Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Turkey Related Subjects => Cost of Living in Turkey => Topic started by: Rimms on May 14, 2005, 11:50:47 AM
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Just got back from Calis and the first thing that struck me was how alchohol has soared in price, our party of 4 drank local whisky & coke, average price for a round was 32 lira (£12.80) we paid a record 42 lira (£16.80) for the same round in Hisaronu. Meals with drinks ( beers )averaged between £75 to £100 for our group of 4 people.
There are notable exceptions to the above, Aydin Pide, Dragenoro Chinese, Duck Pond etc. all still very cheap and great quality.
I have never needed to wear glasses but lately have trouble seeing small print, so I took advantage of a free eye test and was prescribed glasses, without going for a ' designer ' frame they wanted £240, which seems really expensive to me?
My experience is hardly scientific, but it does seem to me that a lot of private enterprise regards foreigners as millionaires and is starting to test where the ceiling is, house prices are now fast approaching Spanish levels and some bar and restaurant owners seem to be following suit. I for one never thought I would see the day where I could enjoy a drink in central London cheaper than it is in Hisaronu.
Lets hope I am wrong !
Rimms
skint !
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Hi Rimms.......We got back from Ovacik/Hisaronu last night, I tend to agree with you that some bar/restaurant owners are trying to test the water in how much they can charge the unsuspecting tourist, though we did find that many of the bar prices were the same as last year ie 2.5 Lira for a large eefes.
As in previous years at the start of the season, the prices start high but as the weeks go on, the prices come down. I think it's a case of certain proprietors chancincing their arm.
Pete
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how much is it for a local spirit and a mixer then this year?
Theyre taking the mickey with the prices increasing by about a million each year, last year the prices were about the same price as england so theyre taking the mick if theyve gone up again!
Jenny.x.
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In some bars I went in in April, a brandy cola was 5 million. I think this was about the same as last year?
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Jenny,
Our worst case was more than 10 lira for a local spirit & mixer.
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In April I found that Raki and water was 5YTL everywhere I went, as it was last year, but if people are going to try it on now will be the time to hike the prices just before the main holiday season.
Pete
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Friends of our came back from Calish on Friday and they also said how expensive it was to eat and drink out.
We are flying out to Altinkum tonight so will see how much the prices have gone up from last year.
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Rimms - good to hear that Draganaro was still reasinable - can you give me an idea how much you were paying for a meal for 4 please.
Whereabouts were you drinking for the £16.80 round in H?
Thanks
Linda :)
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Linda,
Dragenoro was fantastic, we ate of the set meal menu where you could choose from a selection of dishes, four courses cost just £7.80 per person ( as you know Dragenoro menu is priced in pounds ) the rip off bar was called something like Bar Atem? it is on the right just before you get to the telephone boxes, I think it may be part of a hotel? avoid it !!
Rimms
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Where is Dragenoro? Can't say I've seen it?
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Draganaro is in Hisaronu - it is a long established Chinese restaurant which moved into lavish new preimises last year :)
It's the best chinese food I have eaten - everything is quality - food, service etc. highly recommended :D It gets busy though, so booking is required in high season and be prepared to still have to wait on occasion ;)
Linda :)
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Orient charge 5YTL for Raki, local gin, local brandy and local vodka. Imported whisky and baccardi are 8YTL
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My office manager at work has just come back (today) from Gumbet. She went to a local store and bought: 3 potatoes, a small washing up liquid, 1 litre of milk and 2 small packs of butter. The price was YTL 27.5, roughly £11 :o I told her I think she was "ripped off". She was to scared to go back and complain, she said the owner didn't speak a word of English.
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I understand from my Sue who returned from two weeks yesterday that the water Dolmus fare is now 2.5 YTL per person cpmpared tp 1.75 last year so two of us will have to pay 5YTL instaed of 3.5YTL. If that is true it is an incease of 43%.
Pete :(
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If your only going a short way on the dolmus it's half price.
"Indi Bindi" (short hop) is advertised on every dolmus but the driver won't tell you this for obvious reasons lol
Anne
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Anne, I was talking about the 'water' Dolmus lol
Pete
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You should try asking for an Indi Bindi anyway - as long as you can swim!
I wonder what the reaction would be if you just jumped off the water dolmus & insisted on a refund as you hadn't had the full trip?
Linda
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Not sure if this is accurate, but apparently the government put a 25% increase on alcohol tax....can anyone confirm or correct me on that?
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Susie,
In November a bottle of Raki in Migros was 8 Lira, in May this year it was 22 Lira, a bit more than 25% !!!!!
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Pete
Ok, so get off half way across, save 1.25 YTL.
Crabbit
Ps, Where we live you can buy : red wine 2 YTL and white wine 2.5 YTL a bottle.
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Just outside of Calis on the Gunlukbasi road wine is the same as crabbit says, sometimes it pays to keep off the tourist routes.
Yes, the Water Taxi is 2.5Tl
A meal in the local resturant on Tuesday for 4 with drinks was 66.00Tl tonight 4days later the same meal would have cost us 85.00Tl but as we are regulars they have kept it the same 66.00Tl, as the season progresses it does appear to become more expensive.
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Dave, as I have not yet done a PADI course, I shall just have to get the bike out and cycle along the promenade and spend the money saved at the first chay stop (or Efes!)
Pete
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I think there are still plenty of cheap places left in calis . The decent restaurants and bars show their prices. If in doubt ask first,as there will always be the minority who want to make a fast buck
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hisonaru bar owners meet up at the begining of the season to set the prices and they nearly always stick to thease as price cutting or ripping of is frowned on, does this not happen in calis?
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We were over there 10 days ago.The turkish government have recently increased the tax on spirits . Its not turkish bars putting prices up to `test the water` . If you buy a bottle of local brandy at a supermarket anywhere... the prices are the same 33lira a bottle
( last year it was 25 lira ) a bottle of local vodka though for some reason remains cheap at around 20 lira.... In Hisaronu the average price for cocktails in the bars are now charging 10 lira , and in Olu Deniz you might pay 12 lira ! In fairness ( and we wined and dined out extensively ) we found most restaurant prices about the same as last year. But we cant expect to visit each year and expect the prices to remain the same can we ? and we cant complain if there are slight price rises annually or every couple of years ... it happens in the uk ..... and hopefully it will always be cheaper in turkey wining and dining in the long term than it is in the uk . As for sky high property prices... they are already peaking out there as there are far more properties for sale than there is interest at the moment... and all those numerous new estate agents
( some of which are cowboy operators trying to `cash in ) are soon gonna be closing down and left with egg on their faces . To many chiefs, not enough indians. So property prices will level off. Anyway we just had a super two weeks in H and Olu Deniz and have no complaints with the people or the prices.... fabulous !!
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forgot to mention the Dragonero in H mmmmmmmmm super chinese and still as cheap as last year.... and for a Brandy and mixer in H in the bars you will pay approximately 6 lira this season.
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We ate at the new Festival restaurant in Hisaronu last week (its beautifully decorated) and for 4 of us with a bottle of wine it came to a little over £50, not expensive I think. The most expensive meal we had was at the Orient and that only came to the same price but for 3 of us, that was including starters and wine. Compared to what we would pay in the UK still very cheap I think. If you want to keep costs down and eat great food the best places to go are the local Turkish restaurants.
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Yes George a bit more than 25%! Was just stating what someone had told me. I noticed a definite increase in prices this year, but it's still a reasonably cheap place to take your holidays compared to european destinations....and much more beautiful
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I agree with you all totally that the prices of alcohol is alot more expensive than previous years. Being a bar owner in Calis I can confidentley tell you that the prices have risen due to the fact that the government have increased the price on alcohol. This has forced us to raise our prices to cover our costs. Im quite sure you'll find that wherever you go in Fethiye the prices will be the same.
Unfortunately Turkey isn't as cheap as it use to be and unfortunately its us Brits that have pushed most of these prices up.
Sam
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We have just posted a comparison of prices between UK and Turkey here http://www.fethiyetimes.com/main/cost_of_living_comp2.htm. Still needs a bit of tweaking but gives you the general idea.........
Don't forget the exchange rate plays a part too, and at the moment, its not so good for the GBP.....
gooey shoes
I
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life is more expensive. When we came to Turkey a 5 teare permit was 500 YTL it is now 1800 YTL
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Life doesn't stand still even in Turkey, everything gets more expensive everywhere, Turkey is no different!
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Hi canalman,yes we have just returned from calis and we used the water taxi twice, the fare is 2.5ytl for each way per person but I suppose it's not too bad when you think of the cost of bus fares in the UK. One thing that may make you laugh though is that when we asked what time the boat left we were told 'today'!!!Cheeky monkeys they are!
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well think yourself lucky ,i just came back from london, was at a friends wedding,the hotel charges £17 for a cooked breakfast,£6.65 for a pint and a half,£10 for burger and chips,£2.90 for a coffee,roll on for my 7 weeks in calis
kanga
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Its £4.90 if you want a glass of wine at the airport now!
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7.5ytl for a can of coke in Dalaman airport!
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Hi,
The airport has ALWAYS been expensive - captured audiance and all that. We paid £3 for a bottle of water 2 years ago.
Don't confuse airports with normal prices.
Stoop 8)
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I should have said that it was £4.90 for a glass of wine at Manchester airport, but Dalaman is very expensive, as Stoop says its a captive audience, we've learnt our lesson and take water with us. In Calis if you eat or drink on the front then you'll pay more because you've got the view but if you go to some of the places as mentioned before you can keep costs down.
