Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => Holiday Reports and Reviews => Topic started by: merengo on August 27, 2008, 05:45:56 PM
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Imagine this will get shot down in flames but I will go for it anyway.
Kalkan was suggested to us by a friend who had visited four years ago. We dutifully booked a week in an apartment during August 2008. Flight arrived at 4am or so and by the time we got through baggage etc and got the cab to Kalkan it was around 7am. Some of the views on the drive in were very good however our initial impression of Kalkan was that it resembled a building site. Unfinished roads, diggers and construction sites litter the hills as the expansion up and out continues. Arrived at our apartment block which was stunning, nice room and a great view of Kalkan Bay which is great as long as you look directly at the bay and not left or right. The week went down hill really from there on the initial walk into the picturesque fishing villiage we saw signs advertising "Lorry Drivers Breakfasts" and Sky Sports logo''s up all over the place. Eager to experience the Moonlight bar based on discussions on this forum I couldn''t believe the place stank inside and was impossible to sit outside comfortably. Evidently the shell of the old town is lovely with winding streets and turns and twists all over the place but it is lined with restauraunts badgering you to look at menu''s or shops selling knock-off gear. We had some nice meals out notably Alernatif which I would recommend to anyone unfortunate enough to visit Kalkan. Generally I thought the place was quite expensive for what you were getting (one caveat would be the little green grocers next to the smile supermarket by the taxi rank which was fantastic value for what you were buying) Took a boat trip which was fun for an hour but extremely repetitive with not much going on around Kalkan Bay (on the one we went on)
In sum; If you like a holiday were you can meet loads of other Brits in faux classy surroundings, get pink and be able to talk English whereever you want then Kalkan is the place to go. Although there is syngery in any tourist/host country relationship it would seem to me that the Brits have really destroyed what Kalkan Bay was and the kind of hidden gem it would have been for people travelling around Turkey or the locals holidaying within their own country. I am sure if Turkey join the EU the floodgates will really be opened.
Personally will be avoiding an EFES and a fry-up next year.
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Did you research kalkan before you booked ie this forum, if not I can understand what you thought when you came over the hill,with the diggers and all the work for the new road.
the sky sports banners,I think I have only seen one,at the moonlight maybe,cant comment on the moonlight Ive never been in,not my sort of place.
The lorry drivers breakfast,I have seen one sign down by the harbour,I think its a wind up !
some hassle off eating houses,but nothing like some places in turkey or europe.
Ive never been hassled to buy "knock off "goods unless you include the genuine fakes at the market !
How kalkan must have changed in six weeks !
Neil. ???
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Fair play - I probably shouldn''t have pluralised the statements about Sky Sports Banners and the Breakfast but they are good examples of tangible imagery to describe my overall impression.
I would imagine, as you are alluding, that it hasn''t changed in six weeks. However my impression is as valid as any other one. Although I concede that on a forum called enjoykalkan.com I will be in the minority.
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Hi Merengo,
Welcome to EnjoyKalkan. Whilst you may well be in the minority your opinion is as valued as any other.
Hope you enjoy the website
Jon :)
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Hiya Merengo, I value your comments,as it was your first visit I think it is interesting to hear what you think of kalkan, If you do visit kalkan again your views may or may not change.
A lot of us on this forum like to think of it as paradise,when really we know its not and things are not good all the time.
take care on your trips elsewhere.
Neil :)
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Absolutely Merengo you are entitled to your opinion and views of Kalkan - and I''m sorry that you were disappointed in your holiday..... It is good to hear negative (or not so positive) views on Kalkan - because we are all individuals and therefore one size does NOT fit all - so thank you for being brave enough to put your head over the parapet and post your report! I must agree that, compared with other places in Turkey (and the world) I agree with Fidimax that the skysports and lorry drivers breakfasts are few and far between (if not 1 and 1!!) but of course it does add to your overall impression. Perhaps you might like somewhere more turkish to holiday in - various places spring to mind - Akayaka, kas, Kekova (where the best boat trips (IMHO) are to be found) or even Gocek might be more up your street....
Personally speaking - it is as close to paradise as I can get - but I agree it does have its not so good points - but then taking all that into account - for me - it certainly floats my boat - but appreciate your opinion! Thank you and enjoy your holidays elsewhere in Turkey or elsewhere in the world! :D
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Different strokes for different folks... no accounting for taste... one man''s meat is another man''s poison... and other assorted cliches...
