Accomodation

There are hundreds of options for cheap accommodation in Turkey, and only in the high season should you be a little wary of booking in advance. At other times, you can often bargain the price down.

The 5 budget options include:

1-Free Accommodation on the Boats - If you really want to make a 3 day boat cruise around fethiye , it is better for you to call our booking number (0252 6149312). Or come on board at fethiye marina and get FREE ACCOMODATION .You can have FREE ACCOMODATION before and after cruises on one of our boats. Also you would not pay any COMMISIONS to the pensions.In winter you can stay as long as you want on the boats and you can use the kitchen.

2-Hotels - the cheaper hotels are good budget options, especially if you get together and take a 3 or 4-bed room.  Rooms with shared bath are cheapest.  Most hotels will provide an unexciting breakfast, but it’s worth it for the free fill!

3-Pensions - often the best options. These small family-run guesthouses are good value and very friendly.  Rooms are sparse but clean and there’s usually a good choice of single, double, triple, quad, dorm rooms with or without bath. Many  places will have a kitchen and offer various meals separately, or on a half-board payment (advisable if the pension is very isolated).

4-Hostels - There are very few genuine hostels in Turkey but the word ‘hostel’ is often used to attract budget travelers. Many of them are excellent pensions that have joined the Turkish Youth Hostel Association.  All have the cheapest dorm rooms, ensuite rooms, rooms with shared bath, good restaurants and loads of info for budget travelers.

 5-Camping grounds - Even if you are not carrying a tent, there are lots of options at camping grounds.  Many places hire out tents, or have A-frame bungalows/treehouses you can stay in.  These vary vastly from simple wooden huts with mattresses to 2-story Wendy houses with en-suite bathrooms.  The best sites attract the Turkish holidaymakers so the on-site restaurants are usually very good.
 

A few points to remember:
* Always bargain the price and see the room before committing.
* Pay particular attention to the bathroom - does it have 24 hour hot water? - check the water pressure.
* If noise bothers you, see if the hotel is near a late night bar, a busy road, or most importantly a mosque (5 pm morning prayer calls  often irritate sleepy westerners!).  Take some advice, bring earplugs!
* Many pensions will pick you and your pack up from the otogar (bus station), so try to telephone.
* If the pension runs up a tab for your bill, keep a check on how much you are spending - you don’t want a nasty shock when you leave!

Recommendations
There are so many choices of accommodation, we simply can’t list them all, but here are some personal favourites which have been recommended by backpackers and travelers:

Istanbul -  Phone ahead to avoid hassle, but you will always find a bed somewhere.  The main budget area is Sultanahmet with plenty of cheap hostels, pensions, hotels and bars (remember - Istanbul is the most expensive Turkish city). Sultan Tourist Otel is one of the newer hostels, right in the centre of Sultanahmet.  It has comfortable,  dorms and rooms with shared bath, a rooftop restaurant and can provide airport transfers - 0212 516 9260/517 1626

Fethiye -  on the Mediterranean coastline is a great town to make base yourself for visiting all the nearby sites and beaches.  There are hundreds of pensions and small hotels. Ferah Pansiyon in the Turkish Youth Hostel network has dorms and rooms with sea views and a garden bar and restaurant with use of a swimming pool.  It’s some distance from the bus station, so telephone for pick up - 0252 614 2816.  Ideal Pansiyon is another budget option with dorms and ensuite rooms. The terrace bar and restaurant has scenic views over the harbour - 0252 614 1981.
The Boat House (previously named the Mediterraen Hotel) is the sister hotel of the famous Purple Pig (in Greece).   It is slightly away from the town, rignt on the waterfront in a scenic setting, beyond the marina (about a 15 min walk from the town centre).  It has an excellent restaurant and bar and it even has its own swimming pool!  Telephone for transport details - 0252 6141256 or catch the Karagözler minibus from the otogar.  Check their website for more info.

Ölüdeniz -  the famous blue lagoon beach, near Fethiye offers excellent camping grounds.  Oba, conveniently located in the centre of the town has a wooden treehouse dorm and a range of wooden bungalows (2-person simple huts to 4-person ensuite deluxe).  The restaurant serves excellent food and is very popular with Turkish people, the bar has a bargain happy hour - 0252 617 0158/617 0470.  Deniz Hostel, also has conveniently situated wooden huts - 0252 617 0048

Olympos -  offers the perfect adventure.  A long beach close to Antalya, there is little else except for tree-house pensions, restaurants and ancient ruins.  Kadirs is the oldest and most popular tree-house ground with lots of wooden platforms/bungalows, a restaurant, large platform seating area and very popular bar.  For one price it provides accommodation, a choice of breakfast and a delicious evening meal (as much as you can eat).  All drinks are available and they also sell excellent sandwiches for lunch.  Trekking, fishing and Chimera flame trips can be booked. Bayrams 0242 892 1243 and Orange 0242 1242 are other recommended tree houses which also offer similar accommodation with breakfast/evening meals and flame trips.

Köycegiz -  is a sleepy little town on the edge of Köycegiz Gölu (lake) close to Dalaman Airport.  Tango Pansiyon 0252 262 2501/262 3210 is highly recommended as an excellent place to base yourself for trekking, cycling, waterfall treks and Sahin daily boat excursions.  It's part of the Turkish Hostel network and is one of the cleanest, most comfortable hostels in Turkey.  The excellent dorm rooms, twins, triples are all ensuite with balconies.  The restaurant and bar are well priced for budget travelers offering breakfasts, snacks and dinners.  In summer there is a bar-b-q each night with hilarious bellydancing and Turkish music. Phone for free pickup from the otogar (bus station).

Selcuk -  is a base to visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus.  Backpackers Inn 0232 892 3736 youth hostel has many rooms with shower and toilet or dorm rooms.  There are outdoor/indoor restaurants with garden BBQs in the summer. Kiwi Pension 0232 891 4892 near the bus station is another good option with a pool table and mini gym!  Most pensions in Selcuk offer lifts to Ephesus.Australian New Zealand Pansion--All of the rooms have private ensuite...except the dorm style rooms.All rooms have been newly renovated and 4 have AC.If you want a carpet then see the ANZ carpet shop.It  is in the museum street and has 2 lux rooms with AC in its spot! 16 years with backpackers!  Phone: (0232) 892-6050  fax (0232) 892-1594. They also have  free transport to Ephesus. 

Kusadasi -  is another base for Ephesus, and ferries to Greek island Samos. Kusadasi also is a hip party town with many tourists and cruise ships. heaps of nightclubs, and good places to eat. Stella hotel is at the harbourwith a great view. Hotel West is at Ladies beach up the hill. Sammy's Palace 0256 6122588