Moving to Fethiye With Family: Pros and Cons

Year-round lifestyle, pleasant weather and natural beauty can easily attract those who want to move to Fethiye to start a new life. But can a family with young children successfully move? Natasha and Geoff Moore from Scotland moved to Fethiye with their young children. The experiences of the children, now five and seven, have led other families to discover the pros and cons of moving to Fethiye with their children.

From the waterfront in Calis to Fethiye's city center to upmarket Sovaye Island, Fethiye has a lot to offer in terms of location. Also, it is very interesting to explore the small villages in the Fethiye area, the Butterfly Valley, the old town in the center of Fethiye and the Blue Lagoon. And let's not forget the al fresco dining lifestyle with beachside restaurants, expat social groups, private swimming pools, private yacht charters, beautiful beaches and breathtaking scenery. Actually, Fethiye is a great place, but how easy is it to live there with kids? let's find out.

Pros: Fethiye's expat community

As the couple researched possible destinations to help raise their young family, they discovered that many expats lived here. Although we were determined to assimilate into Turkish culture, the expats living here helped us in the first few months, they said. Through other expats, the couple arranges game dates, handles bureaucracy, socializes and develops friendships. Unlike other places that are more holiday oriented, Fethiye's expat community is more sedentary. Holidaymakers come and go, but most expats who call Fethiye home attend events for expats and locals alike. Many expats find it easy to make friends and have an active social life.

Pros: Low cost of living in Fethiye

Real estate prices have been a big plus for the family. We sell property in Scotland to get a smaller mortgage here. But we soon realized that we could buy property directly in Fethiye, which greatly improved our day-to-day financial situation. Living in Fethiye is also getting cheaper every day because of household bills. The family lives in a four-bedroom house with a swimming pool and large garden. Kids love it. They were in and out of the pool all afternoon, always with a group of friends. There are many rooms including Geoff's office and guest room. They also frequent family-friendly bars and restaurants and find them to be very affordable.

Cons: Working in Fethiye area

Obtaining a work visa in Turkey is difficult. Jeff runs an engineering company from home and travels a lot. No mortgage also means low cash costs and they live off their income. Natasha had been raising the children for the first few years, but now that they were in school, she wanted to get back into teaching. Our jobs allow us to work remotely, we have transferable skills, but not everyone has broad employment opportunities.

Pros: Daily life and culture in Fethiye

Aside from their prime location in Fethiye, a quiet street where kids can ride their bikes safely and play with their friends, the Moores say the sights on their doorstep combined with the ease of getting around are great. Appeal. We are only 5 minutes drive from Oludeniz beach, a short walk from the nearest shops and 15 minutes from Fethiye town and schools. Less flow also means no stress. Fethiye people love children. You won't roll your eyes if you go to a restaurant in town with young children, and many bars are family-friendly. Turks value children and value family time.

Cons: Learning Turkish

While Turkish citizens are used to foreigners, and many speak some English, the language barrier remains. The kids picked up Turkish quickly, but Jeff and Natasha struggled. The couple take language lessons twice a week and practice with Fethiye locals whenever possible. Best of all, the friendly Turks have an unlimited tolerance for language mistakes. Your hard work will pay off. Turks are very grateful when you try it. It’s okay if you’re not absolutely perfect; go ahead and try.

Pros: Raising bilingual children in Turkey

Because the Moores moved to Turkey when the children were three or younger, the children grew up speaking Turkish. Geoff says they both speak Turkish and that it comes naturally to them. They are lucky: being bilingual is good for brain development, they make new friends easily, they become more professionally competitive as they get older, and they learn other languages ​​quickly. The same Turkish tutor who taught Jeff and Natasha spends an hour a week with the children, helping them reinforce what they have learned at the Fethiye school.

Pros: Safety in Fethiye

In addition to the quieter streets, the Moores appreciate Fethiye's lower crime rate. Turks don't have the same drinking culture, and while there is a drug problem everywhere, the rate of drug use is much lower than where they come from. Jeff said. It felt like a healthier place to raise a family. In Scotland we worry about what will happen to our children growing up in a place where alcohol and drug use is considered almost normal. In Fethiye, this way of life means kids stay kids longer.

Pros: Turkey's weather and outdoor lifestyle

Fethiye enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year excluding the rainy season, which is great if you are an outdoor family. Swimming, sailing, exploring other areas and hiking - that's who we are on the weekends. We are now outside in the sun and thank the kids for these new experiences. In addition to Mediterranean activities, children enjoy participating in organized team sports such as tennis and soccer. We also often go to Calis Beach to watch the beautiful Mediterranean sunsets in Turkey. Also, the Central Bus Station is a great place to start exploring the rest of the country. Short bus rides took us to many places in Mugla province, or we could go further afield to explore.

Pros: Go to school in Fethiye

Both of Moore's children attend a Turkish public school in Fethiye, where the curriculum is varied and exciting. After that, however, they want to send their children to a private school that focuses on English and an international curriculum with globally recognized qualifications.

Cons: Far from family

Children miss their grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. We chat on Skype all the time, but it's not the same. Luckily, more frequent flights mean it's easier to get back to the UK, and there's always someone wanting to visit, which is what happens when you're staying in a resort. However, the most difficult thing they found was knowing that there was no turning back. I don't know if we will live in Fethiye forever, but after experiencing the differences between Scotland and Turkey, it seems unlikely that we will ever leave Fethiye.

Also About Fethiye – Turkey

Fethiye Expat Guide: We love Fethiye and the greater Mugla Province for more than one reason. Additionally, many foreigners buy homes in Fethiye as holiday homes, to live year-round or as investment in tourist properties, proving the addictive appeal of expats from all over the world. This guide will help anyone thinking of living in Fethiye.

All about Fethiye: Fethiye, Turkey inspires everyone to jump on a plane. Located on the Mediterranean coast, this area is the central nautical center of the Turquoise Coast and a nautical paradise for international tourist yachts from all over the world. Many sandy beaches, international cuisine, nearby ancient ruins and a pleasant climate attract many holidaymakers and expats.

Fethiye Real Estate: So if you are thinking of moving to Fethiye or just investing in Turkey's real estate market, give us a call today. You can also see our portfolio of apartments and villas for sale in many areas of the Fethiye region, including the city center, Calis Beach, Hisaronu, Ovacik and many more destinations. We are Azure Turkey, our local agents have helped many people move to Fethiye, help them buy property and realize their dream of living abroad.