Kedi Yavrusu wrote:

Ellie Meg, it seems a little unfair that every time I recommend somewhere you immediately come on and say it is no good there. Just because you don't like somewhere it doesn't mean someone else wont love it there. It isn't really helpful when people come on and ask for opinions only to have those opinions immediately contradicted. It would be far better if you were to just recommend what you like and then let people decide for themselves.

What you think of as "much nicer" may not be what someone else thinks.

Nicky, I'm sure you will get lots of recommendations for different resorts so all I can suggest is take note of the names and have a read up on the different places before you choose. Wherever you choose I hope you have a lovely holiday

Kedi

I think you are being a little harsh on Karen. She has been all over Turkey, visiting 4 or 5 times a year, I can't think of anyone better placed to give a 'balanced view' over lots of resorts and different areas. If a person wants a sandy beach why recommed somewhere with a stoney beach ? Surely Olu Deniz of Akyaka would be prefereable ?

When I posted that toiletries were expensive in Turkey to try and guide someone, you immediately put up a contradictory post, to say they weren't, even though the three posts following yours all agreed with me that toiletries are expensive in Turkey.

How are people to trust your advice when you would rather post to contradict people you seem to dislike than post the truth ?

We are all here to try and help people surely ?

I've half given up on the Turkey forum as I am worried what post is going to follow mine. People ask for an AI recommendation and instead of getting one they get told why they shouldn't go AI.

Hi Ellie - how rude of me! Calling you Ellie when you are called Karen! Apologies! You have been really helpful and no doubt I will be troubling you again for further info!!! Nicky

thats fine nicky its my youngest daughters name, im happy to help all i can, if you dont have kids if i were you i would avoid school hols as where ever you go including akyaka the beaches get packed. sept the temps will still be around 35 ish which is still very nice

thanks for your support chris i totally agree with you

Hi Karen, no we dont have kids but unfortunately we have to take holiday when we can! I am pretty sure it will be last couple of days in August and then into September for a duration of 2 weeks so should miss most of the children - hopefully! I am going home tonite with all your recommendations, have picked up some brochures to bombard my boyfriend with and you have been extremely helpful with your advice and appreciate your honesty. But again, I probably will ask more questions, so bear with me if you can! Would you recommend a DIY holiday or book the whole lot together, would love to get a decent value holiday instead of paying through the nose as with most agents! Its always difficult going somewhere new and you have given lots of honest advice. Thanx again, Nicky

i think you might get a better price diy but it all depends on the flight prices, easy jet have started doing flights to dalaman , best to have a look at all options, a taxi to akyaka will cost you around £35 approx, i can give you a taxi number of a reliable chap we use, or a website we sometimes use or maybe the accommodation you book might even do airport pick ups, its around 50 mins away. dont worry about asking any other questions, im going to eurodisney on thurs for 4 days but will be back sun night .

travelsupermarket are a good site for flights

flythomascook

where are you flying from and ill have a look

Hi Karen, you are so helpful! Will be flying from Gatwick.

Your Flight Summary
Going Out:
Mon 31 Aug 2009
London Gatwick (LGW) to Dalaman (DLM)
2 Adult @ 75.99£151.98

Coming Back:
Mon 14 Sep 2009
Dalaman (DLM) to London Gatwick (LGW)
2 Adult @ 160.99£321.98

Total £473.96

package with h4u

Erdem Hotel, Akyaka (HS1949)
Bed & Breakfast, 14 nights from 31st Aug - 14th Sep 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 31st Aug 09: Gatwick > Dalaman (PGT494)22:15 Depart Gatwick (LGW) - 04:05 Arrive Dalaman (DLM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 14th Sep 09: Dalaman > Gatwick (PGT493)19:10 Depart Dalaman (DLM) - 21:25 Arrive Gatwick (LGW)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passengers2 Adults
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rooms1 Twin / Double Room
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holiday Price2 x Adults (£654): £1308
2 x Atol Protection Charge (£1): £2
Total Holiday Price: £1310

this gives you a rough idea, you might find a cheaper flight, you will need to get some hotel quotes and do your sums to see which is the best option and dont forget to add on around £70 return for a taxi if doing a diy

I think you are being a little harsh on Karen. She has been all over Turkey, visiting 4 or 5 times a year, I can't think of anyone better placed to give a 'balanced view' over lots of resorts and different areas. If a person wants a sandy beach why recommed somewhere with a stoney beach ? Surely Olu Deniz of Akyaka would be prefereable ?

