Kos to Turkey in a day?

LJW_2

Hi we are going to Kos, Kardemena in July and wondered if it's possible take a trip to Turkey to try out their mud baths!

Does anybody know if this is doable in a day, how long would it take and what sort of cost?

Hope somebody can share their knowledge and advise us:cool:

MrsE_2

Kos to Turkey in under an hour you mean!

Kos is just off the coast of Bodrum, there are fast ferries there & back.

Don't bother with the mud baths, they are further away in the south near Daylan.
But I think you can get a Kos ferry to down that way at certain times of the year.

Have a Turkish bath instead.

There is a big market in Bodrum, go on market day & have a bath after.

Or you might want to see one of the 7 wonders of the world in Bodrum or the castle. Or go to Gumusluk for a fish lunch.

PENNYWISE_3

if you have a turkish bath make sure you have it in first few days of holiday otherwise it will really hurt your skin as they exfoliate and the sun will have made skin tender.

All the places that sell trips in Kardemena will be able to give you details of going to Bodrum market.

MrsE_2

I "think" its a Tuesday (the bodrum market) or you could get the boat to Turgutreis (I KNOW its a Saturday market).

I've had a Turkish bath on the last day (as well as the first), but best to have as early as possible.

I'm going to disagree with the above post saying it will really hurt, the exfoliation is not nearly as harsh as many exfoliating body scrubs, its a mitt with a roughened surface, but not like the mitts you can buy over here for before a fake tan.

davidlizard

It certainly is easy to visit Turkey from Kos for a day and well worth doing.

Two issues to be aware of:

1. The ferry cost can be quite steep (compared to how much ferries between greek islands) and prices can often quoted each way rather than as return fares. Do shop around to get the best fare. I have seen them advertised as high as 80 euros return, but you can get them as low as 25 Euros return, if not lower.

2. If you arrive on a charter flight, the Greek authorities have imposed a condition that you do not spend any significant time outside Greece (day trips are fine, overnight trips are not), otherwise the return part of the charter flight ticket home is forfeited. This is enforced from time to time - when we were in Kos a few years back, a group of youngish girls went over to Turkey, got carried away and missed the boat home, slept on the beach and returned the following day, and the last we saw of them the tour rep was trying to sort something out - we did not see them on the plane. It does get enforced.

See the bottom of this link for more info: http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/wg/P41267.asp

MrsE_2

davidlizard wrote: »

It certainly is easy to visit Turkey from Kos for a day and well worth doing.

Two issues to be aware of:

1. The ferry cost can be quite steep (compared to how much ferries between greek islands) and prices can often quoted each way rather than as return fares. Do shop around to get the best fare. I have seen them advertised as high as 80 euros return, but you can get them as low as 25 Euros return, if not lower.

2. If you arrive on a charter flight, the Greek authorities have imposed a condition that you do not spend any significant time outside Greece (day trips are fine, overnight trips are not), otherwise the return part of the charter flight ticket home is forfeited. This is enforced from time to time - when we were in Kos a few years back, a group of youngish girls went over to Turkey, got carried away and missed the boat home, slept on the beach and returned the following day, and the last we saw of them the tour rep was trying to sort something out - we did not see them on the plane. It does get enforced.

See the bottom of this link for more info: http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/wg/P41267.asp

I was in Turgutreis last year, we didn't do the day ferry to Kos, but we considered it.
It was cheap, very cheap. Something like £10 each.

Edited to say, if you are entering Turkey you will probably have to buy a visa on top, £10.

chuckley

if u are going with twentys they have a 'turkey trip' day which i think is 25 euro each. if u head down to the main square on the way is a 'boat trips' shop where its only 15 euro each.

but u will have to pay £10 to get in turkey either way.

LJW_2

Hi all, thanks for the above great advice. Definetly won't be staying over night in Turkey:eek: didn't know they could cancel your return ticket!

Will look around for a good deal on a price for the boat.

With all this advice my fellow travellers will think I'm a mind of information!

Thanks again:beer:

deebee

I stayed in Kardamena last year (Norida Beach Hotel) and did a day trip to Bodrum - it was great there, huge market, lots of activity, fab lunch and a shave and haircut (which is a must in Turkey as you get a neck and arm massage, etc., etc.) The ferry or hovercraft if you prefer goes from Kos Town, so you have to either take a bus to Kos from Kardamena or take a ferry from Kardamena to Kos town first - try and make sure you go on a nice day, the day I went was wet, and it got really stormy on the way back, I seriously thought the ferry was going to capsize (not a pleasant end to the day!)
Anyway, hope you have a great time

Spamreported

god we went to bdrum on an organised day boat from Kos. left at 5am and took bleeding hours. Bodrum was terrible,very pushy sales, and when i tried to buy with a cardit card they marched me to the bank. couldnt stand it. dirty and rough. stick with greece and save your money

LJW_2

Thanks for the advice above, not sure if I want to go now!! And I told my husband about having flight tickets cancelled if you spend the night in Turkey, we're not planning to but now he is panicking in case we miss the last boat back!!

Anybody know what the mosquito situation is over there, and any advice on how not to get bitten??