Planning a trip to Turkey in a month. We're spending 4 days in Istanbul, and then 4 days somewhere "beachy". Thanks to sequester this is an extreme budget trip, and for that reason I was leaning towards the Olympos beach area, as it's apparently a backpacker destination with modest but fun-looking "treehouse" accommodations for great prices. Has anyone been to this area and can they recommend it? I'm considering staying at Saban or Bayran's Treehouses. (I am aware they're not "real" treehouses). My desires are basically: warm weather, a nice beach for swimming/lounging, not too much touristy crap/built up tourist resort area with souvenir shops and cruise ship people, nice scenery, some degree of hiking/ruins/etc would be cool but this segment of the trip is basically for getting some much-needed beach time at a good price with tasty affordable food options. Dates I'm looking at are Sept 27-Oct 1. Any advice or alternatives (along budget lines) are appreciated. The treehouses provide lodging, breakfast, and dinner for 2 for about $45/night, so that seems hard to beat.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2124 posts
We are going to Turkey in September, and our "beach stop" will be Patara. According to my Lonely Planet, it has " ... Turkey's longest sand beach, a chunk of the Lycean Way footpath, and some of the region's most extensive ruins." Yet it's a small town, not overrun by tourists. No harbor, so no cruise ship. We are staying at Akay Pension, with air conditioning and breakfast and a top rating on Trip Advisor, for 60 Turkish Lira per night (about $30). Dinner is not included in the price, but they are said to have a wonderful restaurant with home cooking. We will be there the first week of September. I will give you an update as soon as possible after we've been there.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1506 posts
We stayed in Cirali for 2 days in 2011 and will return next month. It is near Olympos beach and ruins and also the Chimera. In addition, if you have a car, you can visit other ruins nearby. We stay at Ugar Pansiyon a small family run hotel. Nice cottages about 200 yards from the beach. Turkish breakfast is included and they also prepare dinner for those guests who would like to eat there. You can check them at booking.com.