Turkish all-inclusive resorts--Recommendations?

[groovlstk]

Has anyone stayed at any of the beach resorts in Turkey popular with Russian vacationers, particularly in the Bodrum area?

For the past few weeks, I'd been planning a week's vacation in Sept. at a resort in Sharm el-Sheik since I can get a good discount at Rotana hotels through my job, but no way I'd go there, now.  

I'm looking for something all-inclusive, with plenty of activities other than sunbathing. Thanks for any recommendations!

[corncrowe]

Has anyone stayed at any of the beach resorts in Turkey popular with Russian vacationers, particularly in the Bodrum area?

For the past few weeks, I'd been planning a week's vacation in Sept. at a resort in Sharm el-Sheik since I can get a good discount at Rotana hotels through my job, but no way I'd go there, now.

I'm looking for something all-inclusive, with plenty of activities other than sunbathing. Thanks for any recommendations!

Try Alanya.  Great beaches and the hotels are great.  I was there with a girl from Vinnitsa.  They just love to go topless!!!

Jon

[Shadow]

Bodrum itself should host some all-inclusive hotels.  Other tourist areas near ar Marmaris and, a little up north Kusadasi.

The Alanya area is a little more to the East, but also has many tourist areas.

However if you are bound to be hit by a bomb attack, Turkey is not the place to outrun it. Apart from Al-Quaeda terrorist like in Sharm-al-sheikh there are also the Kurdish PKK groups that have caused already 4 explosions this season.

Egypt might actually be a safer place at this moment.

[corncrowe]

Bodrum itself should host some all-inclusive hotels.  Other tourist areas near ar Marmaris and, a little up north Kusadasi.

The Alanya area is a little more to the East, but also has many tourist areas.

However if you are bound to be hit by a bomb attack, Turkey is not the place to outrun it. Apart from Al-Quaeda terrorist like in Sharm-al-sheikh there are also the Kurdish PKK groups that have caused already 4 explosions this season.

Egypt might actually be a safer place at this moment.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend Marmaris because it's a pain to get there from Istanbul.  I traveled by bus with Galina and her mom.  It took nine hours to get there and it was kind of dead.  The beaches are so-so and night life is sparse.  We drove from Marmaris to Antalya and stayed there for five nights.  Great views and night life is ok.  Istanbul is interesting but not the beach...:-)

P.S.  Thank god Galina's mom decided to keep her bikini top on...

Jon

[Michelangelo]

I spent a week last year in Antalia and loved it.  We stayed at the Sheraton resort-beautiful grounds and rooms and not too expensive...not all inclusive but does include breakfast.  They have a private beach and VERY good security, which is a must if you stay at an American name place.

The town was just a few miles away and there was also a modern, US style shopping mall where you can spend big bucks on makeup and perfumes  There is also a Disneyland (that is what my girl called it) style carnival with rides beside the mall.

There are great places to eat should you decide to leave the hotel grounds.  But all the meals at the resort were great.

I'd stay there again....

[Shadow]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend Marmaris because it's a pain to get there from Istanbul.  I traveled by bus with Galina and her mom.  It took nine hours to get there and it was kind of dead.  The beaches are so-so and night life is sparse.  We drove from Marmaris to Antalya and stayed there for five nights.  Great views and night life is ok.  Istanbul is interesting but not the beach...:-)

P.S.  Thank god Galina's mom decided to keep her bikini top on...

Jon

To reach Bodrum or Marmaris, fly to Dalaman airport. For Ku'sadasi, fly to Ismir.  Turkey has a lot of airports, and to take a bus from Istanbul to Marmaris is like flying to New York and taking a bus to Florida.

I like Antalya, but if you want to visit things like Pamukkale and Ephese  it is a bit far away. I was responding to the Bodrum area question.

[corncrowe]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend Marmaris because it's a pain to get there from Istanbul.  I traveled by bus with Galina and her mom.  It took nine hours to get there and it was kind of dead.  The beaches are so-so and night life is sparse.  We drove from Marmaris to Antalya and stayed there for five nights.  Great views and night life is ok.  Istanbul is interesting but not the beach...:-)

P.S.  Thank god Galina's mom decided to keep her bikini top on...

Jon

To reach Bodrum or Marmaris, fly to Dalaman airport. For Ku'sadasi, fly to Ismir.  Turkey has a lot of airports, and to take a bus from Istanbul to Marmaris is like flying to New York and taking a bus to Florida.

