Want to try a new resort - Turkey Discussion Forum, Holiday Forums

Want to try a new resort

lexilex

2011-01-13 17:56:28

Hiya,

I could do with some advice from you Turkey experts.

We visited Turkey for the first time in 2007, when we went to Alanya. We loved it, we've had some very expensive and luxurious holidays since, but this is still the best holiday weve had (cost something ridiculous like £600 for us both for a fortnight). The only thing we didn't like so much was that we felt like we were the only British people there. Although I don't want to feel like I am at home (see below), it is nice to have some fellow Brits to talk to round the pool.

In 2008 we visited Marmaris. We did not really enjoy this as much. We found the people much ruder than those we encountered in Alanya, and it was just far too commercialised. It just felt like we were in Blackpool, and there is nothing Turkish about the resort at all. Plus the beach is rubbish!

Fast forward to now, and we are hoping (got my fingers tightly crossed everything is okay with jobs etc) to return to Turkey this year. I am a bit stuck on were to start though.

I have looked into Alanya, but the hotels all seem a bit, well rubbish. Especialy the ones from the main travel agents, and I wouldn't fancy booking elsewhere after all the companies collapsing last year. Also, there are so many places to visit it seems a waste to visit Alanya again so soon.

Can anyone recommend another resort? Similar to Alanya if possible. We would like a nice beach, nice restaurants & bars to visit. We want to stay B&B or self catering... one of my favourite things about Turkey is the food

Just not somewhere as mad, lively and commercialised as Marmaris.

Help me!!

Gumbet Jakki

2011-01-13 18:28:10

Re: Want to try a new resort

If you want something more Turkish, you could do some research on Akyaka but I don't know if any of the major tour operators go there - but it is lovely. If you want to book with a main tour operator, you could look at Bodrum which is a working town as well as a resort so has more of a Turkish feel. Also on the Bodrum peninsula, if you want more sedate than Marmaris-mad, try looking at Yalikavak or Turgetries. Both are lovely places and offer plenty of accommodation to choose from, loads of restaurants, etc - of the two, I prefer Yalikavak. If the beach is the most important aspect, then have a look at Bitez - a small resort which lots of great restaurants.

All those I have mentioned (apart from Akyaka) are within an hour's drive of Bodrum airport so you haven't got an excessive transfer time. Also it's easy to explore the whole of the Bodrum peninsula by local transport so you could have a good look round.

Jak xx

Dazbo HT Mod

2011-01-13 19:50:52

Re: Want to try a new resort

lexilex,

You may find members Resort Reports helpful.

Darren

Jay Trip

2011-01-13 19:52:30

Re: Want to try a new resort

Have you though of trying Side?
Its more popular with the British now and as well as having some fabulous 5 star hotels there are also lots of lovely small hotels/pensions in the old town.
Thomson have a lovely hotel in the old town right on the sea front.Its the Beach House hotel.Its B&B and has a lovely restaurant next door Soundwaves.

Edited by Jay Trip 2011-01-13 22:56:51

Kedi Yavrusu

2011-01-13 21:32:25

Re: Want to try a new resort

Like Jakki says there are some lovely resorts on the Bodrum Peninsula, nothing as mad and 'Blackpool' like as Marmaris

Have a look at some of the resort reports as Dazbo suggests and see if anywhere takes your fancy.

Cruisecontroller

2011-01-14 17:42:31

Re: Want to try a new resort

Have a look at Icmeler staying at Babadan Apartments. Then there is Kalkan, I recommend Hotel Nur. My final offering is Altinkum and suggest you try the Panormos Hotel.

Les

denwardie

2011-01-14 22:10:53

Re: Want to try a new resort

Hi, I just want to second the comments by Jay Trip. If you want B&B close to sandy beaches and nice restaurants, then old Side, the part within the city walls, is the place to go. I would also endorse his choice of hotel, if you can get in, it is already fully booked for September. You will find many small hotels in this area and it is easy to book your own holiday via their websites if you so wish.

idris elba

2011-01-15 20:08:43

Re: Want to try a new resort

bodrum would probally be your best bet there are lots of resorts nearby and bodrum is a lively place with a friendly atmosphere and is more up market than marmaris,along with cesme it is one of the most popular spots for rich turks to holiday,although i must add if you find marmaris blackpool like i dont think gumbet will be your cup of tea.I feel i should defend marmaris here however the only thing that gives the resort a blackpool atmosphere is us brits and the bars that cater for us, the marina and castle area is lovely,, out of season it is a bustling town that is very turkish and not resort like at all unlike other areas that some tourists see as more traditional but are nothing but tourist areas and shut down at the end of october.I suppose its the same snobbishness that benidorm recieves,there are areas that are aimed at brits and offer full english breakfasts,pound a pint etc but there are also areas that cater for the many spanish who live there and holiday there.I dont actually mind blackpool personally being a lancashire lass myself lol.if you are interested in akyaka anatolian sky do holidays to this area.

lexilex

2011-01-17 10:32:26

Re: Want to try a new resort

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.

I have made a list of all the resorts mentioned and will take a good look at them.

I had thought of Side, we never visited when we stayed in Alanya. I was a bit worried though that it was full of huge 5 star all inc hotels... we've had enough of all inc the last few years and want to be able to eat out at different places every night and just be able to wander where we like without the fear of been shot!

The hotel in Side looks lovely, and I was about to add it to my favourites ready to book if I didn't like the look of anywhere else, but then I read it doesn't have a pool, and a pool is an absolute must for us. I don't like the sea (stupid fear of fish!) so without a pool we would be lost. Any other recommendations of similar hotels would be great though!

Scoobyclaret

2011-01-26 20:21:27

Re: Want to try a new resort

I would recommend Turunc, Icmeler, Olu Deniz or Calis

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