Firstly, im really sorry about the job. We had a major hiccup back last year and it was a worrying time.

You can holiday on a budget, been there done it. As long as you are willing to make sacrifices. Your breakfasts will be provided so thats a big part as you can fill up on a morning before heading out for the day. We always buy local for lunch time - bread or baguettes, some ham and cheese and tomatoes and a big bag of crisps. Evenings will, IMO, be the hardest but you need to shop around and seek out the best deals. Take-out on a couple of occasions will save you money - a large pizza split between you for example.

Holidaying on a budget can be done and as long as you shop local, buy local brands, you should be ok. Its when you want a tin of heinz beans or a hovis loaf of bread that things get pricey.

Good luck

Holidaying on a budget can be done and as long as you shop local, buy local brands, you should be ok. Its when you want a tin of heinz beans or a hovis loaf of bread that things get pricey.

The problem is that there aren't any local shops in Olu deniz- none that we found anyway and we did try to find some. It's a purpose built tourist resort and you won't find many locals living here. I don't want to put a damper on the OP's holiday but I don't want to give her unrealistic espectations either.

Sorry Lexilex, just telling it as we found it last summer.

There's supermarket up at Hisaronu Shirley...did you go there? It's about 10 minute if that dolmus ride from Olu Deniz...in fact if you got the dolmus from Fethye you'd probably have diverted through it. It was a one horse town when we first went many years ago but has expanded. As it's up in the mountains it's much cooler of an evening too. Got some lovely restaurants and very competitive prices too. We made some good friends there - Seggie who runs Hakuna Matata (half way down...RHS...just down one of the small roads)...and Cem who owns Unique Anatloian Arts - I have him on my FaceBook so Lexilex if there is anything you want to know - drop me a pm and I'll ask him.

PS.. if you think you can walk up from Olu Deniz....it's up a VERY VERY steep hill and out of the question really but the dolmus is very cheap.

Agree that dolmus are cheap to use , but my family and i walked down from Hisaronu to Olu a few years back and i wouldn't do it again unless the road had been improved , dont know about Olu but i have read on another forum that some hotels in H try and check your bags beofre you enter to see what your taking in and that some people have had things like water and food stuff taken off them

Could one of you pay for the extra luggage? I think my friend paid £25 with FC. That would give you an extra 7kg for food stuffs. Are you taking a travel kettle? As B&B prob won't provide one. If your a coffee drinker then Kenco 2 or 3 in one's are good. Sold in packs of 10.

I agree with the mug shots we took some to Belgium recently and they are fine for a quick snack and cheap. We liked the tomato one. Chopped Pork is 90% pork. But you're going to have to becareful with weight of course. You could also take hard boiled eggs to see you through a day or two.

Am going to Hisaronu 6th June with my friend. We are half board but may need snacks during the days. My friend is renowned for a 'bargain' so am sure she'll find the cheaper places

Not sure if it's still there Glynis..but end of Hisaronu town and to the right was Robin Hood which done fantastic pide bread which was complimentary too. I'll also see if I can find out what they are now calling the beach around other side of lagoon - because they were doing free dolmus from Hisaronu You'd have to go down by paid dolmus the first time..but ask if they can pick you up /take you back after that.

The hill up from Olu is virtually vertical in places - one year there was a flash storm on the beach...frightening as paragliders were being taken into the cliffs and speed boats shooting off left right and centre to pick them up from where they were landing in the sea etc. Nothing could get up the hill as after all the sun - the rain had made it so slippery. We and a few others started to walk ....we made it to half way and taxis were able to meet us...they could only come down half way as the road was too bad. Think there was about 6 of us in one taxi

The beaches I remember around the lagoon area were, Sugar Beach, Seahorse beach and Billy's beach- They each had a free pick up and drop off service.

Sugar Beach Shirley!

Go to the library or to a bookshop and browse the backpacker guides for Turkey - Lonely Planet Western Asia on A Shoestring, the Rough Guides etc. Generally these guides have recommendations on eating out on a budget. Also look to eat away from the main tourist areas (if there is a service area to the resort - ie where the Turkish live). It's been a long time since I was in Turkey and I remember that in the resorts it was so much more difficult to find 'real' Turkish food - but where the Turkish people go ... always cheaper and more variety.
Drink Efes beer and Raki.

Hi Lexilex, I used to live in Turkey so I am pretty good at eating on a budget there. Don't bother taking too much with you as you can get tins of tuna and other stuff from the big supermarkets, you may need to get a bus to one, I don't know what is around Olu Deniz. Try eating lunch in the room or on the beach, bread, salad, fruit, cheese, cold meat etc. You can also get simit, which are like bagels and are good for lunch too.

