Olu Deniz - Just Booked - Anybody Been?
Discussion
Totally randomly just booked a 2 weeker in the first fortnight in September and wondered if anyone had any comments/advice. Its the usual All-Inclusive type break.
So...
Loud/Raucous?
Beach/Sea Condition? - Is it the Aegean or the Med?
Eating Out advice? Well there's only so much Hotel Fare you can take...even if its free
Nice/Entertaining Bars?
Any comments or personal stories gratefully received.
So...
Loud/Raucous?
Beach/Sea Condition? - Is it the Aegean or the Med?
Eating Out advice? Well there's only so much Hotel Fare you can take...even if its free
Nice/Entertaining Bars?
Any comments or personal stories gratefully received.
Yes - been the last 2 years running. Great place.
Olu Deniz is beautiful, surrounded by mountains on three sides with the sea on the forth. Although it's quite small there is plenty to do and lots of activities. Unfortunately it is becoming more and more geared up for the British, so expect to see fried breakfasts for sale everywhere and lots of badgering by people trying to sell you stuff. I guarentee in week 2 of your holiday you will have pulled off the 'look ahead and pretend you can't hear them' down to a tee!
Would recommend:
Parasailing - supposedly the second best place for it in the world. You head up mount Babadag in jeeps (an experience in itself) then jump off the top - fantastic views of the mountains and the town. Would strongly recommend you choose carefully which operator you use - some have fake/cancelled insurance and it's a long way down if something goes wrong. We used 'Escape' who are based at Lykia World - a large all inclusive resort. Also consider Sky Sports or possible Focus.
Dalyan/Mudbaths - fantastic full day excursion and boat trip
Fethiye Market - intense but worth it. Fetiye town is also well worth a day or two
12 Islands boat trip - butterfly valley, St Nicholas Island
Of all the trips, it's worth paying a bit more - cheap as hell anyway. The cheapest trips involve far more people in the same space and appears to be a bit chaotic to say the least...!
Eating out;
Sultan Ahmet - awesome - on the main drag on the left just before the sea
Secret Garden - tucked away a few streets back from the sea
Help - on the seafront - American influenced food - great atmosphere, great food
Buzz Barr - good food and go there in the evening for cocktails (happy hour 10-12 I think)
Buzz Barr - kebab takeaway downstairs, great for a cheap but delicious lunch
For nightlife, most bars are open until the early hours. Would avoid Shadows Bar tbh, unless karaoke is your thing...
Where are you staying btw?
Olu Deniz is beautiful, surrounded by mountains on three sides with the sea on the forth. Although it's quite small there is plenty to do and lots of activities. Unfortunately it is becoming more and more geared up for the British, so expect to see fried breakfasts for sale everywhere and lots of badgering by people trying to sell you stuff. I guarentee in week 2 of your holiday you will have pulled off the 'look ahead and pretend you can't hear them' down to a tee!
Would recommend:
Parasailing - supposedly the second best place for it in the world. You head up mount Babadag in jeeps (an experience in itself) then jump off the top - fantastic views of the mountains and the town. Would strongly recommend you choose carefully which operator you use - some have fake/cancelled insurance and it's a long way down if something goes wrong. We used 'Escape' who are based at Lykia World - a large all inclusive resort. Also consider Sky Sports or possible Focus.
Dalyan/Mudbaths - fantastic full day excursion and boat trip
Fethiye Market - intense but worth it. Fetiye town is also well worth a day or two
12 Islands boat trip - butterfly valley, St Nicholas Island
Of all the trips, it's worth paying a bit more - cheap as hell anyway. The cheapest trips involve far more people in the same space and appears to be a bit chaotic to say the least...!
Eating out;
Sultan Ahmet - awesome - on the main drag on the left just before the sea
Secret Garden - tucked away a few streets back from the sea
Help - on the seafront - American influenced food - great atmosphere, great food
Buzz Barr - good food and go there in the evening for cocktails (happy hour 10-12 I think)
Buzz Barr - kebab takeaway downstairs, great for a cheap but delicious lunch
For nightlife, most bars are open until the early hours. Would avoid Shadows Bar tbh, unless karaoke is your thing...