Thanks for dropping by, Merengo... and enjoy the rest of the world. We do, two or three times a year, and still keep coming back to Kalkan! ;D
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The title of this website is not an instruction! It was created for those that enjoy Kalkan. There may one day be a site called www dot avoidkalkan dot com, but until then, sorry to hear of your disappointment and good luck finding a Brit-free and Sky TV-free zone.
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Dear oh dear Morengo you really sound hard to please! In my 50 odd years on this planet I have travelled pretty widely, the only continent I have yet to visit is Australia - I have travelled throughout Western Turkey, had the misfortune to visit some really grotty parts of the costas in Spain, hated Portugal, spent a miserable couple of weeks in Mexico (what a dump Cancun is!), loved Northern Sweden in winter. Had the misfortune of experiencing French ''''hospitality'''', loved my visit to Poland etc, etc. In short there are good places to visit and plenty of bad, we keep returning to Kalkan every year because we have a totally different impression of it to you. There is 1 Sky sports banner that I can remember, cant ever remember seeing signs about lorry driver breakfasts, but hardly a big deal.
ENJOYKALKAN SAFETY
Additional text removed under the Mutual Member Respect Policy and warning issued.
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we came home from Kalkan on tuesday. We loved it!!. One of the best bits was wandering through the town in the evening and choosing a restaurant. The food was really something else. Best restaurants for us were the Korsan Fish Terrace and the aubergine. What would make the place perfect would be a sandy and accessible beach within walking distance (my son isn''t a confident swimmer yet so steep drop on town beach and ladders at beach clubs nnot suitable) however we just got into the pool and relaxed. I cannot understand why anyone couldn''t just fall in love with Kalkan
pople great, weather great, food great etc etc !!!!!
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Hilary,
So pleased you enjoyed your well deserved break in Kalkan and hope your "batteries" are recharged.
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It''s all in the eye of the beholder....sure Kalkan is not perfect but where is ???? for us coming around the bend on the new road and stopping to admire the new view of Kalkan was truly amazing although I don''t envy the villa owners who now have a road in their back garden !!!!
I didn''t see to much evidence of the "kiss me quick mentality" that some people seem to think is creeping in and thought the village was quiet for August..............
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Hi Merengo
Where do you like to holiday? We absolutely love Kalkan but always like to hear about other resorts.
Regards
Margaret
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hello Marengo....2 weeks ago we returned from Kalkan after our 4th visit......yes there have been changes since our first visit 4 years ago but it is still the special place it always was, good food, friendly people, lovely shops etc, etc......travelling with our 2 teenage daughters and this year their friends it certainly ticks all the boxes. As much as we love Kalkan we are always on the look out for other places and certainly don''t go for for the "tea like mother makes" resorts that litter the Med........any suggestions?
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I joined this forum around 6 weeks ago and left a message that we were looking forward to returning to Kalkan in October after a 5 year break.We expect things to have changed,but,and it is a BIG but,if we were new to Kalkan after reading these forums for 6 weeks i do not know if we would be coming! Warnings of high taxi fares and fights,roadworks scaring the hills,excessive noise from the roadworks,high prices,over enthusiastic "greeters" outside the restaurants etc etc... I know it cannot have changed that much but if i owned a property there or was in business, i would seriously be concerned over the negativity that is coming across.With the economic outlook as bleak as it is for next year, visitors will choose with their wallets rather than their hearts.We have visited other places in Turkey and,while Kalkan is special, other resorts also have their attractions.
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I agree John.....I do not have any financial interest ie no property in Kalkan but think it is really sad to see such negativity on this site - although everyone is entitled to their opinion. We are not planning to return to Kalkan next year but not because we no longer like the place but it will be our first summer holiday without our daughters so "the world is our cockle!" However we love Turkey so much we are considering looking at other quieter options.....all suggestions gratefully received. Kalkan is not paradise, like everywhere it has its problems, you will see changes John but if the reason you are returning to kalkan is for the friendly atmosphere, relaxing nature of the place, not to forget the wonderful food! then hopefully you won''t be disappointed and will have a lovely holiday.
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John
This is the first time ever that construction has continued throughout the season and that is purely for the completion of the road. This has had no effect on life in the town but i would imagine that it has been quite bad futher out, however next year all will be complete. As for the "greeters" though i don''t use many places i have always been told that they are not as pushy as most resorts Kalkan is really a relaxed place so don''t get the wrong idea from this site.
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Well said John. Not a pretty picture is it!
