It also offers great variety, as the bustling Mediterranean resort of Marmaris is just a short bus ride away and the archaeological marvel of Ephesus is an easy day trip option.

Getting there/around Icmeler

It's about a two-hour transfer from Dalaman airport to the resort. Once you're there, aside from walking, the best way to get around is on a dolmus (minibus). There are quick services to Marmaris and many other villages and beaches in the area and you can pretty much flag one down at any point along your route.

Icmeler beaches

The beautiful beach sits on the southern side of a large bay and it's bordered by lovely forested hills that drop sharply down to the coast. It's a mixture of sand and shingle with lots of watersports including windsurfing, surfing and jet skiing. Areas just for swimming are clearly marked too.

The calm Mediterranean and a gently sloping beach make it great for families with young children. If you want a bit of variety you can spend the odd day at Marmaris beach, about five miles away on the other side of the bay.

Icmeler sightseeing

This is primarily a sun, sea and sand resort so there's little in the way of sightseeing really. One option is a boat trip to Cleopatra's Island. According to legend it was a secluded meeting spot for queen Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, her lover. The caves there are also supposedly where she used to enjoy bathing in the nude and when, one day, a passing fisherman caught a glimpse of her, she ordered her guards to blind him for the terrible crime of seeing the queen naked.

Icmeler family attractions

Most of the family action in Icmeler focusses on the gorgeous beach, but there is one attraction all families should definitely visit. The huge Atlantis water park on the outskirts of town has lots of different slides with scary-sounding names like Black Hole and Kamikaze. There are also bumper boats, a bowling alley and they even have their own little beach.

Icmeler day trips

History buffs should definitely arrange a visit to Ephesus. It will take around four hours to get there, but it's worth it as the sight of this beautifully preserved ancient town is incredible. Walking around the ruins past statues of the gods, temples, bath houses, a library, an amphitheatre and even an ancient latrine (toilet to you and I) really takes you back in time and gives you an insight into what life would have been like thousands of years ago.

Icmeler eating

If you fancy some Turkish food, try delicious roast meat kebabs and tasty kofte, meatballs of minced lamb seasoned with spices, served with rice and salad. If you're on a budget, Turkish pizza (pideci) is very cheap and very tasty. If you feel a bit homesick, there are a couple of places in Icmeler where you even get yourself a good old sunday lunch. Drink-wise, Turkish wine's not bad and there's also raki, a traditional aniseed tipple.

Icmeler nightlife

Icmeler is much more low-key than its rowdy neighbour, Marmaris, so if you want to party hard all night, then jump in a taxi or dolmus and visit one of the many clubs and discos along Bar Street. You'll also find places there where you can mingle with the locals and listen to more traditional Turkish music. Magic Garden, an open air club and bar, is very popular.

In Icmeler itself, you'll find bars and pubs which do stay open until late and are great for a bit of karaoke.

Icmeler shopping

The resort has a few shops where you can purchase things you might need on your holiday (bucket and spade etc) and there's a Wednesday market where you can pick up amazingly cheap local produce including honey, open-work lace, trinkets, herbs and spices, Turkish delight and onyx carvings.

For a truly Turkish shopping experience, pop up the road into Marmaris where there's a fantastic covered bazaar in the old town.