Turkey - what is it really like?

[thatgirloverthere]

We are looking at booking a holiday for next summer, we like to visit a different place every year and I've been looking at Grand Yazici club Marmaris Palace hotel in Icmeler Turkey.

The hotel itself has great reviews, it's the actual resort I'm not too sure about, I've heard pretty bad things about Turkey and how you can't go into a shop without being forced to buy something ect. And how the men will 'chat up' young teenage girls. Although I also know of people that visit every year and love it, so I'm somewhat confused.

We don't drink alcohol at all, and are a fairly quiet family, we like to watch the entertainment but don't really like to get involved in it, although that would probably just be the mini disco as we would need to get back for the children to get to bed.

Can anyone give me a totally honest opinion of a family holiday in or around Marmaris/Icmeler? or Turkey in general?

Thanks

Mamaris is the costa del sol of turkey so not my cup of tea. I prefer more rural unspoilt bits.

Fetiye and Dalyan are lovely for families, and has beautiful beaches, food etc

Turkey is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly. I have been visiting there for over 20 years and I lived out there for 3 years. I love Turkey.

But I would never go to Marmaris, it is far too commercialised, full of Brits and a bit like Blackpool in the sun.

There are some amazing resorts that would suit you much better and if you don't drink you would find it better value to go to a small hotel or an apartment.

If you fancy the Marmaris/Icmeler part of turkey instead of those resorts have a look at Turunc, Dalyan or Olu Deniz. Otherwise have a look at the Bodrum Peninsula - Bitez, Turgutreis or Yalikavak.

I have been going to Turkey every year for the last 14+ years. But I would rather not have a holiday than go to Marmaris or Icmeler.

As well as the other suggestions try Kalkan or Kas or Akyaka.#

Turkey is fab, agree marmaris is not best resort there are much nicer places mentioned above. I love turkey, people very friendly, lots to see and so, nice beaches, great food etc

Warning it is REALLY HOT
My H couldnt cope with it.

It's a bit like chicken! ( sorry)

Yes, v v hot. Lovely in spring with young kids - lots of flowers etc and warm march-June or September is lovely too.

Icmeler is not Marmaris, it's a couple of k away and when we went is a smaller quieter resort, or it was when we went there 13 years ago. We had a fab holiday there, and only went to Marmaris twice for the market iirc. The beach is lovely, you can get the bus to Fetiye and boat trips leave from the harbour. We loved it. Marmaris is pretty horrible though, but Turkey is fab.

Thanks Everyone, I guess Marmaris/Icmeler is not the place for us, I was looking at that area because we have a larger family and there are very few accommodation that cater for more than four people. I really don't want to have to use two seperate rooms or apartments whilst we are away, one place wanted us to have three rooms - crazy, plus the cost was astronomical.

Whilst we are happy to have a quiet holiday, our younger three children do like to make friends and take part in children's activities. All Inclusive hotels and apartments are usually the only places that have any kind of entertainment. My children are all fab swimmers so love a waterslide and a wave pool and it seems that lots of hotels in Turkey have these, whereas in Greece or Spain it's only the Aqualand hotels.

If anyone could recommend accommodation that sleeps more than 4, I'd be ever so grateful - anywhere really not fussy.

Thanks again.

Have a look at WOW Bodrum, I think they have family rooms. Otherwise you could rent a villa, we usually do that.

Calis, which is next to Fethiye, might be up your street. The beach and view are lovely, it's a pretty quiet place, and you can get the water taxi to Fethiye, which is a lovely town. Lots of daytrips you can do from there too, such as all-day boat trips around the islands and bays (incl swimming etc), Saklikkent Gorge, the ruins at Pinara or Tlos, and loads more.

I think there's also a water park at Calis.

I'm really not a fan of costa type hols at all and openly admit I can be quite snobby about these things but I had a great holiday in Marmaris when I went end of May/early June as it was still quite quiet then and there wasn't really a Brits abroad vibe at that time- though I could imagine it being like that in high season. The hotel I stayed in had a large no of other nationalities too which probably helped.

