Kemer Holidays
Kemer Holidays – A great choice for families
Kemer is a small, purpose-built resort located on the Turkey’s southern coast, around 42km west of Antalya. This is very much a town for tourists – you won’t find Ottoman architecture or Byzantine ruins here. What you will find is a lively holiday resort in a beautiful setting; backed by the pine-clad western Taurus Mountains and with two picturesque beaches. A lovely marina with cafes, tavernas and restaurants provides a relaxing spot for a refreshing drink, while the promenade down to the beach is lined with gift shops and boutiques.
Those looking for lively nightlife won’t be disappointed as the resort has a good selection of bars and clubs, and culture-vultures can take day trips to the nearby ancient sites of Phaselis and Olympos. Other excursions include a trip to the Fires of Chimaera; natural vents that release burning methane from the hillsides, or take a trip on the ‘Sea to Sky’ cable car, 7,800ft up to the summit of Mt Tahtalý.
For those with children, the Kemer Dolphin Park is a must-see, complete with waterslides and the chance to swim with dolphins. Combine this with horse-riding, go-karting, cycling and jeep-safaris and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a great family holiday.
When to go
Holidays to Kemer will be most expensive during the peak summer months of June-August. This period also sees the hottest temperatures and the most crowds. Travelling in spring (April-May) and autumn (late September-October) will see cooler temperatures but plenty of sunshine; much more suitable for outdoor activities such as cycling and walking.
Kemer has a number of festivals and events on throughout the year. For those interested in scuba diving, May sees the International Kemer Underwater Days (IKUD) week; an exhibition of films, photography, talks, competitions and concerts aimed at promoting the historical underwater architecture of ancient civilisations around Kemer’s coast.
The Kemer pomegranate Festival is also held in May, and June is when the resort’s own Carnival is held – with all the verve and flair of the Carnivals held in Brazil.
The weather in Kemer
Kemer benefits from a typically clement Mediterranean climate, with long hot summers and short, mild winters. April-May are the spring months, with temperatures ranging between 21-26C on average and 8-10 hours of sunshine per day. June marks the start of the summer, and temperatures leap up to 30C. July-August are the hottest months at around 34C, with a glorious 12-13 hours of sunshine per day. September begins hot at an average of 31C, before cooling down into October to 26C. November-March is the winter period; however temperatures remain relatively hot at 15-21C, making winter sun holidays a viable option here – although be aware that this season can see an increase in rain, so a light jacket is recommended.
Getting the best deal
The best deals on holidays to Kemer are to be had be booking as early as possible. Kemer is relatively small, so the best priced rooms in the most popular hotels are likely to sell out fast – especially during peak season. Avoid visiting during notoriously expensive time such as Easter and the half term school holidays. Opt to visit ‘off-peak’ during the spring and autumn months and you are likely to see lower prices and some great bargains. One way of saving money is to choose an all-inclusive holiday to Kemer – all you holiday spending is accounted for upfront, meaning there is little wise to fork out for while you’re away.Find the best prices we have to offer by looking at the deals below or alternatively by visiting our late deals offers here.
Airport and transport need to know
Visitors to Kemer will fly into the Antalya International Airport (AYT). This is a large, clean and modern hub, and one of the busiest in Turkey. It has three terminals; T1 and T2 for international traffic, T3 for domestic traffic. The Arrivals, Departure and lounge areas are all well-serviced by a good range of shops and restaurants, including duty-free alcohol and tobacco and luxury clothing stores. Many of the main outlets are open 24 hours. You’ll find cashpoints at T1 and currency exchange bureaus at both T1 & T2.
It takes just over 4 hours to fly to Antalya Airport from the UK. Flights leave from London Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh, and smaller hubs such as Bristol and Newcastle.
You can catch a taxi from the airport to Kemer. Taxis wait outside the Arrivals hall at T1 & T2. There will be a queue of them and a large sign indicating the price-tariff to the various resorts. Make sure you agree a price before you get in the car. You should expect to pay around £60 for the vehicle and it will take around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can pre-arrange a private taxi or shared shuttle taxi (generally a minivan) from companies that operate from the airport such as HolidayTaxis.com. A shared taxi will be cheaper at around £16 per person, but takes longer to arrive at nearly 2 hours.
The cheapest way to get to Kemer is by public bus, but this is also the most consuming option at around 3 hours for the entire journey. You should catch the number 600, Terminal-Otogar bus from outside the domestic terminal. This will take you to the main bus depot in Antalya, from where you can pick up a connecting bus to Kemer. The whole trip should cost you under £5 for a single fare.
The best beaches in Kemer
The beaches around Kemer are typical of the beaches found on the Turkish Riviera. Turkey’s south coast is widely regarded as the best area of the country for a beach holiday, due to the countless pristine beaches and warm waters of the Mediterranean.
Moonlight bay
The golden sands of Moonlight Bay make this the most popular beach close to Kemer. Affording breath-taking views both across the mountains and out to sea, Moonlight Bay is a great place to relax and soak up the sun. And when you’ve had enough of relaxing, there’s a range of watersports here to keep you entertained. You’ll find sun loungers, parasols, lifeguards, public toilets and showers here.
Tekirova beach
Around 20 minutes’ drive away south of Kemer is the beautiful beach of Tekirova. Located at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, the small luxury resort village of Tekirova boasts a fantastic set of three coves surrounded by pine trees, orange groves and brightly coloured Mediterranean flowers. Soft golden sands and calm, clear waters make this a great choice for those with small children. There are ample sun loungers and parasols here, as well as a small jetty from which boat tours leave.
USEFUL LINKS:
http://www.taxfreetravel.com/Antalya%20Airport
http://www.flightmapping.com/europe/turkey/antalya
