Kalkan Secrets

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Like A Virgin, Part 2

Part 2

Not a bad introduction to the delights of rooftop dining

It's Tuesday night (or rather early Wednesday morning) and we're at Marleys, cherishing The First Cold Efes and getting the lowdown on Jan and Paul's First Day in Kalkan. So... what do they think of it so far? Cue broad grins from Paul and more giggles from Jan. "I've just been dancing on the table in Chocolate... Paul had to drag me away..." Well. It didn't take you two very long to fit in then, did it? At this point I should probably fill you in a bit on Jan and Paul. They would be the first to admit that they are quite a distinctive couple. Jan is rather statuesque, well-presented and glamorous (Fiona's words) and possibly comes across as a bit dizzy to those that don't know her - but there is much, much more to her than meets the eye. She is also a strict vegetarian. Paul is not a vegetarian and is ... errr... somewhat less statuesque. Well-covered, my mum would have said. He also looks remarkably like Colonel Sanders of  KFC fame... white hair, white beard, glasses... the works. It's quite uncanny - he often gets stopped in the street by people wanting to take a selfie with him. It might shake them up a bit when he replies in his slightly Brummie accent, but he always plays along. He is also very funny (haha, not peculiar). Anyway...where was I? Oh yes. Chocolate, and Jan dancing on the table. Now I am trying to be gallant here but Jan is, frankly, old enough to know better. In fact, her daughter is old enough to know better. But the Kalkan bug affects different people in different ways and Jan's way of expressing sheer delight, apparently, is to dance on tables. Right. (I would suggest that the cocktails might also have had something to do with it). A quick recap on their first day followed. After a very pleasant scenic transfer from Dalaman, courtesy of the excellent Volume Travel, they arrived late afternoon on Monday... enough time to unpack, freshen up and relax a bit before heading down into town and to Baharat for their very first Kalkan evening meal. And very impressed they were, too, with the rooftop setting, the friendly but courteous service and above all the quality and presentation of the food. It was early to bed for them on Monday, after a tiring day travelling. So the next morning (Tuesday), Paul had got up bright and early to make the one minute hop to Yali store for breakfast provisions... and then a dip in the pool. "Couldn't believe how warm it was, so early in the day," Paul said. After a leisurely morning by the pool, our guests popped into The Lime and had a very nice lunch, they said. Then back to the pool and later, down into the town and after exploring a bit, they had ended up in Korsan Meze for their dinner. They were, again, very impressed with the food, the value and the friendliness of the service. And THAT view, of course. Of course. Full and happy, they started thinking about heading back to the apartment, ready to meet us when we arrived. Except their chosen route took them past Chocolate... and the "very nice young man" who gently charmed them in for a quick cocktail. Just a nightcap. Or two. Or...  well, you know the rest. So... the verdict? "WE LOVE IT!!!" Perfect. Job done, and we haven't even started on them yet ;)

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Like a Virgin. Touched For The Very First Time.

