Cheap Self Catering Holidays in Turkey
Now more than ever people are seeking value for money when it comes to their holiday. Over the years self catering holidays in
Turkey have been discovered by those looking to get the most out of their holiday budgets. Turkey offers excellent value in a number of areas including food, drink and transportation. Holidaymakers can find some wonderful restaurants and pay a fraction of the prices they expect in the UK, this is especially true when visiting some of the lesser known or relatively undiscovered resorts. You don't have to do much searching on the internet to find stories of people trapped on all inclusive resorts where the food is poor and ended up having to go in to the town to have a decent meal! That's not to say there aren't excellent all inclusive resorts available, there are.
There is another thing to consider with regard to finding cheap self catering in Turkey, during the boom years buying a holiday let for an extra income became very popular among those who could afford it. Competition between holiday home owners increased as the number of rentals on the market increased. Now, during this time of economic downturn those who purchased a holiday home purely for personal use are looking to their properties to help them out financially, increasing competition even further. This means that there are some fantastic deals to be found and it's always worth haggling with the owner to try and get a little extra off, you have nothing to lose!
Flexibility of Self Catering in Turkey
Many people see their holiday as a rare chance to break free from the repetitive schedule of home life and take things as they come, at a more relaxed pace where they are in control. The nine-to-five obligations of work and school can be forgotten, things can be done when you want to not when someone says you have to. Although some holidaymakers prefer the structured nature of all-inclusive holidays, many prefer to do their own thing at their own pace.
As we stated earlier wining and dining can be excellent value in Turkey and it can be a wonderful experience to find restaurants that meet your own tastes. Turkey enjoys one of the most diverse culinary experiences anywhere, with influences taken from all over the world.
Benefits of renting an apartment in Turkey
Renting a villa or apartment in Turkey can be a revelation to those who previously have only resided in hotels. The increased level of privacy is one of the popular reasons that people elect to return to self catering year on year. Overcrowded pools and sunbathing areas are a common gripe of people who stay in high-rise hotels. You will quickly find that there are a host apartments and villas located on small gated complexes that offer relaxing, tranquil breaks with no danger of having to get up at 5am in order to guarantee use of a sun lounger.
Renting an apartment or villa in Turkey ~ Advice
So with more self catering options than ever before what should you watch out for when searching for you're dream holiday accommodation? Well of course most people will go online to find their place in the sun. The web is a fantastic tool not just for finding something you like but for deciding whether it's value for money. You can easily find similar properties that are on the rental market and quickly determine if it's a bargain or a rip-off!
There are some good pointers to keep in mind as you browse the various holiday home listings. If the property owner has an excellent apartment or villa that they are proud of then they're going to show it off. They should want to convey as much as possible to those viewing their listing, both information and pictures. Why doesn't the villa listing have any internal photos? Why doesn't the apartment listing have any external pictures? Just keep these things in mind, it may not be for any reasons to mislead, perhaps they have a fantastic property but lack a little on promoting it. If you are at all unsure then contact the owner and request more information / photos as needed. Most owners will be only too happy to help and provide you with as much information as you require.
Make sure the accommodation is suitable for children
Travelling with children can be both challenging and rewarding. It's a good idea to make sure that the rental property meets your requirements with regard to children. If your children are budding explorers (as most are!) then you might want to ensure that the holiday home is secure, for example if you're staying on a complex is it walled?
Are there any amenities you require, a cot or high-chair for example? Do you want activities or facilities to keep your children occupied, kid's pool or park for example.
You probably don't want to rent a villa that has been decorated with expensive antiques. It is always worth checking with the owner about things which concern you. If you find a property you like but there's a glass topped coffee table that worries you then mention it, they may be happy for you to move it or may remove it for you altogether.
Paying for your accommodation
Your holiday should be an enjoyable experience, please visit our
booking advice page to help avoid being scammed.
Learn the language
One of the biggest selling points of Turkey is the friendly people. Yes it's possible to only speak English for the duration of your stay and not run in to problems or misunderstandings, but if you can say just a simple 'hello' in Turkish the locals will be very pleased and appreciate the effort. And once you've mastered that you might just find it becomes fun to learn new words!
Afraid of driving abroad?
Many people are not keen on driving overseas and Turkey can be something of a departure from driving in other countries. There are plenty of airport transfer companies which will take you to your accommodation and return you to the airport at the end of your stay. It is straight forward to find and book transfers on the internet, try asking your apartment / villa owner for a recommendation. Whilst searching for your holiday rental in Turkey you'll find more than one property you like in the same area and send out multiple enquiries. It can be worth asking in your initial enquiry if they can recommend a transfer company, this way you get more than one owners recommendation!
Plan your holiday
If you have in mind particular attractions you want to visit in Turkey then it can certainly be worth spending a little time researching which companies operate trips and tours in the area, you should also get a good idea of the prices from this. If you're keen to jet-ski or scuba dive are there any age or health restrictions you need to know about?
Responsible travel
We hear a lot of stories in the media about the negative environmental impact of holiday travel - air travel and so on. Keep in mind that whilst enjoying the sun we can be a positive influence on the local economy and environment too. Little things like buying local produce and respecting local traditions and culture can be a big step in ensuring your holiday can be good for you and the local area.
What about the accommodation in which you stay, could this be improved in any environmental way? For example something as simple as letting the owner know about a dripping tap is helpful, certainly in areas that are prone to droughts.
Feedback
Always provide feedback. Your feedback should be very important to the apartment / villa owner. Future guests can benefit from feedback that has been taken on board by the owner.