Our go-to family vacation destinations
The Turkish Coast offers the sort of classic family vacation by the sea because of its unhurried simplicity. Days are spent exploring the jagged coastline's innumerable islets and inlets, playing around in sailing boats, swimming in coves of brilliant blue sea, and strolling along coast walks fragrant with thyme and umbrella pines. Nights are spent outside thanks to the long, hot summers. In the balmy evenings, families gather to share tales over meze of the best local fare and Aegean seafood while dining al fresco on terraces by the water. In comparison to other Mediterranean countries, Turkey offers outstanding value for money when it comes to family beach vacations.
We are THE TIMES' top pick as the best family-friendly hotel in Turkey!http://t.co/oepGGnb6aw @janeeknight @thetimes pic.twitter.com/32uKIA6oTA
— Hillside Beach Club (@HillsideFethiye) July 11, 2014
Where should one go on a nearly 1,000-mile-long coast? With its glossy restaurants and clubs, the Bodrum Peninsula, which has long been the haven of Istanbul's intelligentsia and has been on our radar since Mick and Bianca Jagger vacationed there in the 1970s, attracts older children. Alaçati, the smart set's best-kept secret farther north on the Cesme Peninsula, appeals to all ages thanks to its inviting boutique hotels that have a homey atmosphere and enough beach bars and surfer hangouts to keep teenagers happy. Then there are the hardly noticeable areas in between, which are home to tranquil fishing communities, rustic inns, historic sites, and expanses of uninhabited beaches where turtles lay their eggs. The coastline is best seen from the ocean, and the calm waters make it the ideal place to learn to sail.
Absolutely the right choice!😃 @hillsidebeachclub is chosen as 🔹The best family-friendly hotel in Turkey🔹 by The T... pic.twitter.com/PUni6D95Eo
— Guido Ricciuti (@Guiduz83) July 10, 2014
Here are the top family-friendly hotels in Turkey, whether you have young children who love the beach, little sailors, or adolescents who stay up late.
Fethiye's Hillside Beach Club
Most suitable for: creative kids clubs
Hillside Beach Club is a charming beach getaway created with families in mind. It is situated on a quiet cove of white sand, lapped by turquoise sea, and bookended by cliffs covered with pine trees. The entire location is magnificent, with suites featuring connecting rooms with shared balconies, six restaurants and bars, three beaches (one of which is adults-only), and two spas. The innovative lineup of workshops and events for kids and adults, which includes BFI screenings, drumming workshops, silk painting, jazz yoga, and live music on the beach and a floating stage, stands out. Three kids clubs also offer activities like sailing, diving, e-biking, tennis, and DJing sessions for tweens and piano lessons for primary schoolers. An excellent choice for single kids who can make friends effortlessly. Nearby are Fethiye and all outdoor activities (hiking, paragliding, diving, and ruins).
Family rooms start at £998 per night.
Address: Belen Cad. No:132 Kalemya Koyu, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye
The Bodrum Loft
Best for: multigene
Bodrum Loft, a new development on the peninsula's breathtaking north shore, has a grown-up vibe, although its villas are great for families. The five-star resort, which shares the same architecture as the adjacent Macakizi, is arranged like a hamlet on a hillside surrounded by evergreen trees. It has pleasant indoor-outdoor eating terraces and bars, pools, and gardens down to waterside sun decks floating on the Aegean. A great choice for multigenerational and family groups are the 36 big, light-stone villas, which each offer two, three, or four bedrooms (plus a room for the nanny).
Listed for €589 for two-bedroom homes.
In Turkey, the address is Göltürkbükü, 48483 Bodrum/Mula.
Alavya, Alacati
The best for beaches and culture
Alaçati, a favorite among Istanbul's elite, is still somewhat of a well-kept secret among visitors from the UK. In reality, Alaçati is nicer, with more of a boho-chic atmosphere amid its cobblestone streets, lighted with artisan stores and classy restaurants with gardens where rattan lamps swing from fig trees. Many compare this charming fishing village to Bodrum from thirty years ago, but that isn't quite accurate. The wine and cuisine industry on the peninsula is thriving, and the honey-hued ruins of ancient Ephesus are close by.
