Turkey with kids

[Yffy673]

My husband and I are looking to go on holiday with our 2 year old DS and 6 month old DD. We were thinking of going turkey somewhere like Antalya. Has anyone been with kids? We were kind of nervous because of the things that have happened in turkey but we were looking for advice from people who have been with kids. Alternatively we are open to any suggestions to places to travel with the kids, we don't mind going overseas.

Hello, we take our kids to Turkey every year and they love it. We feel as safe walking around there as we would in our home town, the holiday resorts are far from the trouble. Lovely country and lovely people, would definitely recommend. 😀

We used to go to Antalya every year with our kids, but I couldn't take them now. It's not worth the risk in my opinion, however small it may be. I wouldn't travel there now even if it was 'safe' due to the political unrest anyway.

Greece is really lovely, Cyprus, Portugal....there are loads of beautiful places to take your children.

I went to antalya last year with my two children. Airport security was very strict and I felt completely safe. Would I go again? Probably not, but only because the transfer was very long.

This year we are going to the canaries for aprox same price.

Bump

Are you dead set on Antalya? Personally I would look at somewhere like Dalyan - very short transfer from Dalaman airport, not a big bustling resort, or the Fethiye area. Hisaranou has the advantage of being up above sea level and is therefore marginally cooler in the evening - if you go down to Olu Deniz or Fethiye in the evening you notice the temperature change as you drive back up the mountain.

Personally I would be more worried about the heat than anything else (political or otherwise). It will be hot, hot, hot in Antalya in August - can get up to 40 as it's quite far south. It's mostly around 34 or so elsewhere usually by then. If you don't have to go in August it is absolutely beautiful in September. The sea is very warm then and it will be both quieter and cheaper.

My DP is Turkish so my ds has been going since he was 4 months old (now 14) and he loves it. We are off to Dalyan/Patara in August but then we are tied to school holidays and don't have a choice.

My husband is Turkish too so we spend a lot of time in Turkey. we usually go to Bodrum and it always feels very safe to me. I would have no hesitation going any time. My husband comes from the East of Turkey and I wouldn't go there at the moment but the west, where all the tourist resorts is fine.

I should add we have two children who have been going since they were babies and are now 12 and 10 :)

Thanks sootica ...

I would be going before the summer holiday rush. We are confused whether to stay in and around Europe or to venture out a bit

Bump

Went to the Oludeniz area last year. Had a fab time and wouldn't hesitate to go again. Only annoying thing now is not having tablets on the flight home.

Any hotel suggestions? Anywhere that is particularly good for toddlers and has good food?

I love Turkish food and I don't want to end up staying at a hotel that serves chips and pizza everyday

Realise this is an old thread, did u manange to book somethin op?
We are just back from Antalya and the kids loved it!

We're going to Antalya!

Trouble? What trouble? Nobody bats an eyelid when they say they're going to Paris, elsewhere in France, Germany, London ... all places which have had terrorist attacks and then in recent months, Spain has apparently had threats to their tourist areas.

Turkey has only political issues (what country doesn't?) and they are isolated in inner regions and around Istanbul and the capital. The tourist region of Antalya is safe.

I have been to Marmaris (or rather just outside) and found the Turkish people like anyone else working their socks off to provide us Brits with a pleasant stay - courteous, polite and kind.

Also Antalya (we're going to Side) is only an hour by car (90 minutes if on a coach transfer) and Lara Beach is 30-45 minutes from the airport.

Banging: I am just deciding whether to book the Thomson Sensatori on Side. I don't suppose that is where you're going??

No. We are going to Otium Seven Seas. Only Jet2 offer this hotel. Mainly scandinavians and Germans.

I've been to anatalya with children. Honestly? I found it far too hot. 44 degrees most days. I found the hotels too closely packed in together and too busy noisy and hectic. Compared to Greece I prefer Greece. For similar all inclusive options. I also found the staff a bit rude which was quite a surprise as Turkish people in UK are so friendly.

We find it hot in summer holidays but we are going next week and temps about late 20s so hot but not stifiling.

Rollergirl we went to that hotel last year it was really good best hotel I have ever stayed in .

We just got back from sensatori Side 10 days ago with our 3yo, fab holiday, would go back in a heartbeat. I'm really picky but found it hard to fin fault.

How hot would it be in October? We're not fans of very high temperatures so wouldn't go in the summer but are restricted to school holidays.

We are looking at going to Lara Beach this summer. I have always said I wouldn't do Turkey (after a disasterous military exercise there some years ago), but I am being persuaded by the cost of everywhere else!

I do like the look of the area, I've just got to get over my reservations.

We've been to Kusadasi lots of times as the PILs used to live out there. We took DS1 when he was 2, and again when he was 4 (both times in June). He loved it and we felt no more or less safe than we would do in Spain or Greece. We probably won't go again for a few years as DS2 is only a baby and now we are tied to school hols for DS1, I think it would be too hot out there for them both during July/August.