Anyone been to Turkey on holiday with kids?

[ladywotlunches]

Hi

We're getting organised with our holiday plans for once this year, and are looking at Turkey as an option (Euro is so expensive now) . My only other experience of Turkey was about 10 years ago, when both me and my other half spent half the week doubled up with stomach cramps, only going when we got industrial strength anti-spasmodics from the pharmacy.

From what I've found online, the water in Turkey is now chlorinated, so should be safe to wash teeth with, eat salads etc., but my one reservation is based on previous experience. I don't fancy the same thing again for myself, let alone my 4 year old. But 10 years is a long time. All experience/advice from more recent trips greatly appreciated!

[EDmummy]

Had a fantastic holiday in Mediterranean Turkey last year. Not a single upset tummy for any of us (children 3 & 8 at the time), roads are great, supermarkets brilliant, beach fantastic, pool and gardens stunning, all amenities great. The area we were in had all modern amenities and fantastic restaurants. Certainly better developed than a number of European countries I have been to.

I would highly recommend a trip - just remember to ensure all rooms have aircon. We usually get apartments through www.holidaylettings.co.uk

[gingertom]

We have been to the Turquoise Coast each year for the past 5 years and off again this year in May. Always to the same place, a village inland a little from the sea, so cooler but still accessible to the beach. Younger son was 6 months old when we first went and no ill effects or illness to date.

We eat well, love the variety of beaches, romp around over ancient ruins and keep going back!

[ladywotlunches]

thanks guys - it sounds great! Much better than my last experience. Worth another look I think....

[Bookworm]

We have to go to Turkey every year to visit people. We've been taking our children since my daughter was 6 months old. Now we have to go in school holidays but tend to go at the end of the summer break, when it is a bit cooler than at the beginning of the holidays. My husband's advice to me is that when we are eating in restaurants, it is better to eat a grill than a casserole or a meal that has been prepared in advance. We always go self catering because we just use the apartments as a base and have never been all inclusive, so I can't comment on the quality of food in the hotels. Turkey has certainly changed a lot in the last 10 years and the tourist areas are much more similar to any other European resort than they used to be. When we are in the resort we buy bottled water but when we go to the village, we just drink tap wate because it comes straight from the mountains. If you want any advice, just PM me.

[Curmudgeon]

Yes -

but I would advise drinking bottled water though - even turkish natives avoid drinking water straight from the tap, or so we were told last year by some Turkish natives.

[lorraineliyanage]

We stuck to bottled water Had a fantastic holiday in Turkey last May with our 6 month old. She also loved the food which was great as we didn't have to try and find separate food for her. The biggest bonus of a holiday in Turkey is that they LOVE children there and nothing is too much trouble when it comes to making childcare arrangement or provisions. I can't wait to go back!

I booked through Anatolian Sky

http://www.anatoliansky.co.uk/

[prdarling]

We had an amazing trip to Mediterranean coast last summer with our two boys who were then 22 months and 3. They were treated like princes everywhere we went. Flight to Dalaman only 4.5h so bearable - airport tiny and brand new so very easy to get in and out. We rented a villa from www.ownersdirect.com. Will definitely go back