And I'm back....

[lucyandsteven88]

Hi everyone...

It's been a while since I been on the forum.

I just had to come on and update my feelings on Kalkan- we went to another part of Turkey this year and we hated every minute, the weather was great however the atmosphere, people and surroundings were completely the opposite of Kalkan -Silly me!- thinking that everywhere in Turkey was like Kalkan... that just shows how much of a novice I am when it comes to travelling in Turkey.

It dawned on us on holiday that we chose the most stunning place on our first trip to Turkey- Kalkan. Untouched landscape, friendly locals and beautiful restaurants can only truely exist here... I personally feel robbed of a holiday this year and was so pleased to be home.

I am now currently in the process of having a look around for holidays to Kalkan, so if anyone has anywhere they have stayed recently thats relatively cheap and cheerful for us to stay, please let me know.
We stayed at the Samira Centre Hotel last year and loved it but we are looking for something a little cheaper as the prices have went up a little. We are only bairns haha! (well, in our 20's cough cough) and moving in together shortly so want to watch the purse strings ...I would probs tailor make the holiday if it turned out to be cheaper.

Anyways thanks...
Hope to hear from you guys soon

Lucy

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=8599.0

[onelove]

Hi Lucy,

Great to have you back....... and back to Kalkan...... I did not find Kalkan until I was 47 so your well in front 

Have you thought about renting a villa / apartment, you can get great deals, and self catering saves loads of money.... have look on these sites ....  owners direct ....  holiday lettings  ..... holiday rentals......     Good luck in your search.    Trust me in all my years travelling I have never found anywhere quiet like Kalkan, its not perfect, but not far off  ......Just dont tell too many others, lets  keep it to ourselves     KD.

[lucyandsteven88]

Thanks for the reply Kalamar dream...

I know, i try not to tell many people but sometimes its hard not to want to boast about it! hehe

oh! i'll get looking straight away...

It's such a beautiful place, I feel cheated for spending so much this year in the most un friendilest place ever! My hopes were too high i think

Lucy

[turkeyfan]

Lucy, have a look at flythomascook, jet2, avro and easyjet for flights.  The earlier you book for flight only, the better bargains you will get, but don't forget you will need to allow approximately £110 for a private transfer for the 2 of you.

[onelove]

Where were you ?

[onelove]

to help keep costs down    have a look at the KTLN  "airport transfer share" link   www.ktln.co.uk 

[antler]

Hi Lucy,

Take a look at this post from 2010, if you haven't done so already?

http://enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=6115.0

Good luck in your search - and maybe see you in Kalkan next June?!

Cheers

Steve

[lucyandsteven88]

I don't like to be unkind to Turkey because it may be someone elses idea of a fab holiday, but we went to Altinkum and stayed in an all inclusive 5 star- it was awful- lacked holiday atmosphere in the hotel and the town... but maybe we had just been spoilt in our 2/3 star hotel the year before :S.
 It was more British than my front street where i live! Not good!... very pushy locals and if you politely said no you would get grief, we also got hassled in the hotel when the photographers tried to sell you a photo shoot every single night as you walked to dinner- so un relaxed, we felt harrassed!

thanks Turkeyfan and Steve!- just spoken to the boyfriend, he still has his heart set on the Samira ...we did love it so maybe we'll just have to cut out a few crazy nights out in the town and think of our beautiful Kalkan


I'm not fussed as long as I get there- Steve, September is our time for our holibobs... though i'd love to do june,july, august and september lol!


Lucy

[onelove]

You poor things..........never mind your be back in Kalkan soon    Do you know what the prices were outside the hotel for things like.. a meal for 2 ?   Efes ?   bottle of wine ?

I gave you the wrong web address for KTLN it should of read....  www.turkishlocalnews.com 

[maryjane]

My first ever visit to Turkey was to Altinkum - (probably before most of you were twinkles in your parent's eyes!)
It was delightful, a few B & B's - a handful of restaurants, a couple of hotels and stunning beaches.  One carpet shop, I expect they still remember me (carpet still going strong!!)   A leather clothing shop (I expect they remember me also!!!).
That was when I fell in love with Turkey (and a certain person).   Fast forward a few years and I totally agree with sentiments posted here, sounds very selfish - but we must preserve Kalkan, after all, we love it and feel it is our second home ( NO, I do wish to sound like a colonial), but where ever one is in the world it is so precious to preserve the ethos of the resort.  It is a very fine balance between commercialism and conservation

[onelove]

Here here maryjane.   

[lucyandsteven88]

Totally agree Maryjane... lets keep Kalkan safe from commercialism- it would be an awful shame!

Well we ate out alot last time we were there as we were b&b- are the prices still more or less the same?!... I was a sucker for the Lal Rose yummy!

Lucy

[Charlie]

Lucy may be worth contacting the Samira directly for a price. And if you get your flights booked as soon as they're released for next year, the holiday could work out cheaper. Also worth checking out is the Samira Gardens, run by the same family but a little cheaper.

[Roxie]

Hi,
If you book the Samira direct they will include the return transfer in the price!
Rx

[kalkan4eva]

If you are looking for a cheap hotel - Kelebek are offering rooms for two (B&B) for £27 per night and the Samira Gardens (great central location)currently have a board outside offereing 2012 prices - £100 per person, per week in June (B&B) with 15% off additional weeks. That's £370 for a fortnight and as Turkeyfan pointed out you can get some great flight deals.
If you're looking for cheap and cheerful self catering The Swan have some very reasonable apartments and very central location.
Welcome back

[chrissy1]

Hi yeah i agree we stayed at Samira Gardens last June it is very very nice spottlessly clean and very friendly - only small tho and the pool area is also quite small but we spend most of our time at the beach. We have already booked 3 weeks next June with them it is so cheap. You could also look at booking Samira (central) with alpharooms we did that and got a very cheap price this year then just contact Ergun on reception to try and give you a decent room.

[hodstar]

We got a week at the Samira deluxe apartments for £116 through Travel Republic and had a great time.

[JenJen]

Hi Lucy

Have you tried Jewel in the Crown holidays?  It's package holidays but they seem to be the cheapest from what we've seen.  We got back from Kalkan late on Friday and are hoping to go twice next year (May and Sept) so will have to keep costs down and they seem to have some good bargains.  We stayed at the Kelebek aparts 2 years ago booking through Jewel and had a fab time.  We're thinking of booking independently for our main holiday in Sept and getting a cheap package deal for a week in May.

I've been to a few places in Turkey, starting in the early 90s on family holidays and have to agree that Kalkan is my favourite place.  My boyfriend's first trip to Turkey was to Side 6 years ago for our first ever holiday together and it wasn't the best.  He HATED all the hassle from all the restaurants and bars (people chasing you all the way down the street, shouting at you,  argh) and absolutely refused to consider going to Turkey again.  Luckily I managed to convince him to try Kalkan in 2007 after finding this forum and he loves it as much as me now  

Good luck with the holiday research!