with British,Dutch and Germans.Nearly all the hotels and apartments are in the town itself and on the sea front apart from those in the old village which is a short walk away.The bay looks out onto islands and the resort is surrounded by pine covered hills.
There is a small canal with shops and restaurants on either side.Its lovely at night when its lit up.
It is very reasonable to eat out here as there is a vast amount of excellent restaurants to choose from.
Their are more flights to Dalaman than Antalya from the UK and I think Easyjet now go here from Gatwick.

Thanks for that Jay trip, I really like the sound of Icmeler, just a shame they don't have any ruins, I have found an apartment I like the look and sound off The Moonlight Apartments, but I am trying to either get a decent price on a DIY and unfortunately can't find it with a tour operator.

Hels,Thomson,Thomas Cook and Icmeler on line do the Moonlight Apartments.

Thomson and thomas cook, when I search for the dates they have no availability, not tried Icmeler online yet, as before their flights were costing so much more, will check them out as well.

You can book direct with the apartments. Here is the link for their website:

http://www.apartmoonlight.com/