When I posted that toiletries were expensive in Turkey to try and guide someone, you immediately put up a contradictory post, to say they weren't, even though the three posts following yours all agreed with me that toiletries are expensive in Turkey.

How are people to trust your advice when you would rather post to contradict people you seem to dislike than post the truth ?

We are all here to try and help people surely ?

I've half given up on the Turkey forum as I am worried what post is going to follow mine. People ask for an AI recommendation and instead of getting one they get told why they shouldn't go AI.

Firstly the original poster said she liked to lay on the beach, she didn't say it had to be a sandy one. If you had read my first reply I said I thought Olu Deniz sounded like it would suit her. I actually love sitting on the beaches around Bodrum so I thought I would recommend a resort there too so she could look at another option.

Secondly, when I lived in Bodrum I did not find toilettries expensive where I shopped. Do you think I am lying about it? I am not so pathetic that I would lie just to contradict what you say, you are now making out that I don't tell the truth in my posts and that people shouldn't trust me, just because I don't agree with you. So thanks, now you have tuned the original poster against me, when all I was trying to do was help.

I thought we were all here to give advise and recommendations for places. I like to help people too and if I think a place is nice I will recommend it. I don't see why you have a problem with that. I am quite aware that Karen gives good advice and is very helpful, I have never said otherwise, the only thing I said was that contradicting my recommendations is quite upsetting and I don't think it is helpful to other people who come on here to get advice.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. You may not always agree, but you have a right to say what you like and what you don't. Any arguments should be taken off the forums.

Sarah

post removed. Sarah has asked that arguments be taken off the forum. Let's get back to helping nicky please.

Nicky,have you looked at the resort reviews at the top of the page?Here you will get unbiased views as everyone has their favourite resort.Mine is Icmeler followed by Side.I hated Olu Deniz and cheered when the tour bus came to take us home!Others love it.
I am going to Gumbet for the first time in May,people who have been love it others hate it.I will make my own mind up and post a true review when I get back.
I would love to go to Dalyan but it has a river which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes so I avoid it.
Look at the hotel reviews on here and Trip Advisor as people on there have said the beach was very packed in high season.
I hope you find some where soon and at least there is a good chance the pound will stay strong against the TL so where ever you go you will be getting value for money.

post removed

no more warnings... please behave

wizard

Hi Nicky

Me and my hub love Olu Deniz, it is laid back, quiet and has a variety of bars and restaurants, if you want late night you can have one but if you want a quiet night and a meal that is there too, the beach is shingle but sandals sort that! The lagoon is beautiful really calm; clean water and the perfect place to chill, it can get busy but never a problem. The people are really friendly and it is geared toward the Brits but doesn't feel like Blackpool with sun as some Britishy resorts can be.

We stay at Karbels, which aren't too over loaded with chilblains.

Hope you get sorted and enjoy wherever you go, my mother in law loves Altinkum.

Karen - thanks again for all your help. Just read something though about mozzies! Arh! Please tell me it is not a breeding ground in Akyaka for them!

Corrie - thanks for that, I just dont want anywhere too commercialised but also not too in the sticks if you know what I mean!

Jay Trip - thanks for this! Why Icmeler and Side?