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16YTL for two coffees - with free croissants!!! Mind you, plenty of savings on the duty free! £19 for four bottles of bacardi!
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Dalaman Airport does not show prices in Pounds any more its all in Euros we compared quite a few things and they were more expensive than in the UK so the airport prices have gone up too
BE WARNED
Ron
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So it's euros and not pounds that the business people want. What about the tenner at the airport? Do they want that in euros also?
Stoop
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Last time I was out in Turkey, a good friend of this board mentioned something that made me stop and think... So many people pay for things and immediately compare it to what you would have paid in the UK. How about comparing it to what a local Turk would pay!! Our delight that things are so much cheaper is actually pushing prices up. Next time you get a price for something, just stop and think for a second. We are all responsible for the way in which market prices increase.
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Hi Babayard, your post has really made me think and you're so right in what you say. Perhaps we are all guilty of this and we should stop and think sometimes. Thanks for your post and thoughts.
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How can we be guilty of pushing up the prices at the airport when it covers many other countries too, we can't be held responsible for that.
Just another thought how can companies like Burger king get away with charging so much at Dalaman? We made that mistake last year and paid 2 to 3 times more than we do in the UK.
karen
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I think what Babayard is trying to say is -- think before you pay the prices. If you think you are being ripped off then refuse to pay. That way you might just make the seller think twice.
We wouldn't stand for it in the UK so why should we abroad?
Stoop
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Take a piece with you before you go to the airport - easy
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I had a whinge a couple of years ago about everything in duty free being (then) priced in German DM and asked why it wasn't in TL as we were in Turkey. I was informed that it was all German owned and German run, I don't know if that is still the case.
Teresa
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Well Teresa everything is now priced in Euros...so who knows? To be honest I always wondered why things weren't priced in TL!
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A little warped perhaps but I had great fun watching a family whilst waiting for my flight adding up the cost of their 10 bottles of spirits, tobacco and 4 carrier bags of cigarettes! They had all thought it was TL priced and couldn't work out why they had paid nearly £200!!!! Did I put them out of their misery and enlighten them??? What do you think...........
I was a little narked though to get back and watch them float through Customs with not an official in sight.....
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Past experience tells me that prices go up dramatically when there is a currency change. Remember decimalisation? That was a right rip off! Same thing happend in Europe with the Euro. Italians even want the Lira back due to spiralling prices since the Euro was introduced. How desperate is that? The Germans are sick to death of it too and it's ripe for a collapse in many financial expert's eyes.
The pound stands at 1.50 euros today and for the life of me I cannot understand why the local businesses prefer the euro to the pound at present (unless they all think they will get in Europe quicker if they use it).
I've not been over this year but I will wager a bet that not many of the new TL coins are being used. I would think most prices are 'rounded' in favour of the seller and not the buyer.
Stoop
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I am not a financial expert- or even shrewd with money- ask my husband! However I manage the holdiay budget ( along with a multi million pound one at work!)For the past 8/9 years we have allowed x amount £ per day for spends. It is on that basis that we take our cash and change only that amount per day- daft i know and ineffecient some might say- but it works for us.
We have previously been on a B&B basis so have bought lunch, dinner and plenty of pre and post prandials! This year we spent our first hols in our own place so bought brekky too. We had occasional lunches in, one meal at home in the evening only preferring to eat out- still we brought cash back with us. The £x hasnt changed in that time.Now I know that £x will vary from person to person and one mans meat...etc but the point is we havent spent anymore money year on year. A bottle of wine is about the only thing Ive noticed has gone up , we can easily pay upwards of 25ytl but the food seems to have gone down accordingly. Our meals have been consistently the same price. So when I'm asked is it getting expensive I cant honestly say it is[:X].
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I agree with you Cavfan as we still take the same sort of spending money I think we spend less on souvenirs and stuff now but we buy things for the house so that aspect probably balances out.
However, I do think that the Turkish are possibly killing the goose. If you rule out the stuff that we as property owners look at - water, electric, rates etc. How cheap is Turkey?
I pay the same for white goods, the same for a meal out, a bit less for a beer possibly but as a coke drinker it is not cheap. Spirits are not cheap. For someone on holiday who can get a flight to Spain for stupid prices and be there in a couple of hours, how cheap is it really?
I love the place and we are now bound for life but for people who have never been or bring the kids on holiday, it sometimes is just a question of how much the holiday will cost rather than where it is.
Teresa
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I have to disagree with you Teresa, if you price up easyjet for the same dates that we are flying out in July its about £15 cheaper to go to Spain than to Turkey (a 41/2 hour flight as opposed to a 21/2 hour flight) also you can eat a lot cheaper by just staying away from the seafront. A lot of people are finding prices in the Euro zone countries expensive because of the poor rate of exchange from the euro to the pound. Granted wine is expensive now in Turkey which as a wine drinker I find inconvenient but its still a hell of a lot cheaper than buying in the wine bars and restaurants near us. At the end of the day the Turks have to make a living and they are as entitled to as good as standard of living as we are.
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When I was in Istanbul my friend who I was with bought a large selection of nuts from a stall in the covered bazar. I nearly died when they charged us 36 million for these nuts. Stupidly I paid the money and did my sums when I got back to the hotel I could not believe it! it seemed like 12 pounds! That was in March 2005.
Linda
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Val, I wasn't really trying to have a political debate just a bit of thoughtful conversation. I have no issue with you disagreeing with me that is why I posted but please do not turn me into someone who begrudges the Turks their living because nothing is further from the truth.
It is possible to ask a question without being seen as anti Turkish isn't it? I thought that was what the thread was about.
Regarding eating very cheaply I am aware you can eat very cheaply away from the front but I do not think families coming on holiday will necessarily know that and I feel they will eat more in the tourist areas and in the hotels where they are staying. When we first came to holiday to Turkey we only ate in restaurants in the town and drank in the bars there, we were on holiday and we just wanted to enjoy ourselves. I have already said that our holiday spends have remained constant but I have not spent in the Euro Zone, which is why I am asking. We have lots of cheap flights to Spain advertised locally, perhaps they are just adverts and don't exist, I haven't actually tried to book any.
Linda we went to Egypt 5 years ago and Egypt was very cheap in the towns but I got cheated so much that in the end I just kept to the hotel, it was cheaper. And I have also been cheated in Turkey so you are not alone but I am wiser now.
A guy in Calis gave me an old 100 bin coin this time, stared into my eyes and said this is a new lira coin OK? No not OK would have preferred him to say I don't have change, but there we go.
Teresa
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Sorry Teresa, I really do seem to have got out at the wrong side yesterday, I had my 'nowty' head on. You're absolutely right of course, the feedback I'm getting at work from people returning from Spain and Greece however seems to be that things are getting very expensive, perhaps partly because of the poor rate of exchange that we've had against the Euro, as opposed to people who have been visiting Turkey and Bulgaria who are very pleasantly surprised at how much cheaper things are there. My remark about the standard of living wasn't aimed at you, it was just a general observation. My thoughts are as Turkey approaches full membership of the EU and working practises change and wages get higher, the Turks will have a better standard of living much like happened in Spain a few years ago and this will be reflected in the prices. Maybe we should make hay while the sun shines!
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No problem Val, it was early in the morning for me as well. The Turkish people in the resorts are not doing anything different with their prices than any other country/resort where the tourist generally pays the premium. I think the Turkish are also making their hay and their season is only 6 months in our area.
Teresa
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As well as our 2 hols in Calis we have managed for ther last couple of years to squeeze in a couple of out of season long weekends in Spain. Getting there is cheap due to the low cost airlines and staying there is not too bad- though not as cheap as Calis. However everything else is expensive. A night out there costs us the same as in the UK. Our Calis spending money would not go far at all. Booze is the same price as in the UK and meals out in good restaurants are comparative with the uk- easily.
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Hi all,
just reading all the posts.What you have to realise is that if you like a place it doesnt matter about the costs,to an extent.Yes the Turkish people have to make a living.But paying 2mtl last year, and i have been informed the min charge for a beer this season is 3mtl,the increase approx 40 p,is not a big increase.But when the local people see all these properties being built pound signs start to appear.It does not matter were you go in the world if a place is not over run with tourists then the prices will be low if there are lots of them the prices increase,its buissness.If you go to any EC country you will pay the same as home ie £3 a pint.Same in calis go off the beaten track and the prices drop.
anway enough of my war and peace
graham
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Graham,
Where do you pay £3 a pint in this counrty? I would suggest moving mate! £1.74 up north!
Stoop:D
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Move up North, no way !! One's salary would drop to much:D:D:D
£3.45 for a glass of house wine here down south in posh South Bucks. Cost one £2.50 to park ones car yesterday to get ones tickets for Henley Royal Regatta next week. Pimms anyone £8? the lah de dah's aint got two pennies to rub together now.:D
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hi stoop
i am up north £3 is a bottle of becks gave up pints to slim down,should be £4 a pint down south.If there daft enough to pay silly prices for houses then fleece em
graham
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hi my friends in Turkey i think alcohol is expensive than uk and europa, everyone is right! but please check for example jack daniels how much in uk also check in Turkey and compare about it please dont think all the bars pubs clubs and restaurants making lots of money we are not! because we are paying lots to and also we are paying lots of tax to
Ps.for the members of the forum i will make a discount i will do my best :) :) :) :) :)
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just to add,down yer in brisol it be £1.64 fer a pint of carlsberg an a fiver fer a gallon of farmhouse glider(cider).........."glider i up, and let i go"..........
dennis
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the wife came back early hours today from ovacik ,in hisaronu she had a three course meal and a beer for £6
in the uk £3 starter
£7-10 main course
£3 desert
£2.50 beer
average total with lowest main meal £15.50
i still think its cheap in turkey
kanga
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Kanga, where is this restaurant in Ovacik or Hisaronu?
