Although our Eclipse Excursion is over, so many people have contacted me and said how useful they found the information about Turkey and Side in general that I have decided to let it remain on our website. I will be removing those sections that were of interest only to our travellers to witness the eclipse.
May I take this opportunity to thank all those that have contacted me expressing their appreciation for the information contained in this page. It makes the all the hard work involved worthwhile. Thank You !
I have now added some pictures of some of the sites to visit in the immediate area around Side. See the section "Where to Visit".
The Arum hotel is located about 5km (by road) to the West of Side town centre, (pronounced see-day, and actually means 'pomegranate') which is a holiday resort on the Mediterranean coast. (The hotel is located some 5km south and 6km west of the centre of the town of Manavgat; this large agricultural town (pop. approx. 80,000) is featured on many maps available on the internet). Sheltered by the Taurus Mountains to the North and located on a coastal plain between 20km and 40km deep, the resort has some of the best winter weather in Turkey and average daytime "shade" temperatures in March are likely to be in the 64°F to 70°F (18° - 21°C) range with possible daytime highs of 87°F (30°C) and an average of 8 hours of sunshine at the end of March. (The evenings/nights may be cool - 50°F to 60°F (10° - 15°C) at this time of year, especially if the wind is from the North, passing over the snow-covered mountains - a warm jacket/jumper and trousers are recommended for evenings out) Mostly, at this early time of year, the wind is from the north or northwest, providing a drying "downslope" breeze to clear low level cloud and fog. However, southerly winds may provide the best conditions at Side. Rain has been registered (on average) on 5 days during March, mostly at the beginning of the month - only once in the last 10 years on the 29th!.
Summer temperatures are quite high (90°F + or about 32°C +), as is the humidity (about 90%), which can make things uncomfortably "sticky" and cause problems because although you may sweat, it does not evaporate to cool you down. Avoid July and August if possible (the hottest/most humid months) - June and September are more tolerable. May and October are fine, although some places will not open until mid-April and will start to close mid-October when the "high season" ends. Most of the "permanent" bars and restaurants are open all year round. There is the possibility of more cloud/light rain in April, May and October.
If you wish to walk into Side from the hotel during the daytime, use the beach - it's a lot shorter (about 2km) than via the road and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to stroll into town. There is a "Dolmus" [a minibus service] into Side (at variable times, but one every 10 - 15 minutes in high season) - the 'bus' stop is on the main road, to the left of the Arum hotel's driveway - and it costs about 80p per person into Side. You do not need to be at a bus stop to get on - just wave your arm at an approaching Dolmus and it will stop for you if it has room on board [very likely at the Arum as it is the next stop down from the "non-Kumkoy dolmus" bus terminus]. (Only some of the Dolmus travel as far as Manavgat - make sure you get the correct bus if you want to travel to Manavgat - the bus says on the front where it is going, in paint on the front of the bus, or as a plastic sign in the front window, as opposed to a "revolving sign". All Dolmus go to Side first anyway. Return Dolmus from Side are available up to about midnight - they list the hotels that they pass on a plastic sign near the entrance door or in the front window of the bus; make sure that you get on the correct Dolmus for the return journey to the Arum Hotel) Note: "Dolmus" means "stuffed" and at peak times these minibuses will be just that - a minibus designed for 16 seated passengers may well carry 30 or more in total. The Dolmus station at Side is some way out of the town centre and a "Roadtrain" (a tractor and a 50 seater trailer) operates during the Summer from near the Dolmus Station (walk down the hill to where there are some "market stalls" - the "Dolmus Station" Roadtrain terminus) and takes you to the top of the main street at a cost of about 40p each (one way). You need to purchase a ticket from the ticket desk (literally) before boarding the Roadtrain. The journey time is less than 5 minutes. It will also take you back up to the Dolmus station, up to about midnight or maybe earlier - please check! During Winter, the Dolmus will probably take you to the top of the high street as the traffic is lighter and the Roadtrain may not be running. I have been told that there is now a Dolmus service from outside of the hotel (opposite side of the road) into Kumkoy too, but I am unable to verify this at this time. This service may not operate during wintertime anyway. Taxis: are available from outside reception (the hotel has it's own "taxi rank" ; there is usually one taxi parked outside reception (to the left). Wave your arm to attract their attention and they will pull up at the main entrance). The cost is about £4 (2004 price inc. 10% tip) for the "death defying" 5 minute journey into Side or Kumköy (usually conducted at breakneck speed - most Turkish taxi drivers don't mess about: speed limits, some traffic lights, and lane markings are for "wimps". Be prepared to travel within 4 feet of the vehicle in front at speeds in excess of 50 mph, and even to drive up the wrong side of a dual carriageway!). The taxi station in Side is located in the car park at the top of the main street (on the left as you exit the main street, and opposite the Roadtrain "town" terminus)
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the nearby (expanding) village of Kumköy, the centre of which is about 3.5km to the west of the Arum hotel. Kumköy village makes a pleasant change to the hectic shopping experience found in Side; it has numerous shops stretched out along either side of the main street, now extending some way on side streets on the "inland" side, and has a good number of bars and restaurants too. [I can recommend "Bill Cosby's" bar just off the main street - go left instead of right at the sharp (90°) bend in the road near the main Taxi station, - you'll see why it's called this if you get the chance to meet the owner]Beginning about 100 yards from the hotel's access off the (at times, busy) main road (the hotel access road is about 150 yards long, from the main road to Reception), there is a good selection of bars, restaurants and shops, and a Post Office (PTT). This makes a good location for anyone wanting lunch or a "late-night" drink or a bit of shopping, whilst staying close to the hotel. I can recommend the bar near near the VIP Suit (sic) Hotel, the next bar up - although this has a large German presence during Summer, and the 2 bars either side of the entrance to the small shopping square opposite the Sunrise Queen Hotel (near the PTT).