Background: We (Fiona and Martyn) have been backwards and forwards to Kalkan many, many times since our first visit - on honeymoon - in July 2004. Like most people we always thought "you never go back to the same place twice" but we were, of course, bitten by the bug.... and became fully Kalkanised the following year, when we bought our first apartment (the one we now call Sunrise, in the Nur Apartments block). Since then, apart from living here for a couple of years between 2013 and 2015, we have always visited two or three times a year. Spring and Autumn to "open up and close down" but also a week or 10 days  in the summer to check up on things. Of course, we love it... just coming round that headland and seeing the bay still gives that "ahhhhh" feeling every time... but the problem is that since buying that first apartment and founding Kalkan Secrets, we now have so much business to conduct whenever we are here that we never really have a holiday here. We have started to view it as a second home and business location, rather than a holiday resort. This is dangerous, we decided. We really don't want to get complacent or jaded about Kalkan... so we agreed that this year, our July visit to Kalkan had to be a HOLIDAY. No business if we can avoid it (which is proving hard, however...more about this later!) and just get back to our initial simple enjoyment of Kalkan for what it is - a beautiful, relaxing, fun place to be! To be just like the Kalkan Virgins we were 13 years ago...touched for the very first time. As it turned out, this could be made easier because of a conversation Fiona had with a friend who works in her hairdressers. They were talking - as anyone who knows Fi will recognise, this is not hard for her to do - and when it got onto the subject of holidays, Fi mentioned Kalkan. Well... "that's really funny", her friend Jan said, "because I've heard two or three people in here talking about Kalkan recently and I was wondering what it's like..." so of course Fiona, ever the saleswoman, suggested that Jan and her husband Paul should come to Kalkan to find out! They had never been to Turkey before and didn't have a clue what to expect - and, of course, the recent press scaremongering had affected their confidence - but, after much discussion,they took our word for it and decided to book. The dates that they could come, as it happened, coincided with ours! So we offered to give up the two-bedroom penthouse in the block that we normally use and said they could stay in that one... we would have the one remaining one-bedroom apartment for our stay. They were booked to fly out a day before us and to leave a few days before we do, but as the penny dropped we realised that this could be a perfect opportunity for us to see Kalkan again through the eyes of genuine Kalkan first timers! They really were about to be touched, for the very first time... and we felt so excited for them. Now So... fast forward to this week.... Jan and Paul arrived in Kalkan on Monday afternoon and, before we left for Gatwick from home on Tuesday lunchtime, Jan had texted Fiona to say they had had a good flight and were happy in the apartment. Phew. See you later, then! We arrived in Kalkan on Tuesday night courtesy of easyJet and a very cool, comfortable and efficient transfer from Volume Travel. This was our first departure from the norm - I normally hire a car and drive from Dalaman to Kalkan, but this was a proper holiday, right? So, in true Kalkan Virgin mode, I was actually able to take in the moonlit scenery along the way. It really is a pretty, scenic drive, isn't it - even at night! I had forgotten. Our driver whisked us through the villages and all the familiar place names flashed by until we came through Kinik and I knew it was nearly Ova (sorry... Fiona rolls her eyes every time I say that, too). Anyway, I just love the anticipation of going up that last long climb after Yesilkoy and up past LaVanta, then around that headland and... hold your breath... aaaaahhhhhhh! The dark silhouette of the islands. The bay. The twinkling lights. It never fails. KALKAN! Yayyy! By now it's 23:45. Hmm... time for my first cold Efes? Well, I haven't unpacked yet. Yes but we are on holiday. That's a yes then. (I do love it that Fiona thinks the same as me). Cases dropped in the apartment, quick loo visit and freshen up then head down into town to try and find Jan and Paul. Fiona's whatsapp call to Jan was unanswered, and they weren't in the penthouse, so they must be up to something. Better go and find out what, exactly. Call it fate or whatever but, about two minutes after leaving the apartment, we were just down by Hunkar when we saw a familiar couple coming the other way. Jan was giggling. A lot. And Paul looked... well... relaxed... or mellow... call it what you will. Anyway, they looked suspiciously like they might have had a reasonably good time. We had intended to call into Kaya to see the boys but it was all dark, so Marleys it was for my first Efes, while we got the lowdown from Jan and Paul about their First Day In Kalkan. Like Virgins. Touched For The Very First Time. Ahh...sweet. More later :)

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Sorry! Been a bit lax on the blogging front recently

First of all... sorry! We've been a bit lax on the blogging front recently, simply because we have just been so busy! We had a week off at the end of June and went to Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca to stay with some friends in their villa, which was absolutely gorgeous. Totally relaxing. Our friends were lovely, their villa very luxurious and the weather was great... but we did notice that everything was so much more expensive there than in Kalkan - and the food not nearly as good (or varied)! Although we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, we just couldn't help comparing... Anyway, since we got back it has all gone a bit manic. Bookings are flooding in for villas & apartments alike, and we are already getting a high percentage of enquiries for 2018 - apparently Monarch have just released flight details for 2018 and there are some real bargains to be had if you get in quick.

Monarch have just released Dalaman flights for 2018

With all this frenetic activity it has been hard to keep on top of everything - and we have a week in Kalkan coming up, so there's even more to do to get everything up to date before we go. However, once there, we might be able to do a few "holiday experience" blogs because that's what we are going to be there for - an actual holiday, in Kalkan  Yippee!!

we'll be on one of these next week....