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in hisaronu , the restaurant is called bianco & neros ,it is by the junction where they put the bollards across to stop traffic at night
kanga
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kanga the actual problem is not the food really, its the v.a.t that goverment put on luxury (drinks ofcourse) which is nearly twice as much than last year.
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Thanks for given us the owner of a bar's answer
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At least it allows us to understand why the price rises Keith.
Anne
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Aaah VAT and taxes on pleasurable things - we understand that very well.
Teresa
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I never understood why petrol costs so little when it has to be drilled from the sea, yet beer, which is the boiled froth of a few backyard hops and a sprinkling of yeast costs 10 times as much. Transport, consumer delivery and taxes are the same for both, but even effes is gallon for pint more expensive then neck oil.
I can only assume a global conspiracy going right up to the new development above ovacek.
Richard
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18 years ago a 1 litre bottle of clear spirit (vodka, gin, raki etc) cost 90p whilst a single shot of whisky cost £5.
I can't remember the cost of an Efes but I do remember having a large security guard pulling a gun on me and also being taken into a booth and questioned whilst having my hand luggage inspected.
It turned out to be one of the best holidays I have ever had.
Glen
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glen, you must look dodgy,!! 18 years ago you could get a big bottle of effes in the bars in fethiye for 50p. now its just over a pound, am talking about the more economical bars vals bar etc. its probably due to increased tax on alcohal and the poor pound exchange rate to the tirkish lira, but is still cheap as far as am concerned last week i paid 1.50p.for a glass of water in a pub in central london with a bar meal, the bill for 2 steak sannys was 37 quid, then iwalked out to a tube bomb scare and nearly missed my flight.... am sticking to efes and staying here!! cheers stuart
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I don't think all the blame can be laid on the government and vat. Migros price currently 1.69 YTL for a large Efes (and they must be making a profit)last night paid 4.00 YTL when trying out a new restaurant in Fethiye so I make that 2.31 YTL profit well over 130%. In my book that is not a bad margin. That said I am still happy :) but usually pay a lot less.
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wow the price's were outrageous turkey is not cheap anymore
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Puma
It depends on which part of Turkey you live in.
It`s still cheap here.
Crabbit
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Fethiye seems cheap in comparison to Dalyan, We spent 2 days there last month staying with friends, and will not complain of Fethiye/Calis prices again. accept for the little cafe in Iztuzu Beach found that very good value for the location.
As a non drinker I am not basing this on Efes! ..lol
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I think the mark up on our soft drinks is just as bad - and I include UK and Turkey in that.
Teresa
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Totally agree, I drink cola or Ice tea, a pack of 6 cans of Ice tea cost 3.50ytl and just one can in a bar is between 2.50tl and 3.50tl Hubby thinks it would be far cheaper to turn me to drink! at 2.50tl for an Efes
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we have been back from Calis a week now, had a fantastic time and we thought that the restaurant prices were very good compared to Spain, i.e Tenerife, we averaged for 5 main courses with drinks (beer), around 70 million, maybe we were excersing our rights as Turkish Millionaires for two weeks, but it was enough for us to look at property and make appointments with our BANK MANAGER this week to sort out finances, we ate at Cafe Soul and i impressed Leon with my magic tricks if you are passing or eat in there yourself feel free to ask him and i am sure he will be willing to show off his new found talent 8)
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Welcome Pompeyboy, but do us all a favour and go to Member Introductions. You will see some examples of intro's there. Thanks.
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where is Cafe Soul please? - and good luck with the house purchase
Teresa :)
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good luck with your bank manager pompey boy
go to the intro's section and tell us a bit more about yourself,and get a warm welcome from the other members :D
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quote:
Originally posted by puma
good luck with your bank manager pompey boy
go to the intro's section and tell us a bit more about yourself,and get a warm welcome from the other members :D
So certain members can bump up their post count & get another bloody "star".
(http://www.telmessos.co.uk/avatars/kid.gif)
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You been polite most of the day Dave =- now you've gone and spoilt it :D
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I`ve been accused of a lot of things in my life, being polite is not one of them.
Though i do tell the truth as i see it.
Crabbit
(http://www.telmessos.co.uk/avatars/image03.gif)
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quote:
Originally posted by Crabbit
I`ve been accused of a lot of things in my life, being polite is not one of them.
Though i do tell the truth as i see it.
Crabbit
Yep, that's why we love you Dave, you cantankerous old git:D
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Theresa- Cafe Soul turn right after the bridge and walk up the prom past the Orient - think it might be next door to the Aytur/Bambu.
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Thanks, I know the Bambu and I have probably walked past cafe soul many a time but never gone in. It still amazes me how many places there are to explore and we can probably count all the ones we have been in on two hands.
Teresa
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Teresa,
Going by Cayfan's directions you might recognise it as Cafe Sol, without a 'U' in the name.
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Roys right . When it was openend- a good few years ago by Maurice of The Post Office/Vision Holidays fame it was 'Soul' but i belive it may have changed since.
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Perhaps it is like the local Tes o near where I work.
Teresa
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Just to go back to the drinks prices...
We paid 12 million for a vodka red bull (local vodka and 'red dragon'I think?) which is apparently a joke? That was in Scarlettes which we were told was a decent bar so I don't know how it used to be but my holiday defo wasn't a cheap one.
Efes is 3 mil pretty much as standard so we tried to stick to that.
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i thought prices had gone up and when we asked the waiters said the government had increased the costs, so who pays the tourist ,probably still cheaper then spain
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Puma
You`re not on holiday in Spain !!!!!!!
Prices are the same as last year here.
Crabbit
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Well I'm going to stick my foot in here (and probably get shot down) because I now live here. No, prices are not the same as last year. Prices went up around May by about 25 percent and are now, in a lot of places, are up by 75 percent. BTW I introduced myself a long time ago...before you start all that "Make yourself known" stuff!!
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Bit of a difference of opinion here, 2 people who live in Turkey, one says no difference, the other says 75% increase - very strange. The bottom line is that Turkey is still a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK.
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Well yes of course Turkey is cheaper than the UK, in general. We live here, that is our choice, and we love it. However having travelled around a little bit of Turkey (and I emphsise little..do not claim to be an expert) we have realised Calis does charge significantly more in the tourist season.
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Efes is still nearly the same, it was always overpriced (view of a non drinker...lol) hubby still pays between 2-3Tl. The rents for shops and bars have gone up so overheads are a little more expensive this is being passed on to the buyer.
Toiletries have gone up as the govenment introduced a higher tax 23%+ on so called luxury items, in my opinion essentials, bread is still 250kurus but meat has increased, Tax on drink increased also to 23%. I dont think a majority of the Turks have learnt the saying SPQR. Then again they have a relatively short period to make their money before the end of the season.
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quote:
Originally posted by valentine
Bit of a difference of opinion here, 2 people who live in Turkey, one says no difference, the other says 75% increase - very strange. The bottom line is that Turkey is still a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK.
It is no dearer here in Koycegiz than it was last year.
Maybe it`s because it is not a tourist area, it is a Turkish working town, open all year.
Crabbit
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Crabbit, please don't fall over in a faint but I was actually agreeing with you! ;)There are bound to be increases in the tourist areas but I really have not come across as much as 75%, I still say its much much cheaper than the UK, perhaps we will find a difference when we eventually spend a lot more time in Turkey.
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When you have an economy that enables you to get 17%+ interest on your investments this will invariably be matched by inflation.
You can't have it both ways!
Turkey has had a long tradition of high interest rates and high inflation. Maybe it's just starting to filter down to the holiday resorts. That's life I'm afraid.
Stoop
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I am not going to get involved in any huge debate about this but the fact is that prices have gone up. We moved here in October 2004 and, for example, could get a 3 course chinese meal for 10 lira. Come March 2005 it was 12.5 lira, come May, 18 lira. This is just one example. Very cheap still, but the point is the mark up is pretty high. You go to the market and chicken fillets which cost 3 lira a kilo up until May now cost 6 lira a kilo. If you sit down for a pancake, they have doubled in price. I love living here, however there is a huge difference in prices when the tourist season starts.
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I agree with Janmack ....have the prices gone up in CALIS yes this is the name of the forum so i assume we are talking about the place . Definately be it in the supermarkets or bars and restaurants the prices have gone up
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A week ago in Calis market with some visitors we were charged 5TL for each pancake and 3TL for a soft drink - no prices on the sign - we couldn't believe it! Absolute rip off. Noticed increases throughout the area. Whilst still reasonably competitive, a continued trend like this will seriously damage tourist spending (happening already having spoken to local bar shop and restraunteur owners)not good for the local economy but capital markets always find their level. Suspect that an element of greed has taken hold over the last 12 months or so and a strong TL Vs £ doesn't help?
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When I was last over in July I went with one of my Turkish neighbours to have an oil change on his aging Renault 12, the first thing they did was to steam clean under the bonnet & engine compartment they fitted new oil & air filters changed the oil, the bill came to 20 Ytl. I`m thinking of driving my car over just to get it serviced.
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just come back from ovachik. happy with all prices we paid for everything. food was good and same prices as here. why do people complain about prices of drinks when we pay same here.
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Hi,
I agree with your observations. I have just come back from Calis and yes the alcohol has rocketed in price, however the reason for this is that the tax has gone up on spirits. Ironically the price of eating out and basic good stuffs has also gone up. The only real good value is the dolmus (bus rides) and fresh fruit and veg. To sum up I never thought that I would pay more for petrol in Calis than in London but that was the case more than £1 a litre. An example, not that I wanted it anyway but an english breakfast in town was advertised for £6, I wouldn't pay that much for it in London, so why would I there.
I got the distinct feeling that the prices at most restaurants were to identiocal for my liking. I smell something like a cartle operating. They are shooting themsleves in the foot and will suffer just like the Spanish are now. I love Turkey but i feel we are geting ripped off and this will drive touriss eleswhere, after all the move from Spain was for the increasing prices.
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Sanghera1, I have to agree with most of what you found during your recent visit to Calis. We bought our house a year ago and what we have found is that things like shorts and T-shirts are silly money and a lot of the traders will not come down. I bought a Fenerbahce T-shirt in a shop in Fethiye for less than the price asked in the market and of far better quality. As you say, the price of alcohol is fixed by the government but individual bars may charge more for a particular drink. The best thing is that, as you say, that fruit and veg are so cheap; I think that on my first 'shop' in the market last visit just about everything was 1YTL per kilo and the quality was so good!. I can't wait for my next visit!
Pete
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Jags says that the dolmus rides were good value - maybe but they have gone up about 50% since last year!
I honestly think that they see the English as easy pickings and have put up prices accordingly. The new TL does not help either. What they don't realise is that all these 'rich Brits' who own properties, have probably re- mortgaged to pay for them and are getting ripped off by the flight companies who are charging ridiculous prices to travel to Turkey.
Sooner or later the traders will realise why the British tourists are staying away and hopefully price their goods a little more realistically. How many Turkish traders have asked you 'where are all the English this year'? If they ask you this you should reply ' they are going elswhere because it is getting too expensive here'. Maybe they will get the message.
Stoop
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I've just returned from 2 weeks in Calis and was surprised that a hotel called Seril 1 (at the far end of the prom) charge 1.75 for a large bottle of Efes and most other places charge 3 TL.
The food was amazingly cheap as well, ie meatballs or special chicken meal was 5 tl (approx 2 quid). We tried both and the food was lovely. Meals come with chips, rice, 8) salad and roasted veg.
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So if you shop around there are still some great little places to eat and drink.
Stoop
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I think the trick is to stay off the obvious tourist trail, after saying that our eldest daughter Louise and her boyfriend Ian have just come back from Calis (their first visit, and they loved it) and they found that some bars in Calis were more expensive than Hisaronu!
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Is it a sign of a poor season and hard times?
Teresa
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No I think the bar/restraunt owners are getting greedy, I actually said this to Dermus at the birlik and he just looked and smiled and said we had plenty of money !!!!
Needless to say I never went in again
Ron
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Although we enjoyed eating at the Birlik the last time we did feel that they had upp'd the price. We do still go down there for the cold Efes or two and get a plate of chips to wash the beer down. The effect of trying to make more is that we have considerably reduced what we spend there compare to previous years.
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Just got back from Fethiye, but were mostly drinking in the bars in Calis. We found the prices quite steep, with Bicardi and coke 10 lira. My brother ended up buying one straight bicardi and one coke and then mixing two drinks from it. £4 is quite a lot for one drink after all.
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quote:
Originally posted by Sinbad
We do still go down there for the cold Efes or two and get a plate of chips to wash the beer down.
Are they liquid chips then Rob? :D
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There is an interesting Mediterranean view of economics. The fewer tourists who come the more you must charge them in order to maintain your income. So if there even fewer next year they will be charged even more! And so on until crisis sets in.
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Sorry, probably haven't been reading everything properly, but do you think that a lower number of tourists is the main factor causing the increased prices?
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Chips to wash the beer down????? And that is me before having a beer!!
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it is something to do with the goverment and taxes on spirits
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Yes but they havent upped the taxes on food, How many out there got Garlic Bread before their meal this year or a drink on the house after ?
Ron
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Did very well on bread before the meal, but no free drinks.
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hi champ welcome back to the forum.the one i bought you was free.:D
marcus
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Cheers mate! Just off for a few more tonight, but as you are not here, will have to buy my own.
ken
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Good point by legless. Much less bread up front, fewer complimentary drinks following meal and even less complimentary fruit/melon to cleanse the palate. A definite tightening up and with tourists spending less as a result, as someone has already said, up go the prices to compensate. We need a devaluation of the TL otherwise next tourist season will be even more of a disaster for those that earn from it.
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Devaluation not needed and unlikly, what is needed is a re-adjusment of attitudes both by the Turks and us. Greed has arrived in a big way, we have been coming to Turkey for many years eventually settling here two years ago and this is the first year we have had to do things like check our change, look out for 100.000 kur instead of 1 lira and many times have people tried to short change us, we always add up our restaurant bills surprising how many times its wrong.Tried to charge 2 lira for a bottle of Pepsi yesterday when 1.5 was printed on fridge and someone even tried to charge 2 lira for a small bottle of water, these are not mistakes but rip offs and its getting more common.We no longer give tips as that is then seen as the new price to charge us.
We have a very good friend who owns a furniture shop in Fethiye and he has two price lists, one for Brits etc which is the inflated manufacture price, he will give 10% off if haggled and the customers think they have a good deal, then there is the real price list at least 25% lower for locals and friends and we can still haggle 10% off those prices.
We used to come here with empty cases and buy all our clothes from the markets, but now they are full of expensive rubbish, the quality has gone down. We now get our baby clothes sent over from UK saving 50% on the shops here, although we did get some great sale bargains here last week.
The other side of things is we listen in at some of the bars to some of the Brits bragging about how much they earn to the waiters, we listened in on one person telling a restuarant manager how he was going to rent his two bed apt on a grotty little complex for 800gbp per week, pure fantasy.
We hear many of these stories and can see why the locals think we are all rolling in money.
The prices havent gone up, but what we get charged has.
This is our observations from living here, we know many people here and we are trying to get through that raising prices will not improve business but they can be very short sighted..
We bumped into our curtain man last week and he said English people like things to be expensive because they pay hundreds of pounds for personel shoppers who then take them to expensive shops who sell the same as he does, he says that next year he will double his prices then more Brits will shop with him....Make sense of that one.
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smudge you are 100% right,when we ordered our curtains they gave us a price and my hubbie said "mon tarch"(everything fitted)(sorry about the spelling).he came to the house and measured up and told us when they would be ready ,we went to pay the next day and he said oh i am so sorry i forgot to charge for railing etc,my hubbie more or less told him to get lost,this is the polite version,and we walked away ,he ran after us and said he would do it for the original price my hubbie wanted to walk away but i persuaded him not to and he came and fitted them. which goes to prove they are trying it on
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its true when holiday makers come and spend a lot of money and tip too much
it spoils it for the people who live here all the time,
as they want the same from them,
but incomes are pretty static (not gone up like the price of living)
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Perhaps after years of "rip-off Britain" many of us (including me) have not quite caught up with how cheap many things in the UK are now. Someone has already said you can by jeans for £4. Lidl has wristwatches for £2.99 and premium German lager (4.8%) for 55p per 500cl (pint) can. For the same size Efes I was charged over £1 (2.5YTL) in a Marmaris minimarket this year - only once mind you. The cheapest I found was 2YTL. Guys in touristy Turkish markets used to say "Cheaper than Asda price" (all the time, until it got on your nerves, and then they said it again). Things have changed since then: cheaper in UK; more expensive in Turkey. Perhaps people in Turkey have also not caught up with this.
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on the market the trades men were saying why arnt brits spending /buying like they used to do
answer its too expensive now
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We were told by Murat from Calis Beach restaurant that the new Prime Minister (I think i've got this right)is a strict Muslim and has therefore put a high tax on local Alcohol. Has anybody else heard this?
I've been to Turkey 9 times and my last holiday in September this year was the most expensive holiday I have ever had. I brought nothing home from Turkey, we had no excusions just the odd trip over to Fethiye on the water dolmus. I'm just talking about the cost of food and drink for 2 adults and we are not party people and do not go out clubbing and drinking all night.
We do not eat out in restaurants or go drinking very often in the u.k because of the cost and tend to rather save and have 2 holidays a year in Turkey. Going by the recent cost, I think I will be only having 1 in future.
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I guess after all these postings the resounding conclusion is to give Turkey a miss as its far too expensive. Expensive,where do
you people live.I live in the UK and believe me I would swop any of you Calis property owners anytime.Of course prices have gone up but they have everywhere.My housing Tax is £140 a month then theres water rates,gas, electric,insurances,the mortgage and food. I could go on and on and on. Turkey IS still cheap. Agreed we do have a greater choice in the UK and we can buy some things a bit cheaper,we can also earn more and die earlier from stress and heart attacks.We also have 12 months of glorious weather dont we not??.Anyone want to swop???
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Pide place by the mosques near the duck pond sells good local food and at local rates. Ask for cocoa cola beer if you want beer so as not to offend the mosque. Prices not like the bear garden at the marina - 11ytl for a gin and tonic there - no way rather sit here on the yacht using our own stock!
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Heyjo no-one is saying that Turkey is not "cheap", just saying that prices have gone up. We left the UK nearly a year ago and love it out here, despite living on a tighter budget than we were used to. Oh and BTW it's not 12 months of glorious weather but who cares, it's still better than the UK.
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Ok Janmack.....So you dont want to swop then :) :) :)
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Ummm....no!! Been there, dunnit etc. Why would we want to go back to that :)
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Just back from Hisaronu;
Steak average price is 20YTL
Coco-cola 2.5 YTL
Efes large.........cheapest 2.5 YTL
Hotels 3.0
Bars 3.5
Music Bars 4.0
One bar charged me 5YTL for Efes Light and when challenged he stood fast and said that's the price!
Clothes are far too expensive now unless you have a thing for "Boxers"
still 14 pairs for £10.
The Government put up Tax on Alcohol 4 fold this year and are putting it up a again. They are Moslem you see and don't buy it, only the Tourists. Fethiye Council is now Independent from the National Body and raise their own Taxes. Bars that sell food plus all the Restaurants had their Licences for such raised from £86 PA to £1183 this year. They are thinking about bringing out a "Sunday opening Licence" whoopee! They have a brand new "Sign Tax" for outside businesses etc etc....They are raising money for the New Road from Dalaman and of course for all their other projects.
Sorry Guys but I am glad that I didn't buy any property, 'cos the way things are going I couldn't afford the costs.
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No need to be sorry you didn't buy - it is each to their own. The information you have given is true but it has all been posted on the forum and discussed previously and it may indeed put people like yourself off buying.
I personally have no regrets at all.
Teresa
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I don't mind contributing on taxes (via price hikes) if you see some outcome (such as new roads)
I have to say, the few times I have been out this year I still find the prices reasonable.
Can't say it will put me off - its not my first thing on the list of what attracts me to a place
Steve
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Hi All
Well we lived there from 88 till 2000 and I have to say with the tree of us, ( young son not drinking booze) we always dined in lokal cafes and it never cost mor than 10 quid including a bottle of white wine ( which was often off ) and a couple of Rakies to finish.
When I read what it costs now I worry.
Best regards
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Ive read all ten pages on this topic and 95% is a about the price of booze, obviously very important to both tourists and ex pats alike.
I had an idea that the ex pat community was heavily involved in alcohol
consumption, just wondered where that leaves me, You see, I dont drink.
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Neither do I but neither am I worried about those who do, Lorraine and I are more worried about the cost of diet coke. I think you worry a bit too much about what others are doing Crossie - go there and live your own life and you can live how you want to and spend what you want and the prce of alcohol need not concern you.
I have no idea of the cost of a glass of Raki in Turkey or the cost of a Whisky in the UK, I still go to bars and I still enjoy myself without taking in a drop of alcohol.
Teresa
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hmmm, a sobering thought. :D:D
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Yes, but if one does,nt like diet coke, and the real thing is not as nice as in th UK, how much portakal can one take without it affecting ths bowel movments,wich brings into the costing of bog roll,and the quality of such,if this is a bit on the rough side, it can cause chapping,wich then needs an antiseptic cream, more cost.
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I do agree there, I get sick of diet coke (because it makes me feel sick after a while) and only one orange juice a day - for reasons described. Usually end up on water - and that is not much cheaper than Coke, but neither is it at home - it is the non- drinkers who are the losers here and abroad.
Teresa
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So! whats the problem with tap water? the locals seem to do OK on it,
I/WE expected to get used to it after a couple of weeks,we don,t drink bottled water in the UK, as most of it comes from the tap anyway, they just stick a fancy label on it and sell it to D/Heads
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Tap water is drinkable here but high in minerals causing problems to people prone to kidney stones a big problem here, also water mains constantly being broken by builders causing bacteria to enter the water stream causing big stomach upsets and we have suffered. Now buy water at 3 ytl for 20 litres. We have found more and more locals avoiding the tap water.
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Not in bars though - I ask for a bottle in bars and restaurants but drink tap water at home.
Teresa
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We will take a filter with us when we move, Thanks
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With the recent floods, has the tap water been effected? Has there been any discoluration to the water etc? How has the heavy rainfall effected those who have wells?
Dipps
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See previous information on Calis water by "Inspector" -
{A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}1138
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Ive had those Wells, they itch all the time
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food (drink) for thought - afternoon 23rd October
FORUM BAR
Whisky & Sprite x 2 - YTL 20.00
Brandy & Sprite x 2 - YTL 14.00
Efes - YTL 03.50
Vodka (local) & Soda - YTL 06.00
TOTAL YTL 43.50
NIL BAR
Whisky & Sprite x 2 - YTL 15.00
Brandy & Sprite x 2 - YTL 12.00
Efes - YTL 02.50
Vodka (local) & Soda - YTL 04.50
TOTAL YTL 33.00
Is Calis getting expensive or what ??
Well done the NIL bar
Regards
Bob
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Quaker Wood - York - Monday:
Six pints of Telteys best
One Tonic Water
One bottle of house dry wine
Two Mixed grills
Two Steak and Eggs
Two Sirlions
Total = £57.00
Six people for less than a tenner each!
Now that's cheap!
Stoop
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That is cheap Stoop, but for the amount you lot get paid up north it seems quite expensive.:D
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Yes Dipps - but you southern lot are moving up here in droves! It seems Leeds is the fastest growing city in the country at the moment and York has been getting it's fair share of movers from the 'smoke'.
Anyway - you know us Yorkshire lads are tight ar*es - we love a bargain - and that extends to taking the missus out!
Stoop
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Of course Leeds is the fastest growing city in the country, its all those children at school getting pregnant and living in "regenerated" council houses.
ps i live in posh bucks not smokey crabbit infested london
(Bucks the only place not affected by foot and mouth!, well not ntil i turned up lol)
Dipps
(keeping the north south divide in perpective:D)
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We bought bicycles in September last year - good quality ones with shock absorbers and decent saddles ( we are of the age were we like a bit of comfort) When we were over on September a friend of ours (also wanting a bit of comfort!) asked if we would take him to the same shop. We asked for the same bike as mine and were shown this years model - almost the same except for the colour and you can imagine the shock when we were told that it cost approx £200!! Mine cost £85.00 last year!!! To add to what has been said previously - we feel more and more that we need to check prices and the change ect. We went to the Sunday market the day after we arrived in September and got seriously ripped off on one of the food stalls - we were charged well over double but it wasn't until later that we realised. Moral of the story - he has lost trade because we won't go there again and we will tell everyone else not to either.
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Has anyone seen this weeks Land of Lights, we can now buy an Elite Card for 75 ytl so we can go into shops and get local prices, it gives us upto 25% off in certain shops, so if they add 50% they are still 25% up, why should we have to pay to get a fair price? I must say there are other usefull services with this card so will probably get one, im just angry that we cant go out shopping without being on guard for rip offs all the time, how about a really new concept--put prices on things then we dont have to go through the lottery of asking.
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Shocked to see the pictures and possibly on the wrong topic but it could have been one of two.
Hi all, not only is our 7 year old devastated that the the rickety bridge behind the Mutlu has gone "how the hell am i going to get to the water park. (Who could possibly walk the long way around!)
Dippey...But...at 7 and from Leeds who knows if he will ever get to see his 12th visit to Calis he will probably be a new Dad this time next year!!
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quote:
Originally posted by smudge
Has anyone seen this weeks Land of Lights, we can now buy an Elite Card for 75 ytl so we can go into shops and get local prices, it gives us upto 25% off in certain shops, so if they add 50% they are still 25% up, why should we have to pay to get a fair price? I must say there are other usefull services with this card so will probably get one, im just angry that we cant go out shopping without being on guard for rip offs all the time, how about a really new concept--put prices on things then we dont have to go through the lottery of asking.
smudge
Does that mean if I use the card in the FORUM BAR I will get charged almost the same as the NIL BAR ????
*****************
food (drink) for thought - prices charged as of afternoon 23rd October
FORUM BAR
Whisky & Sprite x 2 - YTL 20.00
Brandy & Sprite x 2 - YTL 14.00
Efes - YTL 03.50
Vodka (local) & Soda - YTL 06.00
TOTAL YTL 43.50
NIL BAR
Whisky & Sprite x 2 - YTL 15.00
Brandy & Sprite x 2 - YTL 12.00
Efes - YTL 02.50
Vodka (local) & Soda - YTL 04.50
TOTAL YTL 33.00
***************
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Is the Nil Bar the same as the Nil restaurant on the front? if not where is it please
karen
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Same place on the prom
Ron
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Dippey (with an e)
I don`t live in London. :D
Crabbit
quote:
Originally posted by Dippey
Of course Leeds is the fastest growing city in the country, its all those children at school getting pregnant and living in "regenerated" council houses.
ps i live in posh bucks not smokey crabbit infested london
(Bucks the only place not affected by foot and mouth!, well not ntil i turned up lol)
Dipps
(keeping the north south divide in perpective:D)
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Whats POSH about bucks:D:D
Ron
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Quite a bit if you have lots of them
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Oh, and for the record, the Forum prices quoted are "normal" - it is the Nil prices that are cheap. It's a bar for people who like cheap drinks and
Efes is indeed 3.5, but it is a Tuborg bar, which is 2.5.
