Well said Strawberry.

I think you might be right in that the more upmarket the resort the less it happens, BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, GOOD RESTAURANTS DON'T NEED TO DO IT.

I ate at the Aquarium in Gumusluk (I think its the most expensive, it even has its only sign painted VW mini bus & website), no hassling & while we were eating he had only a couple of tables empty, whereas you could see the other restaurants had only a couple of customers & hassled you a little (not bad in Gumusluk) when walking past.

The White Dolphin "was" a fantastic & (by Turkish standards very) expensive, they didn't hassle & neither does the Oyster Residence restaurant (owned by the same people but in the centre of Olu), AGAIN THEY DON'T NEED TO.

Which brings me back to the attitude of some of the market traders who imply us Brits are ONLY after the cheapest tat, they think we know nothing about quality & only price interests us. They shout things I find rather rude at us.

So less salubrious resorts, restaurants & shops must be the main culprits & it's out of hand in the markets is my surmise.

Good job I don't like big resorts anyway

I agree with you both.

Im not sure wether it is just me or not but I do think Women tend to get more (agressive) hassle than men.

Dont get me wrong, if there is a guy stood outside a bar/business etc and he says "hi, would you like a drink?" to which i reply "no thanks". Providing that is the end of the matter then its not a problem, for me personally anyway.

It does become a problem when you are then followed, pestered, and on rare occasions insulted that the problem arises.

Ladies can avoid hassle by wearing a headscarf, preferably one that covers cleavage and tops of the arms and shoulders too. That's only courteous in a Muslim country but will save you a lot of stress. I found it a real life saver in markets where I wanted to look at everything, and it seemed to make me invisible ... but my hubby bless just looked like a tourist!

*Have edited this post as the post it was intended for has now been removed.

Thank you Glynis, I found the removed topic offensive and completely off topic. Alsacienne gave a handy tip that worked for her, it didnt require commenting on.
I think I may try that one there are so many things that I would happily browse at but perhaps get stopped by hassle, if it works I will let you know
I have mostly enjoyed this topic and different peoples views and ways of dealing with it.

hugs la x

La got to agree. Thanks Glynis. Alsacienne made a point of letting us know how to deal with harrassment in Turkey nothing to do with dress code here.

hi all, my mum positively thrives on the hassle she is so funny and by god can she shop she can shop for ireland we even had a shopkeeper in kus who told her he would pay her not to shop in his shop!!!!!!!!!we taught our 6 year old to say paraim yok (no money) and we just get a laugh when we see their expression for this blue eyed child speaking turkish!!!it is very annoying and i do think a lot more people would spend a lot more if they left you alone,having said that we normally go for 5 or 6 weeks hols and after the first week they leave us alone,it is a pity as the resorts would clean up on shoppers, i know last year they were suppoused to have passed a law preventing hassle in kus but i often wonder who sits down with the local tourism office and puts their views across to let them know what visitors and tourists feel like. many people we know have gone to turkey and hated the hassle some not even left their hotel because of it,its such a shame, cheers karen

Turkishbellydancer your mum sounds fun. We also taught my six year old nephew a little Turkish he shouts evet (yes) on the dolmus when it is our stop and hayir tesekkur ederim (no thankyou) if he doesnt want something. My aunt sounds like your mum, she loves the hassle and the Turks are scared to death because she is so outspoken they o not know how to handle her. My mum though is the master of haggling she will offer them a price if she really likes something which is less than half the price they are asking and always gets what she wants. My dad (who has now passed on) never got hassled. He always said it was because of his miserable face (not true) but a lot of Turks always thought he was German so didn't hassle him?

Was a bit startled when i read this on Saturday and some people were really getting us worried about our first trip to Turkey and to Marmaris which was even branded as where "chavs" go.

Kaino

Go and enjoy your holiday and make your mind up for yourself.

I think you will enjoy yourself as there are so many places in Marmaris you will be able to find something that suits you.

Lynn

Kaino, i agree with Lynn make up your own mind. There are many people who return year after year to Marmaris so it can't be that bad. A polite no thanks generally works to the hassle.

Hassling aside.....once we had made our mind up which restuarant to eat in on holiday we always found that we were looked after like royalty. Attentive, amusing staff who made sure we were thoroughly taken care of. Have never experienced this when eating out at home.

Good point giff.

Bluepeterno1

When I first went it got on my nerves, but you develop a strategy, mine is just a polite no thank you, may be a bit of banter, but I am as stubborn as mule, we decide where we are going to eat before we leave the apartment and that's where we go, we tell them, we like to try different places.

It is annoying in the shops but again, decide what you want, and bargain, just toughen up, it's a game to them

Interesting link on hassle.

http://www.voicesnewspaper.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=734&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Bluepeterno1

Kaino

Have resisted putting my tuppence worth in regarding hassle and at times thought this thread was getting too personal but I do accept that everyone has their own point of view and I hope they always have. Having read your post however it did concern me. Please do not let some of the comments put you off. Marmaris is a marvelous place with the cheap and cheerfull to the very sophisticated. It is a large resort and does take time to see everything it has to offer. Believe me you will enjoy your first trip to Turkey and Marmaris. This site will also give you good information on all the other resorts that make the country so special.

Wilson

Im with Wilson on this one, Marmaris is a large resort and caters for everyone. You will find so much choice that you will quickly find places that suit you best, and also quickly learn to avoid those ones which dont.

The hassle aside (which you do get used to, but it still annoys) Turkey is a wonderful country, as are the people and you will recieve hospitality from most people you meet.

I also agree with wilson,dont start getting worried about your trip to marmaris it is a gorgeous place,after all the restaurant owners have to try and make as much money as they can in the summer so you can understand the hassling,but usually once you say no they leave you alone,apart from the one place i was talking about.The trouble with me is i listen to them and show interest when they show me what they have to offer on the menu,i feel that by ignoring the menu all together i am being rude,so i give them the time of the day,and say that we might pop in before we go home.You will love it there so dont worry

I try ignoring the hassle But at the same time not being rude like you see others Do.
Hassle at the Market - This Actually Dose not Bother me I feel as It adds to the feel of a Market?

Yes I agree its not really so bad at the market, because you expect it & its usually once on your holiday & it lasts a few hours.

Its when you can't leave your accomodation without running a gauntlet of it that its a pain. Like I said my husband is a huge bloke & not intimadated by anything, but he was so fed up with Cool Breezes in Turgutreis that he wanted to walk the long way back to the hotel to escape the agro.
I love everything about Turkey EXCEPT the hassle.
Turkey is the ONLY place I have EVER gone all inclusive.
I will continue to go to Turkey, but I will ONLY EVER go AI, as I don't want "hassle" trying to pop out for breakfast, lunch & dinner and lets not even go there with finding a bar to have a drink in, in the evening.
All these "hasslers" are doing is making sure MORE & MORE all inclusives open up & are sucessful as people will spend more & more time in them.
Some people book an AI & don't care if the quality is good because they got it cheap & can eat out. I may have been tempted to do this.
BUT I won't in future, I will always book top quality & know I can stay in their to escape the hassle & just come out for trips & tours as I want and not have to run a gauntlet everyday all day.