The Aegean Region - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 143

the Bodrum Museum, next to the
beach at Bitez, Bodrum.

Of course, you may want to
find a souvenir to take home that
is more traditional; something
that cannot be found in a mod-
ern shopping centre. For this try
heading off to Mazi (see p. 141),
a tiny village near Bodrum that
has remained unchanged for cen-
turies and is known for its excel-
lent handmade carpets and rugs.
Also try Bergama , famed for its
carpets characterised by their
deep red colour. The markets
and bazaars found throughout
the region are a good source of
unusual purchases. You could be
lucky and find traditional water
pipes or copperware authentic to
the area. There are also shops
selling local jewellery. Çe@me ,
for instance, is known for its gold
and there are several outlets
where you can find a bargain (see
www.cesmegold.com ).
Yalikavak , similarly, which
is just along the coast from
Bodrum, is known for its wind-
mills, and its shops stock lots of
souvenir versions for you to take
home, while the city of Izmir has
numerous bazaars selling
authentic Turkish goods.

Like almost every other property
in Bodrum, the Akça Hotel is a
white-washed, low-level property
with balcony railings, fences and
doors painted in sky blue. It is
pure Aegean in style. The hotel's
air-conditioned rooms sit conve-
niently around its pool. A
children's pool ensures your
youngsters will be safe, although
of course you should still keep an
eye on them because the hotel
doesn't have an on-duty lifeguard
at the poolside. What it does have,
however, is a good choice of
restaurants. The cuisine is largely
international in style, presented
either as a buffet so your children
can help themselves to whatever
takes their fancy, or as a sit-down-
order-from-the-menu arrange-
ment. Special menus are provided
for children. The dessert menu
with a good choice of ice creams
and chocolate creations should
keep them focused if your wish is
to ensure they eat their food dur-
ing the starter and main courses.
The hotel offers well-equipped
rooms, with necessities such as
cots or bed guards provided on
request, plus there is a playground
designed for children's safety. The
hotel lies beside the beach and
close to Bodrum's many tourist
attractions, making it a particu-
larly suitable place to stay with a
family.
Rooms 80, including family suites.
Rates from around 100 YTL. Credit
MC, V. Amenities restaurants with
children's menus, swimming pools
including a children's pool, play-
ground, beachside location,

FAMILY-FRIENDLY
ACCOMMODATION

Prices quoted are for a double
room in low season.

INEXPENSIVE
Akça Hotel

★★
Ortakent Yah@i Yalısı, Bodrum. b +90
252 348 31 52; www.akcahotel.8k.
com . Located just 10km or so from

VALUE

143