I have shared before about how refreshing it is for us to get out of the city from time to time. The density of the city and lack of open green space around us makes the little things a bit more stressful than we are used to. Getting away once in a while really helps reset us.
Our family spent 4 nights at an Airbnb in an area not far from the last one we stayed at (linked in the post above). Based on our reading of the Airbnb listing, we thought we were going back to Tekirdağ. We found out we were actually in a village called Şarköy. It was about a 45 minute drive farther. We had to take a narrow road with steep climbs and curvy climbs. At one point we drove along a high cliff overlooking the Sea of Marmara. Şarköy is in the district of Tekirdağ but it is in a different world.
The Airbnb we found was a true gem and it was a great deal. It was the first standalone house we have stayed in since we arrived in Turkey. This kind of property is classified as a Villa here. It was huge and secluded (at least for someone who lives in a big city) – villa seemed like the right title.
We pulled off the tiny main road onto a nearly unmarked gravel drive that looped and swooped up to the villa.
We were driving a Dacia Lodgy which is the smallest 7-seater I have found. It is like a cross between a hatchback sedan and a small SUV. Thankfully we weren’t driving our family’s old minibus. I don’t think the van would have been able to negotiate the tight 90º turn radius to get into the property’s parking area. It was steep, tight, and gravely. It was a beautifully-kept place, however.
Once we got out of the car, we knew we were in a great place. Even as we pulled into the property the Turkish caretaker, who was kind and helpful, came out to meet us. He helped us take in our bags, then showed us the villa and the surrounding property.
Airbnbs in Turkey
If you happen to be like me and are coming from the US, your expectations for Airbnbs might be like mine. I don’t stay in fancy places. I limit my searches to Superhosts only, wherever possible. Beyond that, I just base my expectations on what I see in the listing. We have noticed since moving to Turkey that Airbnbs are a bit different here. The service is still the same – same app, same process. We’ve had no trouble with that. Sometimes we get surprised when our expectations don’t match the norms here.
Some surprises in this location:
- the blankets were thin and rough
- there were only a few towels
- you are unlikely to have enough cooking equipment for what you want to do
In other places, there have been no brooms despite being by the sand on the beach. Sometimes there is only a tiny trash can for a whole 3-4 bedroom house. There are all sorts of quirks to discover. None of these things have been deal-breakers, just frustrating. At the same time, even in places where there have been quirks, there has been a lot to love. It helps to know these quirks to set your expectations before you jump in. I’m sure there are many dozens or even hundreds of Airbnbs in Turkey that aren’t like this. We seem to find them somehow.
Some Highlights
I’ll share some noteworthy highlights we enjoyed in our stay here.
The Villa
The villa was spacious, well laid-out, and had a nice open concept to it. It was refreshing to have so much room to roam in the house itself. There was a washer, which was wonderful to have. The back deck was covered and had ample seating. It was an excellent place to have every meal together. There was a water cooler in the kitchen, which was so refreshing.
The Property
This was a private villa community with a handful of villas on it. It was very quiet. The caretaker even brought us some bags of fruit growing on trees in the community. Lovely. There was a good-sized infinity style pool in the community and our kids loved it. It was a short walk down a sidewalk path (lined with rosemary hedges, by the way) from our front door. The smell was delightful. The property was only a few minutes drive from the nearest village.
The Village
The village was a nice little small town – it has everything you might need. Small markets, a couple of local restaurants, a bread shop, and a pharmacy. There were no western to shops or markets – it was totally Turkish. There was even a kids play park in the town along with some waterside restaurants and a pier.
Questions to Ask Before Booking an Airbnb in Turkey
Here are some things you should find out before booking an Airbnb in Turkey:
- Does it have AC (for warm weather summer location)?
- Does it have linens for beds?
- Does it have cleaning items (broom and dustpan, trash bags, cleaning sprays)?
- Does it have dining ware?
- Is there a water tank included (19L bottle, like in a water cooler)?
- Is there at least one western-style toilet?
Turkey is an amazing country for travel. It has everything you could hope to find in once place or another. We love exploring the city and the country when we take family vacations and travel for any reason. This was a gem we discovered. I hope you discover some gems of your own! Happy travels!
Along the Silk Road 