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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about holidays... esp Turkey

106 replies

emsmum79 · 29/08/2017 22:34

I'm looking for a family holiday (We have a toddler) for next year (decent pool, beach, nice room- nothing too big or fancy) but am shocked by the prices. Any tips?
Any good experiences of Turkey this year? Wee bit wary due to travel warnings for various areas but have loved holidays there in the past.

OP posts:
LakieLady · 29/08/2017 22:51

I wouldn't go to any country that's run by an oppressive dictator, so that rules Turkey out for me.

PoppyPopcorn · 29/08/2017 22:55

There's a reason Turkey's cheap.

kateclarke · 29/08/2017 22:57

We went to the Liberty hotel in Lara Beach Antalya.

Was lovely. I do get what the pp means about the political stuff, but that would rule out half the world for us.

numbmum83 · 29/08/2017 22:57

It seems quite a few people on my fb friends list and their friends have or are goin to Turkey this year. It's apparently cheap and cheerful but a friend who goes abroad 3 or 4 times a year went for a daytrip when she was staying just over the boarder and she said it was dirty and she wouldn't go back . .
Have an open mind I guess . . Depends if you're looking at budget or experience?

Viviennemary · 29/08/2017 22:58

We went to Turkey a few years ago. I don't think I'd go back. The hard sell was beyond belief. You couldn't walk down the road past any shop or hairdressers or cafe. You couldn't go in a shop and look at things without hard sell. It was a nightmare.

Betarocker · 29/08/2017 23:00

Depends where you go in Turkey. Yalikavak is beautiful, quiet and about as far removed from Marmaris etc as you can get.

GoldenMalicious · 29/08/2017 23:04

We've just got back from Turkey. I had my apprehensions about going there, but in truth it was perfectly ok. I found that that the hotel was a little more basic than expected (it was overrated by the tour operator in my opinion), and the all inclusive was somewhat restrictive. But overall it was a great holiday. We stayed near Kusadasi.

hamsterloverlover · 29/08/2017 23:04

We went to Marmaris last year, we liked it, hot, lots to do, friendly locals, i think they do the hard sell as it's probably not No1 on the tourist destinations. If you want sun and cheap restaurants go for it, we liked the excursions and visited turtle beach which was fab, so funny though as the boat ride was just a sound system turned up. it's a beautiful country. would recommend.

ToffeePenny · 29/08/2017 23:05

Just back from Kalkan where three of us stayed at an owners direct 2 bed place with pool shared between 3 properties (there are loads with their own pool for a bit more) for about £35 a night and really recommend it.
Nearby beach Patara was amazing (ancient ruins, golden sand, masses of space, small bar/restaurant with loos and showers but otherwise completely unspoilt) and the beach clubs (get a boat from one side of the harbour to the other) were great for kids. Flights to Dalaman (nearest) or Antalya both very reasonably priced in advance and taxi from airport was around £50 (bus was about £15pp) though car hire also worthwhile as then you can zip around to the beach, the other amazing ruins at Xanthos, and up into the hills for the trout farm (delicious!). Wednesday is market day (excellent fruit and veg and the big savoury pancake things they sell are well worth trying) plus every conceivable designer label knock off product you could imagine (Michael Kors oven mitts anyone?)

goose1964 · 29/08/2017 23:08

I hates the attempts to get to buy stuff , even going as far as to push you into shops and bars etc I would go AI and never leave the hotel though if I was desperate

19lottie82 · 29/08/2017 23:10

I've been to Crete a few times and love it.
Always manage to get decent prices too, if I hint about hard enough.

LenaDunham · 29/08/2017 23:12

Lovely. Depending on where you go.

I have been many times and there are better places than others. That said for a family holiday I would always choose Turkey over Greece, Spain, Portugal etc. Beautiful scenery/beaches, clear water and really really friendly people.

Avoid Marmaris, Kudadasi.

Side is apparently very nice but I have never been. I have been to Alanya and wouldn't go back.

Icmeler is a nice smallish resort - good beach.

Bodrum was also nice but I was only there for a night (years ago on a gullet cruise).

Oludeniz is lovely but typical resort. Fetiye is nice. A friend also highly recommends Kalkan but she goes without children.

We went to Dalyan this year and it was lovely. Highly recommend.

I do get why some people are put off but my experience of being hassled has been the same in the Algarve and Greece. A polite no thanks is sufficient.