Alavya perfectly captures the essence of Alacati. This charming hotel was built by the charismatic couple Rana and Erol Tabanca out of six ancient buildings. It is tastefully furnished with antiques and fascinating art, and at its center is a garden and pool terrace dotted with parasols. Son Emrecan, who as a toddler used to say "Alavya Mother," and daughter Selina, who is their sustainability ambassador, significantly contributed to the establishment's knowledge. The lofts are excellent for families, in addition to the rooms and suites (which feature adorable wrought iron balconies).
Accommodations start at €300 B&B for two people (€200 for each additional person; children under 6 stay free).
Address: Alaçat, 13003, Sk No. 1, 35937 Çeşme/İzmir, Turkey
Bey Evi, Alacati
Best for: families that surf
While Alacati is praised for its bohemian charm, its beaches occasionally go unnoticed. Many of them exist, ranging from calm coves with mild blue shallows to wild and windy expanses of beach that attract enthusiastic windsurfers and kite surfers (hold onto your hats).
A tranquil garden and pool are tucked away at the rear of the 15-room, family-run Bey Evi, which was built from two old homes. An outstanding restaurant is at the front (plus a poolside woodfired oven for kid-friendly pizzas and burgers). It is operated by the incredibly friendly Merve Umur and her husband Yigit, a young pair who are familiar with all the top surf teachers in the region and who can organize (discounted) lessons and guide where to locate the greatest breakers. Up to four people can sleep in a premium room, and some of them link to one another. (Just children ages eight and older.)
Price: From €190 for deluxe rooms
Address: 126 Yeni Mecidiye Mahallesi, Alaçat, Kemalpaşa Cad., 35937 Esme/Zmir, Turkey
D Resort Goçek
Ideal for: novice sailors
This report of two parts has a pleasant, nautical atmosphere. It is located in the posh sailing town of Gocek, Turkey's Salcombe. Contemporary rooms, a breakfast area, and a spa are located around several pools. From there, guests may ride hotel bikes or golf carts—always a kid's favorite—to the beach, a gelateria, and the fantastic D-Breeze restaurant that looks out over the lake. Don't anticipate much of a nightlife in Goçek; it's mostly low-key outdoor eateries. Goçek is known for its sailing, and this region of the Turkish coast is perfect for learning, with countless islets, inlets, and bays to explore by boat and tranquil, pleasant, blue-green seas that are beginners' paradise.
Price: Three-person rooms start at €180; a two-bedroom presidential suite starts at €1,098.
Location: Göcek, Stk Koçman Cd No. 8, 48300 Fethiye/Mula, Turkey
Six Senses Kaplankaya
Ideal for: students in primary school
Four Seasons The huge spa at Kaplankaya is its main draw, but families also adore the location. The resort, which is situated on a hillside on a barren stretch of coastline west of Bodrum, is the size of a small village. Top-tier villas and independent suites offer the appearance of a well-manicured suburb; some feature their gardens and swimming pools and stunning views of the Aegean. You may travel to many beautiful, sandy beaches in golf carts. There are fantastic meze and grill restaurants, and a beach club specifically for families. Kids clubs (for children aged four to twelve) offer a variety of sports as well as thoughtful and artistic activities. There are also activities for teenagers as well as childcare. Although there is some real cleansing occurring here, you wouldn't know it from the abundance of pieces of bread, pastries, and local cheeses served for breakfast. Try explaining to a child of eight why they aren't allowed to eat six different kinds of cake for breakfast.
Price: A three-person family may book a deluxe king room for £341 B&B.
Address: 48200 Milas/Mula, Turkey, Bozbük, Merkez Sokak No:198
Learn about Turkey's top hotels.
Alacati, Biblos
Ideal for: teenagers
Alacati is a haven for teens as well, thanks to its markets, souvenir shops, and vibrant (but respectable) nightlife in its pubs and glitzy beach clubs. The opulent new Biblos resort is a representation of "the new Alacati." It is large and expensive, with several restaurants, cocktail bars, and a beach club. While the aesthetic—palms, cacti, white interiors with brass accents—suggests glam young things, there are also a lot of family rooms, up to two- and three-bedroom residences, and the party-sized Beach Villa.
Price: From £415 for family rooms (sleeping 4).
Address: 18012 Sk No:2/A, Alaçat, 35930 Esme/Zmir, Turkey