Altinkum - Aegean Coast (Holiday Resorts in Turkey in general)

Member Name: blondgem

Product:	Holiday Resorts in Turkey in general
Date:	01/10/08 (558 review reads)
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Having been looking for a cheap getaway this year, it seemed the main option to go to Turkey as it has always been a popular holiday destination and a place that both me and my boyfriend had never been before, so Turkey it was, the only other issue that we needed to bypass was which particular area in Turkey we would like to go to.

Marmaris was our first option, however after several attempts at booking a holiday on teletext holidays it seemed as though we were not going to get what we were looking for. We then decided on Altinkum which is in Didim, on the Aegean Coast of Turkey.

Altinkum is around 1 hour to 2 hour transfer from Bodrum Airport, it all depends on what transport you are on, when we arrived we were transferred on a mini-bus and took a lot longer but on the return journey to the airport it was a lot quicker because we were on a coach.

We arrived in Altinkum when it had gone dark and to be honest your initial thoughts of the resort are more or less same as anywhere that you go. I have never actually been to a place that has wow-ed me, I have always thought that placeds just look okay and Altinkum followed the same footpath.

Altinkum is relatively small and is broken down into three parts, however I would consider, the first beach, second beach and the third beach however although that is what they are called, they are actually located at the first, third and the second and we were situated on the second beach and to be honest I am glad that we were because after discovering the other areas it was a lot more bustling and lively and not quite the holiday that I was expecting. The second beach is lively however there are places to escape which are a lot quieter, and due to the time of the year that we visited it was the Turkish holiday and with it not being as wealthy as the UK, the Turkish would come out and use the streets and the beaches as there way to get out during the evening for a cost effective night out.

This review I am basing on the second beach area in which we were located. There are quite a few hotels in and around this region and they are right on top of each other. Hotels basically are very basic and just a place where you can rest your head at the end of the day. If you are looking for 5 star you are not going to get it here, however this did not put me off the resort to say the least.

The beaches are well kept and very clean. Sunbed and umberella are readily available and really you should invest in an umbrella as the sun is extremely hot and for me I am very pale skinned I could not lie there without an umbrella as it did get a little unbearable during the peak hours of the day. The beaches are manned by lifeguards are there are lifeguard in the sea. Plenty of buoys around for your own protection. The sea is clean and a nice place to escape as the sun gets to its hottest and if you move your way down to the third beach you will be pleasantly surprised how they actually improve as you move your way down them. Altinkum offers watersports for a fee, including jet-ski's and banana boats which are also good to go on to break up the heat of the day.

I was expecting a lot of Turkish food and little English here, however the Turks cater heavily for both tastes. ALthough they list their traditional dishes such as kebabs which for some people that have never been don't all come in pitta bread and consist of doner meat, majority of their traditional dishes are a stew like dish and its nice to see the way in which they celebrate when a dish is served sometimes consisting of you having to do a Turkish dance before you eat. The English food is also great and all food is really cheap, you can dine for as little as £8 not including drinks for two people and have a good quality meal. Drinks are slightly more expensive but in general are a lot cheaper than the likes of Spain.

The Turkish people are extremely friendly. Before we went I warned that the Turkish men would be all over me like a rash because I am fair and blond, however this was not the case. YOu do get quite a few that come across a little pushy and don't care whether you have a bboyfriend or not but the majority are genuinely friendly and are trying the best to make you enjoy your stay.

Everything here is close by, there are no long walks from your hotel to the beach or to eat, everything is close knit and a maximum of 5 minutes away. Shops are minimal in this area, you need to walk to the third and first beach to shop where tobacco and perfume can be obtained at a really good price.

NIghtlife is steady in this area. All bars have entertainment on, however it seems the same every night and just circulates from bar to bar. There are a few bars that stay open late, the likes of LInekers and the British Bar but these are the places that you don't let your young daughter go to alone or she will come back with a Turkish boy on her arm. The Turkish love to party too and you will find a lot of traditional Turkish nights, please don't be fooled by these, go one but not any more as they are all the same.

I would definitely go back to Turkey, not necessarily this area as I believe that the rest of the country has a lot to offer but in general a really nice first holiday for me and my boyfriend.

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