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I have just returned from my third trip to Kalkan in the last year and wonder whether Marengo went to the same place as I did. Personally I find the views amazing and the people both friendly and hospitable. I was fortunate to meet Turks and Europeans from Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany as well as Brits. You only need to glance across the bookshelves to see literature from a wide range of countries.I certainly enjoyed using my French and German. There are a large number of Brits in Kalkan but they are in no way the only tourists.
As for the greeters, yes they exist outside some restaurants and they want you to eat there but they respond well to a polite "no thank you." There is no unpleasant pressure unlike some resorts I have visited.
If Marengo visits again then please try some of the smaller, family-run establishments like: Eso''s Kitchen where Kuni and Esos and their staff will make you very comfortable with wonderful food and attentive service. On our last night our table was decorated with bouganvilla,fresh herbs and jasmine. Atlantis is also excellent with wonderful food and lively banter from the owners Ozcan and Ercan and please try Moonlight Pension on the Kalimar Road (nothing to do with Moonlight Bar) where the atmosphere and food are outstanding.
Kalkan is special - a place where I arrive stressed and leave completely relaxed
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Kalkan is a very special place. We have enjoyed a wonderful holiday. The Korsan Apartments are really nice.
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Well I''ve given it a while since Marengo''s original post but I still feel driven to reply. Marengo says they ''dutifully'' booked the holiday in Kalkan which sounds like a really bad start as we book our holidays with joy. They had a totally overnight flight which we would avoid like the plague unless it was very, very cheap.
He (I assume Marengo is male, apologies if Marengo is female) talks about the shops selling ''knock off gear'' but ''genuine fakes'' are something Turkey, rather than Kalkan, is known for. He talks about being ''badgered by staff'' outside restaurants and despite many, many visits we wouldn''t describe the banter we have with staff outside restaurants as ''badgering''. It has always been good natured and has never been oppressive or over pushy and we have now walked past some restaurants without eating there many, many times and are still met with courtesy. Perhaps it is the way we react to them.
He talks about people ''getting pink'' but I didn''t realise this was specific to Kalkan. Having travelled much of the world it seems to me it something that happens to people of many races who have pale skin and are in the sun for the first time in a while.
I have never ever had a ''fry up'' in Kalkan and whilst Efes may not win a beer award it goes down ok on a hot day whilst overlooking the lovely view of the bay. He also obviously didn''t meet any of the warm and kind Turkish people we have met there.
I think sometimes people who don''t do research before booking think they are going to a very small fishing village which is totally unspoiled and with only a handfull of restaurants but this isn''t Kalkan now. I have visited many tiny villages in the past and have enjoyed them but now chose Kalkan because it has developed beyond this and offers lots of choice.
I look forward to Marengo''s reply to an earlier post and finding out where in the world he has enjoyed visiting.
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Couldn''t have put it better Kalkan regular, maybe Marengo was expecting something different and was therefore disappointed. I''ve been going to Kalkan for 10 years and have seen the changes but the basic things we fell in love with are still there, I find it really hard to believe someone can see it like that.
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I would agree with many of the points you make Kalkan Regular - "pink and peel" is something we Brits are very good at whenever or where ever the sun shines for more than two minutes. Cheap flights tend to be at poor times,
"Knock off Gear" = Genuine fakes = great quality at great price .... and the problem is?
However I did see an increase in the "badgering" that, although friendly banter, became annoying - i will also stress that, compared to Kusadasi, this is nothing!
I did have a fry up (at Breeze) it was great, and again the problem is ?
One place will never be all things to all men.
I will not be returning to Kalkan for other reasons, but have researched my alternative holiday and know: Where it is,
How long it takes to get there, ( note to self - take book to read)
What time the flights are, (note to self take watch)
I have confirmed it will be hot, (note to self - pack the larger of my two sun hats )
I acknowledge the food will be mainly Egyptian,(take imodium)
The hosts will not be English but can speak English, (note to self learn phrase "Can i have a beer please")
the sea will be wet, (note to self - don''t forget how to swim)
the sky will be blue, etc etc
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I would simply like to know the place that Morengo is keeping quiet about that is presumably so much better than Kalkan. I would certainly like the opportunity to try it out.
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That would be telling it get over run by pink skinned Brits and waiters pestering you to have a fry up watching sky sports you nether know.
and he/she thinks they got it bad, they ought to come here to Fethiye and surrounding areas i try to avoid going into town in the summer, roll on the winter back to normality
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What''s wrong with a fry-up and sky t.v.? I like a kebab when I come out the pub in england
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No name bar, Utopia and the Swan all have Sky sports T.V., The Swan also does a good fry-up as well, it''s nice, you can watch your favourite team with one of Sonya''s lovely fry-ups at the same time there. you can even have a cup of tea or perhaps a glass of beer with it, very civilsed.
