need firsthand input here. trying to plan holiday to take my visiting parents on. (first 7 days or so traveling, rest of the time with relative in fethiye)

we want to do something we havent done with them before (dont want to repeat Istanbul, troy, bergama, assos, cesme, denizli, cappadocia, antalya, kas, kalkan,...)

my idea was safranbolu-amasya-tokat-sivas (esp for the fishy thermal spa), with possible sidetracks to other nearby places of interest. Anyone been? recommendations? warnings?

hubby's idea is bozcaada, kazdagi, gokceada. thoughts?

restrictions on possible locations-- parents wont go too far east, and hubby not gaga about black sea region.

the trip starts 15 june, so i have to decide and start planning!

input welcomed!

I've been to both Safranbolu and Amasya. Maymun has spent time in Amasya as well.

I loved both places and they both offer many of the same things: historic homes and other structures, small-town atmosphere and rivers/forest, natural beauty nearby. I have a trip planned to Amasra (not to be confused with Amasya) which is located on the Black Sea north of Safranbolu and is supposed to be lovely as well as Bartin which aspires to be the Venice of Turkey (meaning they offer riverboat tours). These could be a side trip for you.

East of Ankara and southwest of Amasya are the Hitite Ruins at Hattuşa and Yazilıkaya and could perhaps be visited on the trip you are planning.

Done Sivas and Zara and the surrounding villages which was fascinating. flesh eating ball sucking fish wasnt my cup of tea really.

[quote user="starman" post="87790"]flesh eating ball sucking fish wasnt my cup of tea really.[/quote]

can't resist...must make joke...ball sucking..tea bag....

thank you both! I definitely want to see these places. Looks like I've lost the war for this holiday itinerary, though. Fortunately my consolation prize is that he and I will take a trip to those places without my folks sometime latyer this year (though I'm on my own for the fish pool, apparently)

In the end, for this trip we will go to: Kaz Dagları, Bozcaada, Cunda Adası, then right down to Fethiye from there.

Fethiye for the bucket & spaders?

if that is some cockney slang for "inlaws", then yes.

I went to Bozcaada in August five years ago during my first long weekend in Turkey, and really enjoyed it! We took public transportation all the way there and walked/taxied around the island easily enough. Lovely beaches, neat fortress, good seaside restaurants, very accomodating people, clean pensions and great wine made right there. What more can you ask for?

However, good idea to go back to Safranbolu and Amasya as well - like comparing apples and cucumbers. I also enjoyed a quick visit to the town of Kastamonu - very typical of a small town in Turkey, I thought. They say once you've drunk water from their spring, you'll want to go return... it's true - I'd love to go back for a visit!