Ichmelar was very quiet and sleepy on the two occasions I went there. It had some lovely restaurants and seafront walk with bars also.

I also found I didn't get hassled in the shops that much which was a surprise after being to another part of turkey where they really badgered you. Yes they will talk to you and ask you to look inside but they didn't object any time I said no.

I stayed all inclusive, but ate and drank out a few times just to sample some other places as it was very affordable, except round Marmaris marina which seemed expensive.

I previously went to Altinkum which is nearer Bodrum. This is marketed as a quieter, more family type resort. However I found as it was more off the beaten track the shops etc gave you more hassle and it didn't have that much nearby to do.

It's not going to be wow amazing cultural holiday like going to the Italian Lakes/south of France etc but it had great local cuisine, trips and a fab hotel. If you're looking for a relaxing pool/sun package holiday I wouldn't write it off as it was great value.

Oh I should also add, I wouldn't recommend staying in downtown marmaris, I stayed on the road out to ichmelar (though could still walk into marmaris centre). Also unless you like it scorching, go early/late in the season- early June was high 30s most days

I don't know Turkey about not being cultural, Ephesus blew me away. I am visiting Istanbul next week and that looks pretty cultural too.

Chicken, I didn't know how to word it earlier- it's a resort as much as you want it to be but there are cultural things nearby, also couldn't remember the name of Ephesus

I certainly would call Marmaris cultural but there are many other places that are :)

I have been to Turkey twice, once to the Mark Warner resort in Bodrum which is lovely, and this year to Sensatori in Side/Sorgun. If your kids will like water sports and sailing then the mark warner resort is amazing, and I think they may have some larger rooms.

Turkey is lovely, but we do tend to stay on resort. The people are lovely and the food is really nice.

Just stay somewhere away from the main party areas.

Forgot to mention that Turkey is two hours ahead, so this means that if your kids are normally 7am till 7pm, that will be 9am till 9pm in Turkey, so you get to stay out late and sleep in. In both resorts I went to kids were up very late in the bars and restaurants and no one minded at all, the Turkish love kids.

We went to Turkey for the first time last year, to Olu Deniz. It was very welcoming, friendly and family-orientated.
In fact, we had such a great time (and felt like we'd got real value for money) that we're going back this year, this time to Torba, a small village near Bodrum.
Be aware - in August, temperatures can reach 50 degrees. You really cannot walk around anywhere during the day. DH and 4yo DD loved the heat but I spent lots of time under the umbrella with a big hat on.

Turkey is a gigantic country. The holiday resorts are only scratching the surface of the amazing history and culture of the place. The region of Cappadocia, for example, is like nowhere else on earth. It's just bloody miles away from the standard coastal resort places.

KALKAN is gorgeous, family-friendly, welcoming - like a very pretty village set around a bijou harbour - huge choice of eateries/beach clubs/trips/very nice shops... We've been taking our 5 DC's for several years since they were aged 6 - 20 they all love it and still do, as do our elderly parents...

Turkey is beautiful!! I found the Egyptian men much more creepy and pushy . The Turks at our hotel were lovely and friendly .

Thanks for the replies, I work term time only so have no option of a holiday in May/June. I really need to keep the children busy during the summer holidays.

I've been to Greece and liked it, it wasn't too hot, but on holiday it's different isn't it? you can dip in and out of the pool all day!

I'm still not sure where to go, I've been looking all over the place but many resorts/hotels are coming in at £1000+ per person. I've been looking at Altinkum and found an apartment complex with good reviews on Tripadvisor. So I may try that one out.

Thanks again.

It wasn't so hot this year anyway, in August 35 degrees, which was nice. It never gets to 50 degrees anyway, the hottest it has ever reached in the resorts is about 44 so don't believe what people say. It is not much hotter than Greece, the only reason the Greek islands are a degree or so cooler is because they are islands.