There are also a number of reasonably priced bars in Side, in the area just past "Apollo's Temple" which is beyond the harbour to the left. Walk through the ruins of the temple and continue up the path, keeping the sea on your right. Once you are past the bars, there are also many more "reasonably priced" shops a little further up and to the left, away from the sea - don't restrict yourself to just the "Main Street" in Side, or the bars/restaurants near the "Main Square" (Ataturk Square). You are paying for a "harbour view" as well as your drink in these. There are many "back streets" in Side and the prices drop the further away from the "main" street that you go! (The main street is mostly filled with jewellery, leather clothing, carpet and 'exchange' shops which can obviously afford the higher rents.) The Post Office (PTT) in Side town is located in Ataturk Square, facing the harbour.
Side was once a large Roman town, believed to be where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra had their "assignations". There are many Roman ruins on the outskirts of the old town (a hundred yards or so towards the "new" town from the Dolmus station), plus the amphitheatre closer to the town walls, all of which are currently being restored and "rebuilt" - these ruins are well worth a visit.
The following images are from the Arum Hotel web site - please visit for more images
The Arum is a 5* hotel within the "Barut Hotels" group. The board basis is "half board" (breakfast and dinner). Both meals are "buffet style" but with some dishes being cooked "live". Breakfast, served in the airy, 4 storey high Palmiye Restaurant, (07.00 - 10.00) features a "waiter service bottomless coffee pot". There is a large selection of fruit, some cereals, many kinds of bread, jams and honey. Marmalade is known as "seville orange jam" in Turkey. Also available will be boiled eggs (5 & 10 minute), sometimes fried or scrambled eggs are available, sausages, tomatoes etc. Don't expect "Bacon & Eggs" for breakfast in Turkey (not even in the hotel) - you can get the eggs but REAL bacon is RARELY served ANYWHERE in Turkey (see below - Eating & Drinking Out). Lunch can be taken at the hotel or by taking a short walk up to the main road outside the hotel (about 250 metres) to the string of bars/shops/restaurants stretching for about 600 metres, or walk along the beach in the direction of Side for about 1km and you will find the start of a number of beachfront restaurants.
Dinner is from 19.00 - 21.30 and is also taken in the Palmiye (Palm) Restaurant. Dinner is "International" in content, with the occasional "Turkish night" when meals will have a "local" slant. There will always be various salads and cheeses and cold meats, soups, about six or seven choices of hot dish with potatoes, rice and pastas. An extensive sweet table offers many kinds of cakes, tarts, fruit, and mousses. The "al a carte" Mimosa Restaurant which seats about 60 is available for that "special occasion" and reservations are recommended. This is located near the Pool Bar.
The lifts at the Arum have the following buttons: 5, 4, 3, 2, L, and R. The numbers are the floors corresponding to the first digit of the room number (rooms on the 6th floor are accessed by stairs from the 5th floor and are normally reserved for foreign temporary hotel staff during summer). L stands for LOBBY (ie Reception) and R stands for RESTAURANT. Access to the hotel pools, grounds and shopping gallery is also from R floor. There are a number of apartments at the Arum hotel; most of these are located behind the indoor pool and snack bar areas.
See map on right - click on map for larger image. (285k) Although there is no scale on this map, the distance by road (as shown by the small numbers) from Antalya airport to Side is about 76 kilometres or 48 miles (not 60 km as stated on the hotel website - this must be 'as the crow flies').The hotel has a small circular indoor swimming pool [200 cu. m], sauna, Turkish bath/massage (extra charge), gym and fitness centre, squash court, tennis courts, shopping gallery, a small supermarket, lounges and bars, patisserie, snack bar, and an a-la-carte restaurant in addition to the "normal" restaurant. There are extensive gardens leading to the hotel's private section of the SANDY beach (a medium course sand, similar to granulated sugar in texture). You may visit the hotel's website for more pictures and information from here.
Most of the twin/double/triple rooms are sea-view rooms with balcony. You can see them in the pictures above or by visiting the hotel's website. The single rooms are normally inland view and also have a balcony. As with most hotel rooms in Turkey, the overall size is not "huge", but is adequate for 2/3 people.
