Hello to everyone

[Falco9]

Hi,
We have just booked to stay in a lovely Villa in Dalyan for the 1st two weeks in July 09. We have never visited Turkey before, but Dalyan looks so beautiful we had to give it a go. :Happy:
I'm hoping that any regular visitors to Dalyan (there appear to be many, lol ) may be able to offer a little help and advice.

My teenage daughter is vegetarian, so any advice or recommendations on restaurants that cater for vegetarians would be most welcome. Personally I'm a 100% carnivore so any good places for steak etc..would be equally welcome. If anyone has any tips at all for a first time visitor to Dalyan (things to do, must see places & trips. Money..Lira /Sterling or ATM's) we'd be most grateful

As we have 3 teenagers with us, I would also be interested in getting an idea of the cost of living / eating out / drinks etc..just for budgeting reasons.

I am busy trawling through eveyones photo's and tips / comments posted here, and we cannot wait for June 29th to come around

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any advice or help

Best Regards

Rich

[John Codling]

Hi Rich,

Welcome to the forum, not sure about the vegetarian side of things but most restaurants are very helpful and I am sure they would be able to come up with something suitable for you daughter. Maybe one of the lucky ones who live out there may be able to help further.

If you are hiring a car I would recommend a trip to the Botanik in Ortaca, it is cheaper than Dalyan and the food is great there.

If you are hiring a villa you could always go into one of the butchers and get your own steaks for the barbie.

regarding prices a large efes was last year 3.5tl - 4.0tl, a bottle of wine in a restaurant is around 25tl upwards (wine is expensive in turkey). Food is dependant on what you have and where you eat, for instance in the botanik we had a meal for two with a couple of beers for 44tl that was one starter and two main courses (sea bass and a chicken casserole).

Hope you enjoy your stay.

[CantWait]

Hi Rich - one of my daughters is also vegetarian - no problem at all - she loves the food, most eateries have a good selection of veggy options - could try Saki Restaurant (from mosque, facing the river turn left, walk along river to end of path, Saki on left) family run, wide selection of fresh Turkish starters mostly vegetarian, no menu but they'll explain what everything is in the cold cabinet. Would recommend looking in the cold cabinet in any restaurant, they often have things not on the menu. Cost of meals varies considerably - the 'Turkish places' (e.g. Chagri, off the market place) you'll eat simply but well for under 10 lira each, more sophisticated restaurants maybe 20-30 lira each - any more than that and you're in the wrong place! Would also support Johns suggestion about eating in - good butchers, fishmongers and fruit & veg shops in town, very reasonable prices and all very helpful, or go to the market on Saturday for fruit and veg, cheese, olives etc very cheap -nice to BBQ by the pool on a warm July Dalyan evening

As a first timer you'll have no shortage of things to do - boat to beach for the journey, dolmus to beach for the beach, trip up river to the lake, beautiful plus you'll have to get dirty at the mud baths, night time trip on the lake, Golbasi or Ley Ley restaurants (out of town but will pick you up - look for a leaflet) for Turkish breakfast, Turkish bath, just exploring Dalyan and the area on foot, row boat over the river and walk up to Caunos (time it so you miss the hottest part of the day). Once you've exhausted Dalyan there are lots of excursions from local operators - would recommend the 12 Island Cruise and Saklikent(?) Gorge, bike, scooter, car hire. Having said that we always go with the best intentions to have a very active holiday and end up settling into the gentle pace of Dalyan life and not doing very much at all apart from enjoying being there - even the kids relax into peaceful, non-demanding mode

My only word of warning is don't go if you don't want to get hooked - Dalyan has a nasty habit of working its magic on visitors and they keep going back - it's a wonderful place and I'm sure you and the family will have a great time...... sorry, another word of caution - Dalaman airport is horrendously expensive, on the way back go prepared with tasty (and cheap) food and drink bought in Dalyan

Have a great time

Mike

[Tubby2]

Welcome, oh how envious I am, I wish I was going out in June but unfortunately have to wait until September. I wholeheartedly agree with everything said before. We too go with good intentions of doing lots, but as above just tend to chill and enjoy the pace of life in Dalyan and come home feeling very rested indeed and gearing up for the next trip.