Where are you staying btw?
Thanks Dave 
some great tips mate.
We're at the Alize Hotel which has a 4/5 rating on Trip Advisor. Although frankly it was the most available hotel at short(ish) notice on Teletext holidays where we got the booking.
Will definately be doing some activities but not sure jumping off mountains is my thing...
Again mate - thanks for the recommendations!
some great tips mate.We're at the Alize Hotel which has a 4/5 rating on Trip Advisor. Although frankly it was the most available hotel at short(ish) notice on Teletext holidays where we got the booking.
Will definately be doing some activities but not sure jumping off mountains is my thing...
Again mate - thanks for the recommendations!
Focus are a reputible company for day trips.
Sun loungers on the beach are about £3.00 per day.
Whilst the beach is sandy it is also full of sharp stones. Getting in and out of the water can be quite painful without beach shoes. When walking into the sea, be warned you walk in a few paces after which you drop off a ledge. It's quite entertaining watching people that don't realise.
The lagoon is well worth visiting for the day (go early on because you may find you like it more than the beach). when you get down to the beach, turn right and it's about a 10 minute walk. Well worth hiring a canoe or pedalo there to go and explore.
Food & drink in Olu Deniz is not much cheaper than it is here.
The Cherry Chow Bar is quite entertaining, as is the local firedancer & the Michael Jackson dance tribute act which I am sure you will see!
Hisaronu is a 5 min drive up the mountian on the local bus & costs about a £1 per person. It's not a great place but has ok nightlife & is much cheaper than Olu Deniz for food and drink.
Let me know if you want to know anything else.
Sun loungers on the beach are about £3.00 per day.
Whilst the beach is sandy it is also full of sharp stones. Getting in and out of the water can be quite painful without beach shoes. When walking into the sea, be warned you walk in a few paces after which you drop off a ledge. It's quite entertaining watching people that don't realise.
The lagoon is well worth visiting for the day (go early on because you may find you like it more than the beach). when you get down to the beach, turn right and it's about a 10 minute walk. Well worth hiring a canoe or pedalo there to go and explore.
Food & drink in Olu Deniz is not much cheaper than it is here.
The Cherry Chow Bar is quite entertaining, as is the local firedancer & the Michael Jackson dance tribute act which I am sure you will see!
Hisaronu is a 5 min drive up the mountian on the local bus & costs about a £1 per person. It's not a great place but has ok nightlife & is much cheaper than Olu Deniz for food and drink.
Let me know if you want to know anything else.
dave328 said:
Would recommend:
Parasailing - supposedly the second best place for it in the world.
I think you mean Paragliding. But yes, one of the best places to fly in the world, due to the very high, yet very accessible take-off point.Parasailing - supposedly the second best place for it in the world.
I would highly recommend a tandom flight with an approved school. Solo flights from this altitude are only possible following at least a week or two of training. Also it's less scary than it sounds - you don't "jump off a mountain". Take off is actually a very relaxed affair, and simply involves a few brisk paces facing into the wind, et voila!
Definitely do the paragliding. Otherwise I agree with everything in the detailed post above! Thought I wrote it...
It's only a small place so you might want to plan for some days/nights out elsewhere. We went for a week and did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
Also go here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayak%C3%B6y - very interesting!
It's only a small place so you might want to plan for some days/nights out elsewhere. We went for a week and did pretty much everything we wanted to do.
Also go here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayak%C3%B6y - very interesting!
Are you just going for a good chill out - or do you fancy a few road trips and adventures?
Kos round the coast a bit (great drive - lovely town, stayed there a few years ago)
We hired a car and went to Chimera (where flames come from the ground)
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/med/olimpos/...