We'll be reporting on the boat trip and visits to restaurants and bars etc... what's nice is that we are also bringing some friends who are Kalkan "virgins" - so of course, we'll be asking them for their thoughts too. It will be fascinating to see it through the eyes of people who are seeing it for the first time. Till next week, then :)

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Cancellation offer : 2nd October to 16th October 2017

Cancellation offer: Due to a cancellation we have two weeks on offer in our lovely Sunset apartment (1 bedroom) at the Nur Apartments from October 2nd to October 16th at the amazing price of £540.  Sunset apartment is extremely popular and is ideal for singles, couples or small families (sleeps up to four, including two sofa beds in the lounge). And, of course, it has all the advantages of the Nur Apartments' great location and fabulous pool! Grab a bargain! http://www.kalkansecrets.com/accommodation/nurapartmentssunset

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Nur Apartments "Make us an offer" campaign withdrawn

With immediate effect, due to a recent upsurge in enquiries at the Nur Apartments, Kalkan, the  "WOW - make us an offer" campaign has been withdrawn. Existing bookings made under the campaign will, of course, be honoured; going forward, normal published prices apply. Specific weeks may be offered at reduced prices to fill remaining gaps but we will no longer accept offers. 2017 is suddenly starting to look much better than 2016 and this can only be good news for all of Kalkan's businesses. (Perhaps not such good news for those potential guests leaving it to the last minute to get a bargain - they may get a bit of a shock when they come to book)! #Kalkan2017

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Election Blues? Get some blue water & sky instead!

Its May 1st... the season in Kalkan is officially open. Boats are in the water and the sun is shining.

But just think - you lovely folks in the UK now have another five and a half weeks of electioneering. Yippee!! What fun.

You could easily get away from it all though, if only for a while. Come and have a cheap, cheerful, chill-out week at the Nur Apartments, Kalkan. 

Flights in May are cheap. We just found return flights from Gatwick to Dalaman at £89 for a week per person. Crazy! 

Remember... we are right next to the supermarket, so you can travel light and buy all your toiletries etc when you get here. the exchange rate is superb at the moment (around 4.50 TL to the £). We also supply beach towels, so you don't need to bring them, and there's a washing machine in every apartment. Basically, you only need a few summer clothes (and maybe a cardy for the evening).

Apartment cost - up to you! Remember, we have our "WOW - Make Us An Offer!" campaign running for all May bookings. Offer whatever you think a week in one of our lovely apartments is worth, and we might just accept.

(We might haggle a bit if it's a really silly offer ;) )

Go on. Preserve your sanity. Get away from the election, if only for a week.You KNOW it makes sense!

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Kalkan Restaurant of the Year 2017

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Here it comes... summer!!

It's late April and the boats are going back into the water... a sure sign that the season is about to get underway! I love this time of the year in Kalkan. 

All the hustle and bustle... bars and restaurants opening up with new facelifts... owners getting their villas and apartments ready... shops displaying their wares again and welcoming old friends back. 

Pools being filled 😃 

And yes, the boats going back into the water!

Love it, love it, love it!!😛💕🌞

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Nur Apartments - open for business as usual

www.nurapartmentskalkan.com

As many Kalkan regulars may be aware, there has been something of a shock wave reverberating through the self-catering accommodation rental market over the last week or so. It has taken a while for the implications to be realised but, essentially, a new Turkish law (that actually came into force in November 2016) now makes it compulsory for the passport details of all guests in self-catering accommodation to be submitted to the local authority on a daily basis. 

On the face of it, the need for registration shouldn't be too much of a problem: guests will have that information ready to hand because they would have to have their passports with them... and it's only the kind of information that you would expect to provide if you were to check in to a hotel in Turkey (or any other country) anyway! 

However... the devil is in the detail.

The problem is this: in order access the online portal to register the guest information, the property owner needs to register with the local authority. And they can only do this if they are a Turkish citizen, or if their "business" is registered in Turkey. That's the problem: most aren't, and the costs of coming into line will simply be prohibitive for most owners of self-catering accommodation in Turkey. As a result, several owners have already withdrawn their properties from the short-term holiday rental market and have cancelled all bookings for 2017 and beyond.   

Against this background, we would like to reassure guests at the Nur Apartments, Kalkan that their bookings through Kalkan Secrets are 100% secure. The Nur Apartments are definitely still open for business as usual, despite the upheavals. Guests at the Nur Apartments will simply be asked to submit all the relevant details via a short online Guest Registration form in due course. 

Rest assured you can book the Nur Apartments via Kalkan Secrets with complete confidence!

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Nur Apartments: great location... and a pool you can SWIM in!

