Ölü Deniz (Turkey) > Reviews (21)

I have just come back from Olu Deniz, which was my first taste of Turkey - and I loved it.

The resort is very small and secluded, surrounded on 3 sides by mountains. It seemed to be based on a sort of H shape with a road going across the top, then down the main street towards the beach with another road parallel to the beach. We stayed at the Mellis Beach Hotel at the top of the main street, which is next to the Sultan Pepper restaurant. This was the beginning of the resort, really as the street at the top seemd to have a few hotels and small shops but nothing much else. As you walk down the main street, however, there are a wealth of shops, restaurants, bars and places to book excursions. The Asena Beach Hotel is next door to the Mellis Beach and they own a lot of property going down the street, including the Chinese Restaurant (The Last Emperor, I think), a hairdressers which also does manicures, pedicures and Turkish shaves and Captain Hooks restaurant. The Mellis Beach owns the Sultan Pepper restaurant but also has the the Sultan Ahmet at the bottom of the street. Attached to the Mellis Beach are Shadows Karaoke bar and the Tequila Bar, which plays great music, mainly rock.

As you go down the street there are plenty of small shops selling food produce and tourist souvenirs. There are also a couple of doctos offices - and an ambulance usually parked at the top of the street. There are also loads of restaurants including Josephs, Sultan Ahmet and Captain Hooks. If you book a table at Captain Hooks in advance, although you don't have to, they decorate the table with flowers and petals which looks great.

When you get to the bottom of the street you come to the beach, which is gorgeous, very clean with crystal clear water. If you turn left you'll find quite a few restaurants and more small shops. If you turn right you'll come to more restaurants including the Buzz Bar (which does fantastic milkshakes and have great views of the sunset over the water) and more shops and places to book excursions. Carry on down that road and you come to where all the boats leave for their day trips. You'll also arrive at the Dolmus stop. As the Dolmus leaves from here there is a high chance you'll get a seat, although we were told that they changed them all last year and the police do spot checks now to check they're not overcrowded. They are a very cheap way of getting around and usually leave about every 10 minutes. Keep going down this road and you come to the Blue Lagoon, which is a protected area, so you have to pay to get in. You then have the choice of chilling out by the lagoon or going by the beach. It is gorgeous.

One of the main past times here is paragliding with loads of companies doing it. They go up the mountain and eventually land (if that's the right word) alongside the beach. We once counted 21 paragliders above us! Be careful as you walk along the pavement next to the beach as that's where they land!

Changing money is very easy here. Places accept Turkish Lira, Sterling or Euros.

Most places will also change Sterling or Euros to Lira so shop around for the best rate - and check what you should be getting before you go in as one place did give us about 50 Lira short. There are at least 3 ATM's also and we found that you could choose to withdraw any of those currencies from them.

All in all Olu Deniz is great. It isn't an all night party resort but isn't dead either. It's suitable for adults and families looking for a quieter holiday with some nightlife. If it's clubbing you want it probably isn't the right place.