The cost of a trip to the beach in parts of Turkey including Bodrum have shot up in recent years, despite free access to the coast being enshrined in the law of the land
The sky-high price of spending an afternoon basking in the sun on some of Turkey’s best-known beaches has been revealed.
Each year, around 1.5million visitors flock to Bodrum city, which sits on the far south-western edge of Turkey and enjoys sunny days and warm seas. In recent years its reputation as one of the best value resort cities on the Aegean has been dented, as sky-high inflation rates across the country hit the pockets of citizens and visitors alike.
Since 2018, the country’s economy has been plagued by currency depreciation and high inflation, which has eroded households’ budgets. While annual inflation eased to 48.6 percent in October, down from 75.5 percent last May, the country’s cost-of-living crisis continues to weigh heavily on many. A recent report found that a quarter of retirees in the country have been forced back in work.
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While the struggle is being felt most keenly by those living on low wages in the country, price rises are also very noticeable to tourists. This week Ersin Süzer, a famous columnist in Turkey, has shone the spotlight on the cost of a day at the beach in Bodrum.
While access to almost all beaches in Turkey is enshrined in law, in reality bars, restaurants and clubs are taking over more and more of the coastline in areas such as Antalya and Bodrum. Often, sun loungers crowd out sun worshippers who simply want to lounge on the sand.
In recent months, the ‘towel movement’ has sprung up, with angry locals heading to certain beaches en masse to protest against large developments. Among them is Omer Onal, a 71-year-old bookshop owner. He told Balkan Insight how frustrating the situation has become: “We can’t even demonstrate on the Ayayorgi coastline because there is no public path, only a beach club entrance.”
The issue of who controls the beach – and who is welcome to visit – came to a head in Damlatas Beach in the Alanya district of Antalya earlier this month. A tourist was beaten by resort staff after refusing to hire a sunbed because it was too expensive, it was reported.
To avoid a similar shock, it’s best to know how much you might be asked to pay when in Turkey.
Here is the minimum cost of spending a day at some of the better-known beaches of Bodrum, according to Mr Süzer.
- Lucca Beach: £84 (Minimum spend)
- Bobo by Stay: £114 (Minimum spend)
- Match Girl Hotel: £172 (Minimum spend)
- Mandarin Oriental: £134 (Entrance fee)
- Edition Hotel: £101 (Entrance fee)
- Buddha Bar and Beach: £189 (£63 entrance fee, £126 minimum spend)
- No 81 Hotel: £67 (Minimum spend)
- Flamm Hotel Beach: £67 (Minimum spend)
- Scorpios Beach: £143 (£58 entrace fee, £85 minimum spend)
- Highlight Hotel: £67 (Minimum spend)