Cyprus or Turkey for a beach holiday?
 

I'm planning a 4-night trip to either Turkey or Cyprus. I'm seeking a nice authentic town with a fair amount of things to do. My main focus is the beach. Nightlife isn't important.

From looking at pictures, Turkish towns seem more scenic and greener whereas Cypriot towns look average and arid. But perhaps the pictures aren't doing Cyprus justice?

Which has the better beaches in your experience? Cyprus or the Turkish Riviera?

In Turkey have already ruled out Marmaris and Bodrum. Marmaris seems overdeveloped and resorty and Bodrum doesn't have a nice beach.

What time of year are you travelling?

Cyprus does have some nice beaches, the northwest corner around Latchi/Polis area is authentic but might be a little quiet for you. Car rental is essential in which case you could get to Paphos which has character, old castle, fab mosaics. Cyprus is very hot in peak summer so does get arid & dry. You won't find a problem with finding a town with things to see/do though. Best beaches are in the east around Ayia Napa but you may find this area too developed/busy. Limassol town beaches are dark sand but the water is clear, the beach near Curium is quite nice. You just need a car to get to them all.

"In Turkey have already ruled out Marmaris and Bodrum. Marmaris seems overdeveloped and resorty and Bodrum doesn't have a nice beach"

You are perfectly right. The good baches of Bodrum are outside, for example in the Hotel zone around Hapimag.
Much better sandy beaches in Southern Turkey:
Fethiye, Side, Anamur, Kiskalesi
pebble: Kemer (tons of hotels), Adrasan, Olympos/Cirali (both tiny)

Best beaches of Cyprus:
sand:
Engomi Beach and beach behind Agios Andreas Monastery (Blue Se bird hotel), both reachable from Dipkarpaz by car or taxi.
Bafra (Noah's Arch Hotel)
Acapulco Beach Hotel (Catalkoy)
Yalousa (Malibu Beach Hotel)
Aya Napa and Paralimni (tons of hotels)
Coral Bay (Paphos)
Pissouri
Larnaca (city hotels)
Lemessos (city hotels)
pebbles:
Latchi, Polis, Governor's Beach

For mid-Summer, I recommend the Northern and mid Aegean
and Western Black Sea

- Western Black Sea
. Bartin
. Amasra
. Sinop
. Ayancik
. Inebolu

- Northern Aegean
. Assos
. Kucuk Kuyu
. Foca
. Ayvalik, Cunda Island

- Mid Aegean
. Sivrihisar
. Gumuldur
. Akyaka


- Southwest
. Patara
. Karakum
. Uchisar
. Kekova
. Cirali
. Olympos
. Kas (rather more developed but worth a look)

- South
. Kiz Kalesi
. Narlikuyu
. Aydincik

Most of the above suggestions have antique and/or natural sites within easy reach. However, some of them require either a combination of more than one public transport or preferably a rental car.

Western Black Sea has the best natural sites. All others have great antique sites.

The beach and sand quality depends on whether you have a rental car or enjoy reaching virgin beaches by boat or prefer walking distance.

Also check average weather conditions, including sea water temperature. Black Sea and Northern Aegean will be the coolest

Thank you very much for your replies. I will look into the places you listed above.

Would you recommend Dalyan? It's within easy access to Iztuzu beach, which was recently rated the best beach in Turkey.

Another place that my got my interest is Oludeniz. It looks beautiful with its blue lagoon, but according to some reviews, the beach is overrated and only nice when viewed from above. (It's a paragliding destination)

Forgot to mention, I'm planning to travel early September.

I would not travel to Turkey at this time due to the political problems. It is a major tourist destination from Germany (where I live), and is practically being boycotted by tourists at the moment.

Greenway, I'm aware of the political situation, which is why I'm avoiding Istanbul, but I don't think a trip to the Aegean coast is risky. The worst that could happen is getting stuck in Turkey for a few more days, which isn't a bad idea to be honest.

Also, are you sure the tourists are boycotting the country? I'm having a hard time finding a hotel.

Loacker,

I specifically eliminated the too touristy and built up towns, beaches and areas.

Olu Deniz and Dalyan are both heavily British areas.
Dalyan has a large British population. It does not have much local colour left. Pubs and fish and chips.
Iztuzu beach needs boat access. The whole Dalyan Bay and Iztuzu has great sea quality, scenic and colourfull with many small inlets and a few small islands.

