Hi,

We will be traveling to Turkey late August thru early September. Our plan is to book first 2 nights in Istanbul, transportation to Cappadocia, and 3 nights accommodation in Cappadocia.

From there, we hope to play things by ear a bit, probably visiting Konya, Antalya or Kalkan/Kas for the remaining 6 or 7 night we have remaining.

My question is, how difficult would it be to book spur-of-the-moment transportation and accommodation in Antalya/Kalkan/Kas during, roughly, September 4 - 9.

Thanks for any insight.

Hi TerriT,

I am not sure that you will have problem to find a seat for your transportation or room for your hotel in Antalya region. BUT if you are looking for special hotel you may have problem in Kalkan or Kas. Because these 2 town has limited hotels and rooms, I recommend you reserve your room before go, just in case. There are many DOLMUS (small bus for transportation) between Antalya to Kalkan and Kas. So you won't have any problem with transportation.

I recommend you reserve your flight ticket from Istanbul to Kayseri because you may have problem to find seats in a week advance. If you are going to use bus instead, you won't have problem because there are many busses companies going to Nevsehir.

Hava a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Thanks, Sinan.

That's helpful....I don't like to be overscheduled when I'm on vacation, but also don't want to have to sleep on the street!!

Do you have any hotel suggetions in Kalkan?

Thanks again for your response!

Hi TerryT,

Here are some hotels I can recommend. The best one is a little bit outside of town :
Club Patara their web page really slow but if you be patient you will get it

http://www.clubpatara.com

Second is Club Xanthos which is in town I don't have their web page If you want to see the pictures of hotel go to:

http://www.traveltoturkiye.com/akden...lubXantos.html

Kartal yuvasi (Eagles Nest) the another nice hotel in Kalkan which they don't have web page.(maybe they have but I don't have )
Here is the picture of hotel.

http://www.traveltoturkiye.com/akden...talYuvasi.html

I hope these hotels are OK for you if not please let me know.

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Hi TerriT,

I live in Cappadocia right now and used to reside in Kalkan...

This could be also some update for Sinan,

Club Patara is not at its best anymore ( both out of own experience and word of mouth recent stories etc.)

Xanthos is fine, new general manager is a friend of mine and its a cute hotel at the Kalamar Bay area of Kalkan.,

Eagles Nest( Kartal Yuvasý ) has a good location, rooms are a bit small, Villa Mahal is my real favourite but as suggested by Sinan they are not big hotels and there are many travellers returns each year so they are usually full most of the times. I managed this place until few years ago and my 1st vote goes to Villa Mahal my eyes closed. ( before Mahal, managed Club Patara's hotel as well )

I wont be able to give the web addresses here right now but if you wish drop me few lines for any questions you may have for both destinations.

From Cappadocia better to self drive or driven othervise 10 hrs bus ride will lead you to Antalya. Midibuses from Antalya to Kas or Kalkan are slow and will take you 5 hours instead of 3. Actulaly its a beautiful but long way about 220 kms. Once you are there you are at your temporary heaven

Have a wonderful time in Turkey...

Murat
[email protected]

Hi,

Thank you both for your recommendations!

I didn't realize the bus would be 10 hours to Antalya! If we rent a car and drive to Antalya from Cappadocio, how long would this take?

Thanks for the hotel recommendations.....I'm going to look into them, especially Villa Mahal!

We were thinking of staying one night in Beldibi? Do you know of any small, intimate hotels in that town?

Thanks again for your help!

terriT, beldibi is a plave of big resort hotels. There are some small ones but difficult to call them intimate.
However, from the big but nice ones my favorite is Renaissance Antalya Resort and little further Beldibi at Camyuva Berke Ranch has some charm along the small ones.

Antalya is 580 kms. from Cappadocia via mountain road ( via Akseki )The road is nice and it should take about 6 to 7 hours. Ofcourse you have the option of visiting Konya in between.

A small cosy hotel in Antalya old town could be also considered...

Regards,

Murat

Ps: if you can get hold of Mahal ask ipek the owner and give my regards, hopefully she can help you with reservation.

Hmm...that's a good thought about Konya. Is it halfway between Cappadocia and Antalya?

Regards,
Terri

Hi TerriT,

There is VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE ROAD BETWEEN KONYA and MANAVGAT (ANTALYA) You have to drive Konya to Seydisehir to Akseki. NOT DRIVE TO Konya to Beysehir to Akseki road is very dangerous for foreign, some place of the road very narrow 2 cars can not pass eachother. Be carefull PLEASE.

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Hi TerriT,

Konya is 2,5 to 3 hours drive away from Cappadocia with fantastic scenery and easy drive. After Konya mountain driving with beautiful forest scenery. Drive is easy at many respect and one can enjoy it really. Many places to give a break for in between.