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A sad fact of life is that whether Turkey, Greece, Spain or Timbuktu, the indigenous population will look to profit from the ever burgeoning throng of tourists, be they Brits, Americans, Germans or dare I say it Russians, who can or should blame them? If it means Sky T.V. fried bread (with trimmings) vienna schnitzel, blueberry muffins, then sadly it will happen, I hate the idea of karaoke, pork scratchings and kiss me quick hats as much as the next person.........and? if it happens in Kalkan to the point where it becomes too odious then I WILL move on!
I was once censured by a (once) member of this forum for suggesting the football shirt brigade should be kept at bay, I have to apologise (or do I?) to those who it is their chosen attire, I am still of the opinion that they belong at football stadia, all of the above belong elsewhere, I will choose to boycott premises where they are offered . . . . .well go on then I may, . . just may, when living there full time succumb to a "full English" occasionally.
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What''s wrong with a fry-up and illegal Sky TV?
The same thing that is wrong with bingo, karaoke, hand-pulled Tetleys beer, pork scratchings, McDonald''s, kiss-me-quick hats, saucy postcards (ooh er missus), “I love Diana†t-shirts, the Union Jack flag, cloth caps, jellied eels, whippets, The Daily Star, traffic cones, caravans, the Brighouse & Raistrick Brass Band, candy-floss, amusement arcades, a small fair with dodgems and a helter-skelter, and an old ex-Butlins redcoat telling corny jokes in a Working Mens Club on a Saturday night.
Every one of these things is OK in the right place (except caravans of course, which can never be justified in any circumstances). Kalkan just isn''''t that place.
where is this place then john, i have installed satellite for nearly thirty years and 26 of that in the uk for Turkish and Kurdish People you could say this is in reverse roll where i have installed digiturk in the U.K. i think it is what you are a custom to where i came from we had 3 cafes owned and run by Turkish doing your black pudding and bacon i never seen a kebab house owned and run by English /European meaning born and bred in the UK but seen Turks doing Fish and chips fry ups etc here. head room is right in what he says, is this why we came here i don''t think so
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Hi,
I can see this one meandering on and off topic, perhaps we should split this / create a new thread in the Debate section to keep the holiday report as it was.
Cheers
Jon :)
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Yes, there are good and ''bad'' features of all locations. All I know is when I wake in the morning and stand on my balcony looking at Kalkan Bay and the Islands I invariably get a feeling of well-being and calm. It certainly beats my old view of rubbish strewn streets, miserable looking uncommunicative commuters and rain, rain, rain in London!
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The Sky TV threads have been split and moved into Everything Else :D
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As a Kalkan regular and apartment owner I have to say I agree with most things you say and probably wouldn''t return if I was new to Kalkan. The place is really annoying me now :- taxi drivers, restaurants, builders etc all so GREEDY. But yes it''s our fault. We pay their silly prices. As a Turk said to me last week, "there are always new English who haven''t been here before!"
The prices are ridiculous. More expensive than London for a lot of things. When buying a vaccuum cleaner recently, one shop owner wanted 450 Lira for a crappy Rowenta, when we laughed he just smiled probably knowing some other British mug will pay it. The Turks are getting greedier and greedier and we stupid English keep on paying. Trio restaurant gets great reviews on this site. I went there had off wine, a really bad main course that I had to send back, rubbish service and prices that are extortinate.
The building work is ridiculous especially when you see places still for sale that were for sale 4 years ago , but they will keep building more to become rich quick.
I am finding myself avoiding roads to avoid the really annoying couple of men in the main road who try to get you into restaurants And as for Taxi drivers and handbag shops don''t even get me started.
Now after all this negativity. I still love Kalkan for the views and the old town. But and it is a big BUT, I don''t know for how much longer.
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Hi chunky.
The weather was lovely though
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I still like kalkan although it''s certainly changed a lot. I guess the worst thing to contend with is the mass building that''s gone on, and looks set to continue over the next few years. Not only does all this concrete not only spoil what we all originally loved about the place, the quiet ruralness, but also this over supply of property. I read on another thread that property prices are being reduced by 40%, of course if they sell them they''ll just build more, and then what will kalkan be? A mini marmaris?