Oludeniz - Turkey

pretzelnut

The local market is right at the end of the tourist market.
We only found it as i left my cash in the hotel safe and went on the hunt for a cash machine through the local streets, when we found one the market was opposite.

You will get badgered by the locals selling their wares and you will get a little tired of saying no thank you a hundred times and more, but like the previous poster said there just trying to make a living, and ocasionally a good tourist will get a real good banter going which amuses everyone.

Im too polite to haggle so i just tend to keep my head down and leave it to my partner.

Be prepared to be swamped if you show interest in an item and the seller will always start of with a very high price (they expect to haggle) so dont just accept his first offer - i was told to expect to pay 1/3 of the 1st price they give you and if they wont go lower than that 1st price just walk away they soon come running after you with a better price.

Dont be embarresed to walk away, a few people that were in our tour group ended up spending loads on stuff they didnt want purely cos they couldnt say no.

Remember everything is fake no matter how good the quality might be so take this into account when buying something.

I got my mum a real leather fake gucci purse and paid about £15 for it. Its the best purse ive ever bought and she loves it and after 2 years and much use it hasnt got a scratch on it. I'll be getting her another 1 next year.

They will demonstate the real leather tip on you. Plastic melts when heated with a lighter but real leather doesnt.

We got some amazing locally made glass items for our living room - unfortunatley 1 got broken in transit on the way back and we packaged it well in our hand luggage.

There are a few local cafe's but the food isnt up to much, the usual chips and tomato sauce etc.

But we just ate fresh fruit from the local's market instead and it was a lot cheaper. The atmosphere ia amazing and it does get really really hot under the market covers.

I wish i was going there now.

I also think we took a boat trip from fethiye (cant be too sure though) it took us round the coast and the sights were amazing.

natc

Lol, yes the haggling bit is annoying, but i got us some decent enough bargains whilst in icemeler, it was a laugh with most of the turkish sellers, most had a laugh with you, occasional one or 2 looked fed up! bless them. My OH is a bit too polite and doesnt like to offend anyone, but hes been with me a while now and got used to me in britain haggling, never mind in turkey! ha.. Hes getting there too.

He ended up getting a couple of harley davidson jackets £80.00 each, he felt they were a bargain, he got one for his dad, he loved it! One jacket was long in the arms for my OH when he tried it on, "no problem, we'll get it turned up" off they went to the alteration shop, back within the hour, all nicely done, didnt charge for it either.

MrsE_2

natc wrote: »

Thanks Little Otter. its nice to hear about the place before we go, wish i had done this on my previous hols! We have def decided to stay in Olu deniz, and work our way out to places if we want to. I really do want to visit Fethiye tho, heard that its working town and not for holiday makers as such, but worth a visit i reckon.

Im waiting for Thomas Cook to get back to me about some hotels. Wanted to stay in Belechan beach hotel, Karbel Sun Hotel but not having any look with availability : ( going to email them and find out first hand if they have any availablity.


BTW princesswoo you made me hungry, the deserts sound yummy! mmm.

Well worth visiting on market day (if my memory serves its Tuesday).

Then go to the harbour afterwards for a late fish lunch;)

Also the man that used to have the White Dolphin restaurant (now turned into a hotel) has a new restaurant in Fetihye thats on a tiny island he runs a boat out too. Next time I go to Olu I will visit, I suggest you try it, the White Dolphin was fab.

mollymoo12

3 people who I work with have been to Montana Pines on recommendation - all love it and are going back this year

gem599

Hi,

Just come back from 2 weeks at the Hotel Mavruka... it was wonderful and just about to write a trip advisor review to boost their scores further!

The staff were friendly, funny and nothing was too much trouble.
Perfect location, just off the main strip so quiet but only a 30 second walk to the strip/2min walk to beach.
Full of families/couples so had a laid back atmosphere and as it was a small hotel was no fighting for sunbeds etc!

Stayed B&B but you can only do that through a tour operator I think, they only offer half board if you book directly. The food was ok, ate there one night and it was good, just meze/buffet style. Think I would get fed up though if having it every night, and it would be a shame to miss out on the restaurants nearby.

Can't recommend it highly enough... is only 3 years old so is still pristine and spotless.

Have a good holiday!

spoony77

Me and the wife went to Olu in may and the resort is so small that all the hotels have a good location really.
We stayed in the Perdikia which was nice, small and friendly (rooms were very small) but good value for money and a great location.
Hope you get better weather than us - it rained every day for a week

Becles

Been to Olu Deniz twice and loved it so much we want to go again!

