Just a bit about the town I now live in.
Dalaman is a typically turkish working town of approx. 28 thousand people including the foreigners! Around the area is mainly agriculture, but building now comes a close second due to Dalaman being designated a "tourist area"with golf courses, marinas and 5star hotels all being built within a 10-15 drive from the airport. Most people are aware of the airport that services the surrounding resorts and local flights, well. 3 months ago the new international airport opened to cope with the expanding tourism, also it will be open all year round which will help the expats here.
The town centre consists of a main road with a reasonable selection of various shops and cafes. In the side streets you'll find more shops and the bars( not allowed on main drag!). The town is well serviced with transport links by coaches to other areas. this is just behind the main square.
Along the main airport road heading to the D400(mugla to fethiye) you'll find the largest open prison used for the rehabilitaion of low crime offenders, thay also run a very good chicken restaurant, just outside the gates! That's true. The old paper factory just up the road, the Belideye are hoping to change it into a recreational/theme park with facilities for the locals, sadly no cinema, theatre and only one disco.
The nearest beach is Sarigerme (12kms) and it's beatiful, with real sand, some say better than the famous Olu Deniz! it's got a nice park area where animals roam, cafes and all facilities you need, plus water sports.
The coastline from there to Sarsala beach and coves stretches for 20kms, I wouldn't want to walk! Also within a 30 minute drive you can get to Gocek ( marinas) Fethiye, Ortaca ( market town), Dalyan, Mud Baths and Itzuzu Turtle beach and Lake Koycegiz, all well worth a visit, giving you a different pace of life in each.
That's the first part I'll post more soon
Penny

Great that you have gotten a new International airport.
First time to Turkey I landed at Dalaman, june 1988. The airport wasn't even finished, electricians and other workmen nodded hello to us when we arrived.
Last time I flew via Dalaman, 2 years ago, I thought it was too crowded there. It was normal season, but the airport was more filled than during high season in mid 90s.

Yes, the old airport was a nightmare for everything, security, check-ins and not enough seating areas.
The cafes were a rip off and they still are, so I've been told. They've even got a KFC outlet now if anyone fancies a bit of finger licking chicken!
I won't see this new wonder until December when I fly back to Guernsey for the xmas holidays

Penny

The *new* Dalaman airport is just a newer shithole than the old one. Was there a few weeks ago and the standard of Turkish workmanship is highly evident... I reckon they went for the *unfinished* look simply because it makes it easier to carry out the constant repairs and rectification work.

KFC... yeah at a price. 19YTL for a meal that cost next to nothing anywhere else. Robbing bastards.

JF

Hi,
I moved over to Dalaman to live in June. I’ve spent the last 7 or 8 years holidaying here, usually twice a year, and 5 years ago bought a small 2 bed apartment on a complex just 2kms from Marmaris.
Last year it was sold within 4 days of going on the market, very lucky there, and with the proceeds bought a house here, that was built a 2 apartments in a plot of 500sq mts. Good value for money down here.
Why did I choose this area, spent ages researching along the coast from Antalya to Cesme and couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. Dalaman came in first due to the progress in tourism, transport links, and prices.
Previous to the move I lived in Guernsey, Channel Islands from the time I left school, but was born and bought up in London.
I’m not working here, and will spend 3 or 4 months each year in Guernsey working to finance my stay whilst here. The other reason I moved out earlier than expected was to recuperate from major surgery, but I’m not too bad now, can do my bit in the garden with lots of coffee breaks in-between!

Penny