Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Introduce Yourself => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: n/a on July 05, 2005, 22:58:51 PM

Title: Hello
Post by: n/a on July 05, 2005, 22:58:51 PM
Our names are John and Marg....we are in our late 50s and have been to Turkey 6 times....We have booked up to come to Chalis for the first 2 weeks in Sept 05...We booked up mainly because we do love Turkey and the Turkish people who are so friendly...Also because my wife fell in love with the villa that we are renting....It sleeps 6 but who cares as it has its own private swimming pool...Heaven.....We have considered for a while now about buying a property in turkey and have kept a close eye on this site and the area of Chalis .......but to be honest it has rather put us off...rather than encourage us....The impression we and Im sure many new comers have is that the majority of people have just complaints...For example.....The beach is filthy and dangerous and littered with garbage...There are wild dogs roaming the beach....Away from that you just get ripped off by being overcharged when you buy drinks and meals.....Sorry if this upsets some of you.....but thats the impression this site seems to give out...Just hope our 2 weeks in Sept is better than the impression we get are getting so far from this site........This isnt an on the spot judgement...but one we have come to over 3 months now of looking at this site .
Title: Hello
Post by: JulieDiane on July 05, 2005, 23:31:09 PM
firstly welcome to the sight, i'm sorry you have picked up on the negative 'vibes' from this sight, (these realy are far & few between) Calis is a wonderful place, we have been several times and eventualy hope to buy within the area. I have seen dogs around the place but wild and  unfriendly dogs would not be the word  for them, the beach at times may have litter on it, however this is not an issue we have witnessed, i do believe wherever in the world we go, not all places/area's will be perfect at all times. The people in calis are friendly and bend over backwards to help, its clean, and to be honest not just calis but the region in general... i don't think i've ever recieved poor service or eaten a bad meal!

Is calis perfect? probably not, but where is? I'm sure you'll enjoy Calis when you visit

Jules X
Title: Hello
Post by: Anne on July 05, 2005, 23:42:43 PM
Hi John and Marg
Welcome to the forum.
Please, please don't let anything you read here put you of Calis.  It's the best place in the world as far as we're concerned.
Yes there are stray dogs (they are all over Turkey not just Calis) but believe me they'd lick you to death before biting you.
The beach is not filthy - not to Olu Deniz standards but it's a nice beach to sit and while away the hours in the sun.
As for the prices, have you heard of inflation? - it's everywhere, Turkey included.
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful holiday in September and the few negative points you've picked up on the forum will soon be a long lost memory replaced by some wonderful new ones.
Happy hols
Anne
Title: Hello
Post by: tribalelder on July 06, 2005, 05:28:53 AM
Forget what you hear and read but see for youself. Whatever country you are in it will have a percentage (fortuneately very small) who take a great delight in moaning ,whingeing and complaining. This forum has over 1500 members most of whom have or aspire to have property here or like ourselves have chosen to live here permenently. I could go on for ages about the reasons why I choose to live here, but suffice to say the only way you will get me back to the UK is screaming and kicking!
Title: Hello
Post by: Gary-O on July 06, 2005, 07:21:01 AM
Hi John & Marg & welcome to the forum.
As the saying goes "You can't please all of the people all of the time" and i am sure you will find that it is the minority of people that whinge and moan about Calis. Most of the members on this forum would give their right arm to be able to move here permanently, but for most at the moment, that is not possible.
The beach was very busy last week, if it was that dirty and dangerous would people use it?
A month or so ago i was reading that many UK beaches are falling behind the guidlines for cleanliness, whatever beach you go on anywere in the world, it is always advisable to wear some sort of footwear.
Bars & restaurants always have menu's a price lists available, you can always look at the prices or ask for them, if you feel it is expensive don't stay. You will always find that beach front bars and restaurants are slightly higher priced (again this applies anywhere you go), search out the places that are set back from the front, you can get terrific meals at good prices.
If Calis is that bad, consider this, would that many of the members return year after year (in some cases 2, 3 or 4 times) and would they really be that inclined to buy property here.
Keep an open mind, don't let what you read from the minority put you off having a really enjoyable and unforgetable holiday.
Title: Hello
Post by: Sinbad on July 06, 2005, 08:07:28 AM
As others have said above - you should ignore the moans and groans - we are British and if we are not talking about the weather we are moaning about something else.

I would rather be in Calis than here in the UK. All the negatives people have mentioned in Turkey are easily found in the UK and more.

Just take Calis as you find it - the good people, the variety of food and so on.
Title: Hello
Post by: number2 on July 06, 2005, 09:31:07 AM
Hi John & Marg, welcome to the forum, i went to Calis 4 times last year to my appartment, i too am in my late 50s, as everyone says forget about the moans, the good thing beat them hands down, given half a chance i would be out there for good, i've got more friends out there than i've got here & most of them are Turkish, they are great people to know & i'd trust my friends with my life savings which i did when i sent them the money to buy my place. Go with an open mind & you'll love the place. Alan
Title: Hello
Post by: puma on July 06, 2005, 15:38:36 PM
hi john and marg welcome to you both you will see for yourselves what a lovely place calis is when you arrive,and i don`t think you will be disappointed
Title: Hello
Post by: lmaddy on July 06, 2005, 16:03:28 PM
John & Marg,

The choice is rainy old England or a beautiful sunny day in Calis - I'll tell you what gets my vote.

The beach "thing" was because we love the area so much, there was a drive to improve conditions. The beach is unspoilt enjoyed by locals and visitors together - sometimes it can have litter, but more importantly it is used as a meeting place.

