Kalkan.Progress?

[johnl]

Could`nt think what to put as subject so sorry in advance if it seems melodramatic.First let me say that we love Kalkan,we returned home  last week after 2 weeks there and have already booked to return in October.For the first time,however,we heard quite a few people voicing their disappointment with Kalkan and not just tourists.Some of our Turkish friends were dismayed at the number of unfinished properties where no work had taken place over the winter months and of the disfigurement of the mountainside.British tourists we spoke to were very surprised at the prices,not just in the "posher"restaurants but in other shops as well.Some said that they would come to Turkey again but not Kalkan. I must admit that we felt some places were trying it on, even the market traders were trying to sell fakes for more than we paid for genuine item in the seemingly endless sales in England.A couple who stay at their daughters apartment from Easter to October told us that they used to eat out 4 or 5 night a week in Kalkan a few years ago now once or twice or they go over to Kas.Another sad sight that was causing concern was the dogs on the Kalamar road attacking cars and bikes,how they did`nt get killed or cause an accident i do not know,and it is pointless trying to tell parents of terrified children that they  would not harm them.I know that we are only visitors,(and we did overhear disparaging remarks about"tourists" from British people who live there,) but we do love Kalkan and fervently hope that the powers that be will ensure that progress is sympathetic and that the new mayor will start to put things right.We did point out to people that places like cafe Vita,Oz Adana,Merkaz,Tomato etc.were places where the food was excellent and not overpriced so i hope they tried them and will return.Sorry that this went on so long and may seem to some like a litany of moans,it is`nt .As i said before we love Kalkan and had a great 2 weeks,even the rain was quite exciting as we watched it pour down the street.It is just that we do not want to see Kalkan turn into a Spanish Costa or an ex pat enclave,because if it cannot retain its unique feel people will go elsewhere.

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=3579.0

[DRBD]

Well put Johnl, especially liked your comments on the Market, they are ''trying it on'', even the stall holders who sell everyday wear, hardware, tools etc. We had a couple of experiences there, one where we wanted a plastic bowl, so did, unbeknown to the stall holder a Turkish friend of ours who was at the same stall, they were quoted a much lower price than we were, our friend sorted that one out!!!  We eat out very little these days and when we do, go to either the cheaper & just as good places or further afield out of Kalkan.

Some of your other comments are very well founded as well, but yes its still got it charm has Kalkan together with the surrounding areas, which is what keeps drawing the faithfuls in.

[Blue Lizard]

Strange about British people that live there making remarks about tourists..i would assume that most were exactly that themselves at one point!!

[Mrs Enjoy Kalkan]

Thanks John, it doesn''t sound melodramatic. Have to agree with you about the prices.

[Enjoy Kalkan]

I agree too JohnL I thought it was very well put and reasoned. Lets hope Kalkan never turns into Costa Del ExPat, that would be awful !

A wake up call perhaps?

[butterfly]

Unfortunately, the British holiday makers who behave and dress in bad taste are probably conducting themselves in exactly the same way when they are at home.  They are oblivious to the fact that they don''t fit in and make no attempt to conform. 

As for the expensive restaurants, the fault may not lay with the restaurateurs but perhaps with their landlords who charge them very high rents.

[onelove]

Hi all,

How much do you consider expensive for a 2 / 3 course meal ? ? ?    Do you have any examples of these expensive meals ? ? ?   

[kalkanfan]

I would be interested in what is regarded as an expensive meal in Kalkan - although I realise it will be different for many people.  Having just returned from a week in Sardinia we paid from 45 Euros for a two course meal (main course being pizza) and 2 beers to 85 Euros for a standard three course meal with wine.  My rough conversion makes that 98 to 185 Turkish Lira.  I don''t recall paying anything like those sorts of prices at any restaurant in Kalkan for comparable meals. 

