Marmaris? Icmeler? Right on your doorstep...along with peace and quiet!!! (Turunc)

Name: dewhirstj

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Turunc
Date:	05/07/01 (435 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quiet, Easy access to beach and attractions, Lovely cafe opposite çay garden, very friendly locals

Disadvantages: I was a bit unnerved seeing a policeman with an uzi!!!, Turkish children beating each other up, Sewage works on the way to Amos (not affected in Turunç though)

After staying in the Grand Aquarium Apartments in Icmeler, what struck me was how noisy the whole place was.

I arrived at Dalaman airport about 4:00am Turkish time (you must pay £10 for a visa, ONLY English sterling accepted). After picking up our hire car we made the 1 hour 39 minute trip to Icmeler. At that time in the morning the hotel was so quiet I thought it would be luxury but when I woke up at noon... the noise was awful.

(Just a quick point. Whatever the travel agent says, I strongly RECOMMEND hiring a car in Turkey. You can go anywhere you like, even if the roads are a bit dodgy and the driving isn't that bad. Except in Marmaris.)

Anyway, after getting away from the constant noise of our hotel (which boasts nightly entertainment - it went on until 1am), we went exploring, taking our little hire car over the hill, where we found... Turunç.

Turunç (pronounced Turunch) is a lovely small holiday resort right on the doorstep of Marmaris and Icmeler, but much nicer and quiet, with a unique çay (chai - whatever) garden. If you go there though - try not to be tempted by the long row of up-market tourist restaurants next to the beach. Virtually opposite the çay garden is a small cafe which has about 5 very friendly staff with excellent food and very cheap prices. Unfortunately I can't remember the name but it opens out onto the street and does very good Chicken Doners!!!

Another English couple that go to the restaurant for nearly every meal because of the value reccommend getting flight only and then it is just so easy to get a dolbus (or hire a car beforehand) and book a hotel room in Turunç. They said that their balcony opened out over the sea, so that you could jump off it!!!

Turunç has great access to loads of things. It's two big brothers, Icmeler and Marmaris can be reached by driving over one hill, or by water taxi. Over another hill is Amos, an unknown place that many sunbathers only find by
boat (the luxuries of hiring a car eh?). The small restaurant there boasts a lovely beach and just up the road is a genuine ruined Greek town with an ampitheatre, guard towers, the remains of temples and statues, the lot. It really is great.

The locals in Turkey are really friendly as well and make you feel at home. Even if you like busy places like Icmeler and Marmaris, you could still get a good nights sleep in Turunç. In Icmeler the hotels entertainment went on until midnight, the hotel staff chatted behind my room until 12:30am and a restaurant over the road (this was every night) seemed obsessed with this man playing a banjo and singing. This went on until 1.

If I ever went to Turkey again it would be flight only > Turunç. No crappy package holiday with airtours, just what we want.

Summary: