Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Beach Questions and Information => Topic started by: Ian on December 16, 2013, 20:26:58 PM
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I know this has been done before but it is always interesting to hear how people's individual journeys brought them to this wonderful far flung corner of the planet.
We were in a "2nd time around relationship" and Gill wasn't making any / much pension provision but she loved the sun so I devised a cunning plan and asked her if she fancied buying a home in the sun! Of course we would have to "share" the cost / payments.
We initially booked to go to N Cyprus as it looked very good value - but by the time we were nearly due to fly out for a 10 day holiday to view some apartments in Girne - I had read up on the politics and didn't fancy it at all - believe it or not on moral grounds.
So out of desperation I started to look at Turkey as we could "nip over" for 3 days from N Cyprus and look at some other options and I didn't want the holiday to be a total waste of time but I didn't really expect to be impressed!
We saw Interturk Estates on the Internet - exchanged a few e-mails with Cenk and he arranged to meet us in Fethiye at the Otogar as we flew into Turkey via Antalya from N Cyprus.
We arrived at the "old Otogar" at about 11pm - waiting for Cenk's driver - surrounded by what we thought were lots of dodgy characters and Gill said "I don't like this place".
We were picked up 20 mins later - taken to Camelia Apartments - woke up the next morning - got collected by Cenk and fell in love with the place within 12 hours - it just felt so right.
When we told our friends - they thought we were mad - Turkey - "they are not like us you know - and they are Muslims !!!!"
I proposed to Gill under Niagara Falls 3 weeks later and married her in Fethiye harbor in 2008 - (as she now had some pension provision planning in place)
8 years on - it has been such a great adventure and Gill makes no secret of telling everyone when we go back to our house in the UK - "this is not home - Turkey is home!"
It has it's faults but we would not want to be anywhere else but I am amazed that we ended up here :-)
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We had holidayed in Turkey and thought about buying a holiday home abroad and Turkey seemed to tick all the boxes. I had never ever heard of Calis. At that time there was nothing about it on the internet either. To cut a very long story short, I got fed up of property websites that never changed or updated, and of emails being totally ignored. Then I found one where you got an answer back almost straight away.
In a nutshell, I found Calis simply because it was the only place that had an agent who seemed interested. Could have been anywhere in Turkey but Calis it was.
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After looking at Spain (out of our price range) France and Bulgaria our friend mentioned people she worked with had a property in Fethiye. We had been to Icemeler and Bitez and enjoyed our holidays there so it made sense to look at the Fethiye area.
On line I came across Agents T....... N arranged to fly out and stay at the Forum bar attached to the agency. Viewings with them and another agent resulted in meeting the man himself, Keith :D
Finally deciding to buy off plan on Lemon 4 which was nothing more than a overgrown plot of land with a goat grazing in the corner and an old sofa.
Our dream began and after 8 years we still feel the pull of Calis and have made many new friends making our holidays even more enjoyable
8) :-*
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To be fair badger you could have moved the goat and old sofa instead of building round them. ;)
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Came out one June for one of my daughters wedding in Hisaronu. Had never been before
so didn't know what to expect. Fell in love with the place, surroundings and the local people.
Came out in the September for a holiday/property search and looked at lots of properties.
Spotted "the one"for us but kept looking.Following "insider" advice we came out mid November
on a Nicholas Homes buying trip and haggled a good deal.Paid a deposit and put the balance in
a Turkish bank.Came out the following April on a Nicholas paid buying trip (did our own buying)
and had made enough on the interest to furnish the place completely.Got the Tapu and for us
it has all been a good experience.I still love the place :)
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And the area has, and continues to benefitted from your good experience kevin3.
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Sue and I had been to Turkey previously to Marmaris and also Olu Deniz.
We then spent many years travelling to the Algarve, eventually looking for a holiday home there.
Realised 5 years ago that it would be to expensive to purchase there and purely by chance Sues brother suggested Turkey for a purchase....
Before we knew we had a property in Uzumlu which we absolutely love.
We also enjoy visiting, Calis, Olu Deniz, Ovacik and of course Fethiye.
Sues brother is sadly, no longer with us....this makes us even more determined to enjoy what we have while we are able.
Dave.
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The Algarve to Uzumlu - massive change of direction.
Price was a factor for us - I would have more than likely chosen a Greek Island like Skiathos but still amazed that we found Fethiye by chance - or was it fate?
I spent 3 years going to night school classes once we bought to get a little more familiar with the language - not so impressive as I did the Beginners course once and the Intermediate twice!!
Got married here - spend most of my life planning what to do next here - home improvements - trips to different parts of the country - budgeting etc. And of course endless hours on CBF :-)
How did we ever manage without it :-)
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Badger - is it true you still have the sofa :-)
I am delighted to live near you in Fethiye as we couldn't possibly afford to "down South" where we would be lucky to part exchange our Northern home for a bus shelter :-)
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Just wanted to retıre abroad. Never been to Turkey before so decıded to have a holıday. Frıends at work were marrıed to Turkısh men and said look at Fethiye/Calıs as they knew I dont do mountaıns. We took a day trıp to Fethiye and got on the water taxı to Calıs and that sold ıt for me. After another buyıng holıday in Calıs and 6months later we were here wıth the help of Scunner and Cenk.After nearly 7 years stıll love ıt.
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First visited Turkey in 1998, came twice a year after that, Travelled the coast between Izmir to Side during those visits but just kept coming back to the Fethiye area.
Bought an apartment in Fethiye in 2003 as a holiday place, two years later moved in full time, but pressure of work kept us away for the next eight years. This Summer had a blissful three months there. But at long last in six weeks time my retirement is official and we will be back to Fethiye for good, can't wait ;D
TC
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We found that we talking about it so much - waiting for the time that we could afford it - in advance of official retirement and our friends and family were saying "you are wishing your lives away" because we were always saying:
"just another 30 / 24 / 18 / 12 / 6 months and we can be there as much as we want" ;D
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Some great stories here, this is ours..
We had holidayed in Olu Deniz 3 years on the trot, and really loved the place. One year our coach transfer dropped off in Calis. This place seems nice we thought, and asked the rep where it was. Calis she said, never heard of it we said, BUT we liked it. Our next 5 holidays were spent in Calis. We loved the whole experience and decided to bite the bullet and buy a place here as it was affordable. We only use the place as a holiday home, but we get over as much as we possibly can. ROLL ON MAY. :) :)
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Chris - ohhhh dear - as much as we can - that's how it starts - you then start to say "how could we spend MORE time here" :-)
You'll be making plans soon !!!
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It was 2004 and we had chartered a friends yacht from Gocek to sail around the lovely bays over the course of a week. We immediately loved the area from a sailing point of view,very much like the Clyde with glorious sunshine and favourable winds.
When we docked in Fethiye marina, we immediately fell in love with the place,having, like others, never having heard of the place.
On our return home we researched over the winter and returned the following May to buy.
We ended up in Tasyaka, which we love, have great neighbours, both Turkish and British, where we really get a flavour of the real Turkey (well most of the time).
Nearly nine years later we have not regretted our decision, although we only use it as a holiday home.
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Hi EveryoneWe're new to the site and are hoping to visit Calis beach next year. We're off to Icmeler for the first time next week and are really looking forward to it. I have read some great reviews for the seketur hotel and would be interested in any comments or advice where to stay, what to do whilst visiting Calis beach. Look forward to your replies.Regards
One of my first posts September 2010.
By the time I was ready to book my first package tour, Scunner had talked me into booking it all myself direct. We have never looked back. Loved Calis with, the advise from all the members here, we got about a bit, and decided on Ovacik as a permanent home.Thats because its in a great location for all our family,close to fethiye,Calis and Hisaronu and Olu Deniz. When we are on the road and get close by Ovacik., I know it sounds crazy,but it feels like i,m coming home. I told Cenk when we were out and about,and he said he felt exactly the same about Calis.
So, although it has been a roller coaster of emotions, I am still as keen to live there as I was 3 years ago. Although I do have to keep telling myself I won,t be spending my days on Jerry boat and my nights torn between mozaic bahce, kings garden and receps..mores the pity.
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Needing a holiday to go in the next few weeks, we went along to the travel agents and the cheapest deal on offer was Olu Deniz Turkey, having travelled to many countries before, yet Turkey never appeal, I had convinced myself that it was 3rd world and nothing but desert, after visiting Tunisia I put Turkey in the same category, How wrong could I possibly be? I was a little dubious as we were driven through different villages, the stink at the time of Dalaman, the run down village of Ciftlik and Gunlukbasi, those were the Argh! the OooooH was the countryside and mountain views, finally the transfer arrived at the last hotel, ours, Belcekiz Beach Hotel, and from that moment the love affair began.
Maybe a cue for a thread for worst holiday?
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the run down village of Ciftlik and Gunlukbasi, those were the Argh!
We love Gunlukbasi
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Chris, maybe I should explain, we eventually purchased 5 years later and moved out permanently for near 6years in Akarca on the Gunlukbasi road, yet 5 years previously Ciftlik was a dirt road and Gunlukbasi resemble the aftermath of a bomb, it has changed a little and the shops are fabulous, always enjoy wandering around and never leave empty handed.
We have now sold and will still enjoy Gunlukbasi when we visit.
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Chris, maybe I should explain, we eventually purchased 5 years later and moved out permanently for near 6years in Akarca on the Gunlukbasi road, yet 5 years previously Ciftlik was a dirt road and Gunlukbasi resemble the aftermath of a bomb, it has changed a little and the shops are fabulous, always enjoy wandering around and never leave empty handed.
We have now sold and will still enjoy Gunlukbasi when we visit.
Ooh you little devil you. My better half who is always reading the posts on here said to me after I had posted "Loz doesn't mean it like that". I am sure they live in this area,so they must have liked it.
Just have to mention that like you, staying at Belcekiz Beach also started our love affair with the area. Apparently the place is now missing its main asset " Mehemet" the restaurant manager, but that's another story.
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We were looking at Portugal but the prices were far too high. Our friends had contacts in Turkey and they suggested looking at The Fethiye area. I did a little research on the net (difficult ten years ago really) and we ended up spending a quarter of what we would have in the Algarve.
As two families buying together we have managed to share the happy times and the burdens that come with ownership abroad. It's not been plain sailing (excuse the pun) in Koca Calis but it's certainly been enjoyable.
Here's to the next ten years :)
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Portugal crops up a few times in people's original plans and I always thought of it as "classier" than Spain - having never been there!
And although Turkey has it's problems warts and all - for me it is still part of the fun. I am a born worrier - so waking up in the night thinking "should we stay in SGK or opt out?" - "should I go for 181 days at 7% and only 12% tax or stick" is all better for me than being bored - and we are NEVER bored out here :-)
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We have been coming to Turkey for holidays since 1995, but never went to the same location/place twice. However, we found Olu Deniz in 2001, loved the place and came back every year (sometimes twice) until 2008 when we finally purchased (having thought about it for 4 or 5 years) a piece of land in Ovacik. We bought it from an agent who we had met for the first time back in 2001 and had continued to call in and see every time we came to Olu Deniz. We had our villa built by a builder recommended by the agent and took ownership in April 2009. 4 1/2 years later, our love for the villa, location & it's people is still as strong as it was initially and we definitely don't regret our decision to buy a second home. We have remained friendly with the builder who looks after our villa when we are not there ( normally in Turkey for 20 weeks a year) and have been invited to numerous celebrations that he and his family host. One of our best ever decisions without doubt.
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It was a friday afternoon and my mate and i decided Turkey again. This time it was location based on arrival. We had no idea were we would end up. Would find out by a rep at a place called Dalaman airport. All the fault of this little girl behind a computer in a travel agency off Argyle street Glasgow. Well here i am on my 14th year. If only that little girl had any idea how she infuenced not just my life with her holiday suggestion but my families and friends alike. Tesekur Edirim!
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Was posted to Istanbul in 1991 for a 2 year assignment. Used to visit the coast on weekends off. Discovered Fethiye on one of those weekends. Decided to move here on retirement. Eleventh year now. Not one regret !!
WW
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We have been visiting various parts of Turkey for many years since the 1980's and were even on the first charter flight from UK to Antalya.
Have visited Istanbul several times, then resort areas such as Dikih, Bodrum, Gumbet, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Fethiye, Kas, Kalkan, Antalya, Alanya, Side, Belek both as cruise calls and land based holidays we found we kept returning to the Fethiye & Calis Beach areas.
As will be appreciated we have seen some changes not least with Dalaman Airport and the transfer time to Calis since the tunnel was constructed.
Whilst a few years ago we mused on how it would be a possible area to consider a holiday home we had also looked at areas in France & Spain.
On a holiday 4 years ago a display of several developments caught our eye when wandering along the Calis prom so we made a rash decision to go and look at some and guess what we purchased and completed within 48 hours.
Don't regret it for one moment cant wait to get back at least 3 times a year.
Judging by requests from friends & family who have visited and then wanted to return many feel the same way.
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Quite a few years back now I suffered a bad breakdown I had two years of therapy to help me get back on the road to a normal (normalish!) life...anyway I was invited to go and stay with a relative in Calis who was at the time living there this was seven years ago now, it took a hell of a lot of persuiaon on my part to make this trip and I truly could not belive when that plane finally touched down at Dalaman airport and we got in our transfer to go to Calis, (Chalis Chalis where the f**k is Chalis!)how much I was already feeling alive and normal again and loving the scenery that was passing us by on route to Calis...To cut a long story short by day two of being in Calis I knew I wanted to own a property there and with a lot of dermination we made it happen... yes it has brought it's up's and it's down's during the last seven years and I probably took my Turkish tinted glasses off around year four and saw the lows as well as the highs Calis could bring me... It has been a huge learning curve for me regarding all things Turkish and a truly amazing journey of which I am sooo glad that I was brave enough to embark on :)and this forum helped me hugely with a variety of things whilst I was on that journey so once again thank you so much to Keith for this little baby that is called CBF ;)A very merry christmas to you and your family Keith and to all the lovely people on here :)
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That's lovely to read Karennina, it's strange how places can just lift your spirits and somehow you know it's right. It must have been so hard for you but you did it and you got better. I know what you mean about CBF, it is a strange comfort when things are rough, a constant when other things are sad or uncertain. It must have helped many people by being there just to read and enjoy or to seek/offer advice. Have a very Happy Christmas! :D
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That is the power of this area and CBF where there is so much information available to us. You were so brave to take the plunge at a time you weren't feeling A! and here you are seven years down the line still enjoying Calis - warts and all.
Merry Xmas to you ;D
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we had done spain, canaries, greece, etc wife comes home one day and says do you fancy holiday in tunisia for a change . i agreed told her to book it so she rents a villa. when i checked details it wasnt tunisia
it was turkey she,d booked ,her reply was isn,t it the same place.anyway we ended up on telmessos loved the place and bought a villa there in 2004 turkish neighbours are now some of the best friends we have ever met hoping to make move permanent in new year
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Well we already live in Turkey, and so many of our friends here said how lovely Fethiye is, so two years ago we visited and fell in love with the place. I remember sitting on a bench overlooking the harbour, and there was snow on the mountains, this was April and warm enough for tee shirts, and I said to Anthony, if we ever move from Akbuk , I want to live here . . . and there we will be this time next year. Sue xx
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For many years we had the dream of winning the lottery and getting our place in the sun. One night in a drunken "putting the world to rights" conversation we decided we'd never be that lucky and to re-mortgage and buy a place was the only option...but where? We had never been to Turkey but some nine years ago when Greek holidays became too expensive we decided to book our 2 week annual holiday in Olu Deniz. Over the next 8 months prior to our holiday I searched the areas surrounding Olu Deniz on the internet, got loads of free buying advise, and chose half a dozen Estate Agents to exchange e-mails with regarding everything from properties available to area info and household bills and eventually went on holiday armed with our property pictures and mortgage loan in place. The Estate Agent met us at our hotel on our second day but the properties we had "loved" on the site just weren't for us. She then said about the place called Calis and pulled a surprise apartment "out of the bag". While my husband looked round the inside of the property, I wandered round the outside and just fell in love with the feel of the place. All these years later and many visits under our belt we always say this was the best decision we ever made. We love Calis. I grew up in California and still love Calis more. It's the scenery, the people, the laid back feel. Definatley the complete package.
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We started thinking about our retirement and whether to downsize in the UK or emigrate. Originally we fancied France, but prices of property and cost of living put that to rest. We'd been on holiday in Spain and Greece but didn't really fancy either.
Then a friend told us he had a place in Turkey, Bodrum way I think, a place we had never even considered. But we started to do some research online and came across Fethiye. Just our size of town, everything you'd need for a permanent life, so in 2005 we came on holiday to the Seril 2 in Calis.
Had a good look around Fethiye and agreed it was just our big enough. In 2006 we put our house on the market and sold within a week, unfortunately I became ill so had to cancel the sale. By 2007 I had been diagnosed as Ceoliac and after follow up tests was given the all clear to emigrate.
We again sold very quickly and booked our one way flights. We arrived at 4 am on September 21st 2007. With our 3 suitcases and a laptop and hotels booked for the next month. As the wave of hot air hit us as we came out of Dalaman airport, we both said this'll do for us.
We've lived in our own apartment in Tasyaka, a rental on a complex in Calis and currently in a rented house in Calis - with hindsight we should have bought in Calis in the first place, but ce la vie. We are happy and have not been back to UK and have no plans to go anywhere at the moment.
We still think ourselves very lucky to have such a nice life in such a beautiful place, just sit on the harbour in the sunshine and look at the snow on the mountains - breathtaking !!
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Wow LeeGlo. Nice story, glad it worked out for you. It's very heartening to hear. To have been here 6 years and never have been back to the UK! :o
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7 years ago we had never visited Turkey, then our son in laws brother said he was getting married somewhere called OluDeniz, we had never heard of it, we were invited to the weddiing, but after years of doing the AI Caribbean holidays and after talking to a lot of people we were sceptical about Turkey, we imagined it as a dirty country and a risky place to go, but what the hell we thought, so we booked for a week and stayed in Ten Apartments, i must say after arriving at Dalaman and the journey to the resort was not looking promising.Then we arrived at the apartments, what hospitality we got, such lovely people, the next day we ventured to the beach, and wow, what a sight, amazing mountains and beautiful scenery, the people have amazed us ever since. To cut a long story short, we have been twice a year since staying at private apartments or ten apartments, and am planning our retirement in 5 years time now, to be spent in Calis, we intend renting long term and keeping a base in UK, and cant wait for it all to happen. We have made some friends for life in Calis, and have never looked back after arriving the first time
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Thanks Menthol, yes we are happy here, but unfortunately the bureaucratic crap and political unrest at the moment might make us rethink our long term plans. I hope it doesn't come to that, we love Fethiye and our life here.
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The current Mrs B & I have been visiting Turkey on & off since the early 1980's - an Istanbul cruise call started our interest with the history, culture & people.
We were on the first charter flight from Birmingham into Antalya, & have had subsequent holidays in Alanya, Side, Kas, Kalkan, Kusadasi, Bodrum and then Calis & Fethiye over the years.
We kept returning to Fethiye in fact for a number of holidays with no intention of buying a property however a relative passing away led to a "property swap" a studio apartment in West Midlands for a two bedroomed apartment in Calis.
3 years on we can not get back to Calis often enough, for long enough. Our next visit in April can not come around too quickly.
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My brother in law has had a villa in Calis for about 13 yrs and he had been badgering us to go to his villa for a holiday.
Having snubbed his request for 8 yrs,as I was a Francophile and couldn't possibly holiday anywhere else than France, we gave in and traveled to Calis and to cut a long story short, we have not been back to France since and Gill and I married on Calis beach last year :)
we will be back in July for another 3 week stint 8)
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Had never been to or fancied Turkey.We had friends who were building on a plot on Bodrum peninsular. What was all the fussabout. they have very good taste. Decided to give it a try and spent a wonderful weekin Icemeler 5 years ago.
We had alwys talked ofhaving a holiday home abroad and had looked at Algarve and various greek islands.
4 years later we went to the holiday show in mancheter to look at properties. We were impressed. Okra homes were very helpful though to pricey for us. One of the companies there offered us a 4 day inspection flights, accom etc included.
What did we have to loose.The next day they rang to ask which area we wanted to look at.
I hadnt a clue. With a map of Turkey in front of me I closed my eyes and pointed.
It was Fethiye. We went out in February and were show around Hisoranu, Ovacek, Oue Denis and Calis. Pauline who showed us around was really wonderful, not only showing us over25 properties but also doing sightseeing with us to show us the area.
We decided on Calis as it was flat and I have COPD. Why spend time looking in other resorts we fellin love with area. We found a lovely appartment which we fell in love with, but it was over our budget at that time. We were due our lump sums from work in August so decided to hold off till then. We put a offer in for the appartment the day the money was in the bank.It had sold the day before.
Out again for a week at end of October, we spent the inbetween time researching , contacting agents etc.
We had afull week of viewing arranged with 5 agents.
The third day we were shown a 3 bed 3 story villa on a small complex.
The next day we had a second viewing, made an offer which was accepted. Much under budget and what we regarded and still regard as a bargine. Paid deposit and got keys the day we returned home. Returned again February to complete, and thats it. We come out 5-6
times a year. Spent some money on refurb, new look etc inside gradually changing furniture we inherited ,installing new kitchen and bathrooms ,outside painting etc and still loads of budget left.
In the right place at the right time comes to mind.
No regrets cant grt enough of it.Fethiye and calis are improving by the day.
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Third time in Turkey in 1982 - in Kusadasi - saw a large poster with a beautiful beach (Oludeniz) asked someone where is that beach? They said Fethiye & we asked is it near here & they said no you can get a bus from here! So we did & 14 hours later we arrived in Fethiye Otogar! Walked from there to the town centre - there were 2 hotels - The brand new Kordon Hotel & the Sema, I think it was called - saw the poster again & asked where is this from here & were told 15 km & there is only one hotel there, Motel Meri - chose to stay in the Kordon Hotel as it was £8 per night for a double room with breakfast & Motel Meri was £16! Travelled by taxi every morning for 5 weeks to Oludeniz & came back in the evening by Dolmus! Never looked back been going ever since - Calis had only reed beds & no housing to speak of - thought it was very cold there if we went on the old bus for sunset! Now have our house in Gunlukbasi after retiring 4 years ago & still got the first friend we made in Fethiye, Mustafa Sikman, who owned the Kordon Hotel & is now the Honorary British Consul!
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We went on a cruise of Turkey and the Greek Islands. Loved it all and had never been to Turkey before. Decided on a holiday to Turkey the next year and ended up in Letoonia in Fethiye from there we went visiting properties, as we though it would be a good idea to buy a villa and rent it out. Saw a villa in Calis the first day we were out, fell in love with it. Bought it the same day. This is where the story goes astray. We loved the place so much we could not bear anyone else to be there. So, we never did rent out, however, never regretted it.
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Mum used to come to Calis on holiday but I always went to the Greek islands. In 2000 she came out and got into an unheated hotel pool resulting in a massive heart attack. I had to fly out with my brother to pay her hospital bills...
