Frequently Asked Questions

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The little town of Kalkan is in Turkey's Antalya province, and our local area is called Kiziltas. Mavi Manzara sits nestled peacefully on the hillside and is a short 10-minute downhill walk, or an inexpensive taxi ride, to the centre and the famous and picturesque Old Town. Its position makes for spectacular views of Kalkan itself, the harbour, the bay and islands. 

Licences are a relatively new requirement for holiday rentals in Turkey. Ours was issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on 18 November 2024. It demonstrates that we comply with all the rules, regulations and safety requirements laid down by the Turkish government. Click here to check the register https://www.ktb.gov.tr/genel/bakanlikbelgelikonutlar.aspx and use Belge/Document Number 8264 in the search bar for our entry.

Dalaman (DLM) airport is the closest at around 1.5 hours away by car. We are happy to arrange private transfers on your behalf. Out of the main holiday season, or as an alternative, Antalya (AYT) airport is a 3-hour drive from the villa.

There are flights from most of the UK's regional airports. Operators include Easyjet, Pegasus, SunExpress, Wizz Air, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Corendon, Jet2, Ryanair and TUI.  We use SkyScanner to find the best prices. 

Kalkan is a foodie's paradise and has some 170 restaurants listed on TripAdvisor!
Competition is fierce and, wherever you choose, you're very unlikely to have a bad meal. The restaurants on the harbour and the many rooftop terraces make for an especially fabulous dining experience. In high season though you will need to book to be sure of a good table and at a time to suit you.

Vegetarians are well catered for and to a certain extent vegans now too. If you have allergies or intolerances be sure to draw attention to them and don't expect necessarily to be asked up-front. 

We're very happy to recommend restaurants or venues if you're looking for something in particular, or for a special occasion. 

If you'd rather eat at home, we've tried to cover all bases! The kitchen is fully equipped, not just with the crockery you'll need but with a whole range of appliances, gadgets and cookware too.

Outside there's a Weber barbecue and a wood-fired pizza oven, if you're feeling adventurous.  But, if you prefer to have someone else do the cooking - inside or outside - we can provide details of a chef or catering team that will come to Mavi and do just that.

Kalkan has its own "Villa Eats" app to order takeaways for delivery or collection.     

All towels (including beach towels), bedding and linen are supplied and laundered. The villa sleeps a maximum of 6 people in 3 double beds, none of which can be split into single beds. Cleaning is undertaken weekly, with a full linen refresh.  

There is very little crime in Kalkan and the local people will go to great lengths to make sure that their overseas guests are safe and well-looked after. 

Stories of phones and wallets left in taxis or bars which are safely returned abound, Similarly, a shopkeeper chasing down a customer who has forgotten to take their change. That said, it's wise to exercise care with your possessions as you would at home and to make sure that the villa gate and doors are securely locked when you go out and overnight.    

English is very widely-spoken in Kalkan and those working in shops, chemists, restaurants, etc. will be happy to practice their language skills with you. 

Cash is king in Turkey and often the preferred method of payment. Though all shops will take major credit and debit cards, taxis and market stalls are unlikely to. 

You may find a better rate of exchange in town, if you prefer to bring Sterling with you, but there are plenty of cashpoints around too.

Don't be surprised to see prices in shops and for tours, etc. to be quoted in £s. This method of pricing is simply for consistency and they will happily convert to and take Lira at today's rate.

If you like to shop and are fond of a bargain you are going to LOVE Kalkan. Famous for "genuine fakes" - watches, jewellery, bags and clothing - every brand and quality is here in spades. Thursday's market offers plenty of choice and, while likely to be cheaper, don't expect the best copies from here (or the unofficial Kalkan branch of JD Sports!) to last too long! Venture into the Old Town though and some of the goods on offer are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. 

Bartering is expected on the market but many of the shops now are "fixed price" unless you're spending a huge amount or buying in quantity.     

If you can drag yourself away from the pool, we recommend Alper Bektas at Alper Tourism who can arrange day trips, transfers and a whole raft of activities to complete your holiday stay. Whether it's horse-riding on Patara Beach, a jeep-safari, quad-biking or even car hire, Alper is your man! 

He is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alperbektas1453 or can be reached by WhatsApp on +90 545 480 82 84.     

A number of small boats and larger gulets offer boat trips around the bay and islands. These can booked via agents in the town, or at the harbour itself with the skipper. 

Our favourite though is with Captain Osman Mutlu whose boats are moored in Kas but who will collect you from Kalkan. There's a number of trips to choose from (our favourite is Aperlai) but you can also venture to the Greek island of Meis with him.  He's on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/omuslu/ or you can reach him on WhatsApp +90 532 540 7040