Also I love Patara - the beach is massive! but always windy. However, the real treats are behind the beach... there is a Roman city that is literally just overgrown, and you can wander around it.. no barriers not many other tourists either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patara
The food is great in that whole area - the locals are all very happy to have you there too.
Driving is fun, slightly hairy on some of the mountain roads - but just get involved and enjoy it!
Olu Deniz is lovely - really lovely - but it just felt a little manufactured to me - hence why a car offers a good escape to find out what Turkey is really like. Although as said above - loads of bus trips and the whole area is heaped in Roman remains and history.
Kos round the coast a bit (great drive - lovely town, stayed there a few years ago)
We hired a car and went to Chimera (where flames come from the ground)
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/med/olimpos/...
Also I love Patara - the beach is massive! but always windy. However, the real treats are behind the beach... there is a Roman city that is literally just overgrown, and you can wander around it.. no barriers not many other tourists either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patara
The food is great in that whole area - the locals are all very happy to have you there too.
Driving is fun, slightly hairy on some of the mountain roads - but just get involved and enjoy it!
Olu Deniz is lovely - really lovely - but it just felt a little manufactured to me - hence why a car offers a good escape to find out what Turkey is really like. Although as said above - loads of bus trips and the whole area is heaped in Roman remains and history.
We went back in 2004, lovely place. We ate in Sultan Pepper (!) on the main street and a restaurant further down where the chairs & tables are set out on grass. Great places but prepare to get bitten if mosquitoes like you.
The beach isn't quite like the brochure pics, but it's HOT and quite stoney (sp). I preferred the beach to the lagoon personally.
Beach - couldn't walk on the stones unless wearing shoes. It's also 'interesting' watching people getting off the boats which back up to the shore. Any waves and the gangplanks shoot up about six feet then crash back down again!
Really nice resort, I'd definitely go again.
Lagoon
The beach isn't quite like the brochure pics, but it's HOT and quite stoney (sp). I preferred the beach to the lagoon personally.
Beach - couldn't walk on the stones unless wearing shoes. It's also 'interesting' watching people getting off the boats which back up to the shore. Any waves and the gangplanks shoot up about six feet then crash back down again!
Really nice resort, I'd definitely go again.
Lagoon
Edited by Mark34bn on Wednesday 11th August 13:06
Well, if we're doing pictures - these are from last October.
Sunset, obviously.
Kayakoy.
And again - it's big!
More sunset, this is the main beach.
Idling around on a boat in the lagoon.
View from paragliding.
And from higher up. By the way, if the ask you if you want to spin around a bit, make sure you didn't overdo it on the food and drink the night before!
And don't crash into another paraglider!
Most of the rest of the resort.
All of it in fact!
Fethiye harbour.
Sunset, obviously.
Kayakoy.
And again - it's big!
More sunset, this is the main beach.
Idling around on a boat in the lagoon.
View from paragliding.
And from higher up. By the way, if the ask you if you want to spin around a bit, make sure you didn't overdo it on the food and drink the night before!
And don't crash into another paraglider!
Most of the rest of the resort.
All of it in fact!
Fethiye harbour.
Hi Guys
Re The Paragliding.
A female acquantance who's on the holiday has asked me to find out how much this is (if I can) as she'll join me if its reasonably priced - she's been to Olu before and seems to recall a figure of £80 as being mentioned but she's not sure.
Does this sound right? Also, do you land on the beach? She seems to think you do but again can't be sure.
And can anybody recommend a good company re insurance for this activity as I'm sure this comes under the heading of 'Dangerous Sports' and so invalidates my own Life Assurance policies.
Again - all advice gratefully received chaps!
Re The Paragliding.
A female acquantance who's on the holiday has asked me to find out how much this is (if I can) as she'll join me if its reasonably priced - she's been to Olu before and seems to recall a figure of £80 as being mentioned but she's not sure.
Does this sound right? Also, do you land on the beach? She seems to think you do but again can't be sure.
