To ask about holidays... esp Turkey

[emsmum79]

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.

just don't fall for the jewellery scam there-they will offer to clean your jewellery for free then take it out the back and try and replace your stones for fake ones had it happen to me and ex at a big jewellery shop.
Don't buy suncream there either as it's all fake stuff and I got seriously burnt on holiday there after running out of suncream and buying a nivea factor 50 one there which was a fake.
Sorry for the rant but the scamming which is very rife there does put you off.
On a positive the food is lovely.

I liked Turkey. Coastal resorts are well away from any political issues generally

We stayed in Gumbet which is quite near to Bodrum and I really enjoyed it. It's quieter than Bodrum but stayed in a nice hotel there. Bodrum was also really lovely, I would recommend both. Lovely restaurants in Bodrum if you decided not to go All Inc

£8000 is ridiculous even for 2 weeks! Baby is roughly £35 so you shouldn't be paying £2000 per adult, unless you're looking at amazing 5* all singing, all dancing resorts! I work in travel and would say £6000 would be your absolute max, although you could do it much cheaper!

Just back - had decided not to go due to instability and Erdogan but changed our minds. The best parts of Turkey are hard to beat but not sure about the country's future. Where we go is very popular with educated MC Turkish - and it was noticible that there were a lot less Europeans than usual.

I've just come back from Torreblanca in Fuengirola- I was surprised at how cheap found it.
Public transport is also fantastic and easy to get around with toddler and pushchair - best bitnis it's mostly flat

And as far as unrest etc we were there when the Barcelona attacks happened and then about a mile from where the car exploded causing the forest fire (which obviously people worried about due to the gas etc found) and watched it all unfold.

I agree with above poster who said there is risk anywhere ATM.

Personally I'd still avoid turkey personally though!

Turkey is lovely and the flipside to the political argument is that tourism is a massive income for regular people there & by staying away you are making them suffer, thus worsening political situation in future.

Pinkflamingo, the resort's definitely aren't all singing all dancing! Any recommendations?

£8000 ?

Ttbb, I fancy Croatia, but my lo loves sandy beaches too much!

Have a look at Letoonia resort in Fetiye. Had such a lovely holiday there. It's on an isthmus (hope that's the right word) but boat service across to Fetiye town from where you can ride around on the local dolmus and explore amazing beautiful places. I like to try new places each time but this was the only place I would definitely go back to!
Lots of people at the resort had been before. One couple had been 11 times!

Turkey is a wonderful country - i go again in 2 weeks time and it will be my 7th time since February last year. It depends where you go, as in any country there's good and bad parts. I go to the Fethiye area (south west) which is beautiful, the Turks are incredibly helpful and friendly, but I've NEVER had anyone be pushy or try and hard sell to me, and I'm a 28 year old female travelling alone. For me, it was like I arrived as a tourist and left with a family. I have Turkish friends male and female, English expat friends, English tourist friends who I get together with when we're both there. It's cheap, the weather is wonderful and the scenery is stunning - it makes me so so sad that people judge a whole country and its people based on a few DM articles. Yes there has been political unrest, which you would NEVER know about in any of the tourist resorts. Yes in the past there have been terror attacks, but its been very settled now for over 6 months PLUS there have been terror attacks in England, France, Spain, Russia - nowhere is 100% safe now. It's a fantastic place for holidays and I'd recommend it until I'm blue in the face. Can't wait for 2 weeks time and then again in November. I promise you won't regret it - give it a chance!

There is a HUGE misconception amongst many that Turkey is a bad place to visit on holiday.

I understand if you have strong political beliefs and fair enough.

But I can hand on heart say that during our trips to Turkey, the most recent being during May half term, have not been dangerous, we have not come across anyone who has made us feel unsafe, everyone has been welcoming and polite and the resorts are like any other resort in Europe - full of tourists flocking to the beach, nightclubs, cultural places of interests, waterparks, lounging by the pool at their hotel.

I do at people when they claim that Turkey is dangerous. My reply is generally; "Yes. It's much safer to holiday in London, Manchester, Paris, Berlin, Nice, Barcelona ..." People tell me they flock to Spain because it's safer!?!?!?

Turkey is cheap NOT because there is a problem but because people THINK there is and hence everyone travels to Spain and Greece which pushes up demand and so prices rocket!

But by all means! Ignore Turkey. Don't go!!! all the more cheap holidays for those who don't believe the media hype

Going again next summer!

emsmum79 we looked at 4* AI in Spain (Balearics and Canaries included) and we were looking at nearly £5,000 for 2 adults and 2 children whereas in Turkey it is a good £1000-£1500 cheaper and like-for-like in terms of facilities, you get much more for your money in Turkey.

We paid £1800 for 1 week in Turkey, 4 AI for all four of us and that included insurance, transfers, 22kg hold luggage and 10kg hand luggage (jet2holidays). Next year it is £3,500 for 3 adults and 2 children again 4 AI hotel in Turunc.