But thanks
Scunner
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A large bottle of Efes is 2.5 YTL in the Nil Bar. Nice view too!
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quote:
Originally posted by janmack
A large bottle of Efes is 2.5 YTL in the Nil Bar. Nice view too!
Food is pretty good too - and the company
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Dont forget the use of the swimming pool, and the best tv screens are in the forum.
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Well said, Braveheart, the ex-pats are BIB, Big on Booze.
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quote:
don`t live in London.
Crabbit
I see you've been resurrected just in time for halloween??:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
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I have been, just to haunt you Dippey
(http://www.telmessos.co.uk/bloodbar.gif)
(http://www.telmessos.co.uk/hal-02.gif)
(http://www.telmessos.co.uk/bloodbar.gif)
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OMG!! All this whinging! wots wrong with you people? DHO!!!!! [:(!][:(!]
If you don't like it here then P**s off!! What do you want from living in Calis/Fethiye? "So-called Blighty"? where the water is full of UN-natural chemicals? Huh! :o
Me and the missus are going back to Oman next week, God you ought to see what passes for "normal" there!
Except of course for the price of fuel - ahhh - yes! well at £7.50 for a 10 gallon tank full of 3* (there is no unleaded), and all the acceptable "British" things like HP sauce,Bisto granules and loads of other stuff like British bacon, Pork sausages and joints available from Spinneys, in that town. NOT at a premium like that prat at Porkland charges!! God - how he has the nerve to asks what he does! Oh yes I can hear it now from those who want to justify their existence here. As in " Well, we expect to pay extra for things that we can't get in UK" Come on! YOOKAY!! it's as near as you want it to be!! go to Izmir or Antalya and see the prices there!!!
Oh yes, and though here is a no alchohol law in Oman, we, who have a liquor licence can buy our tipple at real duty free prices, not those imposed by the so-called "Duty Free" airport outlets, or have to accept the local equivilent of "Cin" which is just another alchol flavoured drink passing off as the Western equivilent.
So, am I personally glad to be leaving Turkey? YES - bloody right I am, can you people not see how you- the "Brits" are being ripped off??? Are you so complacent? that you have convinced yourselves that you have the "ideal" retirement and do nt know that YOU are being completely taken in by those who would take your money and run?
Oh come one! Who is fooling who here?? You are being stripped of your cash because of your complacency. If you cannot see this - you don't want to because you don't want be seen to be having this done to you!!
You are your own victims and as long as you all convince yourselves that you are having a "wonderful" life you feel secure.
WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO! Life is here, a lot of you are being ripped off. Accept it if you want to lose your savings. Oh you're pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
OK Scunner or whoever - edit this!!!!!!!!!!
As ever
Duffy:(:(:(
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Well this could start world war 3........Seconds out round 2!:D
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why bother? he's had his rant leave it at that!
Anne
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Will someone please put Duffy's toys back in his pram ? :D
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Ive put his Dummy back in. He is quiet now Bless. Nobody shout or he will wake up.
Jan
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He obviosly would rather live in Oman well bye then
Ron
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"Rant" Toys" you people are not for real!! I was expecting at least some sort of logical response - ah well what did I expect, you are all so far gone,you are proving my point, as in you cannot refute my statement!!
Duffy
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Are you really only 13 ??? Duffy
You sound so grown up ( Not )
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I can see just where you are coming from Duffy and we have been trying to tell people the same thing, lots here are being ripped off. We love living here but are trying to make a stand against unfair pricing and ripoff merchants of which there are plenty.
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I have no reason to delete or edit it Mr. Duffy - it is an opinion and we welcome opinions here - even anti-Turkish ones.
Your view that people are being ripped off as the price they have to pay for their retirement may reflect what happened to you, but it isn't what happens to everyone. A rule of thumb is ask the price for a product or service before parting with any money, and if you feel the price might rip you off then don't buy it.
I'm sure in the UK you decided to buy a second hand car then asked how much it was.
There is two sides to everything, and I for one am more fed up with Brits turning up at shops in big new cars, screwing every last lira out of a guy who probably goes home on his push bike.
Your argument is welcome, but crap.
Scunner
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Oh yes, I thought you might like to know, we have lived amongst you all for the last 3-4 years, not wanting to "make ourselves known" as some of you seem to have this death wish to do so, in bars and other places!!!
So we are not unfamiliar with the Calis/Fethiye "scene" we are quite at home with all those places, yet are increasingly concerned with the attempted "YOOKAYING" of it all. Wot do you people want?? a little Britain?? where all is pasties and pints? Where the water and food is always better than anywhere else, because you have come from there and you are so much superior? Come on folks - you either want to be here in Turkey or you don't. We are happy to make our place clear as in we do not want to be a part of the pathetic "Britplace" here in Fethiye/Calis so we are off again, if you want to say - "good riddance" then so will we - to you who are spoiling it!!
Duffy :D:D:D:D
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I want the Turkish way, the Turkish discipline and education for my kids, the Turkish respectful society and the Turkish diet.
Because I want a bottle of HP sauce brought out doesn't mean I'm spoiling the place - get real man.
Scunner
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I wont wish you good riddance as you really sound unhappy with calis/ fethiye. I wish you happiness in Oman.Im just so sorry that you feel this way about your fellow brits. ( Assuming you are one )
Take care and have a good flight.
Jan
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what does YOOKAYING mean?
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UK-ing
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Oh gosh I thought it was some intellectual term I hadn't heard?
Obviously the wrong end of the scale.....
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Sadly so lol
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Scunner,
Firstly I want to make it clear that what has been written before by me is not anti-Turkish, I thought that was plain for anyone to see!" We, as in my wife and I, never got ripped off, at least in a private capacity because we saw these people for what they were, ok we got badly stung in a business deal, due entirely to our own naivity towards what we saw as people we could trust. So that is not my complaint. However, there are more "local" people turning up on their bikes and ripping off us Brits then going round the corner and jumping into their Mercs than there are us real expats who just wanted to live quiet life here! So don't preach to me as to how great a life it is here.
Life is what you make of it right? so why are there so many people trying to make ours and other peoples money move into their bank accounts? you have been there, I have been there!!
Duffy
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As a qualified teacher of the English Language, I am completely familiar with the term "Supercilious".
For those of you who are not- look it up, then look at the previous postings before my reply to Scunner and having read the replies to his posts, well, enough said!!
Duffy :D:D
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Totally agree with what you say Keith that is why we waited to start our family over here, as you know we are not part of the BritPack having intergrated more into the Turkish community, and we would never try to screw the last lira from anyone but we also expect that in return, and we still find we have to send Turkish friends in sometimes to get sensible prices, I think we know most of the stores concerned but they could be the only supply. Perhaps if people done a bit more homework and found out the real prices this false inflation might cool down a bit.
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I can honesly say that we have never been ripped off by local tradesmen, bar owners, or market traders. But im almost sure if we ever do then we will feel the same as you. I think that we are just a little shocked at your post that started all this banter between us. Im sure you will come across chancers in Oman. This situation happens in all contries and it only takes a forum like this to point out problems so people know about what is happening. Im sure if some places are ripping holiday makers off then they will feel a rappid loss off customers.
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Duffy,
It appears to me you have 2 grips;-
1. Turkish individuals ripping "Brits" off.
It happens, small time in resturants and on a larger scales. We have been over charged a few times -once by someone we thought was a friend (we didn't agree the price up front) and in resturants - quite simply we would not do business with them again. Once bitten, you never go back. As with anything if you are in business you make sure everything is written down & you have a tight contract.Life is a learning curve wherever you live.
2. Brits turning Turkey into Little Britian.
This will never happen, Turkey is Turkey, there are areas which are more "European" then others and it is natural for people of the same culture to congregate together. It doesnt they don't mix with the home culture it just means there are times when you get comfort from being with people who have a similar culture.
Yanks do in in London, British have their own ex-pats groups in the Far East, Middle East - are you saying you completely integrate into the middle eatern culture in Oman.
This is why I love life, I like meeting different cultures, however I still appreciate my own. I can laugh at our differences and I thank god for the divercity of this life - it's never boring!
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supercilious
adj 1: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; "some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines"; "haughty aristocrats"; "his lordly manners were offensive"; "walked with a prideful swagger"; "very sniffy about breaches of etiquette"; "his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air"; "shaggy supercilious camels"; "a more swaggering mood than usual"- W.L.Shirer [syn: disdainful, haughty, lordly, prideful, sniffy, swaggering] 2: expressive of contempt; "curled his lip in a supercilious smile"; "spoke in a sneering jeering manner"; "makes many a sharp comparison but never a mean or snide one" [syn: sneering, snide
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Imaddy,
Thank you for the first logically thought out reply. Ok we have experienced "rip off" situations, too familiar a tale I'm afraid. Yet yes, we have really intergrated before now into the Arabic culture because they are more aligned with the true islamic culture, as in "You are a friend I have yet to meet" not - "you are a stranger who I can rip off" Believe me I am not that naive!! I have been resident in ME for years before now and am amazed at how the locals here so brazenly try to rip off the Brits/Germans/Dutch and any other race from outside this country.
Duffy[|)][|)]
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Ah well all, some of us are not able to afford the ADSL lines, so I will bid you all adieu for now, but rest assured, I will look forward to logging on on the morrow, Oh yes, Scunner, why you no reply to my MSN???????????????????? did you read the wondeful dictionarial explanation by IMADDY of the word "Supercillious"? Sums up a lot of folk!!!!!
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"shaggy supercilious camels";- but Scunners got no hair!!!!!!!!!!
Supercillios - Moi - no just cillios!
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Personally I can't wait for the next installment of cr*p from this guy. Roll on the morrow!
Stoop
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Although I think that Duffys postings are a tad extreme, if you go back to the start of this thread a lot of people seemed to be agreeing with him - about prices at least! I honestly don't know if I've been ripped off or not, my feeling is that I haven't simply because I've always thought what I was paying was fair, but as Scunner has said we have always agreed a price upfront and if we didn't like it we've walked away. After saying that we are not always sure what things cost in Turkey as opposed to the UK, we just have a general idea, maybe that will change as we spend more and more time here.
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Duffy
I note your consternations with a liitle wonder
Agreed (as was noted in my earlier postings concerning the varying costs between the FORUM and the NIL establishments)- there will always be differing prices throughout businesses - as you will no doubt have noticed in Oman
The business-person will always try to get what he can from the average punter and will gauge the markets as he/she sees it - no matter the part of the world we prefer to stay in
It is then up to joe-public to decide what he/she are prepared to pay (or not to) as the case may be - and spread the gospel accordingly
I am wondering if you find the arabic business-man any different - having spent most of working years around the arabic-islam cultures - I hesitate to say that where profit is concerned, there are any basic differences wherever you are
Not knowing where you will be residing in Oman (but assuming you will have the opportunity to frequent Muscat), I make the suggestion that the bartering systems used within the Ruwi area is nay different from that of the Tuesday/Sunday markets here in Fethiye/Calis
I will add that, knowing the Omani's as I do, they are as proud and as honest as I find the Turkish - both cultures have lot going for them from which we (Westerners) can learn
Having spouted the above gobbldygook and put my pennyworth in, I certainly wish you and your family a very warm and enjoyable period during your next venture, I know you will be made as welcome in the Oman as you were in Turkey
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I agree with you Val, prices have risen over the 9 YEARS I have been visiting Turkey and it is probably quite reasonable that they would rise. I have also reflected earlier that the prices in the UK for food and clothes has dropped in that time which makes the gap wider.
I ask prices and I pay what I am happy to pay, If I am really unsure I go to Migros where I know I pay the same as everyone else although possibly not the cheapest price. I have been ripped off over the years (as I have in the UK and Egypt etc etc)but not for large amounts. I have been very annoyed with the bracelet ladies in the markets who have managed to rip off every child I have ever taken to Turkey and stealing from children is not acceptable in any country, but it happens.
Turkey is not Utopia and it is not paradise, it is just different to what we have at home and we like the differences. We know some Turkish people, but we are not close friends, we have lovely Turkish neighbours around us who leave presents of fruit on our table while we are away.
Everyone is different not all the Brits are the same and my snob element comes out sometimes when I see some of the things people do, but there are also some Turkish things I see that offend my delicate senses. That is my hang up not anyone elses and I just say to myself that this is Turkish life and I don't expect them to change things to please me.
I would like to think I was an intrepid explorer willing to survive with my goat and cow on top of a hill in Turkey and tread my own grapes. I am not, I just want my little house the fascination and interest of all the new things we see on every trip and the generally friendly and polite (not perfect) people we meet and interact with on a daily basis.
I am sure people who have lived in Calis over the years see the changes and some, like yourselves, do not welcome the change. I don't know what to say about that, you were lucky perhaps and saw the place in better times but some of us like it now and appreciate it still. I am moving home in the UK and planning to go to Turkey, if I don't get there I am moving anyway. I have "gone off" where I live because it has changed so much in the last few years and I plan on selling to someone who likes where I live because it is different to where they live......
Enjoy your new move Duffy and I hope it gives you what you are seeking - for a few years at least.
Teresa
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well done teresa
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Excellent posting Teresa, one that I'm sure is echoed by many members of this forum. I cannot wait to get away from where I live either as it has changed out of all recognition in the 20 years we have lived here.
Val
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Well said Teresa!
Lin
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Yes I agree prices have gone up quite a bit since we first visited Calis... I also think we Brits are partly responsible for the price increases. Most of us at stage or another have commented at how cheap things are compared to back whilst we are still in the shop. I know I have: I'm not saying we shouldn't compare, but when we do we should all do it in our heads and not with our mouths...
You can't blame the Turkish traders for taking advantage and hiking up the prices when they hear us commenting on how cheap the stuff is... It's only natural...
They all think we are loaded and can you really blame them...!!! How many Turks do we know that can afford to buy their main home, let alone a holiday home:
Yes a lot of Turks are making big money from us brits, but they aren't all out to rip us off:
All we can do is shop around for the best prices and BARGAIN hard even if we think it's cheap. If it's over priced then they will come down, especially when they see we're prepared to walk away empty handed: Once the shops / markets etc realise will are not fools and aren't prepared to pay over the odds, then they will hopefully stop asking silly prices. After all they need us to survive, more than we need them:
As for the comments regarding the cost of drinks in the bars etc: all I can say is nobody is forcing us to go in and drink. It's a well known fact that alcohol is expensive in Turkey, especially imported brands. To avoid nasty surprises you should ask for the price list before you order. They all have them:
I have also read a few comments where people have been over charged on their bar bills etc:. I very much doubt there is a conspiracy against us Brits. Unfortunately mistakes do happen, that's why you should always check your bills before you pay. I've been over charged once or twice and when I pointed it out to the waiter they were very apologetic. Unlike some of the waiters here in the UK:
I must say I feel for those poor waiters: they all work their butts off, for peanuts. It must be murder working all those hours in extreme heat: I've not yet met a miserable waiter, in fact when ever I see them be it early in the morning or late at night they are always smiling and entertaining their customers: very much like they do here in the UK... NOT:!!!! So as you can see it's not just a matter of cleaning tables and taking orders. Yes mistakes do happen, but mistakes can be amended. As far as I'm concerned they all deserve an Oscar: I couldn't work in those conditions.
:D
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yes things are getting expensive here .... just for instance a trip to Fethiye last week to shop and pop into the bank cost us 3 ytl to park for one hour in what I call the harbour carpark , the one opposite garanti bank, this had just gone up from 2 ytl. Things went quicker than expected and we still had 1/2 hour on our ticket so hubby suggested we had a coffe on the harbour front...nice day and all. Well 2 small but very nice nescafe later we asked for the bill , so 5ytl for 2 coffees and 3ytl parking had cost us nearly £6.50. Why use the car our biggest luxury here , get on the bus and save ......well a trip from Ovacik to Fethiye now costs 2.5 ytl each way per person ie for 2 of us 10 ytl to get there and back ...how do the turks on their poor wages manage to live ???? I have chosen to live here I know but sometimes it does feel as though we are being ripped off £ 1.10 for a coffee!!! The problem is that although as suggested we can walk away from these expensive establishments and now living on near {ish} turkish income our problem is that holiday makers have lots more money to spend and as Ive heard a few times said by the Turks ...no bartering or lower prices for the people living here as when the next rich Brit arrives they will pay the prices asked . I know Ive been a holiday maker before and didnt really have a clue what i was doiung to the local economy.....YOu solve it
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Gina i totally agree with what you are saying and i simpathise with all the brits living there. Why should you all be penalised, just because they expect all brits to have endless pockets. This is why we all need to make a stand and show that we are not going to be taken for a ride... ;)
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Thankyou Harley ...I hope I explained myself clearly, I've thought of lots of different situations that might convey how it is to live here, it is a constant battle . We have lived here for a year now and dont get me wrong We wouldn't change it for the world BUT... you have to have your wits about you , unfortunately it puts you on the defence all the time waiting to be done but time helps and I think it's under control now. It's a real pleasure when you feel you have had a good deal ..it does still happen you know the helpful friendly Turk but it's just a little harder to come by these days ,roll back 10 years ago or probably more for some on here.
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Sorry Gina but 8YTL is £3.50 not £6.50. Last time I parked in the UK it cost nearly a fiver before the coffee. Rising costs are not confined to Turkey. UK gas/electric,water rates all into double figures etc.etc.
Rimms...I recently had a quote for glasses....Varifocals,thin lenses,photochromic and scratch resistant in a fairly high scrip for £156.....UK price for similar is in excess of £300! I think like restaurants the high profile establishments are the worst culprits on prices. :)
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Sorry you are quite right tribalelder. £ 3,50 ....could be something to do with the couple of beers consumed last night . My point is still that costs can be quite high here £1.10 for a small coffee in my book is expensive. I've lost track now of the times we have been quoted silly prices only to shop around and find what we want...sometimes for as much as half the original quote. Friends of ours were recently quoted £1.200 to have their smallish vills repainted , now knowing how much paint costs and the average wage paid I think more like half of that figure would have still reaped a good profit but like I said before locals don't even seem to want to discuss/barter as they seem sure that someone else will pay these inflated prices and would rather not bother to work than drop their prices.
I agree that prices are rising everywhere but sometimes there is a difference between genuine price increases and the thought that cos we are foreigners have got endless reserves of cash.
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I think your last paragraph also refers to the British Government and the British Public:D
As you rightly say shop around....but wouldn't we get several quotes for a job in the UK? I still know where I would rather live.
