Awful altinkum turkey

breadlinebetty

My friend's friend has booked her very first holiday abroad, to Altinkum in Turkey. She booked through a well-known TO and is due to go at the end of May.

I told my friend how horrible Altinkum is (filthy, scruffy, ugly ec) and as it's her friend's first holiday abroad, she advised her to try and change her booking to a different resort. The TO aren't obliging, so we're just wondering what she can do?

We're only trying to help her as she's been suffering from depression for most of her adult life, and has only now been able to afford a holiday abroad with her disabled husband and son - who is suffers from an illness too:(

I have been to Altinkum and I know how much she will be deeply disappointed and heartbroken to arrive in such an ugly depressing resort...here's a link to give you an idea of its ugliness and filth

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ReviewPhotos-g1467692-r84685235-Altinkum_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html

So is there any way she can change the resort without losing nearly all her money?

Help please!

charlie3090

hi, those photos were taken in 2010 so maybe the beaches have improved since then.
ive been to altinkum and whilst its not my favourite place in turkey its not all doom and gloom,there are some lovely parts of it.
could you not look up some sightseeing,places to go for her so she can make the best of this holiday,shes already been put off so if she cant change it,try and make it the best it can be for her.
Cx

Pollycat

breadlinebetty wrote: »

So is there any way she can change the resort without losing nearly all her money?

Not if the TO won't play ball!

All you can do is try to take away the negativity that your friend's friend now has about the resort.

Charlie3090 has given some good ideas.

I went to Altinkum in 1988, the 2nd year it was in the brochures so I've no idea what it's like now - can it really all be so dire?

breadlinebetty

charlie3090 wrote: »

hi, those photos were taken in 2010 so maybe the beaches have improved since then.
ive been to altinkum and whilst its not my favourite place in turkey its not all doom and gloom,there are some lovely parts of it.
could you not look up some sightseeing,places to go for her so she can make the best of this holiday,shes already been put off so if she cant change it,try and make it the best it can be for her.
Cx

Unfortunately Altinkum is just as bad as it was 2 years ago.......

I don't know anywhere that's nice in Altinkum, the whole place looked like one giant rubbish tip.

Another problem is it's filled with esaate agent sharks who want to try and sell rotten cheap properties to people, and then they rip them off. I'd hate to see her being hassled just walking down the street!:(

Not sure where she could go sightseeing outside of there.....money and getting around are two of her biggest problems unfortunately.:(

breadlinebetty

Pollycat wrote: »

Not if the TO won't play ball!

All you can do is try to take away the negativity that your friend's friend now has about the resort.

Charlie3090 has given some good ideas.

I went to Altinkum in 1988, the 2nd year it was in the brochures so I've no idea what it's like now - can it really all be so dire?

No, the TO won't budge at all!

In 1988 most of the Turkish resorts were not even proper resorts - you wouldn't recognise them now!:eek: Altinkum looks like a rough council estate, it doesn't even look or feel Turkish.

Very sad indeed.

pingu

you mention resort and pictures of beach but no hotel etc...hotel could have a lot going on and no harm going for a walk(i do that cos can't sit in the sun)to get the feel of local life culture etc..

we have been on holidays where we only went to beach once or twice and some holidays where went to beach everyday

just stay positive and may be travel around a bit local bus not that expensive