All the rooms have a private bathroom with bath and shower, WC (incorporating a Turkish bidet - wash, then dry with paper - as with most hotels in the Mediterranean, toilet paper should not be flushed away but placed in the bin) and a washbasin. A hairdryer, telephone, and toiletries/face cloth/shower cap are also provided in the bathroom. Towels are changed daily (if indicated by the guest by placing them in the bathtub) and bed linen is changed 3 times per week. Each room has satellite TV (limited English speaking channels), mini bar/fridge, 2 telephones (inc. 1 in bathroom) and a small electronic safe (no charge for use of the safe or TV). There are NO tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms.The hotel operates a "charge card" system - all purchases within the hotel (except from the supermarket and shopping gallery outlets which are under separate management) such as drinks, snacks, lunches, beer/wine/water with dinner etc. are charged to your account using the plastic charge card. You need to sign the till receipt that is returned with your card - one copy is yours to keep, the other goes to the hotel accounts department. During the evening the hotel operates a "happy hour" (2 identical drinks are served for the price of one) at the pool bar from 17.30 to 18.15 - A similar system is operated during winter. There is also a happy hour later, in the disco.
You can settle your bill daily, or leave it until you check out on the final day. Keep your receipts so that you can verify your bill. Mistakes are rare, but we are all human, and it has happened to me once; someone else's drinks bill was charged to my account. (The signature on the bill confirmed that I had not signed it, plus I had all my genuine receipts to back up my claim that the bill was "too high")As with most hotels in Turkey, only a few coat/dress hangers (about 16 - there's even less in lower grade hotels) are supplied in the wardrobe - please bring additional hangers from home if you think you will need more. There is plenty of drawer/cupboard space. Toiletries - shampoo, soap, shower cap, bubble bath etc. are provided by the hotel and replenished daily as used, or on demand. There is a small safe, provided without charge, that will be found in the wardrobe - I strongly recommend that you keep your valuables (passports, tickets, spare cash/travellers cheques and jewelery) in this.
The hotel operates a "smart casual" policy during dinner - no shorts or "T-shirt" tops or swim wear are permitted to be worn in the dining room at dinner - shirts (short sleeve are OK) and long trousers are a minimum requirement for gentlemen in the evening. (You would probably get away with Jeans as long as they were of smart appearance and not ripped or too faded/worn) Similar appropriate dress is also required from lady guests. This rule does not apply at breakfast.
Toweling dressing gowns can be provided by the hotel on request. Additional pillows and/or blankets can be arranged by contacting the Reception desk. If you have any other specific requirement, please inform the hotel reception on arrival or as soon as possible afterwards. The "standard issue" is one "non-allergenic" foam pillow per person and one blanket per bed. Duvets are supplied during the winter months. You may require more than this as the pillows are not very thick; the blankets are good quality and if used in conjunction with the bedspead and the "warm" setting on the air-conditioning may well prove adequate. Duvets are not used in Turkey. If you prefer a "light load" of bedding, add an extra blanket instead of the bedspread or turn the air-conditioning to a higher setting. Request extra pillows when checking in - they will usually be delivered to your room within the hour. The bedrooms (and the public rooms) are air-conditioned (keep the balcony door in the bedroom closed or the air-conditioning shuts off). The air conditioning can be adjusted via a control in the room to warm it as well as cool it. The corridors are not normally air-conditioned. Some corridors on the higher floors are "open-air"; some others on lower floors overlook the restaurant (see the "Palmiye Restauarant" picture above) and therefore will be air-conditioned.
There is a "mini-bar" in your room, offering a small selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, plus peanuts & chocolate bars, etc. which is restocked daily. Please note that the prices reflect the service offered and less costly alternatives are not too far away. Other services offered include a laundry service (not same day), a "pressing" service up to a certain time in the evening, and most of the other services that you would expect from a 5* hotel, including room service (you will find a room service menu in your room). Most of the services will cost you about the same as they might in a 3* hotel in England [that is, if they offered such a service] with the exception of French Champagne - this is probably the most expensive drink in the hotel and starts at about £80 a bottle for Cordon-Rouge. [ If you are planning a celebration (birthday/anniversary etc) whilst at the hotel, either have very deep pockets, bring your own, or choose something other than Champagne to drink ]
The tap water in Turkey is fine for washing or cleaning your teeth, (in fact, if cut with enough Scotch whisky or similar spirit, it can make a nearly pleasant drink without any side effects (tummy troubles), should you run out of bottled water
) but because it has a very high mineral content it is not recommended for drinking (it tastes like sea water, there are so many dissolved salts in it - the high mineral content may cause susceptible people to experience some intestinal discomfort) The hotel sells bottled water, from any of it's bars or restaurants (at about £1 sterling for 1 litre). However, I recommend visiting the local supermarkets outside the hotel and purchasing your water at a much lower price (about 40p for 1.5 litres) from them and bringing it back to the hotel for personal consumption. You will not be able to consume your own drinks at meal times, so budget accordingly. Unlike some hotels I have stayed at, there is no "drinks/water" inspection as you pass through reception (bring a few beers or a bottle of wine back if you wish). I have stayed at this hotel 4 times now, and have never had a problem with disposing of "non-hotel brand" water bottles in the room waste bin. (I can't vouch for the disposal of beer/wine bottles but I guess that if you buy the same brands as the hotel sells, they'll never know. NOTE: the hotel only serves "Efes brand" beer in 330ml bottles [no cans and no 500ml bottles] - this is served at dinner if "a beer" is requested. "Draught" Efes beer is available at the bars throughout the day from about 10.00)
Please NOTE: All baggage and persons are scanned before entry into the Antalya airport building on the return journey. Be prepared for delays !!!