Nicky I live in a very quiet place and have a static caravan in the Yorkshire dales which is very very quiet,so when I go on holiday I like somewhere with a but of life and somewhere where I dont feel hemmed in. I only go to Turkey in May and October and sometimes June.
I first went to Side 15 years ago and returned 2 years ago and it hadnt changed.It has old Roman ruins town as you enter the old town.Its the most authentic resort I have been to but as its popular with other Europeans it is more expensive than other resorts for eating out.
I went to Icmeler for the first time 16 years ago and have returned many times over the years.I went last October for the first time B&B and had the best holiday I have had for a long time.We ate at a different restaurant every night and every one was excellent.
There are some noisy bars but music gets turned off at midnight.Theres a pretty canal area with wooden bridges over it and lots of bars and restaurants.We also found some quiet bars where we could sit and chat with friends.
It is a short Dolmus ride from Marmaris where there is a lovely marina and its nice to visit on an evening.If you are feeling fit you can walk all the way along the beach path.The beach is shingle with sandy areas at both ends of the lovely bay.Sunbeds are 2.50TL each all day which was about £1.
I could go on and on but its a beautiful place and has its quiet areas.
Look at Icmeler-on-line for lots of photos and information.
I am going to Gumbet in 8 weeks but as uts the start of the season I am hoping to be travelling around the peninsular.
I will be back to Icmeler in June if the weather here isnt good.

Jay Trip - thanks for this - will take a look!

Hi Karen - I keep reading about all these stray dogs in Akyaka! Are they dangerous, noisy at nite-time? I would also value your opinion on Icmeler, Jay Trip has given me their opinion which sounds interesting, would value yours or anyone elses for that matter too! Thanks guys

We havnt travelled extensively up and down the coast of Turkey Nicky but we have been holidaying there for several years now . So far we've been to Olu Deniz , Icmeler and Turgetreis . Wasnt struck on Turgetreis but admitidly we were staying A/I a 15 minute walk from the town itself and didnt spend an awlful lot of time there but it was certainly bigger than we had expected a somewhat disjointed. Icmeler we thought better but it was too big a resort for us . So that leaves us with Olu Deniz which in truth is where our heart still lies. We just find it ticks all of our boxes , medium sized compact resort , Stunningly beautiful and surrounded by mountains , very friendly with enough bars /restuartants to keep you busy and plenty to do should you require in the way of boat trips, excursions , paragliding and Diving . Yes Olu has got busier over the years but it's not commercialised in an egg and chips way . It remains a beautiful resort and still a good place to chill . Love the candlelight beanbags and shisha pipes on the beach over the summer .

This year we are going to side

Whilst I cant really give you any info Kas/Kalkan may also be worth a look . It appears to me to tick most of your boxes but i'm not sure on the beach setup there . From what I've read it's two smaller resorts but close to each other in a very scenic area . Seems to feature a lot in the more Specialist brochures for turkey .

there are a few stray dogs in akyaka but then there are in most parts of turkey, turgutreis had loads on the beach, icmeler seemed to have loads of cats, these dogs are not wild and dont bother you, the local community look after them , get them checked by vets, monitor them etc, so dont worry, we never hear them barking and have never had any problems with them.

mozzies again are everywhere in turkey and some areas are worse than others, certain times of the yr worse, last yr akyaka had a few more than normal, due to them not spraying the area as it can harm the small animals, ive been in touch with the conservation people who assure me this summer they will spray the main mozzie areas, like they usually do and there wont be a problem, you need to put mozzie spray on but thats normal for turkey anyway. some resorts seem to have quite a few wasps, we had this problem in icmeler when i was there, but this could be due to the mth i think they are worse in oct, ive never had a wasp problem in akyaka, but ive read olu deniz can get wasps bad sometimes.

icmeler is nice, but quite big with plenty of bars, shops, restaurants etc, it is fairly commercialised and you do see kareoke bars, people dancing on table tops etc, so it really depends what you are looking for in a holiday. the fish in the sea in this are nip too which i didnt like . the beach is more shingly, in my opinion it isnt as scenic as olu deniz or akyaka, again this depends if the scenery is important to you or not.

i have been to most resorts in turkey from around the coast and to istanbul, side we thought was ok, but full of germans and prices were inflated due to this.

another place we quite liked was cesme, cute place with a castle ,not too commercialised.

turunc is also quite nice, but a bit further from the airport, cute place but again not quite as scenic as olu deniz or akyaka

its tricky as everyone likes different things. i personally prefer somewhere scenic and not too commercialised, if you go anywhere in aug its going to be packed and possibly higher prices in main resorts. every resort as good and bad things, really depends whats important to you, good luck