mcboulder

We are traveling to Turkey the first two weeks of June with our teenage twins. They are well-traveled and excited about this trip. I am looking for any "must do" or "must skip". We will be in country for 11 days. Looking for ideas/recommendations for a small boat cruise. I realize this is very open-ended, but thought I would see what ideas are prompted. Many thanks!

otherchelebi

Do you mean a "small boat" cruise or a "small" boat trip?

There are 1-10 day cabin or boat charter trips from Bodrum, Gocek, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kas and Antalya.

Best 2-3 day cruisess are from fethiye, marmaris and gocek.

best day trips are from Kas, Marmaris and fethiye. day cruises can be crowded, so i recommend private hire of smaller boats.


there are no short large cruises on the Turkish coast as far as I know.

mcboulder

Sorry for being offline so long. What we mean is a Gulek. We were thinking 2-3 days on the boat and are wondering where you think is the best place to embark. I understand some places are touristy for a reason, but if there are spots along the coast that are less touristed, we would love some local insight.

As far as the hot air balloons in Cappadocia, is this highly recommended? I read a lot about it, but don't know if it is more of a tourist craze or truly worthwhile.

Thank you and thank you for all of your current/timely insight on the political/security situation in Istanbul.

mcboulder

Another general question: If one is in Turkey for 2 weeks (slightly less with travel), and primary interests are history and spending some time on the coast (which also has historical interest), is it worth it to take the time to go to Cappadocia, or is this better saved for a separate trip?

ashwinb

IF you are coming back for sure, then you could give Cappadocia a miss, but it's just swesome, I wouldnt want to miss it. You can easily manage 3 days in 2 weeks, right?
You can have a look at my page on Cappadocia here : http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...in-cappadocia/
and I was glad I did the balloon ride, you get to see the volcano(extinct), and a beautiful aerial view of the entire region. And you get to see so many historical sights in Cappadocia itself, so it's not as if you're visiting only for the landscape.

Sassafrass

Cappadocia is so unique, it stands out as a major hi-light of all our travel. Teens would really enjoy a hot air balloon flight, and the history of Cappadocia is also very interesting. For me, it is a "Do not miss" place.

otherchelebi

The locations for taking short gulet tours need to be touristy. However, most of the bays they visit are not accessible by road, so you will be in the company of other boats and if lucky few of them.

The Datca peninsula, is one of the least touristy area. it has some excellent coves ith good beaches and simple hotels or B&Bs like Hayit Buku. The only archaic site, Cnidos, is at the tip of the peninsula.

Ucagiz is also an exciting location, on Kekova Bay, a good location to take day cruises which may include kayaking and possibly snoreling and close to the interesting archaic sites of Myra, Arycanda, Patara, etc. Will need car.

A more cosmopolitan and larger version of Ucagiz is Kas, which is touristy but has the advantage of better food and some action at night.

Check these spots and also Fethiye.

You have good information on Cappadocia, but my wife and our daughters would have preferred the sea/history combination, especially with the possibility of a second trip.

I can recommend Hattusas, Ani, Ishak Pasa palace, Nemrut, Gobeklitepe, Halfeti/Rum Kale in addition to Cappadocia for your next trip.

BeyondTheBeach

Mcboulder, when I read your post, I had to ask my wife if she had been secretly posting questions!

My wife, twin teenage daughters (also well-traveled), and I are also visiting Turkey the first two weeks in June. We're doing 4 days Istanbul, four Ephesus and driving down the coast, and four Kas. Final night Istanbul.

We are also looking for a night or two on a gulek between Selcuk and Kas, so I hope you will receive recommendations regarding best embarkation points and boats.

otherchelebi

mcboulder and Beyond The Beach, I hope you have or will have a chance to read my following trip report, even though it does not include a gulet trip :


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-2010-trip.cfm

BeyondTheBeach

Otherchelebi, I read your wonderful report a few weeks back. It is informative, poetic, and hilarious. Our trip plan has already benefited from many of your reflections. I highly recommend it to mcboulder!

Best regards

mcboulder

Thanks everyone for all of the great info! I will be watching for BeyondtheBeach. Have you found any great hotels - maybe we will try one of them and run into you?!

BeyondTheBeach

mcboulder, our 4 nights in Istanbul we're renting an apartment in the Galata/Karakoy neighborhood. We're excited as we like to stay in up-and-coming areas, and this seems to hit the mark.

Our last four nights we're renting a villa in Kas, up the hill from the village center and harbor, but a close walk.

The four nights in between we need to make a reservation in Selcuk, as we'll be there one night while we tour Ephesus - probably Hotel Bella on OtherChelebi's recommendation. Next night we may splurge on a chic hotel in Turkbuku, but are leaving that flexible for now.

How old are your twins? Ours are 17 - high school seniors.

mcboulder

Hello again, I just responded on your post. I think we may stay one night in Selcuk as well, then head down to the Bodrum area. I hadn't considered renting an apt in Istanbul as I didn't realize many did that for less than a week. We have done that in Paris, then rented houses/villas in France and Italy. He have decided we will also go to Cappadocia and stay in a cave hotel for a couple of nights. Based on another post, I believe that we will stay at the 4Reasons hotel in Yalikavak. Our twins will be juniors in the fall and are 16 - boy/girl. We will be in Istanbul 6/1-6/4, if we overlap, we should meet for dinner/lunch.