Upon arrival in Turkey, it is necessary to purchase an Entry Visa, (not included in the price quoted) the cost of which (as at November 2004) is £10 for British passport holders . This Visa is required by EVERY passenger holding a UK passport (inc. children) and the fee should be paid using only English £10 notes in "reasonable" condition. Torn or dirty notes may be rejected by the Turkish authorities. Scottish notes are not accepted and you may not receive change from an English £20 note! For example: If 2 people are travelling together - pay your visa fee using two £10 notes, one for each passport. Holders of passports other than "UK Nationals" should check with the Turkish Embassy within their own country. Review here as to the cost/procedure/requirements for acquiring a visa but do not accept this page as totally valid for you - see the relevant page from the Embassy in your own country. The passenger is responsible for ensuring that they have the correct visa/visa fees in an acceptable form.Usually, it is attached to the first empty page at the BACK of your passport.
You then proceed to Passport Control. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled entry to Turkey.
Passports can be renewed before they expire and the remaining time on your old passport is transferred to your new passport (whole months only).
NOTE: You may even be prevented from boarding the aircraft in Britain if your passport does not meet the "Six Month Rule".Once your Passport and Visa have been stamped, you will then proceed down the stairs to the baggage hall. Look for the baggage carousel bearing the flight details. There may be some delay before this information is posted above the carousel - keep your eyes open! Baggage trolleys are available for hire (about £1 per trolley in 2004), but it is only a short distance to the coach park and if your suitcase has wheels, or you feel fit enough to carry your suitcases a couple of hundred yards, it should not be necessary to hire a trolley. After collecting your luggage and making your way outside the terminal building, you will board a coach (included in the cost) for your transfer to Side, Belek, Alanya, Colakli or Lara Beach. Tour Company representatives outside the terminal building will take your details and direct you to the correct coach. Transfer time to the hotels in Side is approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on any stops made at other resorts/hotels along the way. The Arum hotel is normally the first drop-off once you get to the Side area, but as there are likely to be many passengers heading for Side, some delay is possible due to visiting other resorts/hotels as Tour Companies arrange the most convenient method of getting X number of passengers to fill a coach and to visit the least number of hotels etc . Due to the size of our group, we may be carried on more than one coach and this may result in our passengers arriving at the hotel at different times due to stopping at other hotels along the way.
On arrival at the Hotel Arum, you will check in at the Reception Desk (located on the right as you enter). You will be provided with your "Hotel Charge Card" and your "Hotel Pool Towel Card". These cards are issued on a room basis - one card per room. Those "sharing" a room will need to make their own personal arrangements to divide up the costs allocated to the Hotel Charge Card. Either person can sign the till receipt, as long as they actually possess the card. If this is likely to be a problem, please speak to the reception staff - it may be possible to issue cards on an individual basis.
Leave your luggage in Reception. The hotel porter will convey your bags/cases to your room later. You may wish to take a change of clothing in your hand luggage.
Do have a small amount of Turkish Lira with you (say, £20 to £50 worth per person) to pay for your immediate needs such as refreshments after travelling, baggage trolley hire at the airport, porterage tips, etc. and maybe to cover your expenses outside the hotel for the first day or two. Once you are at the hotel, all purchases from the hotel are made with the "charge card", and cash is only needed outside the hotel or to purchase items from the independently operated shops within the hotel. It may be possible, time permitting, to purchase duty free goods on your way into Turkey, subject to local restrictions, which are similar although more "relaxed" to the UK (200 cigarettes and either 1 litre or 1.5 litres of designated spirits duty free ) - exact details can be found here. You may be able to import more than 200 cigarettes as long as you can justify the quantity as being for personal use within Turkey. Read the Turkish Customs webpage carefully! English cigarettes be hard to find outside the confines of Antalya Airport, especially in the Side area - it's usually full of Germans smoking German/American brands of cigarettes, which are available everywhere. The local shopkeepers may not have English cigarettes on the shelf; but may have them elsewhere. After my trip in 2006, I have discovered that there are now many more places stocking English cigarettes in Side, although they may not be on display. ASK!