I like Antalya, but if you want to visit things like Pamukkale and Ephese  it is a bit far away. I was responding to the Bodrum area question.
[/quote]
Now you tell me...

 

Jon 

[Albert]

Have your gal check out the deals at SAM travel agency in Ukraine.  In cyrillic that would be spelled CAM.  It is the largest (or one of largest) agencies in Ukraine.

They have some fantastic deals for round-trip flights from Kyiv and Odesa to various places in Turkey and Egypt with all inclusive stays at resort hotels.

For instance, in October 2004, it cost $525 per person for round trip flight from Kyiv to Antalya, and two week stay at Fame Hotel (5 star) in Kemer, Turkey (about an hour southwest of Antalya) with all meals and drinks (wine and beer) included and includes trip from and to Antalya airport.  That is cheaper (counting renting apt and buying food) than merely staying in Kyiv for the two weeks.  In addition to all three meals, it included snacks, etc., virtually 24 hours a day. 

There are 5-6 trips you can take from Kemer to sunken cities, greek/roman ruins, flaming mountain, boat rides, etc.  Beaches are very clean and have the small round rocks rather than sand.  Hard on bare feet, but rocks don't get into all your cracks like sand does.

SAM also has deals to Alanya and other places in Turkey.  They cut down on locations in Sept and Oct as the season wears down.

I would also highly recommend do it yourself packages to Antalya and Istanbul.  Antalya has several what are called aparthotels which can be had for around $10 per day in off season (anything other than May - Sept) for monthly rental.  These have 1-2 bedrooms, living room and small kitchenette for meal cooking.

I am planning to go again in October this year and we have been talking about Hugurda, Egypt.  The cost to there is about $575 for same deal as described above for  Kemer, Turkey.  The gals are worried sick about Egypt but I am telling them it will probably be safest place in the world for the next few months.

As a side note, Russians tend to go to Kemer and Germans tend to go to Alanya, but of course you will find mixes at both places.

[Michelangelo]

Does anyone have experience, or an opinion, on Cyprus from Ukraine?

[Albert]

Regarding Cyprus. 

First, the gals from Ukraine and Russia now have to get a visa to Cyprus BEFORE arrival.  This is a change from before and reflects Cyprus entry into Common Market.  So the ease of traveling to Cyprus is not the same as to Turkey and Egypt where all can get a visa upon arrival at airport.  It can be done (getting a visa to Cyprus) for the gals, but it is not easy and many are turned down now.

Second, the costs in Cyprus are MUCH higher than in Egypt and Turkey.

Third, one other option is to go to the Turkish controlled part of Cyprus.  There, the costs are similar to mainland Turkey and prior visa not needed.  But, you must enter directly from Turkey into northern Cyprus.  And, if you get a stamp in passport from northern Cyprus, then you can be denied entry into Southern Cyprus and Greece later.  There is a way to aviod this problem, but it is a hit and miss proposition.  The trick is to try to get passport control people in northern Cyprus to put their stamp on a separate piece of paper.  Sometimes they will, sometimes not.

[anono]

groove, you might want to stick with going to sharm. i've been following the news because i was in sharm a year or two ago and just love the place. sharm is still full of tourists. i saw some post-bombing phots of the night life and it seems a lot of people are still in sharm.

the only thing you need is a t-shirt that says "NO! i do NOT need a taxi!!" 

[Michelangelo]

Groove, I still like the Dominican Republic a lot.  It is a long flight for her, but it is paradise if you pick the right resort.  And  no visa requirement. Last week airfare from Ukraine to DR was $1000 and all inclusive resorts were about $150 per day.  And almost 0 per cent chanch of bombs there...

[corncrowe]

Groove, I still like the Dominican Republic a lot. It is a long flight for her, but it is paradise if you pick the right resort. And no visa requirement. Last week airfare from Ukraine to DR was $1000 and all inclusive resorts were about $150 per day. And almost 0 per cent chanch of bombs there...

Groove,

Skip the DR....it's a rat hole.  I've been there, done that, and FSU women are treated like ****. 

If you want a nice, relaxing, excursion then go to Spain.  Marbella is the best spot for an FSU woman.  Why?  Shucks!  Because 9/10 Spanish women are going to be much better looking and knock your socks off!

