Family Holidays: Aegean Coast, Turkey family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4½ stars out of 5

Why

Any budding Classicists in the family? The Aegean coast of Turkey has been home to the Greeks, the Romans and the Ottomans, all of whom left their mark. It’s like a vast outdoor museum, but you don’t have to be interested in the Battle at Troy to have a wonderful time here. There are long stretches of lovely sandy beaches surrounded by pine and olive clad hills, great resort towns such as Bodrum and Kusadasi, which offer extensive facilities for tourists, but are not over developed and of course the most spectacular classical sites in Turkey. These include the 3,000 year old ruins of Troy, the fabled city of Pergamum and one of the best ancient sites anywhere; Ephesus. Take a long, leisurely tour down the coast and come away suntanned and soaked in some fascinating history.

Endless sand and eternal blue seas at Fethiye

Top left: Sunset at the famous Bodrum Castle
Top right: One of Turkey's many ancient temples

Bottom left: Endless sand and eternal blue seas at Fethiye
Bottom right: Secluded sandy bay at Mugla

When

The peak tourist season is during high summer, and is particularly busy during July and August, when the Aegean Coast's hottest temperatures are reached, of 43° 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, such as Bodrum, 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

Izmir Airport is ideally placed for Cesme, (90 mins), and Kusadasi, (1hr 30mins). Bodrum Airport is 30 mins from Bodrum and Marmaris is 90 mins from Dalaman Airport.

Flights from the UK are frequent, increasing with additional charter flights during high season and are about four hours long. Check British Airways and Expedia flights for flights this region. Excel Airways is our preferred airline and flys from Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester.

Stay

The abundance of immaculate and vast beaches are not the only thing that the Aegean coast does well. There are also 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 Ecpedia Holidays.

Eat

Turkish cuisine reflects its long, rich history and its abundant flora and fauna. Most of us are familiar with the staples of Turkish cuisine, the kebabs and the dolmas, but on the Aegean coast it is particularly lush and there is more diversity, more fresh fish dishes, a much greater use of olive oil and a reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables. 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 and is good value for money.