Is the Famous Calis Beach Magnet Weakening?

[Scunner]

I noticed a couple of people in another topic discussing this. How they have been huge fans of Calis/Fethiye/Hisaronu/Olu Deniz and come year after year but have a feeling inside that the love and pull is not as strong as it used to be. I was interested to read that, as that is how I feel, and how a number of people I speak to feel also.

I guess as time goes by things naturally change - places obviously change; people move on etc and favourite restaurants change hands, change name - some get expensive facelifts, upgrades and new names and the cosy one you love is gone forever.

I feel that having given Calis 5 years (full time) and numerous holidays before that time and since, there really isn't too much that we get the pang to go back to - we've been to Tlos, Saklikent etc (too many times), a lot of our friends are long gone, our favourite haunts either unrecognisable or disappeared completely.

I have said many times how the pull has been irresistible (I even get weary at the Dalaman departure gate and propose that this will be our last trip "at least for a few years" - then go home and find a deal) and that's us going back to Calis for another holiday the next year.

We love to see the friends that remain, finding out who by chance is out on their hols the same dates as us, doing a boat trip, going to Mozaik Bahce and Receps etc. The problem is, the list is getting shorter and the need to do each individual event weakens each year you do it once more.

We are booked for later in the year - and still looking forward to it of course - just that once again, looking forward to it a little less than we were last year. Had we not been booked already I feel we would have been equally happy (or maybe more, who knows) if we went for a week in Portugal or Cyprus.

Anyone else feeling this way?

[Jacqui Harvey]

We see the changes and start to hanker back to the old days ten years ago, when Calis was quieter and slower, but still had a lot of visitors.  We don't like the new (and some old) restauants that are playing loud music and having Karaoke. So much changes but I suppose this is progress. 
We still love our house and the peace, quiet and privacy we have and when there nothing has changed. Still have the same lovely neighbours and the same farmers, so it is our little bubble.  It is just when we go down to Calis and wander about, we start to wish it was back the way it used to be with all the old familiar places and faces. 

[marina]

Interesting question Scunner and one that I've been thinking about for a while now. 

One reason is that it's two years since we were last in Calis, having had to cancel last year due to my dad 's illness, so it will be interesting to see how many things have changed when we return in June and whether we like the changes or not!  OH thinks everything will be the same and we'll love it as much as we always do.  He may be right (he is sometimes!   ) but we'll see.  We first visited Calis in 2002 and, as many people on here will know, has changed a lot since then, not all for the better.  As Jacqui says, we don't want the loud music or karaoke bars, we also like prefer the quieter, slower pace of life.

Another reason is that we have recently returned from a 5 week trip out to New Zealand to see our youngest daughter, son-in-law and newest grandson.  We've been to Singapore, Sydney, New Zealand, back to Australia (Sunshine Coast) and Hong Kong.  This was way out of our comfort zone, visiting all new countries, and continents,  and negotiating different airports,  but something we had to do if we wanted to see them.

We had a wonderful trip, loved everywhere we went and realised how easy it is to travel to new places and are already thinking about the next one!  But it opened my eyes to the fact that we've maybe been in a bit of a rut with holidays and we should look elsewhere while we are still young and fit enough to explore.  Ok it won't be NZ every year but there are so many places we've never been to and wonder if the time is right for a change.

I'm still looking forward to coming to Calis next month but whether we repeat it in 2016, I'm not too sure yet   

[Christie]

We have been going to Calis for the past 14 years, twice a year.  This is the first time we have not actually rebooked for September.  We still thoroughly enjoy our holidays in Calis, but small things irk us, the road behind the prom all churned up and difficult to walk along, such a shame when they cleaned the canal and put up posh railings, then leave the road in such a state.   Loud music is another thing we didn't have years ago, the Bambu was the liveliest late night bar !  but last year we had Vojos and the Beach House trying to outdo each other with loud music and karoeke - certainly not what we want.  However, we must go with change i guess and there are probably lots of holiday makers who want the lively bars with loud music and kareoke.  As mentioned before, people who have become friends no longer go, although we still meet up with quite a few. We go to Spain in the Winter months and love it there, it is such good value, for me, i would prefer to go back to Spain(or maybe somewhere different) in September/October rather than go back to Calis but we will have to see.   

[GordonA]

Lorraine & I had almost 6 years of living in Akarca, Fethiye , & loved much of that time there, but also hated a few incidents, one in particular. We still go for a fortnight, ( September again this year ), but , to be honest, I wouldn't REALLY care if Fethiye didn't exist. By the way, for an " old fart ", I personally LOVE karaoke !!
We had 2 weeks in Tenerife about 18 months ago, & absolutely fell in love with the place !! Holidays in my native Scotland are becoming more attractive to us now, all that is missing , is the opportunity to jump ( not me ) , into a pool all day !!

[JohnF]

I have said many times how the pull has been irresistible (I even get weary at the Dalaman departure gate and propose that this will be our last trip "at least for a few years" - then go home and find a deal) and that's us going back to Calis for another holiday the next year.

I think we've talked about this before!  This year will be first for a long time where we've decided not to visit Fethiye at all.  Admittedly, it's likely I'll be in Istanbul sometime in the next few months but as it stands, it'll be a THY return from Edinburgh and no plans to extend my trip by heading south.

Both girls would go back in a shot, but when we mentioned Sevilla and Granada, both are just as excited to try somewhere new as they would have been about returning to Fethiye.

We go to Spain in the Winter months and love it there, it is such good value

Years ago Turkey was a fairly cheap break, one we'd do numerous times throughout the year, often combining a work visit in Istanbul.  Over the past few years we've noticed the shift from Turkey being good value for us, to Spain or Portugal being the better option.  Once you get away from the popular tourist areas the cost of eating out drops and becomes exceptionally good value, especially given the quality of ingredients.  That to me is a big plus over Turkey - yes I know (some will say) you can eat out for 10TL, for three course, for two, including a drink and a lift home in some places, but that's not my thing.  Factor in the wine and for us, its a no brainer.

I wouldn't REALLY care if Fethiye didn't exist.

I would.  We've had years of good memories in Fethiye, made some good friends and will definitely return at some point in the future. 

To borrow from the analogy used in another thread, we're looking at it as a "temporary separation" as opposed to a divorce  

JF

[echogirl1]

We are back to Calis in a few weeks and I don't know whether we will go back again.  We have been twice a year for the last five years and we have made some good friends, but the cost of flights as opposed to the Canary Islands and Spain makes me think that a change may be in the offing.  The better exchange rate of sterling to euro is also another reason to have a rethink.  I know the weak lira seems to be a good thing for tourists but if the prices keep going up in the bars and restaurants then there is very little advantage.  We have loved the place but as Scunner said over the years we have done most of the area, and Fethiye market is no longer as exciting as it first appeared many years ago. So I shall look forward to what may be our last trip to Turkey for a while and hope the sun keeps shining!!

[Jacqui Harvey]

We have found the prices the same in the restaurants.  We have averaged about 80 -100 lira for a couple of drinks and two courses.  So no worries there.

[Scunner]

I would.  We've had years of good memories in Fethiye, made some good friends and will definitely return at some point in the future. 

To borrow from the analogy used in another thread, we're looking at it as a "temporary separation" as opposed to a divorce   

Yes I think that is where I am too right now. I'd struggle with never coming back, I'd like to see just out of interest how it develops in a few years time. But for now, I've seen enough and often enough.

[Jacqui Harvey]

We are off on a Baltic Cruise in July, but I know we will be back to Calis in September.