The biggest draw for sun-starved Brits is the country's sunshine and blue skies, with great weather guaranteed throughout the long summer.
Easter, and the May and october half-term holidays are a popular choice for families as temperatures are not as hot as they are in July and August, which is an important consideration if you have young children.
The other vital holiday ingredient for kids, is a sandy beach, and these can be found all along the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
For older kids there are plenty of activities to keep them busy. Water sports like windsurfing, sailing, water skiing and parasailing are available and tours can be arranged to the many historic sites and ruins that dot the Turkish coast.
Another important plus is how child-friendly Turkey is. Quite simply, Turks adore kids. Wherever you go expect the children to be doted on and spoilt. It is also an extremely safe country and crime-rates are very low compared to the UK.
Turkey is also only three-and-a-half hours flying time from the UK and there are plenty of budget airlines in operation during the summer season.
Many new developments in Turkey have been designed with families in mind and have great facilities such as large swimming pools and tennis courts to keep the kids entertained for hours. It is also likely they will find other English-speaking friends to play with, leaving the adults free to relax.
If you are looking for the perfect family holiday home it is worth considering the following points:
- Find a property close to the beach and shops
- Choose a development with good communal facilities
- Look for an area with activities and entertainment locally
- Select a resort where there are other English-speaking families
- Choose a property within an hour of the nearest airport
The three top places to buy a holiday home in Turkey are Kusadasi, Dalaman and Side.
The Aegean resort of Kusadasi is very popular with families as there are beaches and several large water parks. For something more educational, the ruins of Roman Efesus are a great introduction to ancient history. Izmir airport is only 45 minutes away and four-bedroom detached houses on a complex with a swimming pool and within walking distance to the beach start from £66,500.
Dalaman has plenty to keep the family entertained including boat trips, nature tours, mud baths, white-water rafting trips and the gorgeous Blue Flag beach at Sarigerme, which is one of the few in Turkey with life guards. For the adults, an 18-hole golf course is opening in 2009 as part of the Hilton Dalaman Golf and Spa Resort. The international airport has plenty of flights from the UK and the kids can be playing in the pool within an hour of landing. Two-bedroom on a development with numerous facilities, including a swimming pool, cafe and fitness centre start from £46,200.
The kids will love exploring the magical ruins of ancient Side and playing on the sand dunes. Access to the old town is on a tractor train in season, giving the resort the feel of a theme park. The beaches are ideal for kids, or for some excitement there are white water rafting trips and horse riding in the Sorgum forest. Villas with communal facilities and close to the beach and shops start from £115,900.