My husband and I are trying to decide where we want to base ourselves on the Mediterranean in Turkey. We are looking for:

1.) something relaxing, not too crowded in July with access to the beach and reasonable hotel accomodations.

2.) Day trips (we'll have a car) we can easily make from our base to see interesting places.

3.) A family friendly, kid friendly area with a beautiful scenery

The guide book I have from Frommers recommends Fethiye and fellow Fodorites have recommended Cirali, Kas and even Kalkan.

What do you think?

Thanks!

How long do you have?
I still think you ought to have two stops rather than one to do that coast properly, maybe Patara and Cirali, both have lovely beaches.
If you want one base with a beach, then Cirali is probably the best family option. But there are a lot of things to see and do around the Fethiye/Patara area.

Fethiye in July ! You will be right in the middle of crowds unless you choose a close by area to stay but if you do not want to drive like 10-15 min. for swimming and want to be at beach you do not have a choice. Turkish people travel mostly in July and August for summer holidays plus English people who owns houses there plus all the other package or non package holiday makers. Cirali could be a better option.

Good Luck,
Murat

Thanks Murat and Croesus. My husband is asking "What about Antalya"?

as you have written

"1.) something relaxing, not too crowded in July with access to the beach and reasonable hotel accomodations."

Antalya in July..no way..not for me..

Antalya is a great city with lots of historical and importants sites..but it is large with almost a local poplulation of 1 million people and these number increase over the summer months with tourists..Antalya as a concrete city will be much more hotter and more humidthan the outlying rural areas..

The beaches are packed over the summer like sardines..I agree with Murat here ..Cirali would be your best option if you are looking for something a bit more scaled down that the typical resorts..also many local Antalya residents try to visit Cirali over the weekend escaping both the heat and crowds of Antalya.

If you choose Cirali you can easily visit Antalya on a day trip as it is just over 1 hour away..plus there are many other places of interest nearby to Cirali

Cirali was recently mentioned a few weeks back in the Sunday times..with the article...Five secret holiday spots in the Med..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...fset=12&page=2

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...fset=24&page=3

and also yesterday in the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...l-cheap?page=3

I should also add that Kas and Kalkan are a nice option however with the lack of beaches and more hilly that again kind of rules them out..and Cirali is not that far from Kas..about a 2 hour drive..with lots to see along the way..again a great day trip..