We will be traveling from Selcuk/Ephesus to Antalya at the end of June. The big question: 1. What is driving like along the coast? We would like to do buses but this may not work for this area. So do we rent a car to drive and then drop it off in Antalya?
Thanks
Hi Michael,
We were in Turkey last May and the Coastal part of our trip was the most difficult to figure out! We decided not to rent a car though many who have done so say that it's perfectly fine to rent a car and drive in Turkey.
We stayed at Hotel Bella in Selcuk and they helped us make our bus reservations from Selcuk to Antalya (I think it was about 5-6 hours on the bus but they had wireless Internet access and great snacks!) From there we took a smaller van to Cirali. In Cirali we stayed at Hotel Canada. It's not fancy but very comfortable.
The hotel is a 5-10 minute walk from the beach but they have bicycles you can use. We liked it there but it's pretty isolated. If you just want to hang out for a few days in a really relaxing setting consider Cirali.
If you really want to explore the coast, a car seems to be the best choice.
Michael - One of the last Great deals are the seacoast Hotels in Turkey. Because they are not currently part of The EU the prices are incredible. In Kusadasi, for example, a seaside hotel complete with all meals as well as all the alcohol you can drink in under 90 Euros per night - An excellent example is -
http://www.adakule.com/Default.aspx
As far as driving the turkish coast - I'm not sure why so many people on here fear driving in Europe - probably a lot more careful drivers than we have in this country!!!
Greg
Greg, and Sharon thank you for your helpful feedback. We are staying a week in Istanbul and then heading to Selcuk for a couple of nights to see the Roman Ruins. From there we will head to the Med. Coast. We really want a great beach to chill out on for a few days then head along the coast to Kalkan. I am a big antiquity person so the ruins are high on my list of must see places. We thought we would stay at the Vila Mahal in Kalkan for several more nights. We will end up in Anatalya and fly out from there.
I usually like to take public transport when traveling but I am thinking with wanting to see the ruins a car might be best. The question becomes exactly where to rent it at. I am thinking Selcuk and just driving south from there.
Michael, renting in Selcuk and dropping off in Antalya sounds like a good plan to me.
If you have a chance, the Roman ruins at Olympos near Cirali are really interesting as well!
Easiest way to rent a car is from the Izmir Airport--they have both international car rentals and Turkish car companies. My experience is that the Turkish companies do not tend to charge a drop off fee if they have an affiliate in the city where you plan to drop the car.
If youlike sandy beaches, Patara wins hands down. Most Mediterranean beaches are pebble beaches, but Patara is a golden sand beach. Not a lot of infrastructure there, but it's a great place to chill out.
If you enjoy ruins, here are some suggestions. Phaselis, along the coast, combines Roman ruins with three beautiful bay beaches. Myra has the best Lycian ruins--the cliffside tombs are particularly interesting. And Demre has the ruined church of St. Nicholas--yes, that Siant Nicholas, so don't miss the incongruous statue of red-suited Santa just outside of town.
Cappadocia is one of the travel treasures of the world. I would highly recommend that you try to spend a few days in that region and have a look, if at all possible. It's an amazing place to explore. The overnight bus from Antalya to Goreme makes it cheap, comfortable, and easy.
Very helpful feedback. I am working on the trip now and looking into the car rental situation. I hope the driving is not too crazy.
Hotel recommendations in Patara or Phaselis? I would like a place on or close to the beach.
