Holiday in Turkey

[RunAwayWife]

My mum is looking to book a holiday and tells me Turkey is quite cheap, um yes I think this is because it is a bit unsettled at the moment, so please can I ask would you go on holiday to Turkey in April????

Would you take children????

I didnt know the half of it until i came back and done some research (which i should have done before i booked it). My research went as far as reading trip advisor. You just dont think it can be that bad when its in glossy brochures next to loads of other holiday resorts. Someone i know whos daughter was drugged 9 years ago told me what it was like and i just thought 5* gated resort, it will be fine, it must have improved in 9 years. Evidently not. Thats awful what happened to your friend but thats what its like.

Turkey is great - I am here right now! Steer clear of Antalya/Kemer/Side, head to the Fethiye region. The weather has been lovely this week - I've been swimming and in my summer clothes. Unfortunately I am here for work though :(

And no, it is not 'unsettled' in the least! And is still very cheap if you don't go to the tourist trap restaurants/bars.

Kitty, what temperature is it? Was thinking of heading out to the Fethiye area easter.

Going to Lara Beach not sure what side that is

Turkey isn't unsettled at all, and it certainly is a democratic country so whoever said it wasn't is wrong. They are holding elections soon out there.

Also I believe the UK is on a higher terror risk than Turkey but we all live here don't we?

Turkey is cheaper than some other countries but it certianly isn't as cheap as it used to be, particularly alcohol prices as the tax is huge. As Kitty says though if you go away from the typical tourist areas it is very cheap to eat.

Turkey is a beautiful country, I haven't been to Lara Beach (Antalya area) but the weather is usually good in that part during April, the sea will be pretty cold though and the evenigs do get a bit chilly.

Have a great time!

Well they are havign elections and have pretty much for some time had elections but there are still freedom of speech issues and things so whilst it is broadly democratic it is isnt quite the ideal secular democracy described but these things generally dont have much impact on Antalya/Bodrum/Marmaris etc. and I wouldnt consider them particularly importnant in palnning a holiday.

Turkey is absolutely beautiful......DH and I have just bought a holiday home there and i cant wait to go back. I have to say I hated Altinkum (great market though) but where we are is very rural and beautiful...so unspoiled.

The turks love kids, our DS had a fab time there....weather in April should be lovely although not sure how warm the water will be.

Enjoy!

Don't any of the posters who love Turkey so much mind the stray dogs and cats? We stayed in a villa in the countryside near Bodrum last year. Beautiful place but the stray dogs we kept seeing by the side of the road broke my heart. Lovely little pizza place in the nearby village and we considered eating at one of the tables outside instead of getting take away. I just couldn't have eaten a mouthful with all the stray dogs roaming around and the pitiful tiny kittens abandoned in the gutter.

Catwalker I've been to Icmeler several times, Kusadasi and Bodrum and Turgutreis and I have to say the only place I saw stray dogs and cats was in Turgutreis and Bodrum - so maybe it's just that resort (and the others are better at rounding up the strays).

I went to Turkey once and would definitely go back if I could afford a bloody holiday!

It was so much cheaper than Spain etc and everything was newer as there's been a lot of investment over the last few years rather than the older properties in Spain which haven't been updated.

Plus it was way hotter. They're also not so hung up on health & safety like we are. Thomson wouldn't let me take my 7 year old white water rafting so I asked locally and the local guy laughed and showed me photos of toddlers doing it. Sure enough, we had a GREAT time and it is one experience I hope we all remember forever.

Niceguy, I thought you were being sarcastic there but starting to think you are serious.

I'm going to Turkey at end of May for the third time. Been to Hisaronu near Olu Deniz and Alanya and this year we're going to a little resort near Marmaris.

Never noticed an unusual number of stray cats/dogs. In Hisaronu there were more goats than any other creature.

The country certainly has its problems but probably less potential for unrest than those countries slightly further east. Don't forget Greece has had lots of political unrest and demonstrations. Whereever you go there is a slight risk.