You can purchase English cigarettes on the outbound aircraft, usually at a better price than in the airport Duty Free. However, there may be limited supply on the return journey, so I recommend that you buy cigarettes at the local shops in Side or at Antalya airport before the return journey - these WILL be cheaper than on the plane! Turkish cigarettes are relatively cheap (about £1 for 20) and are not that bad really, if you get desperate :)
Don't forget to haggle. It's expected. The Turkish shopkeepers will accept Euro's, Pounds Sterling (not Scottish notes), US Dollars, and of course Turkish Lira. (Credits cards are accepted in those shops selling "high-value" goods such as leather coats, carpets, or jewellery). Because of the high proportion of German visitors to this resort, many prices are displayed in Euro's - ask what this price is in Pounds/Turkish Lira only if interested in buying, otherwise do the calculation into Sterling yourself - about 1.4 Euros to £1. This price is the starting price. Don't start to ask for a lower price unless you are serious about buying the item. Consider what you think the item is worth and offer about half their starting price or even less and meet somewhere in the middle - the harder you bargain, the closer the final price will be to your first offer. You may even be offered a drink of apple tea (very refreshing on a hot day), or Raki (the local "firewater" - an aniseed flavoured spirit a bit like Pernod or the Greek Ouzo, only "rougher" and very strong - best avoided if you want to keep your wits about you) to keep you in the shop! If you are not satisfied with the final price offered, walk out of the shop - the owner may come running after you and settle for your offer anyway. If not, there is sure to be another shop selling the same stuff a few yards away - just start the whole process of bargaining all over again. (Hence the need to avoid the Raki)
Particularly good buys in Turkey are: Leather goods and clothing - much cheaper that in Britain and usually of excellent quality; leather jackets and coats can usually be tailor made to order within a day or two. Leather belts and handbags/bags/purses are also available from many shops. Jewellery - only 14K and 18K gold is used in Turkey and you only pay for the weight of gold and the quality/weight of the stone, not the design. The shop should also issue a certificate of authenticity and description of any diamond or precious stone used. There are also shops selling Turkish Delight (lokum) and apple tea (elma chay - pronounced elma ch"eye" - "eye" as in what you see with) and other similar, fruit flavoured, teas - avoid the stuff in "Tourist Boxes" ("Akdeniz" brand - which means "Seaside" brand which is sold almost everywhere), and search out the odd few shops in Side (back street) and Kumköy (near Crosby's Bar) selling the real thing 'loose'. Turkish carpet shops are everywhere, but the carpets can be more expensive than you think - £1000+ approx depending on size! Kilims are a cheaper version of the true Turkish carpet - much thinner and less likely to last the many years that a true Turkish carpet will. Unless you know (do some internet research first) your Turkish carpets, don't buy what seems a "bargain".
Most shops stay open until about midnight in the Summer months, but during winter, you may find that some are closed until the Summer season starts in mid April or after it ends in mid October, or those that are open will close earlier due to the fewer numbers of tourists present in the resort.
Gentlemen: why not try a haircut whilst in Turkey? The process finishes with a lighted taper being applied to your ears to remove those "unwanted signs of age" (I mean ear-hairs of course) ....... Ladies - take your camera along to capture the look on your partner's face as the barber approaches with a naked flame
Toys, CD's, DVD's & Computer Games:
NOTE: Most of the children's toys that are available in Turkey are usually either copies of some "well known brand" toy, (there are no copyright laws in Turkey) or may be of poor quality generally. Also, any paint or construction method used may not comply with the regulations and standards in force in the UK or in the EC. We would therefore advise everyone not to purchase a toy as a "holiday gift" for someone back home. Most of the CD's, DVD's & Computer Games available are also "copies" and the quality may not be the same as the original, plus you may fall foul of UK Customs if searched on your return. Purchase Toys/CDs/DVD's/Games at your own risk.
Do not expect "Bacon" or "Pork Sausage" for breakfast. Despite being advertised at many restaurants as "English Breakfast Served Here" with such subtitles as "Real English Bacon", there is usually no such thing in Turkey - it is a Muslim country and to handle the "flesh of a pig" would be unheard of. (The hotel does not offer "bacon" at breakfast) The "Real Bacon" that is served in the restaurants outside is probably closer to a "Bernard Matthews Turkey Ham slice" (no detrimental inference implied) than it is to real bacon. It is certainly not a pork product. (It looks like thinly sliced fried luncheon meat or SPAM and tastes of "smokey bacon flavour crisps" - presumably it's what the Turks think bacon tastes and looks like, as they've probably never seen "real bacon" themselves). There is currently ONE restaurant that I know of, near the Arum hotel, that has got a supply of ASDA bacon - I don't know how or where from. "Pork" sausages can be classed in the same group - although you will be presented with a "small hot-dog or two" - it's probably made from chicken and laced with flavouring and colouring. I have visited Turkey 9 times now, in various resorts, and have only once, on this last visit in 2006, encountered "real bacon" - (at the next bar up from the VIP Suit Hotel) - You have been warned!
I can recommend wholeheartedly the following items: Fresh Orange Juice - freshly squeezed orange juice can be obtained at the "best" bars and restaurants. (beware of the "carton variety" offered at some establishments [unfortunately, the Arum Hotel falls into this category at Breakfast time in the restaurant, but not at the bars during the rest of the day when you are actually paying for the drink]) The "carton" stuff is not that bad in taste, but is rather "watery" when compared to real orange juice.
