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our trips to alanya
"first time in alanya"
My wife myself and our two sons 16,17 had our first visit to turkey in aug/sept 2005,we stayed at the Aytur Eftalia hotel which is on the east beach.It took us over 2 hours for the transfer from Antalya airport and when we got to Alanya we couldnt believe how big it was,its acity with 2 beaches. We had a great time there but the boys didnt.I think it was too foreign for them,they hated the food and the fact it was red hot 40 deg most days.They did find somewhere to camp out in Big bens a few metres down the front,premier league football english food and beer.That was them sorted for 2 weeks while we went wandering everywhere.We loved all the turkish and european food in the hotel and in the cafes and restaurants.we went to the red tower (good) the castle (great views)ps get the bus up to the castle its only a couple of lira.Boat trips from the front are ok for a tan but they dont go anywhere and not very far either.Cleopatra beach which is around the headland from the east beach is a lot more sandy with no rocks compared to the east beach.Alanya is a big place and pretty cosmopolitan we promised ourselves that we would come back again but on our own.
"2nd time around"
We went back to Alanya the following year(on our own this time)We stayed in the parador apts going for self catering this time.the apartments where huge, nice balcony aircon decent pool.It was just around the corner from the aytur so we knew our way around.Theres a little cafe at the bottom around the back that does great homemade soup(turks love soup).lots of little local places to eat.We where on our own for the first time ever with no kids so we went exploring.town was 5 mins away on the dolmus.Get off at the dolmus station and your at the start of the bazzar,dont go until night time thats when the locals go and its a lot cooler.Some good trips we went on included going to aspendos,the waterfalls at duden in antalya (amazing)and before the dam got built a great day out was at dim cay having dinner in the middle of the river!We normally left going out for dinner till 9ish then going for a drink when the bars started to liven up later on.Palm and olive was a restaurant on the front that was open air and you could relax and watch the world go by.Close to mcdonalds near Ataturks statue was a great mexican with live music.We did now and then go for a wander around the harbour on a night some good bars but really expensive.The good thing about Alanya is theres always something to do we have been back a couple of times since because no matter when you go its always good weather from april to november and from what ive heard even at christmas its not that cold.
