Family Holidays Overview
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Family Holidays: Southern Turkey family holidays
Take the Family holiday rating 
Why
Turkey is an incredibly interesting Mediterrenean country, sitting between Europe & Asia, and having a feel quite different to both. On the coast, there are a great many beaches on which you can relax, whilst heading inland will bring you to old villages that have been the same for years. From a cultural point of view, there are more Greek ruins in Turkey than there are in Greece, and local festivals take place throughout the year.
There are, of course, numerous options for a wonderful family holiday in Turkey. We provide some information here about a charming and highly acclaimed group of village houses called Ocakköy.
- Top left: Ölüdeniz
- Top right: Occakoy Mountains
- Bottom left: Fethiye Church
- Bottom right: Taking a break from the sea.
When
The Mediterranean region and Southern coast has mild winters and hot summers; and you can swim from late April into October. The peak tourist season is during high summer, and is particularly busy during July and August, when temperatures can reach 45° C. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, as the climate is still hot, but not unbearable, the flowers are out and the resorts are not packed with tourists. (Popular destinations can get pretty crowded in high season). Don't let the heat put you off though, as there is always plenty of shade available, so it needn't stop you visiting.
How
Transport is excellent in this Mediterranean region of Turkey. Dalaman's international Airport is only 45 mins from Fethiye, or Antalya international Airport is only 10km from the city of Antalya. Flights from the UK are frequent, increasing with additional charter flights during high season and are about four hours long. Check British Airways, Expedia flights, Onur Air, Pegasus, Turkish Air, Thomas Cook and Monarch for flights to this region. Excel Airways is our preferred airline and flys from Bristol, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Stanstead, Manchester and Newcastle.
Stay
There are many great accommodation choices for holidaying families, including stylish hotels and spas as well as family friendly resorts with great facilities or brilliant activity holiday centers. Try Thomson or Expedia Holidays.
Do
Visit Olu Deniz, arguably the best beach in Turkey, and certainly the most famous.
If you are near enough, visit Cappadocia, with it's magical fairy chimneys formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. These were then carved by different cilvilisations, over a period of more than a thousand years, to create elaborate churches and magnificent houses
Head along the coast to the Turtle Sanctuary at Dalyan, made famous by David Bellamy
The sunken city of Kekova is within an hour’s journey. It’s beautifully preserved in the salt water and teenagers will love canoeing over it
Take a Boat Trip
The "12 Island" boat trip is very good... a full day outing with plenty of time to swim and many boats have a slide into the water - often with many families on board
You can also get a return boat ride from Ölüdeniz to Butterly Valley
for
only 10YTL. A stunning beach, (with a small hippie colony), and
short walk up Butterfly Valley to a really nice waterfall. You can an also climb
out of valley to Faralya and catch a local dolmuþ back to Ölüdeniz
or
Fethiye but make sure you know transport times before you get stranded!
From Fetiye you could take a 2 day or 3 day "Blue Cruise" that goes
all
the way to Olympos. These are rather pricey and you run the risk of being stuck
with boozey teenagers for longer than you may like
Eat
Like Turkey, it's cuisine also shows influence from other regions countries and civilisations.. Turkish Cuisine, in general, consists of sauced dishes prepared with cereals, vegetables and some meat, soups, cold dishes cooked with olive oil, pastry dishes, fresh fish and dishes made from wild vegetation. Turkey also produce many foods we refer to as 'health foods', such as pekmez, yogurt and bulgur wheat. Turkish Cuisine, while rich in variety and taste, has the added benefit of providing a wonderful healthy and balanced diet and much vegetarian cuisines, often utilising it's fruits of the land and the sea..
You will be able to find international dishes in most of the larger towns, but the local food is so good, why bother?
Cost
from £2,000 to £4,000 for a family of four depending on time of year. You may no longer feel like a millionaire when you travel to Turkey with arrival of the new Turkish Lira in 2005, but Turkey remains one of the cheaper destinations in Europe.
Travel reading
Eyewitness Travel Guide: Turkey
by Suzanne Swan
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 30%
Visually inspiring introduction to Turkey.
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Ready to go
Sunsail - Club Perili, Southern Turkish Coast
from £460*
Excellent sailing and facilities, set on the edge of Datça’s shimmering bay, you will captivated!
* from £460 per person for 7 nights, includes meal plan, flights and transfers.
Tapestry Holidays
Ocakköy, Southern Turkish Coast
from £500*
A group of village houses that have been converted into holiday accommodation.
* per adult, depending on time of year
Hotel Lykia World Residence, Southern Turkish Coast
from £759*
Self contained holiday village for the perfect family activity holiday.
* prices per person: based on 2 adults sharing a Residence twin room or 3 adults and up to 3 children in a Interconnecting room on a Full Board 'plus' basis. child prices apply to ages 2-16. reductions: 3rd adult per night £11.
Club Med Beldi, Southern Turkish Coast
from £582*
Family village, great kid's clubs, circus schools, turkish baths and crystal clear sea
* from £582 per person, for 7 nights, on a all inclusive basis, including flights and transfers
Mediterranean Coast, Southern Turkish Coast
from £730*
7 nights discovering islands & inlets by boat & kayak, & interior by foot & cycle
* from £730 per adult for 7 nights, including flights, transfers, trips, some meals, accommodation and tuition.
Seaside Hotel, Ortakent, Aegean Coast, Turkey
from £499*
Secluded Seaside Hotel on the Bodrum peninsula. Fantastic views of Ortakent
* from £499 per adult for 7 nights, includes flights from London, and transfers
