The Mediterranean is one of the leading leisure destinations worldwide.
It is bounded by some of the oldest, most historic nations known to mankind and is famous for its teal-colored waters and warm temperatures, ideal for both relaxing and soaking up some culture.
On the downside, vacationing in the Ancient Sea does not come cheap, with one-way stays in Italy’s pastel town-dotted Amalfi, or Greece’s trendy party island of Santorini setting you back by an average $2,600 (that is, if we’re being optimistic).
Thankfully, not all Med tourist hotspots cost a fortune to book, with one trendy resort on the coast of Turkiye being one of the most affordable getaways in the region:
The Most Greek City In Turkiye
Relatively unknown to American audiences, Bodrum sits on the shores of Turkiye’s Aegean Coast, where some of the most beautiful and clearest waters in the Mediterranean are found.
It’s a stone’s throw away from a number of iconic Greek islands, most notably Kos.
Due to its proximity to Greece, whitewashed Bodrum is easily distinguished for its Hellenic character, having, in fact, been founded by Greeks in times immemorial and boasting a high concentration of ancient landmarks dating back to Antiquity.
One of them, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
It is joined by a preserved 2,400-year-old theater, rows upon rows of historic windmills perched on hilltops, and a medieval fortress protecting a busy harbor.
Other than immersing yourself in the local History, you can go for an early afternoon dip in the translucent Mediterranean, as the wider Turkish Riviera, which encompasses Bodrum, is hemmed by quaint white-sand and pebbly beaches.
As you can imagine, this is one of the most picturesque and culturally-charged towns in Turkiye, yet it is also a lively beach zone lined by five-star resorts, imposing villas, and beach clubs (it’s no wonder it’s been nicknamed the Turkish St Tropez).
Strolling Bodrum Marina, you will see numerous luxurious yachts docked just offshore, upscale restaurants serving Turkish food with a high-end twist, and charming cobbled streets framed by bougainvillea, just the perfect St Tropez dupe.
The only difference is, unlike the overpriced French Riviera, Bodrum is a steal of a deal (maybe not by Turkish, but certainly by Mediterranean standards).
The Turkish St Tropez Is A Lot Cheaper
There are currently 14 five-star hotels in Bodrum as listed by Booking.com, costing between an eye-catching $103 and $247, with the Mandarin Resort & Spa, Salmakis Resort & Spa, and the adults-only Marvida Senses all being on the cheaper end.
‘All-inclusive‘ is not as widely popular a concept in Europe as it is in the Caribbean, so we’re mostly talking double rooms with breakfast included and all other meals charged separately, but trust us when we say a place like Bodrum is meant for exploring.
You’re not coming all the way from the States to stay locked up in a resort stuffing yourself in a bottomless brunch: walk the waterfront, try different restaurants – Turkish cuisine is one of the top 20 best in the world – and savor the culture:
Chances are you’ll spend an average $25 per day on meals, and as for the whole week, around $1,333 for two people, or the equivalent in the local currency.
Meals, accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing are included.
For that price, you wouldn’t get as satisfactory an all-inclusive experience anywhere in the world, and certainly not in the Mediterranean: in Ibiza, a weekend trip can set you back by a heavy-hitting $3,301 if you’re not careful enough, and don’t even get us started on Portofino.
Besides risking a $300 fine if you take selfies in the wrong spot, you should budget an additional $352 per day to cover hotels and food in Portofino, and prices definitely don’t get any cheaper once you start looking at some of these jam-packed Greek islands.
Why Is Bodrum So Cheap?
Bodrum, on the other hand, has everything that makes a Mediterranean getaway great – the beaches, the historic Old Town, and the slow living – minus the exorbitant prices associated with Italy, Spain, and the like.
You may be wondering why that is.
Well, unlike a majority of Mediterranean sunny spots, Turkiye is not part of the highly-developed European Union, nor does it have the strong Euro as its official currency: it remains to this day a marginal country in the continent, and the weaker Turkish lira certainly helps the case of budget travelers.
Even with inflation factored in, a trip to Turkiye is unlikely to wipe your savings clean, largely in thanks to the lower consumer prices and the attractive value of the lira (1 TRY equals roughly 0.032 American dollars as of March 2024).
Yep, with the exception of perhaps Albania and other lesser-known Balkan states, it doesn’t get any cheaper than Turkiye in the Mediterranean, and it’s hardly surprising that around 1 million tourists have their eyes set on Bodrum this year.
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