Turkey or zante - Greece and other Greek Island Discussion Forum, Holiday Forums

Turkey or zante

mo rolfe

2006-05-17 15:00:03

Can you help , looking to book for next summer but cant decide to do turkey or zante , went to zante about 2 years ago and liked it but have never been to turkey , how do they compare

shirley h

2006-05-17 15:21:37

I suppose it depends on which resorts you're looking at. I've been to Argassi in Zante and Gumbet in Turkey and enjoyed both places. I think I have to say that I prefered Turkey. I know it's personal choice and the Greeks are so friendly, but so were the Turks. We did get hassled in Turkey. Everytime we passed a shop or restaurant they tried to get you to come in and buy but after the first couple of days we coped with it. The weather was superb, the prices cheap and the food delicious. The beach and hotel were also great. We will probably return sometime in the future.
I'm not knocking Zante, it was another lovely place but if you've been before, why not be adventurous and give Turkey a go. Keep us informed when you decide.

mo rolfe

2006-05-17 16:01:19

thanks for that , one of the things that put me off turkey is its a longer flight , i was looking at icmeler and the transfers are 2 hours which is a long time on a coach but i still keep thinking i would love to try it , ive been saying that for the last three years and still have not been.
mo

shirley h

2006-05-17 20:08:13

Hi Mo,

I've heard that Icmeler is nice but as you say quite a few of the popular resorts are rather a long way from the airport. After the flight I like to get to the hotel within about an hour if possible. We Stayed at the Hotel Baba in GUmbet B&B which won a Gold medal with Direct holiday customers the year we were there (2001- I think) and I think it's still highly recommended. If you've set your mind on Icmeler maybe you should give it a go. Check out the flight times- maybe the transfer won't seem so bad then.

Cruisecontroller

2006-05-17 20:22:04

Turkey or Zante

Hi, Would I be right in saying you have family travelling with you?? If so, then go to Babadan Apartments in Icmeler, Turkey through Thomsons. You are so handy for everything but without being right in it, so to speak. Go on to the Turkey Forum there are big Discussions on Icmeler(55 pages !!) and also Babadan Apartments(not to be confused with Bababdan Hotel, two separate entities!!). Also, check out the Hotel Reports. Good luck with whatever you decide. I am not biased to Turkey as we have been to Zante and loved it and wouldn't hesitate to go back at a future date. There comes a time for change, something different. GO FOR IT !!

Prettypollycat

2006-05-18 06:28:14

Hi mo
Have you considered any of the resorts on the Bodrum Peninsular? As there is now an airport near Bodrum, the transfers are not too bad.

There's loads of different resorts (we've been to Yalikavak and Turgutreis and loved both, although it was quite a few years ago) and you can visit different resorts buy using the dolmus (little buses).

Obviously my experiences may be a little out of date, so maybe someone else can comment.

We also loved Zante.

Good luck with your choice.

Polly

Noggs

2006-05-18 12:03:57

In my opinion, Zante everytime, too much hassle (unbelievable) in Turkey.

ardwyn

2006-05-18 13:47:42

Hi Mo

Judging by the posts in this forum Zante is not as nice as it was when we visited 12 years ago. If you are thinking of Turkey take a look at Side, it's fed by Antalya airport and has a beutiful soft sand beach that goes on for miles. We've been to Icmeler and found it a bit clostrophobic with a narrow beach that we didn't find too clean, bags and rubbish floating in the sea.

oneilly

2006-05-18 21:56:41

hi i'am the opposite go to turkey every year but have decided to try zante next year all booked up for kalamaki never been so fingers crossed it will be as good as turkey. ive stayed marmaris (armutulan area at club anastasia great place to stay ) also icemeler alou deniz this is a lovely place and not to much hassle but you do get used to hassle just a pollite no thankyou or para yok does the trick. but what ever you decide have a goodin......

mo rolfe

2006-05-19 06:34:40

well i think i have decided to go to turkey olu deniz , we went to kalamaki two years ago and loved it , there are some nice places to eat to , where are you staying ?