Kas, Kekova, Uchisar are more local and have more to offer than Dalyan.

Olu Deniz used to be good but is currently over-populated and not worth it except in April and October. Otherwise, oI've heard people call it Blackpool or Virginia Beach. However, you can consider hotel Villa Rhapsody at Kayakoy ad take short trips to Gemiler Bay or OluDeniz for your beach.

Black Sea may not do for you, but Assos or Cunda Island can be considered.

OtherChelebi,

Thanks for the tips. The reason I considered Dalyan is because it makes a good base to visit Iztuzu beach.

But it looks like there's also a great beach next to Kas. (kaputas beach)

Have you enjoyed Bodrum by the way? I know it's touristy but most people seem to prefer it to Marmaris. Is it possible to base yourself in Bodrum and do daytrips to a nice beach?

for some reason. I could not post my response

otherchelebi, what is happening at Incirlik? Last we heard they have surrounded the base. Thinking of you and your family.
Loacker, is it just you going?

Apparently and according to the news, it is a police drill to prepare for another potential coup attempt.

I think that it is actually done to show anger at the perceived slight by Pentagon and NSA.

Unfortunately, there is limited logical thinking by certain groups, institutions and people. So when an American general states an obvious fact (that most of the command level Turkish military personnel they liaised with for cooperation in all military matters including the fight against terrorism) have disappeared, those with issues will translate it as "siding with the recent coup attempt"

Macross, I'm going with a friend in early September. I have time to monitor the news and see how things progress.

Loacker, that is good thinking. I am just keeping tabs on the Incirlik AFB facebook page and they are being very quiet but the families of our soldiers are very worried. Thank you otherchelbi. I know they are due a visit from command today. I don't like it.

You could always reconsider Cyprus which was one of your original options. Cypriot cities are not the best thing to see on the island IMO but some strides have been made in the right direction investmentwise, Paphos for instance is a European city of culture for 2017 & has always been nice along the seafront, Kyrenia in the north has always been one of the most beautiful towns in Cyprus, although now in the occupied territory, the harbour and castle are still there to see, Limassol and Larnaca have had money spent on redeveloping their marinas and seafront. Both parts of the island are interesting for a visitor. Swimming in the Blue Lagoon in the Akamas & having lunch at a taverna in Latchi or Sea Caves in Paphos area and the ones near Ayia Napa is very nice. September is a lovely time to visit, the brutal heat of July/August has passed (hopefully as it has been extremely hot this year.)

Bumping. I'd like more input from someone who's been to Bodrum.

I've narrowed my options down to Kas, Side, and Bodrum. I'm reconsidering Bodrum after having read some positive things about it.

Bodrum :

- Town and closely connected satellites like Gumbet and Turgu Reis are crowded.

- Golturkbuku is expensive

- Yalikavak has also grown and somewhat expensive but fun without the crowds of Bodrum.

- Distances are not so short because of strictly enforced low speed limits.

- Many developments have hogged possible public beaches.

- about half of the pristine waater swimming locations are not sandy.

- There are large Turkish communities living in Bodrum year around.

- Bodrum has the best medical facility among those resorts you have mentioned.


+ Side is touristy but has some very nice sandy beaches.

= It is more low profile in terms of trends, fashions, arts, and budget of visitors.

= It also has a large residential population just a few miles inland.

- Side is the farthest from an airport among the three.


- Kas has the most local colour and a more interesting population and visitors than Side and Bodrum.

Kas it is then. Flight to Dalaman is booked. But the transfer from the airport is really expensive. It's $75 one-way. Can I take the bus? As I understood I have to take the bus to Fethiye then take another one to Las. Is that correct?

Consider getting off the bus at highway intersection at Fethiye exit and pick another bus going towards Kas, to save at least one hour. However, I have no idea how easy this will be. You can ask at the airport.

Another option is to make hotel reservation at some place like Hide Away Hotel which may provide free or cheap transfeer.
There may also be dolmus (minibus) to Kas from the turnoff or even from Dalaman.

These companies gives price of TL180-185 = $60
http://www.dalamanhavalimanitransfer...C5%9E+TRANSFER
http://www.dalamanhavalimanitransfer.../kas-transfer/


There are bus routes from Kas and prices on this site :
http://www.batiantalyatur.net/?Bid=196955