Nauhar_Rana

Hi,there are 6 of us travelling to Istanbul and Bodrum,Turkey on the 24th August(for 9 nights-4 nights in Bodrum,1 night on a Gullet and 4 nights in Istanbul)) and would like to get suggestions on wether to book a self drive car in Bodrum or it is not required. My parents are in their 70's(young at heart) and I would like to inquire about the Gullets in Bodrum,Turkey...we would like to charter a Gullet(boat) for one night on the 28th August. Any suggestions on how and where to book as we have not made any bookings and thought we'd book when we get to Bodrum as we have 3 days there before we get on the boat. How is Antalya-worth a trip? What to do during the days in Istanbul? Any good suggestions for restaurants in both places? We are big foodies but not necessarily fine dining-just places with character.....

otherchelebi

Bodrum is a peninsula where a car would come handy if you wish to discover different beaches and restaurants, as well as some antique cities like herakleia, Miletus, Didyma and Priene. If you wish to lounge at the beach or the pool sipping your drinks, to go shopping for tourist stuff once the sun is set, to party wildly every night and sleep till noon the next day, you will not need a car. In fact, you should not get a car.

if you do rent a car, you're going to need a van or similar for six people because Turkish rental cars are usually rather small, and for sightseeing you should consider driving a few hundred kilometres. You should try restaurants at Golturkbuku and Yalikavak and not feel limited to Bodrum town or the nearby areas of Gumbet and Bitez. (The restaurant of Divan Palmyra at Golturkbuku is terrific)

In Istanbul, I hope you do not get stuck at sultanahmet in the heat with all the other tourists, eating the food the restaaurateurs think tourists should eat.

if no other restaurant, you must try ASSK Kahvesi, near MIA MENSA and/or Mia Mensa itself, on the Bosphorus.

Please check some of my other posts recent and older for more restaurant suggestions in Istanbul.

AlessandraZoe

I think it may be rather late to book a gulet from Bodrum for August 28. I've heard, but cannot be sure, that there's a 3-night minimum for these things.

A quick "booking a gulet for one night" Google search has more or less confirmed that impression.

However, hope does spring eternal. Good luck.

rovingjay

If you don't manage to book an overnight gullet, you might consider a day-trip on a gullet. There's some day boats that take a max of 8 people on it, so you could hire the whole boat for the day, and if the wind is right, you may get an opportunity to do some do some of the trip using sail-power. If you want more information, I can post a couple of contacts.

If you're based in Bodrum, and fancy exploring the peninsula, but don't want to rent a car for all the time you're there, you can navigate around the peninsula easily using the dolmus.

One of my favourite restaurants in Bodrum is Berk Balik. It attracts a big Turkish clientele. It's serves traditional Turkish Food, and delicious fish. It's on the far end of Bar Street - past all of the touristy places. They have outdoor seating and also an upstairs patio with a view of the harbour and castle. Not fine dining - but not down and dirty local dining either.

Jay

Nauhar_Rana

otherchelebi-thanks so much and will definitely keep the names in mind...in fact will email myself after copypasting all the names so that I remember..we definitely plan to drive around and have hired a van for the days we are there....

AlessandraZoe-yes,I believe it is difficult to book one now as nobody is committing for a one night Gullet...we'll have to try when we get there...thanks

rovingjay-Yes, we may have to do that(day trip) but am still keen on the overnighter as I believe it is magical...and have been dreaming about sleeping under the stars out on the deck...if you have some contacts,please do send them to me thanks for the restaurant in Bodrum-love off the beaten track places...will keep a lookout for Berk Balik....sounds like my kinda restaurant....cheers and thanks..