Calais, I assume you mean Calis, is not very Turkish nowadays but is very good for giving access via Fethiye to Olu Deniz, Hisaronu and Ovacik.
If my memory serves me right Ovacik is not really a place but more of a district on the way to Hisaronu.
I doubt that apart from a few bars etc there is anything to do there.
Only visited Dalyan on the odd day trip and I thought that it may suffer from mossies, but I don't KNOW that.
Gocek, I think is a very small place specialising in fish restaurants, if so it's quite nice but not much to do and not a very good beach but I may be thinking of somewhere else on thast one.
can't help with Akayaka at all.

hi ruth
olu denniz is avery touristy town on the beach with lots of bars/restuarants. a nice place but not very Turkish..

dalyan is much more of a turkish town which is river based with enough bars/restaurants and a more slower pace of life. only problem you may have is beach/sea is a 20 min boat ride away.

I feel the same as you Ruth as the resorts are getting very commercialised and Akyaka would be my choice.
I have already looked at it on Google earth and it looks beautiful.
Our friends hired a car when we were in Icmeler last week and wanted us to go with them to Akyaka but my husband wanted to watch the football that day.
Sad I know.

Hello all,
I have been looking and thinking and looking and ... yes you got it! Akyaka, is ideal, but the accommodation seams quite pricey to me. Thanks for the info re Calis Beach, I have since read and it's not for us. Dalyan, not sure there would be enough for a 7 year old. So, I'm considering Olu Deniz or Ovacik and that way we could go to Fethiye, Gocek or Hisaranu for a trip out.

Anybody have any ideas on the places I have narrowed it down to?

I think you right re the now bigger resorts, and I know Olu is big, but maybe it's just a change I need :-(

As you have no idea of the last one i think you should go to that place.

Ruth,Icmeler on line may be able to get accommodation for you in Akyaka.
Thomson also have it on their website.

Hi, I would say Olu Deniz rather than Ovacik, as it is by the beach, Ovacik you would have to catch the dolmus to the beach. Olu Deniz is a very beautiful resort with a lovely beach, which is a bit pebbly by the sea and does shelve quite quickly. If this is a problem there are sandy beaches at the lagoon, you can walk to these or get a free transfer by telephoning them.

There are good boat trips from the beach, and many trips to book, jeep safaris etc....

You can catch the bus to Kabak one day which is beautiful visit the Olive Garden restaurant which has an amazing view.

Visit the ghost village at Kaya, Hisaranou or Fethiye market.

Go to Fethiye and have a meal at the fish market and visit rock tombs.

Lots to do!

Olu Deniz is not a very large resort but it can be a bit noisy in the evenings if you book a hotel in the main strip.

It is ideal for children and very friendly.

hi ruth when we stayed at olu deniz we were in the sun city hotel which was all inclusive. a nice freindly hotel which also had their own private beach on the lagoon with free transport to and from the hotel.

check out the reviews http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/turkey/dalaman-region/olu-deniz/club-sun-city-hotel/

Club Letoonia in Fethiye is a great hotel/resort.

Ruth ,Have you considered the Bodrum Peninsular?
There are some lovely small traditional resorts and the transfers are not that long.

We would choose ovaick every time going again this July.it is a small village on the way to hissaronu there are lots of bars and a water park the views are fantastic we stay in private apartments it is easy to walk into hissaronu or catch the dolmus into olu deniz Deniz or fethiye you will never be bored. Jeep safari boat trips sunset cruise fair ground,markets I wouldn't go anywhere else.

I didn't realise that there was anything else to Ovacik except the main road through it.

I think we have decided on Ovacik as a destination now. It was a toss up between that and Olu, but accommodation in Olu is price for August time. Where do you stay nutty? Or pm me details or some tip's re accommodations you have spotted, always good to know someone who returns. :-)

OH wants to go Bodrum, but I'm off to Ovacik!!! :-)

I did reply earlier but my post was lost, thank you all for replying...

Nice places around Bodrum, but I wouldn't want to stay in Bodrum (or Gumbet)

Hi Del, no I agree...

We felt the same too x been going to marmaris for the last 10 years and really wanted a change so this July we are off to ovacik! Am really really looking forward to it x

We always stay in private rentals booked through holiday lettings we stay at grenna which is next door to the monteverde hotel and the orca there are lots of nice restaurants in and around ovaick yes it is mainly a long rd but it's much cooler very pretty with the mountains all around you and very easy to get to everything hope this helps I have a telephone no of 2 apartments at grenna we are staying at grenna c4 but have also stayed at grenna a1 and d 2

Also check out the flora palm resort our friends stayed there before the name change its all Inc now and looks very nice .it's a small hotel in hissaronu but we used to walk there every day from ovaick to meet them.

Hello all,
Well, thought I would update seeing as you all so kindly helped with my search and I still want to get to Ovacik in time. BUT my partner and I are off to Istanbul to visit his family (my first time) at Christmas... Bit of a twist that was not expected, but fantastic, just hope the riots are sorted! On the plus the flight was £177 direct with Turkish Airlines... Eek. :-)