Turkey - help

[Reusername]

I'm hoping mumsnetters can help.

We always create our own independent holidays but after the last few years my teens have requested an all inclusive resort with things to do - no more airbnbs or villas.

I've been googling Turkey and I just can't get my head round where the best places to stay are.

We want to find an upmarket place near the beach/sea with good sized pools. Preferably not in the middle of nowhere as we have an 18 year old and 16 year old. Also not a place overrun with toddlers screaming. We are thinking of combining this with a road trip/few nights in Ephesus and even Capadoccia so ideally somewhere located where that might be possible.

Even if you can't recommend a specific resort if you know what areas are best for a bit of culture but lovely hotels and beaches please post

Thanks.

We stayed in Antalya a few years ago. Nice hotel on the beach, all inclusive, shops about a 10/15 min walk. Think it was Jiva Beach Hotel. Would go back tomorrow if I could. Can't help with the culture side unfortunately

In Antalya the voyage belek or the Barut Lara or dalaman area the Hilton.

Peanutssuck
We've booked to go there for Easter! Really looking forward to it.

Reusername
We've stayed in Side before, the ruins there are amazing, very interesting although if you go in the summer take a hat, I nearly passed out with the heat. We stayed in the
Barut Hemera which was lovely, we paid extra for a swim up room which was a waste of money as we never used it. Food was great and it was next to a gorgeous beach.

We’re going to the Maxx Royal, Belek at Easter. We’ve been to the Hilton, Dalaman which was great and the Maxx Royal is meant to be on a completely different level. Can’t wait.

Kusadasi is the closest resort for Ephesus

Kalkan and Kas are glorious places.

Thank you. Good point about the heat. Is it really unbearable in July?

A couple of other questions:
are all the beaches fine white sand or are some shingly?
are any parts better for snorkelling or diving?

Antalya (city) makes sense if you want to get to Ephesus/Capadoccia although distances are vast - we took an overnight bus from Cappadocia but went to Pammukale before heading to the coast. Ephesus is also far (in the other direction) but Antalya has an airport so you could fly from place to place. We flew down from Istanbul - fabulous city! - to Cappadocia (well the nearest airport to Cappadocia anyway) - then got buses everywhere else, people were very helpful and it was pretty straightforward.
I don't know what Antayla is like to stay though, don't know if the beaches are any good as we stayed further along the coast in Cirali which would be too low key for what you're looking for. Dalaman is 10 hours by car to Cap but you might be able to fly.
Capadoccia is absolutely breathtaking, but you do need tours to get around unless you hire a car - so much to see though. Pammukale is absolutely stunning but you have to get there before the tours arrive or it can be hideous - only needs one day though. I haven't been to Ephesus so can't comment.

Hilton Dalaman was lovely. A friend has also stayed at Voyage Belek and loved it

@Reusername

A couple of other questions: are all the beaches fine white sand or are some shingly? are any parts better for snorkelling or diving?

It's not unbearable but will be 38 degrees plus.

Not many places in turkey have white sand beaches (the Lujo In bodrum does though). Most are yellow sand (not shingle).

@hilbil21

Hilton Dalaman was lovely. A friend has also stayed at Voyage Belek and loved it

We have been to the voyage Twice- it is amazing.

I've been doing some googling. First I should mention I have mobility problems currently so I struggle to walk distances. So....
hilbil21 I saw on TripAdvisor that the Hilton was too 'far' from the beach. Do you think that is accurate?
gowithme would you recommend where to stay in Cap? is it worth the visit?
ToMockaKilling Bird how far from the beach was the Barut Hermara?

@Reusername I wouldn't say so. Maybe a 3/4 minute walk? It's not right in front of the hotel but between the hotel and the beach there are some pools, a restaurant and a pancake place. So not far at all.

Thank you. I'm thinking I will focus on the Old Deniz area/Bodrum. Son 2 is a fussy eater and Antalya seems to cater for a different set of nationalities so bit worried we'll pay for fully inclusive and have to eat out each night!!

@ToMockAKillingBird I'm jealous ! It's a really lovely place. Lovely people and the food is to die for !

Ephesus and Cappadoccia are very far from Antalya.

If yo

... If you wish to stay in Antalya, look into smaller historical sites you can visit by car in that area. There are many.

If your intention is to see Ephesus, stay at Bodrum or Kusadasi. You can then also visit several other great historical sites in the area like Pergamon, and fly to Cappadoccia for a weekend.

As previous posters have said Kusadasi would be the closest for Ephesus and then you could fly Izmir-Cappadocia return.
Bodrum is good for resorts.Antalya generally caters for the Russian market.

Olu Deniz is a good idea. You're close to Fethiye which is a bustling town from which you could do some trips. Go on some boat trips eg to Butterfly Valley, visit Saklikent for some canyoning. It has some lovely river-side restaurants for lunch, and duck watching. Also the deserted village of Kayaköy. Kas is about 40 k away to the south on good roads and it's a nice, chill town. Kalkan feels a bit middle-class Brits abroad for me. Nice restaurants and stuff but a bit sterile.

Thanks ladies. I am so much further forward than last night. Would welcome any Dalaman resort recommendations. I had look at the Lujo in Bodrum. £25k for our family for 10 days ...for Turkey

@Reusername

Thanks ladies. I am so much further forward than last night. Would welcome any Dalaman resort recommendations. I had look at the Lujo in Bodrum. £25k for our family for 10 days ...for Turkey

How about the sensatori fethiye or the Liberty Fabay? The Liberty only opened last year and is situated next door to the sensatori. We have been to the sensatori and going to the Fabay in august

We have stayed at Lykia Olu Deniz which is really lovely. Right on the beach. Short taxi ride to Olu Deniz. And then Fethiye also close by. Although just thinking Lykia is massive. More like a small village then a hotel. And there are lots of steps (although there are also lifts) so might not be great for you if you have mobility issues.

I have literally just booked for us today (DH and 16 and 14 year old) to go to the Paloma Perissia hotel in Side. We have stayed in Side before and it is really lovely. Didn’t have any issues with the “international cuisine”.

We are going in August and it will be bloody hot but we like it like that!

@rollergirl11 - the Paloma looks gorgeous
@gowithme - I'm still in two mind whether to chuck in a road trip
@midsomermerderess - is Fethiye a relaxed town or more of a working place?

Hilton Dalaman is excellent