And can anybody recommend a good company re insurance for this activity as I'm sure this comes under the heading of 'Dangerous Sports' and so invalidates my own Life Assurance policies.
Again - all advice gratefully received chaps!
Yes, you do land on the beach. They then take you back to the office to try and flog you videos, photos etc!
I can't remember exactly what I paid. However, it was near the end of the season (First week of October), and things like that were supposedly discounted, I think I paid closer to £30.
I can't remember exactly what I paid. However, it was near the end of the season (First week of October), and things like that were supposedly discounted, I think I paid closer to £30.
I use these for insurance when I go paragliding abroad:
http://www.jsinsurance.co.uk/travel_insurance/para...
Not sure if they do daily cover though, as I always get 1 week cover.
Regarding price for a tandem flight, I don't know as I've never been there. I would have thought nearer to £80 than £30 though. Make sure you go with a qualified tandem pilot. Have a look on here for recommendations:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/
If you want to have some extra fun, other than a gentle glide down, ask the pilot to do some 'acro'. Don't ask for an 'infinite tumble' though - that'll just end in tears !
http://www.jsinsurance.co.uk/travel_insurance/para...
Not sure if they do daily cover though, as I always get 1 week cover.
Regarding price for a tandem flight, I don't know as I've never been there. I would have thought nearer to £80 than £30 though. Make sure you go with a qualified tandem pilot. Have a look on here for recommendations:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/
If you want to have some extra fun, other than a gentle glide down, ask the pilot to do some 'acro'. Don't ask for an 'infinite tumble' though - that'll just end in tears !
If you have any concerns about Paragliding, go with Escape @ Lykia World. They have very comprehensive insurance and have their own landing strip at the hotel, so no landing on the beach.
As they are based onsite at probably the most expensive hotel in the area, they have a reputation to keep. We went with them and paid around £75 last year - they are the most expensive but as it was our first time we wanted to be sure of our safety and were not disappointed. We also booked with them before the holiday.
Collected and returned to our hotel and driven safely up the mountain. A few of the other companies treat the treacherous journey up the mountain as some sort of Pikes Peak, due to trying to pack in as many jumps as they can into one day. They are in the process of paving/tarmacing the route up Babadag at the moment.
As said, all companies will try and sell you a DVD/photos after the trip (as they do on any excursion in Olu..!). We did buy one set of photos but got just as good photos and video with our own cameras.
As they are based onsite at probably the most expensive hotel in the area, they have a reputation to keep. We went with them and paid around £75 last year - they are the most expensive but as it was our first time we wanted to be sure of our safety and were not disappointed. We also booked with them before the holiday.
Collected and returned to our hotel and driven safely up the mountain. A few of the other companies treat the treacherous journey up the mountain as some sort of Pikes Peak, due to trying to pack in as many jumps as they can into one day. They are in the process of paving/tarmacing the route up Babadag at the moment.
As said, all companies will try and sell you a DVD/photos after the trip (as they do on any excursion in Olu..!). We did buy one set of photos but got just as good photos and video with our own cameras.
Edited by dave328 on Wednesday 18th August 00:04
The paragliding is well worth it. Did it with my daughter, who was 9 at the time, the scariest part was the drive up to the top. The road then ( 10 yrs ago ) was only wide enough for one vehicle and no barriers on the sheer drops. The land rover imitation vehicles would not quite manage the hill in 3rd gear so were thrashed up in 2nd all the way to the top .
Once at the summit they were parked up for a while where I then noticed the tyres on our truck , and many others , were down to the canvass in places.
It may have all changed since I went but may be worth checking the vehicles tyres before you embark.
Olu Deniz is a nice picturesque place and the locals are very welcoming and friendly .
Once at the summit they were parked up for a while where I then noticed the tyres on our truck , and many others , were down to the canvass in places.
It may have all changed since I went but may be worth checking the vehicles tyres before you embark.
Olu Deniz is a nice picturesque place and the locals are very welcoming and friendly .
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