Situated in an ideal location right in the heart of the new centre of Kalkan - close to supermarkets, banks, the Thursday Market and only a five minute walk to the Old Town - the Nur Apartments provide a perfect base from which to enjoy all the best that Kalkan has to offer.

The Nur Apartments can cater for singles, couples, families, or larger self-catering groups of various sizes, up to 23 people in total. 

We own and/or manage all of the apartments in the block of five.

Specifications are as follows:

Daybreak: 2 ensuite bedrooms, sleeps 6 (two doubles, two sofa beds in lounge)

Sunrise: 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 (one double, two sofa beds in lounge)

Sunset: 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 (one double, two sofa beds in lounge)

Dawn: 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 (one double, two sofa beds in lounge)

Dusk: 2 bedrooms, sleeps 5 (two doubles, one sofa bed in the lounge)**

**special family rate reductions - a family of four can stay in Dusk Apartment for as little as £310 in May or October!**

There's ample room for sunbathing on the wide terraces around the pool & to the side and rear of the block. We have sufficient sunbeds and parasols provided for every guest in every apartment, even if full to capacity (which is quite rare). Just relax & enjoy.... no need to get up early for the "dawn patrol" sunbed reservation ritual seen at hotels and apartment complexes with smaller pools ;) We have more than enough room by the pool for everyone. We even provide beach towels so you don't have to pack them... more space and weight allowance for your clothes, shoes and suncream (and yes, the suncream you will definitely need)!

The two-bedroom ground floor apartment is called Dusk. With two double bedrooms and sleeping up to five people, it's a cost effective solution for families, or for friends sharing. 

The two-bedroom penthouse apartment is called Daybreak. With two ensuite bedrooms and sleeping up to six people, it's also ideal for families, or for two couples sharing.

The two one-bedroom apartments on the first floor are called Sunrise and Sunset. Identical in size, they are very popular with couples, but can easily accommodate a family of four as they each have two very comfortable sofa beds in the lounge area. 

Dawn apartment on the ground floor is identical in size to Sunrise and Sunset and is also popular with couples and small families. It is immediately adjacent to the huge pool. 

Cleaning - the Nur Apartments are thoroughly cleaned to a high standard before each guest arrives and thereafter on a weekly basis. Linen, bath towels and beach towels are changed regularly depending upon your length of stay. All of the apartments are also equipped with a washing machine.

The pool and poolside terraces are kept clean and well-maintained by friendly, English speaking staff.

You can book a stay at the Nur Apartments with complete confidence. Bookings are handled exclusively by the professionals: Kalkan Secrets in the UK; no worries about double bookings due to multiple booking agents! Payments can be made by credit card, debit card or by bank transfer to a UK bank account. You will receive a comprehensive information pack before you arrive with all the details you need and there is a friendly but highly professional local team on hand at the apartments, who speak both English and Turkish. You will be left alone as much as you want - but with the reassurance of a capable helping hand to assist should anything go wrong during your stay. 

One last thing - water cuts are an occasional annoyance in Kalkan, but you don't need to worry about that when you stay at the Nur Apartments - we have a HUGE reserve tank, which provides enough water for several days, even when the apartments are fully occupied. Please bear this in mind when comparing accommodation in Kalkan - can other apartments provide the same assurance? Ask them!

More information or book here: http://nurapartmentskalkan.com/availability

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Villa Of The Week : March 20th to March 26th

From Monday 20th March to Sunday 26th March 2017: 

** Prices slashed by up to £400 pw**

Villa Kirmizi Lale ("Red Tulip") is a wonderful 4-bed villa - sleeps 10 - with an attractive, well appointed interior, new kitchen and bathrooms, and an ottoman seating area on the top floor with stunning views over the bay - perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or two! The view of the mountains is also stunning and one of the best things about this villa is the location. It's on a quiet side street but only a few minutes walk to the supermarkets, the Thursday market, and only a 10 minutes walk into the Old Town with its fabulous restaurants, bars, boutiques and, of course, the beach.  

Kirmizi Lale is also a very short walk away from the main bus station - ideal for catching a dolmus (local bus) to the amazing 18km sandy beach at Patara or the beautiful, secluded, sandy cove of Kaputas.