As far as food for the carnivores, if a good steak is in order, try Ramazan Hahn on the main street next to Paradise Jewellers, ask for their Texas steak, it is humongous and is to die for, comes with a fried egg on top, also their lamb chops are very good, never on the menu but just ask and they will get them from somewhere. Last year we hit on a tiny restaurant called Fiesta across from Cahgri Pide in the market area. 2 fish and chips, not battered, but done to a T and salad, bread, two drinks, the wine glass was enormous! for if I remember rightly 22 lira total, thats about ?8ish in English money. Great value. You will have a wonderful time trying the many restaurants in Dalyan they are not in short supply! Enjoy your trip and we look forward to hearing about your first and I suspect, won't be your last, trip to Dalyan.

[Andy]

Welcome To The Forums Rich

you will enjoy your stay in Dalyan

[The Winters]

Hi Rich, we can certainly endorse everything that everyone else has said. Ramazan Han steak is to die for. Our daughter in law was with us last year (and returning again in June) is also vegetarian and had no trouble wherever we ate in finding meat free meals, most places will make anything you request, we also had two small fussy children who never went hungry without having to opt for the burgers and chicken nuggets! Suggest you try some of the small out of the way eateries that cater for the locals - excellent value, these are tucked away from the main tourist routes maybe no frills but certainly quantity and quality - the Fiesta being one of our favourites who went out of his way to cater for our grandchildren.

Sure this will not be your one and only visit because once been never forgotten.

Regards
Irene and Roger:Stars:

[Dalyansteve]

Hi Rich and family, I am sure that you will all have a great time and some of us reckon that when you get bitten, the mosquitoes inject something that makes you want to come back.
In the course of your stay you will meet many people who come here regularly and of course you will meet some of the residents, Dalyan is like that, very laid back and very friendly.
As for eating out, look for where the locals go, don't be put off by somewhere looking like a grotty hole in the wall and if you are on a budjet avoid fish at riverside restaurants, the others were too polite to say that.
However, you will have to dine at a riverside restaurant, as it is your 1st time, it will still be cheaper than an expensive restaurant in the UK.
If you drink spirits, bring duty free, you can bring up to 5 litres each. Imported spirits are very expensive. If you like wine, buy it from a supermarket, most over 10lira a bottle are drinkable, in a restaurant it will cost 30 lira or more so most of us drink beer and/or water when out.
All restaurants offer vegetarian food and if you are lucky your daughter might get a whiff of a real turkish kebab and want to try it, chicken doner in the square is particularly tempting. Those of you that know Bulent Usta the doner man, will be pleased to learn that he is moving to the old Mem's restaurant, inbetween the Sea Brease and Old pizza Carretta.

[The Winters]

Hi Rich

Just re-read your post and realized no-one has answered your question regarding money. We take both sterling and a cash card, there are plenty of ATM machines around - even though they keep moving them! (Do inform your bank though that you will be using your card in Turkey - some banks have been known to put a stop on cards where people have changed their normal usage). There is no need to change money in the UK before you go, but if you feel more comfortable before you go don't change very much just ?20 would be suffcient.

Sometimes you can get a good deal by paying in sterling - but check on the rate offered first. We have been to Dalyan for 2-3 times a year for the past 12 years and have never been seen off. It is a good idea to learn a few Turkish phrases before going as it puts you in good stead, people do not treat you as first time visitors and try to charge too much. A good web site is www.digitaldialects.com/Turkish.htm - our 7 and 9 year old soon learnt a few words to impress the locals - have fun.

Irene and Roger
:Cool:

[John Codling]

Thanks for that link Irene and Roger very useful, you never know even Andy the forum owner may learn a few words now!!!!!

[Julie]

John, Dont you think thats asking a lot.It takes him all his time to remember Okcular. HaHa


Sorry Luv :Happy: