Bodrum

Bodrum is located on the Aegean coast of Turkey. This vibrant resort is building an excellent reputation for itself as a lively and fun-filled holiday destination. From the minute you visit Bodrum you’ll be struck by its incredible beauty and how vivid everything is - the colours of the sea and the sky all seem more intense. Homer, not of the Simpsons fame but of The Iliad fame recognised this and described Halicarnassus, present day Bodrum as “the land of eternal blue”.

Splitting the bay into two harbour areas is a small peninsula where the Castle of St Peter sits dominating the skyline. This impressive castle built by the crusaders in the 15th century and is now a museum of Underwater Archaeology. Bodrum today is a perfect blend of chaotic streets and beautiful architecture married with the modern demands of a tourist resort.

As a family holidays destination Bodrum ticks a lot of boxes as there are many hotels which cater for the British holiday maker and there are lots of things to do and see, more later. However, after accentuating the positive the downside, if it can be considered one, is that Bodrum is not really a sandy beach resort. The beaches around this area are made of shingle (sand and small stones) and can be sometimes difficult to walk so we always advise taking either flip flops or swimming shoes for the kids as they can keep them on all the time. If you want sand then head for the beaches at Gumbet or Bitez. However, many holiday makers just like to stay at their hotel and sit and enjoy the sun while the kids are playing in the pool – a lot less messy!

It is worth noting for families with very young children who may feel intimidated by busy streets - Bodrum can get really hectic, especially at high season and in particular the evenings. This is when people hit the streets looking for food, drink, a nightclub or just out for a stroll enjoying the vibrancy of this resort.

The pedestrianised area of Bodrum on the Dr Alim Bey, Caddesi is great for a bit of retail R&R. Here you’ll find a tremendous amount of stalls and shops selling lovely souvenirs and gifts such as jewellery, pottery and carpets and some not so lovely stuff, like counterfeit goods and clothing, which may appear inexpensive but the quality is invariably cheap!

Take a gander over to the Bodrum Amphitheatre, which is now in ruins but you certainly can get the idea how it would have looked and felt many hundreds of years ago with over 14,000 seats watching a re-enactment of a glorious battle victory.

Another trip to consider is to take a cruise on a Turkish gullet and enjoy this areas beautiful coastline from a different perspective. Or if you or your family prefer a wetter activity then why not learn how to windsurf at the various windsurfing schools or even water-skiing! Should none of these activities float your boat then how about a trip to Dedeman Aqua Park, just outside of Bodrum.