Where abouts are you looking to go OP?

x2boys · 29/08/2017 23:15

Years ago I went to kos on holiday and you could go on a day trip to bodrum so we did I also though it was dirty numbmum or maybe it was just the part I was in anyway several yrs later I went to Kusadasi with dh and ds1 who was about 15 months old and it was lovely and very clean.

LouiseBrooks · 29/08/2017 23:17

I haven't been for a few years but it totally depends where you go. I wouldn't go near Kusadasi or Marmaris. First time we went to Side, had a nice holiday but it was cheap and down market, people trying to sell you everything. Next time to Kalkan which was fabulous, great restaurants and much, much nicer. No hard sell at all then either.

We also did a weekend side trip on our first visit to Cappodocia which was incredible.

I'd like to back but despise the government so probably won't.

Original poster
emsmum79 · 29/08/2017 23:17

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm finding that all the all inclusive hotels are very expensive and probably a bit big for us, so thinking self-catering or B&B. But, a bit unsure as I've heard that Canaries/Balearics are very expensive to eat out etc. Loved Turkey a few years ago (other holidays have been long haul and not toddler friendly so I don't have much to go on!)

OP posts:
hamsterloverlover · 29/08/2017 23:21

when we went food was cheap, weather was hot and if you wanted culture it wasn't hard to find. I would go for it op. I liked the Turkish and would go again.

DailyMaui · 29/08/2017 23:22

My mum and dad went to Turkey last year out of season and the Turks they met hated Erdogan and the effect his politics were having on the tourist industry. They had a fantastic time. And it was ridiculously cheap: £300 half board for two weeks - one week touring ancient sites and beautiful places, one in a hotel on a beach. I've been several times but not in the last seven years.

it depends what you want from a holiday - I went to Cuba years before it became a major tourist destination and the hard sell in Santiago was dreadful. But everything else was astonishing and I bloody loved it. I just didn't do any shopping!

I'd go to Turkey for the historical and natural sights, the beaches, the sea and probably recommend to stay away from big touristy all inclusive places.

Not sure why someone is talking about Crete, which is one of my favourite places ever, but is very clearly in Greece:

LouiseBrooks · 29/08/2017 23:24

I've been going to Greece for 30 years and while I avoid extremely touristy places, have never experienced anything like the hassle we got in Side. As for Ephesus, it was horrendous.

GrapesAreMyJam · 29/08/2017 23:46

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Shezza71 · 30/08/2017 00:22

We went Cyprus this year, stayed all inclusive at Tasia Maris Gardens, the quiet end of Ayia Napa. Rooms were nice, 2 storey blocks around a lovely pool. Good food and lots of drink and ice cream included. Choice of gorgeous beaches very close by. Lots of Luna parks with stuff for little ones, some restaurants had them too. Reasonably priced in June, Would definitely go back

PoppyFleur · 30/08/2017 00:41

I would avoid Turkey, there is far too much political unrest and instability, plus Erdogan is an egomaniac and mini tyrant. If you do decide to go double check your holiday insurance policy for evacuation in case of uprising but honestly it's not worth the risk.

What is your holiday budget and when are you looking to travel?

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 30/08/2017 01:02

Turkey was fantastic - only been back a week, and gutted we didn't go for longer. No problems, and Dalaman was one of the easiest airports we've ever been through

Polichinelle · 30/08/2017 06:52

Is your budget realistic? You keep on saying these places are too expensive so maybe you need to lower your requirements. Personally I'd rather have shorter holidays in a nice place than the other way around. If you end up in a crap hotel or town, you'll feel like you've wasted all your money

Sarikiz · 30/08/2017 07:16

numbmum83 you claim your friend went on a day trip to Turkey and had to cross a border. Which border was that, because Turkey has borders with Syria,Iraq,Iran,Armenia ,Bulgaria and Greece.
There are no day trips from Bulgaria or Greece and it sure as hell was not Syria.
I lived in Turkey and it is not dirty. Antalya, Fethiye, Side, Belek, Kas or Kalkan are very nice for family holidays.
Marmaris , Altinkim, Bodrum Icemeler and Olu Deniz are all inclusive cheaper resorts.
I dont like the hard sell but the shopkeepers have from May to October to make their money as thebresorts are closed in the winter.

Eral1234 · 30/08/2017 07:25

We went to Side in June and it was fine. One of the best holidays we've had in a while. That said, we were a bit nervous both about the terror risk and the political situation but we reasoned we could be caught up in a terror attack on our doorstep. Everything was fine but it was always in the back of our minds.

We went without children and I'm not sure if i would take children with me.