In the evenings eat at the local restaurants, things like pide & lahmacun (Turkish pizza), chicken or lamb in half bread (literally half a loaf), durum (a wrap like a Mexican wrap with chicken or lamb and salad), kofte (meatballs) etc. are very cheap, filling and delicious.

Drink beer or local vodka with a mixer rather than anthing imprted and stick to water on the beach or pool as soft drinks can work out expensive.

If you don't find work before you go you could always try selling some stuff on Ebay and put it aside, you will be surprised how much money you can build up.

Hi again everyone.

I just wanted to say thank you so much to everybody who has taken the time to reply. I really do appreciate it.

Some of the replies worry me slightly. I'm normally so excited about holidays but I just can't think about this one, everytime I do I get a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Luckily we do only drink water and soft drinks during the day anyway. I'm used to hotels not allowing drinks etc around the pool and wouldn't even think about doing it, we just go back to our room for this.

I've been thinking about putting some things on Ebay, I think that may be a job for tomorrow, have a sort out and get some stuff together. Also been thinking about one of us getting the extra luggage. My plan is to pack a week before and weigh the cases, then if we need more weight buy it then.

If anyone could give names and directions to local shops and restaurants it would be much appreciated.

I've spent the morning looking for airport parking bargains, with success.

Oh, and I didn't get the job I was interviewed for on Monday but onwards and upwards!

Let's see if we can help you a little.

Extra luggage - Who are you flying with as prices may vary?
Airport parking - Which airport are you flying from? How far is it from home as might be cheaper for taxi? Can't you get a lift and pay petrol money?

Sorry to hear about job but I'm a great believer in fate and hopefully there's a better one with you name on it
Edit. Re car parking, have just received an email from Holidayextra's with the following claim:-

PRICE GUARANTEE:
Find airport car parking spaces or airport hotel rooms
for less and we'll give them to you for free" .
" Best Price Guarantee terms and conditions apply

Tinned pate can be found over here,makes a cheap lunch on fresh bread,corned beef,take some wraps to make up with salad,squeezy jam and peanut butter another filling for sandwiches.If you buy some washing powder over there you could cut back to the bare minimum of clothes,leaving more room for food.Really hope you are lucky and get a job soon,in the meantime could you find some babysitting or housework to bring in just a little extra.Perhaps family and friends could find some little jobs for you.Good luck,T.

We're flying from Manchester, which is 2 hours away from where we live. Was there a discount code in the email from Holiday Extras by any chance? The cheapest I have got airport parking down to is £45, using my parents AA membership to get 10% discount. We've done train before, but it's about £60 this year and our flight times make train awkward.

It's Thomson we're flying with. I priced up extra luggage at the weekend and it's £25.

That reminds me, insurance is another thing we need to do

Feeling down today about the job situation, I just want to work! Going to watch the Oludeniz webcam and try and cheer myself up.

Glynis and others

don't get too carried away with the Holidayextras guarantee - there's another thread running about them not honouring it!

Ah thanks for that Steve - how did I guess it was probably too good to be true

Do you have any old mobile phones, cd's, dvd's lying around?

Send them off to these recycling websites, and see what you get. We sent off about 50 cd's and got £30 but every penny helps.

Helen

shirley h wrote:

Quote:
Holidaying on a budget can be done and as long as you shop local, buy local brands, you should be ok. Its when you want a tin of heinz beans or a hovis loaf of bread that things get pricey

shirley h wrote:

The problem is that there aren't any local shops in Olu deniz- none that we found anyway and we did try to find some.

The title of the thread is "Very little spending money - tips!". Whilst I might not have been able to help the OP with their post, I was providing advice to anyone asking the same problem with regard to budget as many people do look.

I didnt know that the region of Olu Deniz was at the back of beyond as Ive never holidayed there but was offereing some advice which I thought was helpful. I - and wrongly it seems - was assuming that because it is a "holiday destination" it wasnt so far off the beaten track that there were places to shop. Am sorry if I am so completely wrong.

The title of the thread is "Very little spending money - tips!". Whilst I might not have been able to help the OP with their post, I was providing advice to anyone asking the same problem with regard to budget as many people do look.

I didnt know that the region of Olu Deniz was at the back of beyond as Ive never holidayed there but was offereing some advice which I thought was helpful. I - and wrongly it seems - was assuming that because it is a "holiday destination" it wasnt so far off the beaten track that there were places to shop. Am sorry if I am so completely wrong.

HI Sarah,

I'm sorry that you seem to have taken offence to my post, it certainly wasn't my intention. I was simply offering advice to the original poster. Olu Deniz isn't at the back of beyond but it would be difficult to buy local foods as it's a tourist resort with very little locals living there. However, as BB said they could get on a dolmus to go food shopping if they were so inclined.