Features:

•4 Bedrooms - sleeps 10 people •4 Bathrooms •Air Conditioning •Close to the town centre shops and restaurants  •Free wireless internet access •Real 5 minutes walk to nearest restaurants and shops and 10 minutes to the centre of the village - no need for taxis! •UK TV( across the internet ) •Ottoman seating area on top terrace with sea view •Dedicated friendly management team to meet you upon your arrival with the keys •All linen and towels including beach towels provided

Why "Kirmizi Lale?" Kirmizi Lale means "Red Tulip" in Turkish. It is pronounced "Kirmzi La-lay". The villa is distinctive in having red tulips painted on two sides!

Villa Details

Kitchen

Newly re-fitted kitchen with gas hob, electric oven, microwave oven, fridge freezer, toaster, dishwasher and washing machine. There is sufficient cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils for 10 people. In addition there is an iron and ironing board available.

Lounge

The living area has a working wood burner, just in case the evening gets chilly (very unlikely), a three seater sofa bed, a two seater sofa and two armchairs. In addition, there is a music system, TV, DVD player and Playstation 1 (including a small selection of DVDs and PS1 games). UK TV & radio is also available using the internet. All UK terrestrial and freeview channels are available.

Dining Area

The dining area is adjacent to the kitchen and has a dining table with eight chairs.

Shower Room

There is a newly refurbished shower room on the ground floor comprising wc, basin and shower.

Outside the patio area looks out over the town. There are newly laid decking effect tiles with a raised pergola area with comfy seating... there's a large table and eight chairs, eight sun loungers and four sun umbrellas, not to mention the private swimming pool (approx 7m x 5m), which is 1.75m deep. There is a small portable barbecue, and large (industrial!) barbecue and, for complete relaxation, there are two hammocks in the beautiful gardens, one overlooking the pool and the other overlooking Kalkan! 

Master Bedroom

Bedroom 1 is on the first floor and has a king-size bed, wardrobe, dressing table and a newly refurbished and extended en-suite wetroom with wc, his and her basins and large walk in shower. It has views from the large picture windows over Kalkan and access to a large balcony.

Master Bedroom Ensuite

His and hers basins!

Bedroom Two

Bedroom 2 is on the first floor and has a king-size bed, wardrobe, dressing table and newly refurbished en-suite bathroom with wc, basin and shower over a full-sized bath. It has stunning views and access to a large balcony.

Bedroom Two Ensuite

Newly refurbished bathroom

Bedroom Three

Bedroom 3 is on the second floor and is a beautiful large room equipped with a king-size bed, two single beds, a wardrobe, chest of drawers and dressing table with an adjacent bathroom comprising wc, basin and shower.

Bedroom Four

Bedroom 4 is on the second floor with two single beds, a wardrobe and chest of drawers with an adjacent newly refurbished bathroom comprising wc and basin. Bedrooms 3 and 4 share a lovely balcony affording views of the town and bay.

Roof Terrace

The roof terrace has just been altered to make the most of that view; recent improvements include a marble bar and 4 bar stools overlooking the bay and a kitchenette with fridge and marble worktop to store glasses/food, etc.... there is a shaded Ottoman seating area on the roof terrace with new comfy sofas, so after a tough day sunbathing you can take in the stunning views, whilst sipping a cool beer from the rooftop fridge and enjoying the sun setting over Kalkan bay! Please note: Kirmizi Lale is a "no-smoking" villa.

Free Wireless Internet: For the workaholics amongst you - or for the kids who can't bear to be away from Facebook for long, there is wireless internet access which is free of charge - just bring your own laptop!

More details here: http://kalkansecrets.com/accommodation/villakirmizilale 

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The Kalkan Secrets website gets a facelift!

New updated website: www.kalkansecrets.com

At Kalkan Secrets, we always listen to feedback from our guests and owners. Our website has grown and grown over the last couple of years with so many new properties and services being added so quickly - which is great, of course - but you have told us:

The website was generally ok but some aspects (such as enquiry forms and calendars) didn't always work well on mobile devices

We needed a location map for all the properties. Listing them just by area is all very well - but if you don't actually know the names of all the areas in Kalkan, it doesn't help much!

The colour scheme was getting a bit... well... confused

Navigation wasn't always easy, because of the way the page menu was displayed (especially on mobile devices, again)

So... we listened. And we have now given the site a little bit of a facelift and have improved the functionality a lot, to include:

New mobile-friendly search forms and availability calendars

A location map showing the location of all our properties (www.kalkansecrets.com/locations)

A new, simpler blue-on-white colour scheme

A few subtle changes to the way the menu works (ie, drop down menus for each sub-page under the main headings)

We hope this makes for a better browsing experience, but we'd welcome your feedback. Please let us know what you think in the comments box below!