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Yes Portugal does crop up a few times. We still holiday there every October as we bought a timeshare a year or two before we bought in Calis. However, apart from the extra cost in flights, I think we made a great choice. Firstly, Turkey has not seen the recession that Spain and Portugal have - so our house has not fallen in value at all. Secondly, associated costs of owning in Turkey are much lower than Portugal. We also got much more property for our money.
Minus side is the cost and array of wines available in Portugal is fantastic compared to most places never mind Turkey. Also eating out is much better for the 'classier' meals and the diversity of meal choice is better in Portugal.
Love them both for different reasons. Take the wine and some food (Our local Japanese for starters - not to mention the fantastic steaks) from Portugal to Turkey, plus the cheaper flights, and it would make it so much better. Take Mozaic, Guven's and one or two others to Portugal........can't expect total paradise though can we?
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Having avoided Turkey for 17 years, after a rubbish holiday in Marmaris (and it wasn't half the size it is now!), I was eventually persuaded by my hubby to give Calish Beach a try. He'd been checking it out for months before he even dared to mention Turkey to me again. The rest is history. :) :)
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We sat in CO-Op travel Chesterfield about 18 years ago told the rep we want somewhere cheap and warm in the next 2 weeks it was early May, she came up with lots of offers across Europe all over our budget. She then said we have Turkey allocated on arrival, we both looked at each other and said "no way are we going to Turkey"
The girl said that's all we have in your budget, it was £129 with Goldtrail. We needed a holiday so that was it, arrived 3am at Dalaman a bloke there with our name took us to a full size bus he grunted about three words, Took us over the mountains which was very scary, down a dirt track to hotel Tolay in Hisaronu.
He banged on the door this little portly chap came grunted at us, he looked a million dollars not had a shave in a week just a dirty egg stained vest on and shorts. We got in the room and thought what have we come too.
Next morning the sun was shining the, the waiter and the owners son spoke good English. We went back to the same hotel a year later with our sons and a gang of there mates all 17 and 18.
One of the girls fell for a Barman, went back 2 weeks later stayed and married him. They both went to work for Hannel homes a few years later.
They came to our house in Chesterfield to show us the wedding photo's, I said I was thinking of buying a property what did she suggest. Kelly said well don't buy off us they are small and expensive, there are some real bargains in Calis beach it is an up and coming place.
After doing hours of research and finding CBF we contacted Cenk at Interturk in our 7th year living here now after many holidays.
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We started holidaying in Turkey in 1995. Firstly at Turgetries where we spent our honeymoon, then Turunc. We then started to take 3 week holidays in Turkey, a week at somewhere new, a week on a gulet and then a week at somewhere we had been before. We found Sovaliye island this way and kept returning to Sovaliye which we loved. We would look acros at Calis at night and thought it looked like Blackpool all lit up. Guess where we ended up buying and we couldn't have been more wrong.
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And thousands of people are glad you both arrived. :)
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Loving all these stories :)
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Me too Menthol, it's really interesting to hear all about the different ways people discovered, and fell in love with, the area.
Our story is just a bog standard 2 week package in 2002, stayed at the Golden Moon. Had a great holiday but didn't really think it was that special.
Couple of years later got a brilliant deal with Thomsons to stay at the Oykun for two weeks. Something clicked into place and we fell in love with Calis, back every year since apart from last year when we had to cancel for family reasons, but back again in June! ;D
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"Allocated upon arrival" B&B at The Ucel Hotel at Ovacik (now redeveloped as the "Grand Ucel" ;) in 1993 I think (memory's going so might have been a year earlier). We were completely smitten by the friendliness and generosity of the people, let alone the stunning scenery, history and food. Went back to other hotels around Hisaronu the following two years and each time, it seemed the village (as was) had doubled in size and Ovacik was shortly about to merge with Hisaronu.
I don't know if anyone remembers the Day/Night bar in Hisaronu which was run by a German chap called Wolfgang. His bar was a total oasis of tranquility. By the time of our last visit in 1995 (I think), several new nearby bars blaring out loud music had ruined the ambience of the Day/Night and I gather he sold up shortly after. Terrible shame.