The dogs are delightful and playful and are not at all threatening, when we first moved into our place a local "tagged" (tagged by the authorites) moved into our bbq (yes that is right) and stayed for the 2 weeek, then went on his merry way.

In my view Calis has everything, fantastic resturants and bars and lovely beach and that fantastic breeze that keeps you cool even when the temp rises.

I for one count myself so lucky to have a home here, we walk around our place we are so happy, if we were cats we would purr - purrfect in fact!

Make the right Choice for you - Calis was the right one for us.

Welcome to the forum and most important when you get back from your hols you can tell us to shut up and appreciate what we have got.

I think you comments are very valid we don't want to give the wrong idea - however there are lots of good comments on the site about the area and the Turkish. I hope people see the overal picture.

Lorraine
Title: Hello
Post by: smudge on July 06, 2005, 19:28:19 PM
Hi and welcome, i am sure you will love Calis when you arrive, we have lived here for two years including having our baby born here and can appreciate your comments but in reality it is nothing like you describe. Yes as with any country there are issues to be raised, a lot of these are the Turkish people getting used to our ways and us getting used to their ways. You can get ripped off here just as you can in UK,USA,Spain etc etc, but in general the Turkish people are great to be with, the beach did get a bit dirty in the winter but still cleaner than most UK beaches peak season and i have yet to see a mad dog.
We were lucky in that we could choose almost anywhere in the world to live and we decided to come here to start our family and have not regretted a single moment.
Enjoy your holiday
Title: Hello
Post by: gt on July 06, 2005, 19:39:03 PM
hi john and marg
                loved the comments,it when you see posts like that it starts to make you think.
One tip come with an open mind then give a post impression of what you feel.I am sure you will give a better account than the first one.Have a great holiday and i will wait for your post.
graham/joanne
Title: Hello
Post by: kanga on July 06, 2005, 22:29:40 PM
hi john and marg,
judge for yourself,you wont be dissapointed
kanga
Title: Hello
Post by: kenkay on July 07, 2005, 20:43:29 PM
Hi John & Marg
We are Ken and Sue and bought an apartment in Calis last September. We have had two off season weeks in January and April and cannot wait to visit when everything is swinging.
My family and I sat on the beach during the second week in April (26 Deg C - even went in the sea) on our own and marvelled at it's beauty. I learned of the Forum from a kind neighbour during the April visit and have become addicted.
I reckon that the whinges must be outnumbered 1000 to 1 by the praises.
I hope your hol in September proved this.
Cheers
   Ken & Sue
Title: Hello
Post by: Cavfan on July 21, 2005, 19:23:09 PM
Hi John and Marg. Just felt compelled to add to whats been written above. We have been coming to Calis since '89 mostly twice a year( sometimes 3 but sadly only rarely!) and I dont think we have ever found anything to complain about- well we wouldnt keep going back or have bought our own place. The existence and success of this site is testament to the popularity of the place. We will be there the first 2 weeks of September too and find this time of year to be very pleasant , not too hot( still hot though) and not too crowded( though still lively) Go, see for yourself and enjoy!
Title: Hello
Post by: valentine on July 21, 2005, 20:02:05 PM

Hi John and Marj and welcome to the forum. I can only echo whats been said so eloquently before me. We were on the beach last week and it was most definately clean! The view over the islands is breathtaking especially at sunset (don't miss that!). Prices are still very cheap compared to the UK, and if you eat in some of the lokantas away from the sea front you'll be astounded at the prices. Please come with an open mind, I personally am madly in love with the place, we've just come back from our 3rd visit this year and are back again in September and I can't wait until we take early retirement so that we can spend a lot more time there! Enjoy your holiday!

Val
Title: Hello
Post by: canalman on July 22, 2005, 05:30:26 AM
Hi John and Marg, welcome to the forum and have a good time when you visit. Do also look at all the positive things that are said on the forum as IMHO they far outweigh the negative ones. There is an ongoing scheme to control the stray dog population by catching them and then neutering, injecting and tagging them and in my experience the ones on the front are friendly except to motor bikes or any other vehicle. As most of the other members have said, please visit and see for yourselves and then decide.
Pete and Sue
Title: Hello
Post by: stoop on July 22, 2005, 11:15:37 AM
One night recently (after too many Efes - or so I'm told)I managed to lose Maggie's mobile phone. I assumed I had dropped it in the taxi that we got from Fethiye to our villa.

Four days later I realised the driver had given me his card. I got Salim from Fet Cap to ring him and he agreed to return the phone to me if I paid for the taxi fare from Fethiye to Calis - something which I agreed to without question.

When he arrived with the phone he was most upset, knowing that he had given me his card but I had not phoned him for four days to claim the phone back. He hugged me like a long lost friend.

In York two years ago, Maggie did the same thing with our digital camera. We realised immediately and phoned the taxi firm within half an hour of getting out of the cab. The answer was that the driver had picked up one fair since he left us and the camera was nowhere to be seen!

Take it as you find it, John and Sue. The area is lovely, the people are lovely and the positives far outweigh any negatives. Nowhere on earth is perfect but Calis at sunset has a damn good try!

Stoop 8)
Title: Hello
Post by: doll on July 23, 2005, 03:30:05 AM
its true there are some problems in turkey
but the beautiful countryside and climate far outstrip  them
it will be very hot when you come for holidays be prepared keep in the shade and drink plenty of fluids
you will have a great holiday.let us know when you have both been good and bad points,
welcome to cb forum