Depending on your scedule you could leave after breakfast from Cappadocia, explore Konya fully and saty overnight there.

Regards
murat,
[email protected]

Thanks, Proper Travel, for your comment on driving from Cappadocia to Konya....I was worried just a little because of Sinan's comment about the roads!

Sounds like a beautiful drive. I'm sure we will be fine.

BTW, I read about Villa Mahal in the Frommer's guide...it sounds beautiful. We will try to get reservations there as soon as we get our air tickets/schedule finalized, hopefull this week.

You all have been a great help in our planning!

Cheers,
Terri T

Sinan was mentioning another direction go round Beysehir, which he might be right. I did not drive that direction of the road recently.The road I mention is prety good and easy.

Have fun in Turkey

Hi TerriT and Murat,

I road I wrote between Konya and Manavgat (Antalya) via BEYSEHIR which I don't recommended you is old road. in 1992 goverment built the second road via SEYDISEHIR which is the road many people have been using since 1992. Since the new road opened I was driving via Beysehir which is still becatiful road for the one who love panorama. BUT the problem is YOU DON'T KNOW THE ROAD and DON'T KNOW WHERE IS THE PROBLEM CURVES or NARROW ROAD. I have to admit that I still love the old one if I am fresh I prefere drive via old one BUT I NEVER RECOMMEND THIS OLD ONE TO ANY FOREIGN.

One more time PLEASE DON'T USE THE ROAD VIA BEYSEHIR. Thanks for taking advise from me NOT to use this old road.

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Hi Sinan,

Thanks for the advice on the roads....I misunderstood your post.....I thought you were saying that it was not safe to drive there at all! But now I see you're suggesting that we take one route over the other.....I had just not inspected the map closely yet!

Thanks for your advice. We can't wait to go to Turkey!

Hi TerryT

I am sorry that you misunderstood me. There are 2 ways between Konya and Antalya (Manavgat) when you look at the map. One of them is old road which I DON'T RECOMMEND YOU the another one which you can use is NEW ROAD. Although there is one more road which is longest one is via EGIRDIR LAKE. I created map for you and put into my web page. You'll understand me if you go to the URL below

http://www.traveltoturkiye.com/akden...ntalya_map.gif

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Hello,

Well, I have my itinerary very close to final....I have just a few more questions -- you all have been a great source of information...

Is it possible to take a morning bus from Cappadocia to Konya, exoplore Konya during the day, and then take an overnight bus to the Kalkan area from there?

Also, is it possible, while in the Kalkan area, to rent a motorized scooter, like a Vespa, to explore a little in the Mediterranean area?

Or, if not, is it fairly easy to travel around by bus or taxi in the Kalkan/Kas/Patara areas?

Thanks for any info!

Hi TerryT

<Is it possible to take a morning bus from Cappadocia to Konya, exoplore Konya during the day, and then take an overnight bus to the Kalkan area from there?>

You have to start very early if you want to do this route the way you like. Yes possible to travel to Konya then take a taxi one place to another for your visit then go back to BUS STATION for your KALKAN. But there is one problem between Konya and Kalkan because you have to go to Antalya then to Kalkan, because you may not find any bus to Kalkan from Konya expecially
after 7.00PM.

<Also, is it possible, while in the Kalkan area, to rent a motorized scooter, like a Vespa, to explore a little in the Mediterranean area?>

Yes you can find many scooters in that area. But I recommend you rent a car.

<Or, if not, is it fairly easy to travel around by bus or taxi in the Kalkan/Kas/Patara areas?>

There are many DOLMUS (MIDI BUS) between small towns and you don't have any problem if you have time. Dolmus don't have airconditionier and when you get to Antalya area temprature sometime may increase to 110 F (35 C) with humid.

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Sinan,

What is wrong with the motorized scooters? Are they old, or just dangerous?

Terri T.

They are dangerous. Especially in the place that you are going to. Dolmus drivers or other drivers don't care about any scooter or Bicycle

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

I agree with Sinan on scooters in Kalkan. Places you want to visit are outside and roads are sometimes curvy and narrow.

There is very early bus to Konya frm Cappadocia. From Konya if you want to skip Antalya you can travel to Fethiye and then small midibuses are hourly from Fethiye to Kalkan. Drive takes about 1 hour and a quarter. From Antalya to Kalkan midibuses takes about 4,5 to 5 hrs. So Fethiye is more comfortable and quicker option.

To visit important archeological sites around Kalkan you can eiyher take daily tours with a guide or hire a car preferably with A/C

Regards

Murat