Another reason.  Spain is civilized.  I doubt you will ever meet a Spanish man "drool" over your girlfriend like they do in the Dominican Republic.

Keep your woman in Europe, with respect for her gender, and class.  Going to Turkey or Egypt is like taking your woman to a third world country, and the men "do not respect women" in these countries.

I can give you emails from several "friends" who visited these countries "myself included with my girlfriend" and they will tell you the same story.

Good luck,

Jon

[Admin]

Groove, I still like the Dominican Republic a lot. It is a long flight for her, but it is paradise if you pick the right resort. And no visa requirement. Last week airfare from Ukraine to DR was $1000 and all inclusive resorts were about $150 per day. And almost 0 per cent chanch of bombs there...

Groove,

Skip the DR....it's a rat hole. I've been there, done that, and FSU women are treated like ****.

If you want a nice, relaxing, excursion then go to Spain. Marbella is the best spot for an FSU woman. Why? Shucks! Because 9/10 Spanish women are going to be much better looking and knock your socks off!

Another reason. Spain is civilized. I doubt you will ever meet a Spanish man "drool" over your girlfriend like they do in the Dominican Republic.

Keep your woman in Europe, with respect for her gender, and class. Going to Turkey or Egypt is like taking your woman to a third world country, and the men "do not respect women" in these countries.

I can give you emails from several "friends" who visited these countries "myself included with my girlfriend" and they will tell you the same story.

Good luck,

Jon[/quote]

Jon,

You are dead-on about Spanish women. Especially if a guy likes dark-haired, olive-skinned women. I am told that blonde, light-complected [sp?] Spanish-speaking guys make out very well in Spain.

I remember spending La Feria in the Andalucian region of Spain one year - mostly around Seville.

The women were decked out in their finest dresses, and the horse-drawn carriages from all around the country were magnificent. It was wonderful!

FWIW

- Dan

[Michelangelo]

Groove, I still like the Dominican Republic a lot. It is a long flight for her, but it is paradise if you pick the right resort. And no visa requirement. Last week airfare from Ukraine to DR was $1000 and all inclusive resorts were about $150 per day. And almost 0 per cent chanch of bombs there...

Groove,

Skip the DR....it's a rat hole.  I've been there, done that, and FSU women are treated like ****.  

If you want a nice, relaxing, excursion then go to Spain.  Marbella is the best spot for an FSU woman.  Why?  Shucks!  Because 9/10 Spanish women are going to be much better looking and knock your socks off!

Another reason.  Spain is civilized.  I doubt you will ever meet a Spanish man "drool" over your girlfriend like they do in the Dominican Republic.

Keep your woman in Europe, with respect for her gender, and class.  Going to Turkey or Egypt is like taking your woman to a third world country, and the men "do not respect women" in these countries.

I can give you emails from several "friends" who visited these countries "myself included with my girlfriend" and they will tell you the same story.

Good luck,

Jon
[/quote]Actually, I have been to he DR 3 times, and if you go to the places I tell you about, it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth...and I have been around the globe.  Yes, Santo Domingo is 3rd world, but even it feels better than Turkey or Egypt...but don't go to Santo Domingo or Boco Chicka.

Spain is great--but we are talking about visa free visits and Spain is EU...

[facetrock]

I stayed in Antalya in June at an all inclusive with my fiancee. I thought it was very nice. The beach wasnt sand but small rocks. I would go back there again though.

I am thinking of going to Costa Rica in the winter. Anyone ever been there?

[Michelangelo]

Yes, I spent a month in Costa Rica with my Russian girl in 2002.  She loved it, and I thought it was fantastic, too.  It's an amazing place, and I can you more specifics if you wish...

[ronin308]

Funny, I just got back from 10 days in Kemer.  Basically every resort in the place now caters to the Russians and Ukrainians.  I was nervous about what I had heard about guys ogling and groping, but I didn't have a single instance of this happen, although we pretty much only went to the hotel's beach and the souvenier strip in the area.

My only compliant was the food.  In restaraunts and home cooking Ukrianian and Russian dishes are good, but 10 days of buffet style eating kinda made me grumpy towards the end. 

As someone already stated, the beaches there are stones and not sand which makes getting into the water a bit tricky.

We used a tour company called Turtess that did hotel, airfare and bus transfers to the hotel.  Once you get to the hotels they have plenty of excursion packages to sell you.

Would I go back, probably not but I'm a bit spoiled when I travel.