Dalaman Airport

In and out of Turkey via Dalaman Airport. Every one says expensive so on leaving we took our own food but you have to buy a drink. €3.20 for one tin of Coke - rip-off! Turkish tourist authorities should be investigating the crooks who run this airport. Worse was the toilets - disgusting is a polite description. We used the Ladies and Gents on the way in once and twice each before leaving not a pleasant experience. Each had one electric hand dryer - none working no paper towels in dispenser no soap in any dispensers I used one cubicle - no paper excrement stains under/around seat (obviously never lifted and cleaned properly and allowed to build up as a hard stain). That was our experience across 5 separate WC's. Perhaps two reasons not to visit Turkey via this dump - cost and hygiene. This part of Turkey is now off our list for a revisit!

Personally have never had a problem going in or out of Dalaman. Maybe its the times of arrivals and departures etc. On arrival our luggage is usually coming around by the time we get there only negatives as mentioned before are the food and drink prices but this can be avoided by taking your own food through. The only other thing I don't like is if travelling easyjet they should have an area cordoned off for Speedy Boarders at the moment it is a bun fight to get through the gates. Some people not caring that we have paid for the privilege to get onboard first to choose our seats.

I have flown from Dalaman a few times and never had a plane leave on time. In fairness that's not the fault of the airport but they don't seem to care about stranded passengers. There are hundreds of wooden-slat benches around but they are designed to be impossible to lie on. If you're lucky you can snag a sofa but the rest of us have to lie on the floor - next to nobody uses the benches those that do usually regret it. The food is tremendously expensive. The whole place has an oppressive 'prison' feel about it. The check-in queues are very slow. The gates' seating areas are inadequate instructions and plane updates are woefully lacking. The floor does appear to be fairly clean.

An extremely expensive airport. I love Turkey but when they charge you £10 to go in and rip you off coming out it can leave a bitter taste to your holiday. They even try to get you into trouble at the duty free shop with staff saying you can bring several thousand cigarettes back to UK when you can only bring 200 at duty free. I think long term it will deter people from visiting Turkey.

The one huge negative at Dalaman is the cost of food & drink - £1.60 of 300ml of water or £8 for a McDonalds Burger are indeed indefensible prices. Having said that though I found the airport to be pretty good. Very clear lots of seating fair selection of shops and helpful staff.

Can only agree with what others have said the prices are extremely expensive. If you're travelling to the airport and with TCX or TOM then wait until you're on the coach - the waters are 2 for £1. On your inbound flight bring sandwiches and liquids. Drink it in the area before you get to the gates conditions there aren't good - there is limited seating. Luckily the Manchester flight was the only one running on time people going to Aberdeen had a 2hr delay and Gatwick was 4hrs delayed.

We have just returned from Turkey and would agree with all the comments about the rip off culture at the airport. I would like to warn people not to buy from duty free either. They have a unique system of pricing in Euro and then converting to Lira at check-out. It is much better to buy on the way out. Istanbul is also a very expensive airport (Ataturk). The airlines are now warning people not to buy any food or drink at airport in Dalaman. What a pity to have that awful experience as you leave such a wonderful country.

If your flight is on time you will cope by taking a packed lunch and peanuts etc and your own drinks. Consume drinks at the last minute! If you book your seats and check in online you can afford to go airside as late as possible.

I have been visiting Turkey for many years. The airport staff are rude sullen unhelpful and bear no relation to the wonderful Turkish people I have met on holiday. The management of the bar should be ashamed of themselves. I paid 60 Turkish lira for a glass of wine and a small pringles! There is no justification for these prices.

We've been a few times and Dalaman Airport is an endurance test! It's so at odds with the Turkey - with miserable staff awful food at ridiculous prices and no thought for the poor human beings passing through! We flew home Mid May which isn't a terribly hot time of year but the airport was stifling and uncomfortable. The seating is awful a wooden bar design that is just so uncomfortable for even a few minutes never mind a couple of hours. There aren't enough seats at the departure gates for all on the flight so you'll often end up sat on the floor. It is clean spacious with plenty of clean toilets - but it's just not enough to counteract the sheer misery of the rest of it! Tips : Wear summer clothes with something warmer to change into on the plane or at home. A lot of people leave their drinks at the first scan (at the front door as you go in) but you can keep your drinks at this point and while you check in and until the next scan just before passport control. Once you're through passport control you're only a couple of minutes from your gate so leave it a while before going through so you can drink. Take food with you as everyone says - prices are just stupid. As not many people buy food I'd worry a bit about how long sandwiches have been sitting out! If your luggage may be over your limit you'll be charged by most airlines. Have a look round at empty check in desks as they usually leave their scales switched on so you can check your weight and adjust bags accordingly. If you are delayed or fancy a more pleasant experience check out the VIP lounge (CIP Premium Lounge there). We've not been in but you pay a flat fee (I think 20 Euros) have air con food and drinks newspapers WiFi. It's up by the food court.