We then went to other places in Turkey (Kusadasi, Belek, Kalkan) before four stays at Lykia World when our daughter was small. After prices for Lykia World went stratospheric, we went to Club Letoonia three years ago which finally "cured" us of the all-inclusive thing (crappy, aged little rooms there and we finally tired of the buffet/scrum). We've always loved the Fethiye area so decided to "try" Calis Beach two years ago - we'd never previously been there !
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I had a burst appendex and got peronitis and was very very ill and was 39 years old. Got over it and as I was going to be 40 we wanted to have a holiday and had been to Spain for the last couple of years. Friend suggested Turkey as he knew someone who rented their apartment out and I am not going to lie I did turn my nose up and had no grounds to do so.
Anyway we came to Calis, fell in love with the place on day one, decided on a whim to look at some places to buy on the last day of our holiday. Talked about nothing else on the way home and put an offer in with Golden Moon to buy a duplex off Baris Manco and that was it. Absolutely love it but just never been able to make enough use of it as my holidays are not great. Is rented out full time now and we are going to sell but I know we will still be back to Calis - a piece of my heart is there. :)
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I sort of turned right from the Dalaman Airport road and .................................there it was! :)
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Where do I start about 17 years ago myself and husband (then boyfriend) went to Kusadasi on holidays and swore we would never go back to Turkey again but 3 children later and a few dodgy package holidays with grim accommodation paying under occupancy supplements we looked at buying a place for our own for holidays. A local estate agent who was selling properties abroad suggested Bulgaria but never liked the thought of It for ourselves so wondered how could possible encourage other to rent it off us either (lucky escape anyway know of number of people who bought and properties never materlised ) Did like others fancy Portugal but out of our budget so March 2007 we flew Belfast Manchester Istanbul Dalaman to do inspection trip with Hanel. We stayed in Ata Park Hotel and were shown round various complexes they had built Summer , Sunset Seaside to name a few all too expensive for us so we decided on a 2 bed at Botanic Gardens Dalaman paid our deposit and more and off home we went happy as Larry
The story doesn't end there we went back out as a family October 2007 stayed for a week in a friends apartment in Lissa Park Calis so we could go and see the progress of Botanic Gardens ,went to visit and never spoke to whole journey back to Calis from Dalaman. What a mistake wrong accommodation wrong place. we then went and had a few difficult conversations with Hanel House whomI have to say we're very accommodating in that we ended up blowing the budget and buying a 2 bed in Sunset Beach Club and have never looked back since -well tell a lie had a few sleepless nights over tapu Since then we have visited Calis 3 times a year and enjoy it more each time we have that 'Calis Bug' you all talk about. often talk about selling but then we visit again and think where else would we get any better roll on 18th May to get back again.
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We were looking around to buy property,tried the usual suspects,Spain,Bulgaria,Egypt even.Each of those beset with their own problems.A friend suggested Turkey as they had been to Olu a few times and to Yaniklar where one of their friends had bought.They put us in touch with their friends who told us a bit about the Fethiye area ,the buying process and their views since they had bought.I then hit the Internet and bombarded local agents with questions ,requests for details etc.one agent shone through with prompt,detailed ,helpful responses.
After some time the agent suggested that we could go on like this forever but if we were serious we would need to visit.All we could arrange was a flying 3 night stay,armed with a load of readies in my money belt .When we returned home we had bought the shell of a villa off BMB ,planned how we wanted it finished,bought the kitchen,marble,tiles etc,employed a builder and the agent project managed it through to completion.
This was only our second visit to Turkey,our first being a package in Marmaris about five years prior.
That was 8 years ago and we have never looked back.
A strange little twist was that the Turkish vendor was married to an English lady who was from our hometown and had been a friend of my mother in law before she moved to Turkey,Kismet I think.
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Steve A, you have left us hanging :( who was the agent ? :)
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Peter ,not a favourite on here but it was the now defunct Taurean