We were over in early July, a change from our usual October visit. July in Fethiye seemed relatively busy - but maybe we were comparing it with the last few Octobers.
We arrived into Fethiye around 11pm on a Saturday night and were amazed by the numbers of people sitting out on the grass at the early part of the Kordon - it was absolutely packed.
We dropped our bags off at the hotel and headed for Paspatur - it was now gone midnight and again, the bars in the lanes were heaving - we had a bite to eat at Megri Lokantasi and it was dead. Unsurprisingly at that time of course but as we left to return to the hotel the bars were still packed and lively - and that was pretty much the theme for Fethiye - specific areas heaving, adjacent ones dead. We stopped at Address Cafe one day for refresherisms and it was difficult when walking in to spot anywhere free to sit - while several others along the harbour were literally empty.
We had a lovely night at Carikli Restaurant on the korden - they were seating people along the waterfront way past their own frontage. Absolutely packed. Another night we went to the magnificent Yengec, and it was disappointing to see such a great restaurant so quiet.
The hotel (Yacht Boutique) was certainly busy - mainly UK, Turkish and Middle Eastern guests from what I could work out.
We moved to Calis for the second part of our DIY two centre holiday and found it quiet. I recall Octobers busier than this July. The hotel was very busy (Area Otel) with returning guests from UK & Europe and many Turkish families. Out and about things were extremely quiet during the day, and while busier in the evening, there were no restaurants close to full at all, on any night. I recall holidaying in May years back and having to take a casual seat at places like the Harem to have a drink while waiting for a table.
Next year will be tougher I think. When I mentioned to Turkish friends about the amazing numbers of people on the grass on the Saturday night, they all say the same thing - that these are Turkish people who aren't spending any money - they will sleep on that grass rather than book a hotel. So that leaves it to foreigners like us to keep things busy. As I mentioned in another topic, we love to holiday in Fethiye/Calis and hope to do so every year - but if it's going to be £500+ return each for flights, we'll go to Cyprus for £170 and have an equally good time.
Every year is a bad year for tourism in Turkey for various reasons - earthquakes, adjacent wars, civil unrest, terrorism - but I do think 2018 might be the year of the ridiculous flight price and I know many Calis & Fethiye lovers who also will try elsewhere rather than pay more for a return flight to Dalaman than you can get a return flight to the USA for.