Fethiye in Turkey - whats it like?

[IDry]

Looking at hols tonight, and as we're lazy holidaymakers who go on hols to laze by the pool most days, I like to splash out on a 5* hotel.

I tend to discount Turkey as a destination as have had a number of package hols there in years gone by, albeit at the cheaper end of the scale, but have always found the times spent away from the hotel (so out for the evening for example) a bit scary, particularly when local folk are constantly accosting you for restaurant/shop/bar business. We'd also be travelling with our 13 yr old daughter, and I worry she'd feel a bit leered at. (Again, my Turkey tourist experiences)

However, hotel wise, we look to be able to get so much more for our £££ in Turkey, so I'm considering Fethiye. The hotel looks beautiful, but what is the local area like? Is there an inevitably to the sort of atmosphere I'm describing? (And it's not particular to Turkey but again, is what I've personally experienced)

I love Fethiye, we've been to Calis Beach which is just across the bay by boat, or you can get a bus.
My brother and his wife retired there several years ago and they love it there. and I always feel safe.
We stay in hotels and don't see them every day, but the place is so friendly.

We are also looking there (if we ever get our kids' new passports through!) but are looking at AirBnB. It looks beautiful and I've got a couple of mates who have been and say it's lovely. So will be following this thread closely! Have never done Turkey before.

I really liked Fethiye, lovely harbour, and more of a cafe culture at night, still buzzy, but not totally bonkers like Marmaris.

The town itself is also lovely and I didn't feel at all on edge like I have in other places - I was quite happy mooching about with a girlfriend while our DH's went off a trip.

We’ve been to Turkey loads, usually Antalya, but have been to fethiye a few times, we stayed at the sensatori hotel in fethiye on our last trip. Was a lovely holiday.

We did a boat trip and went shopping (can’t remember the exact name of where it was sorry) where the harbour is anyway, but wasn’t hassled at all, went to the McDonald’s which ds couldn’t believe, he thought only McDonald’s existed in the uk.

We stayed at Club Letoonia across the bay on its own peninsula. Absolutely gorgeous. Loved Fethiye itself - the hotel does its own water taxi across

Love fethiye! Perfect if you'd like to go out and explore the centre as well as stay at the hotel as it's nice and lively. Gorgeous lagoons and the food is great.

We've also just got back from Belek. AMAZING 5* hotel but it's much like the Caribbean in that the hotel is huge, like a resort in itself and you don't leave the hotel as there isn't much round outside. Suited us perfectly with a toddler as it had everything we needed and wanted for a week without having to take her round the resort centre.

In regards to your 13 y/o DD. She probably will turn heads from the local men but it will likely be innocent. I've been as a teenager with a friend's family and always felt safe; the irony is this friend now lives near there and has married a Turkish man 😂 if she's blonde it could be a bit more obvious.

Fethiye is beautiful, a market harbour town. Fantastic views and wonderful restaurants and boat trips.

I spent considerable time in Calis beach as a previous poster mentioned. Again a lovely place which I would highly recommend.

I've never had problems with unwanted male attention however I did have a Turkish partner at the time, fethiye is far less "touristy" than places like Marmaris.

You won't regret it, it's truly a lovely place and I miss it now I've left

Aah, this is all so reassuring! Thank you!

The other consideration is that we're planning Oct half term, which can be a bit more unpredictable, weather wise, and I'm also a bit concerned that the last week in Oct will mean that lots of stuff might be shut for the winter. (As well as pools being too cold!)

Appreciate this isn't the travel board, but im just fishing for info with a boars with traffic! 🤣

@IDry it would be worth looking at the hotels when you do your holiday search as they should have information about when their summer and winter concepts start and finish. If not, email and ask them directly. Also look for hotels with heated pools and you will be fine.

Turkey seems popular for October half term so I think it should still be fairly busy!

Fethiye is beautiful - a really cosmopolitan place, with a harbour side restaurants and bars. Quite upmarket really but without the price tag of the med. Last time I was tgere, I saw a free opera in the square, so that gives you an idea of the clientele! You are aware that's it's a city though aren't you? It's not a beachy place. If you want the best of both worlds I would recommend staying in Cal is beach or oludeniz and getting on the dolmus - a fifteen minutes hop would get you into the city.

Absolutely beautiful! Have a look at Club Letoonia which is amazing!

Absolutely fabulous.
Weather end of October is usually low to mid 20s. Sea is warm for swimming in but pools are cold (they tend to be pretty cool all year to be fair). Cooler in the evenings. In September, short sleeves are usually fine even if you are out all night but by the end of October some kind of jacket is usually needed at night. Bars often have fires though.

Hisaronu/Olu Deniz are more holiday resorts, Fethye is a year round place.

I go alone, as a pensioner and feel far safer there than in England at night.

Men are likely to look at/chat to your daughter but (mostly) won't behave inappropriately. Generally people there are far less pushy than they were 20 years ago as they have learned that British people don't respond well to it. Although I would avoid the market as they are ultra pushy and will (for example) fasten a bracelet on your arm and then demand payment. In a 5 star hotel the staff will usually be fabulous (although Turkey 5 star is not generally like the Ritz) and you won't have to even leave the hotel if you don't want.

It's been a while since this thread was active but can I ask purplefrilly and mhnamhna about Club Letoonia. We're thinking of booking it for August but I was put off slightly by a comment which said it caters more for Arabic and Russian clientele. I like a mix of cultures but my little boy is 5 and would like plenty of English speaking kids for him to play with. Also are the rooms nice? I'm worried about sharing a room with my son. We normally do air b and B. 10 days with 3 in the same room. Eeek!!