Lynn m

2006-05-19 10:49:26

Hi Mo

I go to both Icmeler and Zante every year and I really love both of them but if I had to choose I would pick Icmeler its such a lovely place it may have a longer transfer but it is worth it. The place is surrounded with pine tree and I think it has a magical feel about it and the Turkish people are so friendly which I find Zante is missing nowadays, and you dont get the earthquakes that you get in Zante.

Enjoy where every you go

Lynn

annoni_mouse

2006-05-19 14:27:39

I go to both Icmeler and Zante every year and I really love both of them but if I had to choose I would pick Icmeler its such a lovely place it may have a longer transfer but it is worth it. The place is surrounded with pine tree and I think it has a magical feel about it and the Turkish people are so friendly which I find Zante is missing nowadays, and you dont get the earthquakes that you get in Zante.

Yeah, I must admit, without wanting to be unkind to the island 'cos I did meet some very nice people there, but of all the Greek islands ive visited, I found Zante to be the least welcoming.Maybe I was just unlucky? :shrug

As for Turkey, ive just recently returned from Marmaris,my first trip to that country.We absolutely loved it, and after a visit to Icmeler, we became enchanted by the resort....And I wouldnt be too put off by the hassle from the locals - once you politely but firmly let them know you arent interested, they leave you alone, trust me

mo rolfe

2006-05-19 16:13:49

well thanks for your good advice , ive just booked for olu deniz for 2007 cant wait , still got this years to go yet :lol:

oneilly

2006-05-19 19:34:53

hi mo rolfe you asked were i would be staying in kalamaki we are staying at amirilos aparthotel have you seen or herd about it .olu deniz is such a lovely place the lagoon is a picture spent a full day at lagoon. earthquakes in zante dont worry me had about ten little ones in marmaris last year part of life i just hope we enjoy zante there is 10 of us going the youngest 15 and half we like hussle and bussle but also like to walk away from it to ....cheers : :sun

mo rolfe

2006-05-19 19:39:31

not to sure about that one , make sure you go to mermaids they do great food ,dont do the all day boat trip to smuglers cove it is sooooooo boaring and i was so sea sick . not good lol. watch the turtles they are huge

AmyL

2006-06-23 16:03:54

Aghh, now, this has scared me slightly.

I've been to Turkey with my friends for the past three years and absolutely loved it it. We've decided to try Zante this year instead (flying out on sunday) but by the looks of things I should have stook to Turkey

Luckily I've went to Turkey 3 weeks ago so have had my 'fix' already :lol:

Has the greeks lost the charm which it sounds like they used to have (similar to how the Turkish are now I'm guessing) ? I really, really liked Turkey and thought Zante would be quite similar.
:roll:

Edit: this sounds like a moan, definately not moaning at all, I'm really looking forwards to it, just wondered what the reception was going to be like from the workers/locals?

GeoffWill

2006-07-05 12:03:54

Hi

I think it's the people that make the holiday - Greeks are more open and genuinely friendly - so much hassle in Turkey - they've always got their hand out for something, which may be understandable as they are generally poorer - but it still wears after a while

Wizard

2006-07-05 13:33:57

hi i have been to several places in Greece as yet i have not met an offhanded or impolite Greek (Unless you wind them up one way when in Zakynthos is to call it Zante) if you treat them as you would wish to be treated there is not a problem..try a few words in their own tongue(this goes a long way) eat local food and have local drinks (they feel that you think that there is something wrong with the local food if you don't)

I have used the same principles around the med and as yet not had a problem

wizard

numberplease

2006-07-05 16:07:15

Been to both, 3 times to Turkey. Liked both, but if pushed to choose, definitely Turkey every time.

rpbristol

2006-07-05 17:53:29

I have been to several places in Turkey and loads in Greece and love both countries. I agree with the Side suggestion. The trip from Antalya airport is reasonable and the town is splendid, with plenty of archaeology.
The visitors are assumed to be German and the hasslers usually address you in German. Try replying in Greek ... this always causes amusement. I have tried a haircut there in a Turkish barber shop. Excellent once I got over the terror of the flame being blown into my ears.

Greece and other Greek Island Discussion Forum

Post a Reply

Get the best deals!

from our cruise, ski and holiday partners