My one downside for Turkey, and it is a religious reason so I can 100% understand, is there is no pork so no ham or BACON! But the food is delicious.

We've been to Colakli near Antalya twice, once earlier this year, loved it and will probably go again next year. You get so much more for your money and the service is excellent. Turks have a bad rep but they are lovely with kids and very attentive. The hard sell is no worse than anywhere else and it is fun bartering!

Airport security is tight but that's obviously a good thing, no worries in the resort at all.

Agree with pp, this year paid £2k for 5 AI for 2 weeks in Turkey (4 of us), then another £2k for 3 AI in Menorca for a 1 week!

But I can hand on heart say that during our trips to Turkey, the most recent being during May half term, have not been dangerous, we have not come across anyone who has made us feel unsafe,

Depends on different things. I've had great and awful experiences. Been threatened and repeatedly sexually assaulted when travelling without a male when younger. Where i go now - we have no problems (older, with husband and go to a respectful area) and overall i love much about Turkey and return often. People (especially women/girls) should be careful and aware though.

8k is ridiculous for out of school holidays.

Last few years in august I've paid for 2 of us (ds and I but it's always based on 2 ad)

3 * AI Alcudia. Mallorca £1500.

3 * AI santa Ponca Mallorca £1150

3 * HB Torreblanca Spain £1000

I'm in scotland- so start of July is our school holidays. It is more expensive and I accept that, but not £8000!
@bangingmyheadoffabrickwall, what hotels did you stay in?

We went to turkey in July this year and had a fantastic time - never felt unsafe or concerned about safety.
Planning to go back next year 😊

Just to add for 5* all inclusive for 3 of us (2 adults and 1 child) was £1600

6My ideal holiday (though probably not yours)
£2100 flights from Edinburgh to Dalaman 6th-20th July
£630 villa for 6 at Villa Gardenia, Dalyan. www.gardeniaapart.com self catering.

Beautiful place, lovely owners.
Eat out every night. Bread, cheese, olives, eggs from corner shop for breakfast.

Feeling jealous!

Yy Dalyan very nice resort on the river with fab beaches, plenty of culture nearby or maybe Northern Cyprus, much cheaper than southern Cyprus, kyrenia & lapta very family friendly & easy to get around.

I am very biased re:Turkey as I have been going there for 20 odd years.
I have been to other places too during that time but always go back to TUrkey.
Have taken all of my children since they were babies.
Myself and dp love it.
Things I love are:
Food is lovely
The Turkish people are wonderful and so accommodating
Weather is superb
Prices for food and drink& trips are are very cheap.
Flights are not as cheap as previous years I don't think,particularly considering political unrest over past year and worries regarding terrorism,however, once there defo cheaper than many other med countries

Turkey is a huge country and there are many resorts and something to suit everyone. I think you could go every year and have a different holiday.
I adore Turkey!!!
Nice places for us are Side. (Good Roman ruins too) and anywhere in the Fethiye region. Olu deniz is lovely, very pretty but has become commercialised. We still go there though and have very fond memories. Hisaronu definitely caters for the Brits abroad,which I don't personally like, but if you go off the main strip (as with most resorts)you will find hidden gems to eat and drink. Usually stay in ovacik area which is a bit in between.
Have been to marmaris/bodrum/gumbet many years ago when they weren't quite so mad. Probably wouldn't chose them again unless got a fab deal and would steer clear of the rowdy places.
Last year was probably the only time I've had doubts about travelling to TUrkey. Following the military coup and the terrorist attack at Istanbul airport. I was anxious travelling out (especially with the dc). Security was good however,
Particularly on our return from Dalaman. Better than our outward bound journey from the UK.
Once in resort felt safe.
This year felt less anxious particularly as iit is apparent that literally nowhere is safe,including the UK after this year's tragedies.
However,it does flash across my mind now and again about risk of a terrorist attack but I think I'd feel that anywhere now. And just mainly airports in particular.
Unless anything else changes,we will be going back to TUrkey again 2018. I could rave on forever about Turkey!

Those of you who recommend Kalkan, is there really enough to do for a preteen and 2 adults who get bored sitting on a beach all day? We usually go where there are water sports or other more active distractions, but when I looked up Kalkan all it seemed to have was ringos and snorkelling. I asked my Turkish friend and she told me it was lovely for a long weekend but we would be bored after a week. Mind you, I was asking more specifically about Pattara beach and the nearby village, maybe Kalkan is farther away?

I really want to book Turkey next year as I loved it the last time we went (pre dc) and I find the price/quality ratio to be excellent, even then - much better than we ever found in Greece, for instance, especially the food! I'm often there on business, so am aware of the political situation and its impact (or not) on the ordinary people trying to make a living.