Many thanks and kind regards

Martyn and Fiona

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Villa Of The Week -10% off listed prices.

From Sunday 26th February to Sunday 5th March 2017:

Villa Mercan is situated in the sought-after Komurluk area, with breathtaking and uninterrupted views of Kalkan Bay, offering stunning sunsets; the harbour and lights of Kalkan also give a spectacular evening view, especially from the extensive Ottoman cushioned seating area on the roof terrace. The Villa is within easy walking distance to the historic old town and the abundance of restaurants, bars and shops; the beach clubs are also close by, with the Palm Beach Club literally just 100 metres away!

Bedrooms (all with ensuite bathrooms)

Villa Mercan has 4 Bedrooms  and sleeps up to 8 as follows:

Bedroom 1 - 1 Extra Lg. Double Bed, walk in shower, remote operated dress mirror

Bedroom 2 - 1 Extra Lg. Double Bed, walk in shower, remote operated dress mirror

Bedroom 3 - 1 Extra Lg. Double Bed, walk in shower

Bedroom 4 - Twin Beds; walk in shower

Notes on bedrooms: 3 of the bedrooms are Queen-sized double beds and 1 bedroom has two single beds.

All the bedrooms have mood LED mood lighting and have en-suite facilities with walk in showers; one shower room also has a bath. All bedrooms have wonderful uninterrupted sea views from full sized glass front and all bedrooms have balconies.

All bedrooms have Wi-Fi connectivity.

Bathrooms

Bathroom 1 - Toilet, Shower Enclosure, Large Wet Room with Shower, Hand Basin Vanity Unit & Toilet

Bathroom 2 - Toilet, Shower Enclosure, Large Wet Room with Shower, Hand Basin Vanity Unit & Toilet

Bathroom 3 - Toilet, Shower Enclosure, Large Wet Room with Shower, Hand Basin Vanity Unit & Toilet

Bathroom 4 - Toilet, Bath with Shower, Shower Enclosure, Large Wet Room with Shower, Bath, Hand Basin Vanity & Toilet

All en-suite bathrooms are equipped with stunning marble walk in showers, WC/bidet; one of the doubles also has a bath. There is a separate WC on the ground floor.

Notes on accommodation: Barbecue, Private Pool, Parking, Garden, Air Conditioning, Central Heating, Internet Access, Satellite TV are all provided.

Outside

Private infinity pool offering wonderful sea views.

Pool terrace with garden pergola, sunbeds, garden furniture, BBQ and another set of table and chairs for al fresco dining.

Ornate trees, potted plants and a shaded rattan cushioned seating area complete the experience.

Full size roof terrace with huge Ottoman relaxation area, Jacuzzi and kitchenette with fridge freezer, sink and lighting for roof top entertaining.

Utility Room

There is a separate laundry room with Washing Machine, Tumble Dryer, Iron, ironing board, WC, sink and storage cupboards.

Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: 

Villa Mercan has a deep clean prior to arrival. There is an additional clean in the middle of 2 week stays, when towels and linen are changed. Daily or every other day-cleans can be arranged at additional cost if required. The swimming pool is cleaned daily.

10% off all listed prices!

More details here: www.kalkansecrets.com/accommodation/villamercan

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Villa of the Week: 10% off!

Villa of the Week for 20th February to 27th February:  Kalamar Dream - 6 bedrooms/6 bathrooms of luxury

Kalamar Dream is a luxury, architect-designed villa with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a superb infinity pool, masses of outdoor space and spectacular views over both Kalamar Bay and Kalkan Bay. Up to 14 people can be accommodated in utter luxury, with many extras included such as a games room, full Sky TV/ sport and BT sport 1&2 packages, and UK channels at your fingertips. No expense has been spared at Kalamar Dream and everything has been thought of to ensure that you and your family/friends have a fabulous, memorable holiday. 

Outside living is the order of the day at Kalamar Dream and there is plenty of space for swimming in the infinity pool, sunbathing, alfresco dining... or just relaxing in the shade. The infinity pool (1.3m deep all round and heated in colder months) has no dangerous deep end - and as such is ideal for pool games, whilst still being great for a swim! On the patio area there is a large, 12-seater round marble table for alfresco dining, and the gas-fired BBQs add to the outdoor-living experience. 

