Marmaris… Now back to Marmaris for my final recommendations of this journey. Though I’m sure there will be more Turkey visits to come! Oh dear Marmaris, how to describe you … well I’m going to coin a phrase I’ve heard several times throughout my Summer there. "She’s the Marbella of Turkey" Well, I’m not sure that she is yet … but she’s certainly the best contender, especially with the local council intent on up grading Marmaris to her full potential. She’s got almost everything … sophisticated marina (with annual International Yacht Regatta), swanky shops and restaurants, fabulous properties, prestigious hotels and superb location. On the surface she looks in the running, but to my mind, she’s still lacking in what it really takes to become a town of sophistication. Marmaris is sorely starved of modern culture. In fact, I personally couldn’t find one decent contemporary art gallery. (Update… Reyhan’s kindly informed me there is one under the municipal building that occasionally puts on exhibitions) And as far as entertainment goes … apart from the odd quality turns in 5* hotels, you’ve only really got the amphitheatre that brings anything decent to town. However, she still abounds in cheap fun. Michael Jackson look alikes strut their stuff every night in beach bars with any other look alike you care to think of! Young Turkish women jiggle their bellies around tables and wobble their boobs at ogling tourists. If you can dodge all the football T-shirts wafting in the sea breezes, you may be able to see something a bit more upmarket! Though I found it difficult. Marmaris darling … I’m afraid you’re still a Benidorm. But it’s not going to take too much to turn you around! With this in mind … I place my bets on Marmaris being a good spot to invest in. Property prices here are already double or more than in other resorts in Turkey. And I think they could be set to soar even further, if the town gets the balance of tack versus talent right. Well a place as large as this has plenty of emlaks ... however, at this stage I’m only going to recommend a couple. Charlie Davenport and Bechet Ozen have set up shop on the road directly behind the beachfront. Their business is named Continental Real Estate. Charlie himself has moved to Turkey lock, stock and barrel with wife. He experienced many ups and downs with his own property purchase and is determined not to let it happen to his customers. In fact he’s a stickler for honest of goodness service, with many years of UK work experience to back this up. His partner, Bechet is the local guy, who has been serving many happy clients for years. A lovely approachable chap who genuinely seeks to please. A new business maybe, but a couple I would like to recommend because I’m sure you’ll be in good hands. The next lady I would like to refer you to is Reyhan Cakircik of the Colakoglu Group. This company is a family of property builders/developers from the Black Sea Region. Of all the apartments in Marmaris I saw during my three-month period, theirs are riding high at the top in quality, location and design. Reyhan works for the family and deals with all English-speaking clients. Again a lovely professional lady that I can safely direct you towards. Another bonus is that buying directly from Colakoglu can save you money too. Many estate agents in Marmaris have their apartments on the books but you’ll have to pay extra for the middleman. Well sadly that trip came to an end … I really met some very nice people and spread my wings across new pastures of Turkey. What an astonishing country … ‘til the next trip. Happy House Hunting!