Altinkum

About The Holiday Resort Of Altinkum In Turkey

Altinkum is located in western Turkey close to the ancient town of Didim. As far as local travelling time goes this holiday resort in Turkey is about a 90 minute journey by car from Bodrum Airport and approximately a 30 minute journey from the nearby quieter holiday resort of Akbuk.

In past years Didim and Altinkum we're totally separate towns but have now grown in size to the extent that they now run into each other. Historically Altinkum and Didim we're fishing villages that grew into small towns, because of tourism they have both grown at a large pace and are mainstream holiday resorts today in this part of Turkey.

Altinkum is home to one of the largest sandy beaches in this part of the Aegean coastline. It's main beach stretches along the sea front which is also home to several key bars and restaurants that cater for the daily influx of British and Turkish holiday makers during the hot summer months that Turkey enjoys. There are two other beach areas in the resort of Altinkum, one is to the east of the main beach, the other to the west side. After the west side beach you will find the harbour area, here you can take a boat trip or alternatively charter a fishing boat for a days sea angling. This marina is one of the largest you will find in Turkey and at the time of writing has the capacity to moor over a thousand boats. It is also an attraction for tourists having several high-end clothes shops, a modern coffee shop (similar to Costa Coffee and Starbucks), and a high quality hotel for tourists looking for holiday accomodation in this resort.

Altinkum means "Golden Sands" which relates to it's sandy beaches. Popular with families the beach areas here are ideal for children, the beach's having a gradual slope leading into the lovely clear sea in this part of Turkey.

Along the bay you can rent sun loungers as well as umbrella's to shield you from the hot sun that beams down during the hot spring and summer months of the year, be advised though you will have to be on Altinkum beach early to snap one of these up before the crowds arrive in mid morning.

During the peak holiday months vendors will walk non-stop up and down each day the complete length of the main beach selling cold sandwich's as well as hot food in addition to all sorts of drinks and refreshments. It was pleasing on our last visit to this resort in Turkey to experience they we're not charging sky high prices - but prices in-line with what you would pay at a local Altinkum cafe.

One warning we would like to provide in our feature on the beach area in Altinkum; Avoid the water sports! Whilst they may seem fun and be something different to do whilst on holiday, it was our findings that the operators will rip-off every possible English tourist they can at the first opportunity!

Having paid for the children to have a ride on the Altinkum Banana Boat we we're then told there was not enough people in our group (they could see we only had two children!) and had to come back later that day for their ride, returning several times later in the day we eventually gave up and asked for a refund. We we're then told no refunds as the boss had gone home for the day and the staff had no money to refund us with, so please be aware of these operators. It is worth saying though that other than the water sports operators - Altinkum is a great place to visit if you like a "busy" and commercial resort, if you don't then maybe Akbuk is a more appropriate resort to stay in for your holiday?

Altinkum Holiday Apartments:

If you do not wish to stop in a hotel in this resort - consider renting one of the many private owned apartments that can be found here. Most apartment and holiday homes in Altinkum are owned by English (UK) people as well as Turkish residents. Depending on the number of people in your party you can rent an apartment for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay to stay in a hotel here. Most of the apartments that are offered for private rental are situated on lovely sites that have good amenities including swimming pools, sun bathing areas, and landscaped gardens.

Fittings and furnishings in accomodation here will vary in tastes and quality depending on whether they are owned by English or Turkish people. Turkish residents tend to steer towards a more sparse kitted out accomodation and with tastes of a traditional Turkish decor. English owners tend to furnish their holiday apartments as a "home from home" with them being more inline with UK holiday makers expectataions.