This review was sent to us by Mark Allen and his family who stayed at the Villa in July 2010.

Day 1:  Wednesday.

When we arrived for our flight at Gatwick airport, dawn and the night sky was a hairs breadth away from each other. Soon we where in the air and before we knew it, it was time to touch down in Dalaman.

We had hired a car from Dalaman car hire and we where met in the main car park area just out side the arrivals entrance, by a man who had a card with our name on it. We did the necessary paper work and lets know about the emergency contact number, and that in the event of an accident we had to call the police and the jandarme, he kindly offered to drive us to our villa, we had to hire a mini bus as there was more than 5 people, car hire is expensive minimum for this size is £400 in turkey for a large party like ours. When we hired the bus it had no fuel, and was about 120tyl for a ½ tank of fuel, the driver did encourage us to fill it up, so I am wondering if there is a bit of a scam here as the web site says it comes with ¼ of a tank and should be returned with a quarter of a tank, unless they where sick of people not giving it back with the ¼ of a tank. But the offer to drive us to the Villa was welcome, as I was very tired from the journey out, also I was glad of this as it gave me some idea before I got to drive on the road, he contacted the villa and the home service agent Mehmet met us, and the driver then it was down to me. 

At this point we did not understand how important transport was when renting this villa it is a must, because it’s a long walk in the hot sun to get even a pint for milk. 

I had small amount of time to adjust to a left hand drive, this is involves a lot of stalling and windscreen wipers going and other shenanigans!

We were lead to our Villa and were glad to see it due to being very tired as we had already been awake from the first minute of that day. We where given a run down on the house and had some groceries bought for us for our arrival. We where also offered organised days out one 12 island boat tour and the Dalyan river boat tour, one at a cost of 30tyl per person and another for 120tyl for the group. Mehmet gave me a tour showing the way to the local super market and other places. 

The Villa is a three-story building that has the master bedroom at the top; this bedroom is very large loft style room with pine units and an en-suite bathroom, and a private room for the owners. The next level has 3 bedrooms one double en-suite and two twin rooms, with a bathroom one the same floor all with pine furnishings. The ground floor has a bathroom toilet and there is a kitchen with an oven, fridge freezer and washing machine, there is a dining area and lounge with a playstation 2 and a television, a good selection of DVD’s are available. The pool is just off of the veranda and is good and clean, the shallow end is good for children, but they have to be careful if they are weak or non-swimmers and the pool has a sudden sloop into the deep end the sun is on the pool from about 0900 and is on the pool for the rest of the day. Round the side of the building there is a lovely BBQ area that has a paved area that you can put the patio table and chairs in, to have a nice alfresco meal in the evening. All the rooms are air conditioned, and do not be alarmed when the lights dim, this is due to the power system in this area, and you are the last set of houses house on the end of a long giant extension cable, you have to consider you are in a developing country and there is nothing that can be done about this. The location of the villa is nice, they have built a holiday complex next door, but the gardens are still private, and the noise level is currently low, I do suspect that it will get a bit louder once the places are sold and rented out. You have to also remember that you are in a airport town area, so there is a little air traffic about, this will never be as heavy as staying near places like Heathrow, Manchester, Gatwick or Glasgow, it not continuous but there is some noise, after all you only landed there an hour or so ago! 

Now let me tell this as I have said before you this you NEED a car for this location, but you need balls of steal to drive it, and not only the Turkish do not believe in having a sign post or roads with names on it!!! Rip up the high way code, give way to everything, and watch for the random wandering chickens, goats, dogs, and cows! To take a turning in turkey you have to signal, (even if no one else signals out here) pull in so the side of the road, and then indicate, to turn and when the road has a sufficient break in traffic, turn. Despite being shown the way home it took me a couple of attempts to find the villa, a journey that should have taken 5 minutes took at least ½ an hour, as all the turnings and the villas looked similar so when you first go out take someone with you to write down a landmark and left or right turn. After I got back the kids where already making use of the pool. The next day was designated a pool day, and give us a chance to plan the week. I had to make a journey to the local supermarket, that has everything you need and for local produce the prices are very reasonable, Turkish flat bread is 1.5tyl EFFE the Turkish beer is 2.5tyl each about 7tyl for a pack of chicken, so that gives you some idea that basic things are good value for money, if you want to buy stuff you would normally buy at home you will pay a higher price. 

Day 2:  Thursday. 

  Thursday is market day in Dalaman, so get your haggling head on, there is a wide selection of goods here from traditional niknaks to fake designer wear, also fruit and vegetables are very good in price 1tyl for a kg of tomatoes, onions, for about 2tly they sell pancakes in the market with a cheese and spinach stuffing, or potato and onion, very nice, and they hold there heat!

For Dinner we found a kebab and pizza place after opposite the big mosque, there was a furnace heat with logs, where 3 foot long pizza where cooked, we got 3 for 15tly with salad. 

Day 3:  Friday. 

We decided to go to Sarigerme beach, you take a right on the road back to the airport and follow the road to near the end, when you come to a holiday villa complex opposite you will find a car park for 3tyl you can park there all day, just over the road from the car park there is a parade of shops that sell all kinds of souvenirs, jewellery and beach stuff for the kids. You take a free tractor ride down to the beach; walk through some gardens and onto the sand. You have to remember to cover your feet, as the sand gets very hot, it will cost you 3tyl per sun bed, there are some natural pools that has very warm water, and is not deep this makes this beach very child friendly. The food there is very reasonable with burgers and pancakes around 2tyl each. 