Turkish Bread - if you like the "more-ish" fresh, crispy outside/mouth-wateringly soft inside of French bread, then you are in a bread lover's paradise. The "standard" Turkish loaf is about the size and shape of a British "Vienna Loaf", but with "that special touch"! Other varieties have poppy or sesame or other types of seeds on top, but all are delicious at breakfast time, smeared with butter and/or jam or honey (the Turks don't make "marmalade" - it's "Seville Orange Jam"
Meat Balls - they look nothing like balls and look more like either a very large finger or a small burger - these can be quite spicy, or not, as the chef prefers to make them. The hotel ones are geared to "European" tastes (the Germans .... and can be quite "bland" for "curryholics"), as are most of those sold in the outside restaurants in Side and surrounding area. Shame on them! They don't know of the love affair that a lot of English people have with the "Madras or Vindaloo Indian Curry". If you like hot, spicy, "Indian style" food, then ask for them to be "Turkish Style", because that's the way the Turks like them - really spicy. Try a Turkish Pizza too (Turkish word = lamakun) - very thin, very spicy - have some water nearby.
Egg and Chips - Turkish style - this consists of the obligatory fried egg (or 2) plus "fried potatoes with onion" which is basically frozen chips broken in half, mixed with chopped onion and pan fried. Sounds a bit odd but is very tasty. Usually served with a side salad and bread.Many outside restaurants serve very large (sometimes very, very large) "pitta style" bread with sesame seeds on top with their food. If you would prefer the ordinary Turkish bread, ask for "Ekmek" (the Turkish for bread). See the "Turkish for Beginners" page. You won't always get it because the restaurant only does the pitta style bread, but at least you tried.
The most popular beer in Turkey is "Efes" (Turkish for Ephesus - the large Roman city on the Aegean coast close to the city of Izmir) [my favourite Turkish beer]. You can also obtain "Tuborg" in some of the bars in the area - [which I think has a more bitter taste]. All the breweries are Government owned and controlled. The alcohol content is 5% - rather stronger than most British beers, but it still looks like lager! I would describe Turkish beer as "lager with flavour".
You will often see salad (tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce) served with your meal. The Turks eat a lot of salad (it's a hot country and salad is a cooling dish) and I have never had any health problems eating the salads. The tomatoes are full of flavour and sweetness, unlike your average British supermarket offering. It may have been washed under the tap, but as stated elsewhere on this page, the tap water is only salty, not polluted.
(When I can remember other things that I can recommend to eat or drink, I will add them to this list)
The toilets (Turkish = tuvaletler) in the outside restaurants and bars may sometimes appear a little "wet" on the floor. Turkish plumbing is a long way behind that of the UK and they use small bore pipes (50mm) to carry the waste away instead of the 100 to 150mm pipes that are common in UK. These small pipes are fine as long as everybody follows the rule of "No Paper", but tourists do tend to behave as they do at home with the result that the small bore pipes can get clogged with paper and then overflow.
Also, take note of the colour of the toilet bowl below the water line. If this is a brown colour it means that the proprietor has not brushed/bleached the toilet recently (a build up of salts from the water, much like "limescale" in the UK) and if this is his version of cleanliness in the toilet, then what is his version of cleanliness in the kitchen? The toilets in the Arum hotel are spotless, so a clean bowl CAN be achieved.
Beware of some of the "fish restaurants" near the harbour in Side - one or two have been reported to "rip you off" - and I don't mean by a pound or two - I have heard of someone being charged £75 for a meal for 2 !!!!. Make sure that the actual price of your meal is clearly displayed or conveyed to you BEFORE ordering. If the restaurant displays the Thomas Cook, JMC, or Thomson Holidays/TUI "Recommended" logo, then you should be OK. These places will have been checked regularly by the tour company representatives. However, neither Thomas Cook nor other UK tour companies can be held responsible for the actions of any individual Turkish shopkeeper/restaurateur. Keep your wits about you (don't get too intoxicated) and safeguard your own interests. The Turkish people are, by and large, a very honest and friendly people but there can be a "bad apple" in any barrel.
There are a small number of restaurants in the "strip" close to the hotel. Other restaurants can be found in Side and Kumköy. Eating out is not expensive in Turkey and a reasonable 3 course meal can be bought for about £7 to £9. Fish dishes are on average more expensive than other types of dish. A large beer (500ml or about a pint) will cost about £1.40 in Side, and a "local" spirit (Gin, Vodka, Raki) will cost about the same. Imported brands (Bacardi, Scotch Whisky, etc.) cost about 3 times this price, but the measures are usually at least "doubles" if not "trebles". Cocktails also cost about £3 - £4. For those that have holidayed in Turkey before, but have not visited Side, you will find that prices are generally higher in Side than in other resorts. This is presumably due to the "German" influence - they don't seem to care how much something costs, (because it's always cheaper than at home) so the bar/restaurant/shop keepers charge more. Fortunately, with increased tourism from Britain where we know how to get a bargain, the prices are coming more in line with other resorts but it's a long process.
Most bars will stay open as long as they have customers. During summer, this means into the small hours of the morning. Unlike resorts such as Marmaris, Side is a little more sophisticated, and "all night" drinking is virtually unknown. Most visitors will have made their way back to their beds by about 2 am, unless in one of the discos.
DISCO's: There is the OXYD just up the road from the Sunrise Queen/Hemera hotels, towards Side, on the opposite side of the road. There is also the LIGHTHOUSE, near Ataturk Square and the harbour in Side town.
