Fra_Diavolo

Well, here we are only a few weeks ago and I'm still planning. Can anyone tell me how long it would take to drive the above route? Planning two nights in Fethiye, then to Kas for two more, finally driving to Antalya and spending the night, returning the car to the airport in the late morning.

Have my car rental and hotel reservations in Istanbul and Sirince, but so far have not reserved any of the three other locations. Would this be advisable in late May? Any hotel recommendations?

Thanks for your help.

laurie_ann

www.michelin.com trip planner says 182 miles Sirince to Fethiye and 4 hours 45 minutes although other posters on Fodors at least in other countries of Europe suggest you add 30-50% to the michelin times. And between Sirince and Fethiye you may want to consider to stop any of Priene, Miletus and Didema ancient ruins. We did all three in a leisurely day's drive between Sirince and Bodrum.

otherchelebi

And whatever happened to Troy, assos, pergamom, pamukkale, aphrodisias, cappadocia? And how about the city walls of constantinople? Where did all the previous information you requested and received go?

Will we be presented with a tremendous trip report to surpass all trip reports at the end?

hope your trip treats you well and your plans work out to your heart's delight, no matter how long the drive from Sirince to fethiye takes. (from 6 to 12 hours depending on which route you take and how many stops you make and what sites you visit on the way and how much time you spend when you stop for food or sightseeing, and chatting with the locals, and sharing notes with other tourists, and so forth.)

Michel_Paris

You will find that the route along the Turkish Med is way slower than planned. Twisty roads, up and down mountains...very scenic, but slower speeds (down to 20 Km/hr at points.. Kas...sigh.

Fra_Diavolo

Many thanks.

otherchelebi -- Well I streamlined the trip. Six nights in Istanbul, split 4-2 old and new. Between the stays, Sirince to Antalya. Cappadocia, out. Troy, Assos Pergamun, out. Pammukale, Afrodisias, maybe. Walls of Constantinople we will visit after seeing the Chora Church. With only 13 days on the ground -- and at least one of those jet lagged -- it didn't seem wise to try to fit in both Cappadocia and the coast, and the coast won, largely because of the Greek, Roman and Lycian ruins. Also because we might like a break from all those ruins, and thought a day or two on the water might be nice. So I'm afraid it will just be a run of the mill trip report.

We're looking forward to the trip, our first outside Western Europe and Central America in quite some time.

Sorry to miss Troy though -- I guess Sarpedon country will have to do.

FD

ekscrunchy

Where are you planning to stay in Sirince? It's a lovely town.

Fra_Diavolo

Hi eks --

We're staying at the Nisanyan Evleri in Sirince. Do you have a restaurant recommendation?

Been enjoying your report on Burma.

FD

ekscrunchy

I stayed at Nisanyan House and I loved the place; we ate dinner at the hotel and it was good, but there are also other options in town. We had lunch out but I am sorry that I cannot remember the name of the restaurant. I am sure that the Evieri house will be great as well. Sirince is charming.


http://www.nisanyan.com/

otherchelebi

f_D sounds good. will at least give you another reason to come back.

troy would have been a disappointment. assos/behramkale not so.

There will be similar sites to pergamom that you will see further South.

cappadocia is definitely one of a kind place but in a different category from all the others and possibly should be enjoyed at a separate trip, with places like Nemrut, hattusas and Alacahoyuk, as well as mardin and Hasankeyf.

Check the 'small hotels of turkey' website to make a list of places with their telephone numbers and call them before you drive to visit them. We have been pleased with all our lodging choices from the site or the book.

The faster route from Sirince to Fethiye will be through Aydin. The next will be Soke-Milas-Yatagan, but possibly with more ruins on the way including one of my favorite locations, herakleia.

Read back on one of my previous answers to you, which gives another route which includes Pamukkale and Aphrodisias, but not Mugla and Gokova.

I hope you have a map which shows the distances (usually in KM) Allow 50-60km/hr average on intercity roads, 80-95 on motorways and 40-50 on secondary roads. this should include all fuel and rest stops but not lunch.

otherchelebi

The restaurant of Bella hotel, in selcuk, across from St. John's basilica has good food.

Also, please try to have some catfood with you when you visit Ephesus and the basilica

Do not forget to have hats, water and sun cream for most of your visits to antique sites and especially to Ephesus.

PS.: the originator of 'the small hotels of turkey' is Nisanyan himself, who owns the Sirince hotel you will stay. He is also the one who converted Sirince from an abandoned old village to the haven it has become.

Fra_Diavolo

Thanks again for all the detailed information!

ekscrunchy

I agree about the hotel/B&B choices listed in the book and on their website; I agree, too, about Assos.

I loved Foca as well; I stayed in one of the B&Bs recommended on this site in that seacoast town and I highly recommend it:


http://www.smallhotels.com.tr/otl_vi...ode=map&id=432

And yes, PLEASE bring some food for the cats. We saw so many that were hungry!

bniemand

Bookmarking...need to start my Turkey research soon for a September trip and this is good input on the coast-drive-Roman-Greek-ruins that I think will be part of the trip.