Kitchen: Equipment levels in the kitchen are as you would expect from a luxury villa and include: coffee maker/full complement of dishes & utensils/dishwasher/fridge/freezer/grill/microwave/oven/hob/toaster, etc.

Dining: in addition to the outside table there's a further 12-seater table and chairs indoors, in the large open plan lounge/dining room.

Bedrooms and bathrooms: There are 6 bedrooms at Kalamar Dream; five with large double beds and one with twin beds. There are also 2 fold away 'put you up' beds - meaning that the total sleeping capacity is 14 people in comfort -  plus 2 travel cots, which can be put in any bedroom you wish. In addition to the ensuite bathrooms (one in every bedroom) there is also a downstairs wc/washroom.

Entertainment: Entertainment includes a wide selection of books (fiction/non-fiction/books for kids); a CD player/DVD player/table football/games room/games/music library/ping-pong table/pool table/satellite TV /video player/video games/video library/toys.

Smokers are allowed at Kalamar Dream, but we do ask that you refrain from smoking inside the villa and especially in the bedrooms.

Notes on accommodation:

2 highchairs, 2 Travel cots, bouncy chair, 2 pushchairs.

Stand up room fans.

Under floor heating in all rooms.

All rooms fully air conditioned.

There is a games room on the lower level, fully equipped with pool/snooker table, dartboard, air hockey, table tennis, table football and a 38"flat screen TV with Wii /Playstation plus games. Individual TV with and DVD player.

The master bedroom has a flat screen 46" TV with DVD player; 2 of the other bedrooms have a 38" flat screen TV, also with DVD players. 

There is also a hot and cold water dispenser for your convenience in the master bedroom.

Utility Room: A fully equipped utility room with washing machine, sink/drainer, iron and ironing board, clothes horse, safe, hoover, BBQ cleaning equipment, mop and bucket, general storage space for: push chair's, toys, sports equip, etc.

Cleaning/towels/linen/maid service: Linen and towels changed are changed on the 6th/7th or 8th day during a 2 week stay. Pool and terrace cleaned and plants are watered every day and there is fresh bread delivered daily, free of charge. Bath, pool and beach towels are supplied free of charge  and are changed mid-week. TO BOOK: http://kalkansecrets.com/villa-of-the-week

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Turkey, in a few simple words...

We asked people to describe their feelings for Turkey in one word. This is the resulting word cloud! Says it all, really.

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Apartment of the Week: 10% off!

5th February to 12th February : Mar Azul Apartment

  A luxurious 3 bed duplex apartment with its very own private swimming pool - very unusual for apartments in Kalkan! 

Mar Azul is a delightful, beautifully-appointed and well-equipped apartment, in an enviable position close to the centre of Kalkan. It's really more like a semi-detached house, and the location and position make it feel very much like a home-from-home, but the luxurious feel and tasteful decoration put Mar Azul in a class above similarly-sized accommodation in Kalkan. 

A car is not necessary here; you can easily walk to the beach, restaurants, bars and boutiques of this friendly-but-sophisticated harbour town in just a few minutes. No steep hills to climb on the way back from an evening in the town... and regular Kalkan visitiors will know exactly what we mean here! However, hiring a car for the duration would give you the opportunity to make your way to the many attractions outside of the town, such as the beaches at Patara and Kaputas and the many historic sites and areas of natural beauty. 

In terms of accommodation: the apartment has 2 double bedrooms; each of these has a super-king size bed, and both have large, modern ensuite shower/bathrooms (one with a jacuzzi bath as well as a shower). The 3rd bedroom is set off the "master" bedroom and has a small single bed; this is most suitable for parents who want to have a small child sleeping next door. There is also a sofa bed in one of the bedrooms, but this is really only suitable for a small child.

Mar Azul can therefore accommodate up to six people - but only when at least one of the party is a younger child.

Mar Azul has been tastefully furnished and decorated and has been very well equipped; the owners have included everything to ensure that you have everything you need for a fabulous, memorable holiday in Kalkan:

Air Conditioning

Washing machine

Dishwasher 

Free parking on premises

Wireless Internet

Wide screen TV

Iron & Ironing Board

Hair Dryer

As you would expect, the owners have also arranged for the private pool to be kept spotlessly clean throughout your stay and there is a regular cleaning service; all linen and towels are supplied.

[kalkansecretsposts-blog]

Villa of the Week - 10% off!

Our Villa of the Week for the last week of January...

Ketchy Villa is a newly renovated detached villa with 7 bedrooms, sleeping up to 14, on a quiet hillside road in Kisla, just a few minutes from Kalkan town by taxi or the nearby shuttle boat.

The villa faces directly onto the sea and has truly magnificent views and amazing sunsets. The wrap around balconies, stone balustrades, large infinity pool and mature bougainvillea and olive trees give the property a beautiful frontage whilst inside the stylish decor, furniture and fittings are everything you need to entertain your family and friends in luxury.

Every room has its own balcony with sea views and the penthouse has a large terrace with sun loungers and chairs. From the villa there is a pleasant short walk to the sea, where you can catch the shuttle boat to downtown - or visit the Mahal Beach Club. 

A few doors down from the Villa is “Bobs” run by a local Turkish resident; he has a beautiful terrace and serves traditional breakfasts and a wide range of lunches and dinners (he will also take orders by phone so you can have ‘room service’ to the villa sent by Bob on a tray, just like being in a hotel)!

All bedrooms have doors or sliding patio doors opening out onto large balconies, to fully capture the panoramic views.  

All 7 bedrooms are en-suite with a luxury shower.

The villa has an infinity-edged pool which is amost 2m deep and also features a sea-facing mid-height seat so you can sit opposite the sea and enjoy the view with drink in hand!

Comfortable loungers are provided on the sun terrace, together with parasols and a shaded al-fresco dining area with gas bbq.

There are outside built in speakers for your favourite chill-out music

Poolside shower and a bbq are provided for guests use

Pool terrace includes sunbeds and outdoor furniture including al-fresco dining

Cleaning and linen changes are provided on a twice-weekly basis, ie. if you are staying for one week, a mid-stay clean and linen change will be carried out

The outside area is checked on a daily basis and any leaves are swept away, the pool will be cleaned daily too.

Optional grocery and fresh bread delivery or just pop down to “Bobs” two minutes away, he has a small shop. Alternatively Bob will deliver meals to the villa if requested

Air-conditioning in all rooms

Clean linen and towels provided

Washing machine, clothes airer, iron and ironing board

Safe deposit box

Complimentary internet access

Flat screen TV with cable TV, DVD/CD Player

Docking station for ipods/iphones

Open fireplace

Beneath the villa is a garage for private use

Ground floor

Open plan living area with fireplace, flat screen TV, docking station, comfortable sofas and chairs, toilet and utility room. Leads onto pool terrace with outside bbq and outside shower. The kitchen is well equipped with modern stainless steel Bosch appliances including two built in Bosch ovens and microwave + gas hob, kettle, hand mixer, food processor, toaster, coffee maker, French press, large fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave. There is a breakfast bar plus a dining area. The large glass sliding doors open onto the patio area with casual seating and sun loungers around the swimming pool...the views from the living room are spectacular. There is a bathroom and a utility room with Bosch washing machine and Bosch dryer + small sink.

First floor

There are three ensuite bedrooms on this level; all bedrooms have blackout curtains. The front facing bedroom has a double bed and sliding patio doors, which open onto the wide balcony with full sweeping sea views. To the rear there is one more double bedroom with partial sea views, along with one other bedroom with twin beds... also with sea views. A Bosch hairdryer is provided in all rooms. All bedrooms are connected to the wide sunny wrap-around balcony with stone balustrades.

Second floor

Another three ensuite bedrooms on this level. This is the same footprint as the first floor, with a front-facing double bedroom embracing full, sweeping sea views. To the rear, there is one more double bedroom with partial sea views, along with one other bedroom with twin beds, also with sea views. A Bosch hairdryer is provided in all rooms. All bedrooms are connected to the wide sunny wrap-around balcony with stone balustrades.

Top floor (penthouse)

This floor is occupied by the Penthouse bedroom suite – a double bed with ensuite shower facilities and double sinks. The bedroom opens onto a large sea-facing private roof terrace and two smaller terraces at the side. This suite and the terraces have breath taking panoramic views over Kalkan bay. The roof terrace is furnished with a table and chairs, as well as sun-loungers for private relaxation, and soft night lights. http://www.kalkansecrets.com/accommodation/ketchyvilla