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Kalkan Discussion => Holiday Reports and Reviews => Topic started by: jstjdsunshine on July 24, 2008, 09:18:20 PM

Title: holiday Report 2 weeks with 10 and 11 year old in Villa
Post by: jstjdsunshine on July 24, 2008, 09:18:20 PM
thanks to all of those regulars who have replied to my questions over the months. Here is a briefish summary of the last two fantastic weeks with thoughts and recommendations that i hope are useful for others especially those self catering with children.
OVERVIEW: Kalkan is a truly unique place ''Polperro in Turkey'', quaint, friendly, clean, a touch upmarket, great food and great weather, the surrounding areas provide limitless entertainment trip opportunity for kids.
TRANSFER: used Enes Tourism agency for Dalaman both ways. Five of us in a luxury Mercedes Van both ways £60 each way, took two hours each way. Very professional careful driver.NOTE: I had heard that the police stop cars on the coast road and it happened to us at around midnight - MIDNIGHT EXPRESS i thought as the ENEs driver was breathelised- he passed it happens often.
SUPERMARKET: Used YAli , Tesko and Sevil all fine. Yali helped us on a 1 am supermarket sweep en route from Dalaman, of course the driver from Enes also helped. HE also helped carry the cases and the shopping the last 50 yards to ur villa as the road was blocked.Could get anything we wanted.
Fresh Fish: used the little fishmonger dwon the steps opposite Ali babas- really good 8 king prawns for about a fiver
Fresh Meat - used two butchers either side of the taxi roundabout both excellent
Water/Electircity/Security: We had no water shortages, the odd electrcity cut normally around 9pm for an hour or so, security i felt safe all the time. The villa had a cleaner, gardener and pool attendant who came at a variety of times and helped to provide security.
Shopping[/b] I bartered in most non food shops to some extent very easy and friendly the odd shop politely said no.
Beach We loved the main pebble beach it was very accessible my kids were more than happy here and even played with local turkish children catching starfish.Went toPatara beach two days after  a substantial fire had swept through the area but it didnt effect the beach. Ate in the restaurant on the beach which was adequate. Patara abeach was very windy that day and we did feel alittle sand blasted.
Trips I talked to Enes, Define, Adda and Abi Tours and ended up booking rips and car hire with Abi - they were awesome. Firstly upfront Child discounts the other agencies were not keen on child discounts and used it as a negotiating ploy. Well done to Abi for thinking about family purse strings.
Best trip Kekova / Simena with Abi tours , samll minbus to Ucagiz (sounds like) great scenary then boat most of day to islands , castles, sunken citites etc truly meomrable and lovely lunch. Great homemade ice cream at main cafe in Simena.
Hired a boat - Sunrise 1 from Kalkan harbour for a day £100 all in with incredible lunch, afternoon tea etc would highly recommend
Sakil.kent Gorge/Letoon/Xanthos/Patara ruins - these are offered as probably two trips but we hired a car for day throuhg Abi and easily visited all the above. Best advise let the turkish boys help you across the first bit of gorge and then escort you through the gorge my kids loved playing hide and seek with them. We did give them some loose change afterwards
NewRoad- looks great and i saw several dolmuses using it but it is loose chipings at the  oment

Finally thanks to the Feds, Pauline , BevJam , Joan and others for providing such a useful background prior to my trip. I may break a rule and go back somewhere- it was fab.
Title: Re: holiday Report 2 weeks with 10 and 11 year old in Villa
Post by: holidayfever on July 24, 2008, 09:36:45 PM
Great report, hope anyone who is worried reads it. Like you I dont like to return to anywhere twice too much world to see, but whoops we do return to Kalakn but try and sneak other places in also.
Title: Re: holiday Report 2 weeks with 10 and 11 year old in Villa
Post by: Chucky on July 24, 2008, 09:43:00 PM
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to post this report.
I personally really enjoy reading them and learn new things about Kalkan and the surrounding area almost everytime. I also like the way that the reports remind me of what it is that draws me back to Kalkan and helps me forget the terrible weather, and bad news that we all read about everyday. A form of escapism.
I am glad that the forum and it''s members helped to "prepare" you for the Kalkan Experience, and hope others that are anticipating their holiday here will have some of their fears and doubts assuaged.
Best wishes
Joan
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