[onelove]

You wont believe what we paid for average pasta meals in Rome....no starters or puds, a bit of dry bread, and tap water..........35/40 euros each.........again, I just dont get it, as far as me and my family are concerned Kalkan offers great value......

[msr]

We have just returned from a week in Kalkan, we own a villa on Patara Prince and go regularly 3 times a year. Prices have definitely risen , but Kalkan is now seen as an up market resort. We ate out every night but were pleasantly surprised at some of the bills. We have breakfast in the villa, in the heat rarely eat anything at lunchtime and go into town for an evening meal. We had Meze at the Korsan which cost us TL25, plus a couple of drinks which made the total of the meal TL30, this works out at £6 per head. Our bill at The Aubergine came to  £42 and this included a bottle of wine. Obviously we wouldn''t eat there every night but by mixing and matching restaurants we manage to keep the prices reasonable. What is interesting is that the ''middle of the road'' restaurants seem to be hiking up the prices wheras the ''upper end'' don''t seem to have increased much.  When it is very hot I will sometimes have just a starter as my main meal which is ample.
I do however remember our first visit to Kalkan 9 years ago when four of us had a meal for TL12 in total. Alas those days  have gone. Compared to the eurozone countries Kalkan is still reasonable value for money and at least the food is Turkish. We have friends that went to Greece last year instead of Turkey and said there was no comparision, they are still serving lukewarm moussaka at hugely inflated prices. Needless to say they are returning to Kalkan this year.

[Blue Lizard]

if you are out and about try eating locally,Patara has nice food in basic yet comfortable surroundings at still good prices as do other outlying villages..you will see a difference

[DawnT]

Totally agree with Butterfly!!  Football shirts in Kalkan!!! I live in a nice part of Essex and the only place we see football shirts are on the pitch, exactly where their should stay - and this is coming from an ardent football supporter.  Obviously I will apologise in advance, as there is is obviously going to be some backlash on my comments!!

[Babs]

I remember the same thing happening last year.....all sorts of scary tales about how standards are falling etc.....and yet when we were there in August Kalkan was as beautiful as ever. We have always said the day the ''football shirts'' arrive will be our last in Kalkan...so fingers crossed it was just a blip. the lovely thing about Kalkan is that you can ''pay your money and take your choice''.....something for everyone. The most worrying thing I''ve heard is rude comments from ''ex-pats'' not everyone is lucky enough to be able to live in Kalkan or own property. Am still really looking forward to our 2 weeks in August! 

[misty]

Hows this £17 for a small bottle of beer....£173 for a two course meal....£88 for a taxi back to the hotel no more than 8 miles........how could I ever moan about prices in Kalkan...not that I think they are expensive anyway......   

Where was I.....Tokyo !!!! land of the rising sun 

[ScotsinKalkan]

Last August we enjoyed meals in Kalkan and further afield, Kalkan was always the most expensive. It is a premium place and as long as that "premium" does not get to much them I am happy to pay.

We found that a lot of the "top" restaurants were not actually that different and we we looking at copies of the same menu outside many places, I also find the people outside pitching the restaurants really irritating saying "look at our menu" when you had seen the same one 30 seconds before outside another place. This year we will try some of the smaller restaurants as you come into town perhaps.

We like Kalkan a lot and it is great when you get local food and not lots of signs saying full English breakfast served here!

[Enjoy Kalkan]

Did anyone see the article in the Weekend supplement of The Times yesterday? They undertook a survey on the cost of items on holiday.

The 3 places featured were Newquay for the UK, Nice for France and Kalkan for Turkey. The final results were

Newquay - cheapest at £26.29 for the items
Kalkan - middle at £36.93 for the items
Nice - most expensive at £45.17 for the items.

[onelove]

Items ? ? ?

[Blue Lizard]

This doesn''t include sunshine obviously!!

[Babs]

one of the items was a Big Mac.....let''s not go there again!! 

[alantj]

A friend who works in travel PR, said (to put it diplomaticaly) the writer was not known for the quality of his research or accuracy.