The resort is very child friendly and the main street down to the beach is pedestrian only. It's a very laid back resort so it's perfect for chilling out and you don't get the 18-30 clubbers going there as there are no big clubs. All the Turkish people are really friendly and they make a real fuss of the children. Made some friends with shop and bar owners who have kept in touch through email and Facebook so it was nice going and seeing everyone again this year. People in the resort did ask if we were looking for meals or wanted to buy stuff, but a simple and polite "no thanks" was enough if you didn't want to look. Didn't feel hassled at all.

Main beach is nice, but the private beaches on the lagoon are best for children. The water is very calm and shallow and I was happy for my two year old to wade out in it. It's free entry but you pay a small fee for sun loungers and parasols and they expect you to buy food and drinks there. Prices were very reasonable though and we thought it was good value for money.

There are loads of bars and restaurants in the resort so you'll be spoiled for choice and they cater for all tastes.

Last year we stayed in the Olu Deniz Beach Resort but it had just been taken over by a Russian company and we faced loads of problems. I'm not sure if these were just teething troubles or not.

Just stayed in the Alize hotel and would highly recommend it. It was spotlessly clean, the food was fabulous (mainly all Turkish dishes), the staff were all friendly and the pool was huge. I'd go back there tomorrow if I could!

If you go, you must visit Shadows bar half way down the main strip. The men who run it are all completely bonkers and you'll have a great fun time.

Toto

princesswoo wrote: »

I highly reccommend lykia world.

They get a massive 11/10 from me.

We went in 2007 and im eagerly awaiting 2010 dates so i can get in early to go again next year. Its perfect for chilling out and relaxing in the week we were there we never got round it all as its that big. For a stressed out mum of 3 its perfect for me as i have to do NOTHING for a week.

Although there are a lot of children there, we never noticed as there are something like 21 pools. 3 of which are adult only. Its just so peaceful, there are no fights for sun beds either.

There's loads of restaurants so you can eat in a different one every night making it feel like your eating in different places but its all included, my partner loved the fact that he got to pull his own pint with his evening meal. And i got my own bottle of wine placed on the table. The staff are amazing, and so helpful, nothing is too much trouble for them. Its one of the best paid jobs for the turkish people within a 3 hour drive of the resort.

We did a day trip to fethiye market and was dissapointed with the constant loop of belts, bags, wallets, jewellery. Until we got lost and found the real turkish market at the other end that had more of a turkish feel as it was full of locals and no one trying to force you to buy a fake gucci watch. Unless you want a fake gucci watch or a leather belt i wouldnt bother going.

Theres plenty of entertainment, always loads of food on the go, they employ chefs who all they do is make sculptures out of watermelons, and others whose sole purpose is to cook your eggs at breakfast to your requirements. The evening meals are like a gourmet feast and there is always plenty to choose from, including a large selection of deserts. Although a lot of deserts are covered in pistachio nuts.

There is a bus to help you get around the complex as it gets a bit steep in places and the shows that they put on are fabulous.

Taxi's pick you up and drop you off from the main entrance and its 0nly a maximum of 8-10 minutes drive to olu deniz resort and the famous blue lagoon.

Google it and you'll find out a little but they really dont do themselves justice, the place is more like a small city, and everything is included. It never felt over crowded. And we didnt feel like we had to fight our way through anything, it was all so laid back.

They only time you do have to pay for anything is if you get something out of your mini bar or buy a drink or ice cream at the bar. They dont accept cash, you are given a swipe card and you settle your bill at the end of your stay.

Its a bit pricey for some but once you've paid the travel agent - you really dont need to take any extra money unless you want to go on excursions. But you will need a few spends to buy bottles of water from the shop or bar as these arent included in the holiday price.

If your lying on the beach and are to relaxed to move but want a drink, just signal a waiter and he will go and get you one, so you dont even have to move.

For those looking at going who have children the on site kids clubs and baby creche is fantastic, the staff take fabulous care of the children.

There is a special baby room with sterilisers and food / bottle warmers, so you can look after your baby and feed him/her in the knowledge that everything is clean and sterile.

Older kids are well fed and water and fully entertained with disco's, crafts, shows, and loads more.

I really cant praise lykia world highly enough, if i wasnt 28 weeks pregnant already i'd be going this year as i love it.

I agree, Lykia was one of the best package type holidays I've been on. If I went back to Turkey i'd certainly go back. I went in 2004.

littlereddevil

Olu Deniz for sure. Most of the b&b hotels are nice , all have much the same size of rooms, smallish. It would be a waste to go ai as eating out is great fun. We have been going for over 20 years and have now bought an apartment in Fethiye, which is great for year round living but not the same atmosphere just for a couple of weeks holiday.The Montan pines is too far out I would say. You could possibly be cheaper booking the hotel and flights separately.

jumpingjackd

So glad to hear good reviews about Olu Deniz. We are off next Wednesday for a week at Belcehan Deluxe and sooo looking forward to it.
Anyone stayed here. Also, any recommendations for a turkish bath.