The Turks see tourism as a good source of hard currency, especially as the Turkish Lira has in the past been subject to some vicious inflation. (In just over 10 years it went from about 14,000 to about 2,500,000 to the £sterling) The Turkish Lira has apparently settled down to a reasonable rate of inflation in the past couple of years. (about 2.6 million [2,600,000] Turkish Lira to £1 as at 14 December 2004, - Note: the Turkish Lira is changing during 2005 - they are issuing "New" Turkish Lira (Yeni [new] TL or YTL) which removes the excess number of zeroes and is exchanging at about 2.3 YTL to the £ Sterling as at 29 March 2006) Do check the exchange rate daily - it can go down as well as up more often than you think; change only small amounts of Sterling/Travellers cheques at a time (say £50 or £100) and also avoid the "exchange shops" in Side and Kumköy. They offer poor exchange rates and high transaction charges. It is much better to use the hotel, ATM, or the Post Office [PTT]. (There is one PTT within 750 metres of the hotel [set back a little on the left, on the main road towards Side], one PTT in Side [near the harbour] and one PTT in Kumköy - banks can be found in Manavgat). There are also a number of ATM (hole-in-the-wall) machines (which will accept UK credit cards) located in the area; one is near the Arum hotel - outside the VIP Suit Hotel, and a number of others in Side town; these are attached to the major Turkish banks and the commission rate can be high when the UK bank has added on it's charges too. Or use the hotel - the difference in exchange rate is often not worth the taxi fare into town for small amounts (<£100). You will need your passport if exchanging money outside of the hotel (except in the ATM machines). Within the hotel you only need to quote your room number. It is possible to purchase items using Sterling, Euro's, or US Dollars, in addition to Turkish Lira, so you can take cash instead of Travellers Cheques if you wish. (not recommended due to security/insurance reasons)
The Tour Company representative will offer a number of excursions to make your stay that bit more "special". If you have not visited this part of Turkey before, or if this is your first time in Turkey, then I recommend that you attend the Representative's meeting, which is most likely to take place in the morning after your arrival, but may be during the late afternoon to allow other travellers on the night flight to attend. For culture vultures, try the "Perge and Aspendos" trip to an ancient Roman city and then on to one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world at Aspendos (still used for concerts). A boat trip on the Manavgat River is a peaceful respite. Kurshunlu waterfall (usually included in the Perge/Aspendos trip) should also be worth a visit early in the season - it was the setting for the famous "Timotei shampoo" advert shown on British TV a few years ago - the girl washing her blonde hair under a waterfall, remember?. (The waterfall was a little "dry" in summer 2001, when I last visited this it, but it could be at its best in March/April after the winter rains). Manavgat waterfall is also worth a visit. Although it is only about 4 metres drop, it is fairly wide, the river is quite deep at this point, and the huge volume of water cascading over it makes for a good photograph. You may also be able to go "White Water Rafting" or on a "Jeep Safari" or shopping in Manavgat or in Alanya, (Alanya - home of the "Red Fort" and an ancient castle - a modern concrete tourist city that has little else to commend it other than burger bars (McD's and BK's) and tourist shops - for serious shoppers, the city of Antalya (near the airport) is recommended. With around 1,000,000 inhabitants it has the widest range of "normal" shops. Exact details of the excursions available will be provided by the Representative in resort.
If the exact excursion that you want is not available, there is always the "do-it-yourself" option - hire a taxi for the day (not too expensive when spread between 4 people, and it allows everybody to have a drink or two instead of one remaining sober to drive the hire car! Offers of around £25 return to Antalya were possible in 2004) and go where you want. Haggle with the taxi driver for a good price. CAR HIRE is possible, but I really do not recommend an "average, safe British driver" to jostle with the likes of Turkish taxi/truck/bus drivers for space on the road. ( We drive on the left, the Americans on the right, the Turks anywhere they feel like. Watch out for mopeds coming at you on the wrong side of the road too!)
This section is primarily aimed at those people that have never visited Turkey before. Although not fully comprehensive, it should serve to answer a few questions and dispel a few myths.
Myth: All the women wear black robes and hide their faces.
Fact: You are unlikely to see any woman in Turkey dressed in this fashion. In the Tourist areas most women will wear "Western style" clothes. Some may be wearing headscarves and long sleeves, but Kemal Ataturk, the "father of modern Turkey" decreed that to "modernise" the country, the wearing of "Islamic style" clothing was no longer necessary. You may see some women in the interior of the country adopting traditional Islamic dress but this is purely by choice.Myth: Alcohol is not available, nor is it consumed by Turkish people.
Fact: Alcohol is served everywhere. In fact, you will see many Turkish men in the bars drinking "Raki", the Turkish National spirit as well as beer and other alcoholic drinks.Myth: There is a mosque on every street corner.
Fact: There are no more mosques on the streets of Turkey than there are churches on the streets in England and probably a lot less.Myth: Everywhere closes on a Friday for "Prayers".
Fact: Not in the Tourist areas. Everywhere will be "business as normal". Some staff may leave to attend Friday Prayers at the Mosque during the day but there will always be someone staying at the bar/shop/restaurant. Closing on a Friday may occur in the smaller villages and towns inland.Myth: You can hear the sound of the "call to prayer" everywhere.
