I had organised transfers to Kaş for some of us and Antalya for the rest. I didn’t want any drama in the heat – and of course, that’s exactly what we got. The drivers didn’t seem to know where we needed to go and of course couldn’t speak English.
After a few frantic phone calls, a heap of messages, and a cigarette or two, we were finally on the road.
We bid farewell to two of our party who were heading east, and the rest of us climbed on to the van to head west back to Kaş.
The trip was only 45 minutes and so by 1100 I was checking into the hotel.
My sister and the kids stayed at Sardunya Otel and so after getting freshened up I headed back to their hotel to check out their beach club.
We spent the afternoon there swimming and chilling, joined by a couple of friends from Istanbul who came down to visit us for the weekend.
Around 1800 we went back to the room to get tidied up for dinner.
Our hotel was on the other side of town to the one my sister and her family were in.
It’s only a ten minute walk – but an uphill one, in the heat.
At 1930 we were back at their hotel – ready to have an aperitif. I’d been lugging Champagne half way around the world in celebration of my sister’s birthday.
We thought to have it on the boat but in the end we ended up having it on their balcony in Kaş.
Around 2000 we bundled into a taxi headed for La Kumsal Hotel where we’d organised dinner at Sidera Restaurant.
We had a nice dinner, dining al fresco and watching the sun dip down behind the horizon.
We were back at the room around 2300 ready for bed after a long, lazy day.
Wednesday 15
We had breakfast at the hotel early before heading down to the port to get the ferry to Bilal’s Beach Club.
We were at the port by 0930 and on the boat shortly after.
15 minutes later we’d occupied our cabanas and were settling in for a long day of relaxing.
We spent the day swimming, sunbaking, boozing and generally just keeping the waiters on their toes.
We milked just about every last inch of sunshine before hopping back on the ferry around 1730 to head back to Kaş.
We met at 1930 again for a cocktail before dinner – deciding on Loop for sunset drink.
We settled on Gossi Ristorante for dinner – just across the road from the bar.
After dinner we had a walk around the old town before calling it a night.
Thursday 16
Another day, another beach club – today we were heading to Blanca Beach Club.
It’s only 10 mins from Kaş – out on the Peninsula. We were feeling fancy so we called ahead and reserved a couple of cabanas – which were great to keep the sun at bay.
We had another long, lazy day of swimming and sunbaking before around 1800 heading back to civilisation.
Getting a taxi is always an ordeal, even though we’d reserved.
We met at Sardunya Otel again for another bottle of Champagne, before heading down to the waterfront for dinner.
We ended up at Mumi cafe Beach for dinner which was a good vibe but sort of touristy and overpriced.
After dinner we had another stroll around the old town before calling it a night around 2300.
Friday 17
We had an early start with breakfast at the hotel, before looking for our transfer.
We’d organised a van for 15 people from Kas back to Dalaman airport.
It was $250 for the 1.5 hour trip.
We arrived at the airport around 1230 – about two hours before our flight – giving us just enough time for an overpriced snack.
At 1435 TK2559 was taking off – headed for Istanbul.
We landed at 1610 and had organise another transfer to take us into town.
I was at the hotel by 1730 – giving me a couple of hours to get freshened up before heading out for dinner.
I met my sister and her family back at their hotel where we decided to have a quick look at the rooftop before crossing Takism Square for dinner.
We ended up going to Gonen Rooftop Ocakbasi. It turned out to be a bit of a letdown. It was super expensive, service was mediocre and it just wasn’t really a vibe.
By 2300 I was back at the hotel and very ready for bed.
Saturday 18
Saturday was a lazy day getting my affairs in order before heading off to Turkmenistan.
I went up the road to my sister’s hotel to see them off before heading back for a relaxing day.
I did some shopping, before going back to the hotel to chill.
Around 2200 I went up to Taksim Square to try to find a Havabus.
I think I missed it by a minute or so and so I ended up getting a BiTaksi.
I was at the airport around 2300 giving me plenty of time before my 0100 flight (TK324) to Ashgabat.
I ended up flying with Turkish airlines.
The return trip cost me about $1000. Not cheap, but also not a lot of options.