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I have said it elsewhere but you have to factor in the divergent economic factors currently in play between the UK and Turkey. Turkish inflation has run at 9% for 2004 and 2005, an 18% jump in Turkish prices. Compared to about 5% inflation in UK prices over the same period. The YTL started out at 2.75 to the pound, it is now trading at around 2.2, an appreciation of almost 20%. These two factors alone will account for a significant increase in prices to UK visitors and residents. Next you have the import situation. The UK economy is 'benefiting' - I use the word guardedly, cynically and with caution - from cheap goods and services from China and India and indeed, eastern Europe. Many things are now MUCH cheaper in the UK than to tourists or ex-pats in Turkey, think Matalan, H&M and other outlets but also think about the cost of something like drawing up a will, around 99 pounds in the UK, two or three times that in turkey. An equalisation of expectations is long overdue and I am afraid it is the Turks who will have to give way or they will suffer economically ( I mean of course those greedy Turks, we all know examples of good honest people who aren't taking us for a ride). My maintenance company charge me £2-£4 per hour for odd-jobs to skilled labour, people should set their expectations around that kind of pricing for labour, it's not a high wage but it is one that will not distort the economy. And lets stop it with the excessive tipping by the way - todays bill with excessive tip becomes tomorrows new tourist price
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Yes despite everything i would love nothing more than to move over there permanently.
Gina maybe we should all invest in a set of big ladders some paint brushes etc, then we can paint our villa's ourselves. If i was out there long enough I'd do all the DIY myself... Mind you i am a bit of a DIY freak and love new challenges.... Least i could do it in the heat, unlike over here...:(
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Funny you should say that Harley, it's exactly what we've done since moving here. Husbands job was in the building trade and can turn his hand to most things . Cost of painting our small villa exactly the same size as our friends ...£200 pounds for paint and a couple of days work.
Davewalsh the times I,ve had that discussion with local shop owners re UK prices in places like Matalan ,Primark etc...it just doesn't seem to sink in but I now know many people who used to come here for the "cheap" clothes buying their T-shirts etc before they come as they can get better quality and price especially kids bits in Tesco etc. The local mentality is to increase prices this year cos it was a bad one last year ...try telling them that it would make more sense to lower their prices and become more attractive to a larger number of cutomers does not seem to compute
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Hi gina
As they say "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" They will have to learn the hard way. I'm one of the few females that hates shopping at the best of times, so yes i agree shopping in tesco's is an excellent choice for me. I go in grab what i want, the quality is excellent and i don't have to barter either. :P
I think you need is a shopping trip to the UK as much as we all need a holiday in the sun... ;)
Oh twist... My name is also Gina... Great minds think alike... ;)
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Quotes that we have heard in Fethiye which do not help the situation on prices.
"That's cheap it would cost at least double that back home"
" Is that all you get paid, I wouldn't get out of bed for that"
" How much is that in pounds?"
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Maybe we should all learn to say the following..
"How much...!!! You must be having a laugh"
"Blimey it's cheaper in the UK..."
"No i only asked for the price of one..."
:D
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Hi everyone.
My own opinion of the reason for rising prices is that english people do not complain enough directly to the people who are charging these prices. If we pay them they will charge them. I am english and make a point of telling sellers that their price is too high and i am not going to pay it,if we all do this the prices will come down. The turkish way of doing business is that the price is whatever someone will pay. If we all start saying we will not pay prices that are too high and they start losing business, they will soon change the prices.
I hate to say it especially being english myself but we are all too quick to pay. Turkish people barter and this is what we must all realise and learn to do, When in Rome etc.
So come on start bartering dont be afraid to tell them the price is too high. If we all do this the prices will change 8)
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As an example to the value of shopping around we needed a new cot for our baby last week so for a bit of fun thought we would try different shops to our usuals, we found the SAME cot in four shops,
shop 1= 376 POUNDS plus 110 Pounds for mattress and no discount.
shop 2= 400 lira plus 100 lira for mattress 10% for cash.
shop 3= 375 lira plus 85 lira for mattress 10% for cash
shop 4 our usual store= 230 lira and with a gentle haggle brought for 200lira with a custom made mattress for 10 lira.
We did send a Turkish friend back to the first shop and he was quoted 280 lira plus 60 for mattress.
In the three years we have been here cant say that inflation has pushed prices up very much (except housing) but we have built up a network of stores we can trust and we do haggle hard, but you do have to be very carefull or you will be charged silly prices our best one was 96 lira for a t shirt, you can imagine the answer we gave.
BTW we found a cot much like ours online in UK at 179 pounds.
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I have already started correcting some of the stallholders with their "ASDA Price" and telling them it is cheaper in the UK. I remember having a conversation a few years ago with a young man in Dalyan who we know fairly well as we have spent many a holiday at the family apartments.
He told us that many Turkish people thought we lived all year the way we do on holiday and didn't realise that we flogged at work 11 months to holiday for 1 month (if lucky). I don't know if that is true but I admit to spending more when on holiday for a fortnight. This has changed now and we spend less, except for a house, taxes, water electric ..... hmmm must have gone wrong somewhere.
Teresa
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The only bargains I can see in Turkey at this moment from my experience are:-
1 Land
2 Cigarettes
3 Dental treatment
4 A meal out
Clothes you can get better and cheaper here in UK
Specs same price in UK
Beer and wine Bargain Booze cheaper
Baked beans etc cheaper here in UK
can anyone else confirm or add to list.
What price sunny days!!!
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I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression !! I would rather be living here , the pros far outway the cons ...life is good but the continual feeling that we are being ripped off is a big issue ...yes we now know where to shop most of the time , who is fair and roughly what we should be paying but daily life still consists of battles reegarding prices and trying to fit into a community that sees us as fair game. I'm sorry but my feeling is that living here in a tourist area has made us that "fair game " as tourists and I was one of them , we give the impression ,as stated in the previous post that we live like this all the time . It's very hard sometimes to get through to the locals that a holiday has sometimes been saved for all year and the ammount of money spent is a fortune to most but worth it to get away for a couple of weeks. We haven't got a mortgage now but fuel bills are not that much cheaper than England ....food bills are much the same if you wish to live to English standards , petrol costs the same , parking and a cup of coffee on the front are the same or dearer if you let them ,clothes ,shoes and handbags etc are sooo much dearer. We have found to be honest that our standard of living is lower in terms of what we can afford but so much more enriched by the country we now live in and the people we now know as friends and of course that we don't have to slog our guts out all week for crappy employers
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Turkish delight made in Turkey is cheaper in Marks and Spencers than it is in Dalaman Airport! That said my view is that I want to feel the price charged is fair and reasonable. Just because something might be cheaper somewhere else doesn't mean its a rip off. I am a bit of a novice really and what I am learning is to ask the price before you decide to buy for everything. That way you can feel more in control. I use UK prices as a bit of a benchmark - and would expect to pay as much but there are exceptions. One thing is certain buses in Turkey are cheap. Our local bus in England was more per mile than Concorde.
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Having just returned from a short break in Spain I think in general its cheaper than Turkey for holidaying. I'm not talking abou the cost of living, or house maintenance or utlity bills- but important things people do on holiday like eating and drinking!
House wine in our ( 4 star) hotel E5.70 ( £4.71) best in house E10.30 (7.35) - theres nothing to compare in Turkey , quality wise, for me- but a reasonable bottle in Bella Mamas etc 25ytl (£10)
Leather handbags, tablecoths and towels on the market- much cheaper than Gunlukbasi and again good quality. Dont know whether its the strength of the pound v the euro or the lira but compared to a few years ago it seems much cheaper in Spain.
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Now then Stuart everywhere is cheaper than Dalaman Airport! and Gina fuel prices are now terrible in the UK and one month a year is spent just earning the money to pay that.
However, I think generally it is cheaper to run a property in Turkey, everything else is getting expensive and eventually they will learn because people will stop going (hard fact). I think it is a great place and I cannot wait to get out there.
For richer for poorer for better for worse X
Teresa
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smudge, which shop did you get the cot in as, on our last visit, staying at NGI park hotel the cots were metal with low side, wife has bent my ear to source high side wooden cot, many thans in advance
charlie
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c1 the shop in question is opposite one of the exits to the fish market, next to Sahin Usta a really good kebab shop, the shop has loads of toys and baby stuff outside ( not the kebab shop ).
Directions from mrs smudge= stand with back to PTT, cross over road and up road opposite then first right at the Birlik kebap and its next to second kebap shop. ( i get lost a lot )
Get them to make you custom mattress a lot thinner than the normal ones and only 10 lira, it will make the cot deeper, and dont forget to haggle.
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advise on everything bought an apart in tasyaka for june 2008
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Fieldsy why don't you go to members introductions and tell us a bit about yourself, then open a new topic on what you want to know instead of opening a very old thread. Welcome to the forum by the way, you will get most of the answers you need.
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Cor all I can say is I'm glad I dont drink or I'd have been skint long long ago! Although I'm glad I dont have to pay council tax, huge electric gas and water bills plus house repairs so I guess for me it is still cheaper to live here than in the UK for the time being. The flippin kontour keeps going up and I dont have a land line. But simple living is what I'm here for and simple living is what I'm getting so far. My electric bill was 10 lira and my water was 6 lira. Can't complain.
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Funny that this thread should re-appear after Scunner got back from Scotland and observed how cheap certain things in England are when compared to Turkey. Whoever started this thread back in early 2005 must be a true visionary!