Fact: Whilst the call to prayer does take place 5 times a day, you are unlikely to hear this unless you are in close proximity to a mosque. You will not hear this whilst staying at most of the hotels in Side (including the Arum). Some of the smaller privately owned hotels and apartment complexes on the outskirts of Side may be within earshot of the mosque located nearby. There is also a mosque in the centre of Side town and there are a couple of small hotels within earshot of this. (No mosques are located near the main 4 and 5 star hotels)Myth: Turkish people are "unhygienic" and everywhere is dirty.
Fact: On the contrary, the Islamic religion requires people to be "clean". However, there will always be the occasional person that is not clean in their habits and if you find such a place then don't visit it again. Some of the tourist bars are rented on a seasonal basis and the operator of the establishment may be stuck with whatever plumbing and tiling/furniture were in the place when he rented it. Some of the larger "permanent" restaurants and bars are owned by the operator and usually offer a higher standard of cleanliness and facilities. If the bar owner does not clean the tables and empty the ashtrays regularly, then don't go there again. (You may be surprised at how often the ashtrays get emptied in Turkey -- usually far more often than they do in a British pub!) The outside grounds of most premises are hosed down every morning before opening. Turkish plumbing is not up to British standards and uses small bore pipes to carry away the waste. These CAN get clogged by toilet paper and cause problems. DO NOT put paper down the toilets - wash your "rear end" using the bidet, wipe dry with paper and dispose of the paper in the bin provided.Here is a page with a few Turkish words and phrases to get you started. It is planned to add sound clips so that you can hear how to pronounce the words/phrases soon. Click here for access to this page.
Manavgat Waterfall - This waterfall, which is 3km north of Manvgat town has the same name as the town. It provides a panoramic view, being quite wide although the fall is only about 4 metres. The large volume of water makes for an interesting photograph. Just near the falls, you can picnic in natural surroundings or eat fresh fish in the nearby restaurants. BEWARE - costs at these establishments are very high - better take a packed lunch.
Side Museum - A hamam (turkish bath house) remaining from the 5th and 6th century A.D. adjacent the Roman agora was restored in 1960/61 and turned into a museum. Most of the pieces of art exhibited are the findings revealed during the excavations between 1947 and 1967 in the ancient city of Side by Prof. Dr. Arif Mufid Mansel. Exhibits on display are from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine period: inscriptions, reliefs, statues, ostotexes, amphorae, altars, tomb stalls, column heads and pedestals which are copies of the Greek originals built in the Roman Period.
Side - Side is 7km from Manavgat and is an ancient settlement centre. It is mentioned by historians as founded in 1405 A.D. but had met the reigns of Lydian, Persian, Alexander (the Great), Antiogonous and Ptolomaios, from the second half of the 6th century A.D. After 215 A.D. the city, was improved under the supervision of the Syrian Kingdom and turned into a science and cultural centre. It reached great richness and prosperity with a huge commercial fleet. It entered under Byzantine reign after the Romans after 78 B.C. The main gate of the city has unique workmanship and is between two towers. There are two main streets in Side; each an example of columned streets of ancient times. After passing the city gate, flat stoned area is the starting point of the street and there are columned porticos on both sides of these streets and shops behind them. There is a "Nymphaeum", the biggest historical fountain in Anatolia, against the city gate outside the ramparts. A wide pool is below. Pass through the street after the theatre to reach the agora, with measurements of 100m by 100m, which is the bazaar area of the city with shops at three sides. There is a Gymnasium, surrounded by porticos and composed of three halls, on the street to the south side of the agora.In the main street, in a north-south direction, is an arched structure, built during the Roman period. The importance of Side's theatre is that it is constructed using arches, instead of built into a slope like other Roman theatres. This, the biggest one among Pamphylian theatres, has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. There are large cemeteries outside the ramparts, the most important of which is the Necropolis 1.5 km away. There are also temples and aquaducts in Side, the most important of which are the temples of Athena, Apollo and Men. The water for Side was brought from a source at Dumanli, within Oymapinar Dam Lake, approximately 25 km away. Transportation is composed of 10 aquaducts, some of which are double layered. The largest one has 40 spans. The city was uninhabited during the reign of the Seljuks (13th century), Hamitogullari and Tekeliogullari (14th century) and Ottoman Empire (15th century).
Perge - An ancient Roman city, originally founded by the Byzantines. Featured below are a selection of photographs. Click on the image to see full size. Images taken March 2006 by Dave Baker, MAS.
Roman in foreground then
the Byzantine towers (red)More details and other places of interest can be found on the Turkish Ministry of Culture website.
It is recommended that you obtain vaccinations for various diseases if you plan to travel to remote areas. The main tourist areas may be treated the same as any other Mediterranean resort. If you wish to see the recommended vaccinations list, visit netdoctor. The main ones recommended are Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. Personally, I don't bother with vaccinations for Turkey (been there 9 times without any problems), but then I don't travel into the very remote parts or to Eastern Turkey.
E & OE excepted
Graham Hodson
Manchester Astronomical Society 2004 - 2006
