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My Daughter Katie (15) with Marmaris in the distance.

Marmaris - The classic Turkish resort is everything you could possibly ask for, beautiful panoramic views, pleasant beach, clear blue sea, bars and restaurants abounding, quality shopping, markets, the bazaar, cheap accommodation but..... there's always a but! Is it becoming yet another Benidorm type resort overflowing with Brits soaked in lager, covered in tattoo's  dragging kids and trolleys round stuffing their faces with Burgers and chips? I think it is.  Yet here is a resort that has tried it's utmost to be an upmarket holiday choice for it's European visitors. 
The Promenade has been modernised and is a joy to walk down especially on public holidays when parades make it a spectacular sight. There are some quality Hotels that offer fine cuisine and entertainment at very affordable prices as well as many low budget apartment blocks.

My first visit seven years ago (1996) was one I will never forget, the resort was quiet and relaxing at the time. Janice and I took our daughter Katie (15) and were accompanied by our friends Phil and Lisa and their son Ian (8). We stayed at the Elif Apartments, about a 10 minute walk to the beach and close to all the shops. The staff were pleasant but spoke little English although this wasn't a problem. The room maid did however know enough English in the last couple of days to tell us she was pregnant and feeling unwell, a good ploy for a sympathy tip at the end of our holiday.
The Restaurants were competitive and worked hard for your custom. We chose to use one particular one to spend most of our nights and we were treated really well. The picture (right) shows a group of us in "Yilmaz's house", a little corner of the restaurant laid out in typical Turkish style. Always remember to remove your shoes if you are invited into a Turkish home and don't point your feet at any person who you are talking to.  The beach was busy and a little on the small side but if you picked your sun beds in front of a decent bar the waiters would look after you and practice their English. We also booked a couple of trips with the lads on the beach, these were about half the price of the same trips offered by the reps. We visited turtle beach together which was a great day out. I went on my own to Ephesus which was an awe inspiring trip. Janice and I went to Rhodes on the hydrofoil which I would recommend to anyone especially if you pay a little extra to take in a tour.

The Bazaar by the Harbour is another must visit place in Marmaris where you can  barter to your hearts content with the rogues who purport to be traders. Just remember if the seller accepts your price, you've paid too much!   Close to the Bazaar there are a number of Jewellery shops where you can buy Gold at seriously decent prices. All items are sold by weight but don't be afraid to offer less than the asking price, they will usually "do a deal" especially if business is slow. There is also an excellent street market once a week (click the picture right of trader selling knickers for a larger view) where once again bartering is the order of the day.

Car and bike hire is very reasonable, especially at quieter times in the season and if you are not afraid to mix it with the Turkish maniacs on the roads the world is your oyster. There are some spectacular drives not far away from Marmaris, try the drive to Mugla where you will encounter some serious mountain views. The further inland you travel the cheaper everything is, try a restaurant inland, you'll be astonished at how good they are for very little money.
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