Day 4:  Saturday. 

Gocek, they do a 12 island boat tour, Mehmet, can organise a tour for you, there were family’s that did not have transport and the cost of taking them to and from the tour was about 60tyl. Our tour was 30tyl per person and this included lunch. Lunch consisted of chicken pasta and salad. Warning, the drinks are expensive on board the boat, the only thing I did not like is that there was no where displaying the drinks price, after each swim stop they offer drinks to everyone on board, because you have been swimming in salt water you would like get the taste of salt out of your mouth, thus will 5 or 6 it clocks up, ours for 5 adults and one child was 94tyl, the cost from what I can work out came from the soft drinks. This is not really suitable for young children that are weak swimmers, as there is not much for them to do, so if they have a dsi or film they can watch on a portable device it would help pass the time. 

Day 5:  Sunday. 

We had a pool day using the Villa pool facilities, and then out for a meal at the Palmiye, Mehmet arranged a pick up and drop for us for the restaurant, he had arranged a table in the prime spot to watch the world cup final, there was a good variety on the menu to suit all tastes, they where very hospitable and gave us free raiki and ice cream, for a party of 5 plus one child we had a main course only, plus drinks, and it was 156Tyl for all. 

Day 6:  Monday. 

This day we were going to go on a boat organised by Mehmet in Dalyan, to do the mud baths and see turtle beach and the tombs that are carved into the rock face, but due to having a young child whose whole idea of being stuck on a boat for 8 hours we decided against it. We had hired something that was equivalent to the A team van and so it was best to make use of it, we decided to go to Sultaniye to visit the thermal spa’s, to get there you had to go around the Köyceğiz lake, the Market was on so we stopped of there before heading onwards. We first of all headed to Dalyan, then up into Köyceğiz, the road between here was sometimes down to dirt track standard, but for me it was all part of the adventure. When driving in the UK we tend to use our horn in anger, in Turkey is more a kind of greeting half the time, with quick toots. The second leg from Köyceğiz around to Sultaniye is a tarmac road but you will notice some steep drops. You get some spectacular views as you make you way around as well as passing through some traditional rural villages. Just after Sultaniye you have to turn left down a hill and you come to a Turkish style chalet area, at 1^st I thought I was in the wrong place but when I got out of the van and walk along I could smell the sulphur and all the boats where tied up along side. For 4 TYL per person you could use the mud baths and thermal spa, this is all heated by volcanic activity, and the water sits a 39c! Everyone enjoyed it; it even had a shallow cooler pool for the children. There is a Woman’s thermal spa, this for the females to make use of the facilities. We Finished there about half past five and made the journey right the way back round to go to the Ley Ley restaurant just out side Dalyan. 

The Ley Ley has storks that at dusk come back to nest, and often walk around between the tables, the food here was excellent, the bread that is served with the meal is freshly baked, and you can watch it being baked on a open fire near the entrance, a live band plays, and out door seating is fantastic, for 5 adults and one child main course with drinks the meal came to 145TYL. I did have a pudding, due to it being my Birthday, it was served with sparklers and candles, the rest of the family got a fruit salad dish to share, and coffee afterwards, this was all complementary

With it being dark it was time to drive back, and then the only snag of the holiday hit, the Van broke down. Unfortunately the correct 24hr number was not correct on the sheet and we where stuck in Orteca. I called the only person who I knew could help Mehmet, he kindly arranged to get us back to our villa, and we had to leave the van in Orteca.

 Day 7:  Tuesday.

 The week had gone so quick we decided we would have another pool day, and enjoy the villa, we tried Saddos for dinner, this was cheaper but not to the same standard as the others. It was about 80TYL for all of us to eat there. We had time to say goodbye to the other families that where renting the villas near us, Mehmet had been looking after them as well, He had organised a trip for 6 to Gorge for the whole day for 350TYL.

 Day 8:  Wednesday.

 It was time to leave, and say goodbye it had all passed so quick by this time I had got to know the area, and how friendly hospitable the Turkish people are, from Mehmet to the locals taking their cow or goats for a walk. We took the Van back to the airport and Dalaman car hire even returned some of our money for the incontinence we had suffered on the Monday, I do understand that Mehmet can ever arrange car hire for you and you might wish to contact the owners to see how competitive this is. 

Conclusion. 

This semi detached Villa is situated in a great central place for a holiday, with the flexibility to achieve chill out time with its own private pool and a chance to explore Turkey. If you hire a car the possibilities are endless, treat the driving like an adventure! The Villa is near the airport so you have some noise from that, but that is no different to the mosque calling for prayer every five hours, on the upside you are only a quick drive away. The villa is well equipped and maintained, its in a safe location for children The owners look after you from the moment you book till you arrive, then you are placed in the very capable hands of MEHMET the Villa management, no matter what time of day we called he was there to help us, and would organise tours and events as well if you are not brave enough or do not choose to drive. We will need to return again so we can do some of the things that we did not get to do on this visit. If you want accommodation where you have no worries, this is the one. I have written this to give you a realistic feel of what there is to do, what it costs, and how you are treated. I think a £400 for the week with 8 people that is £50 each you cannot beat it for value to visit one of the most hospitable countries I have ever been to.