Tested with TallulahTurkey with a 4-Month-Old: A Week All-Inclusive in Akbuk
Our first ever family holiday abroad. We were dreading the flights, we packed way too much, and the pool was freezing. But Tallulah slept through basically everything and we came home thinking: that was actually really easy. Here's exactly how it went.
The Quick Version
Why Turkey? Why All-Inclusive?
Budget, basically. It just seemed like a family-friendly hotel at a good price. We went just before half-term so the dates worked, the weather was supposed to be slightly better than mainland Europe in May, and the cost was good. Not the cheapest option but the best all-rounder.
We were originally looking at Sunny Beach in Bulgaria but chose Turkey because it was slightly hotter. There wasn't really any deep consideration about the specific location - it was dictated by the budget and the dates. That's the honest truth.
We went with both of Liam's parents, which was a game-changer. Built-in babysitters, basically. It was their first proper quality time with Tallulah, and watching her bond with her grandad was one of the highlights of the trip. She was never great with men initially - she'd always cry when they picked her up - so seeing her being thrown in the air by grandad, laughing with her little hair going everywhere, was brilliant.
The First Flight (We Were Dreading It)
This was our first ever flight with Tallulah at 4 months old. We were dreading it. Would she be that crying baby? Would the whole plane hate us?
She had a bottle and slept. Literally before takeoff. She didn't really wake up for the whole flight. No crying at all. It was genuinely that simple.
All the worrying about going through the airport, what you're allowed to take, what about the formula - it was all fine. You can take formula through security, nappies aren't a problem, and honestly the whole process was a lot simpler than we'd built it up to be in our heads.
We took the Cow & Gate pre-bottled formulas for the flight, plus enough empty bottles. That was all she needed. We did pack toys for the plane but at 4 months she had zero interest - she just slept. If you're nervous about your first flight with a baby, read our Jet2 vs Ryanair comparison - the Jet2 experience for this trip was great.
The Transfer
The transfer from Bodrum airport to Akbuk was about two hours, which is long but Tallulah just sat on our laps and was fine with it. She'd been sleeping on and off since the flight anyway.
The Resort: Long Beach Club Nature
First impressions: very nice, very peaceful. But the area around it is very remote. It was clear from the start that this was a stay-in-the-resort type holiday. We did walk down the beachfront to see some restaurants, but that time of year most looked closed. The whole idea was just being somewhere a bit warmer, not really doing much. Nice food, trying to relax.
The Room (Budget Reality)
We booked through Jet2 and got a budget room. They put us in the top right-hand corner of the resort - not a problem in itself, but there was a car park and main road just the other side of our apartment, and this dog kept barking in the morning.
It wasn't a huge issue but it's worth knowing: the budget rooms are at the back, away from everything. The more expensive options will be down near the bar and main restaurant. The room itself was fine. In the evenings we put Tallulah's cot in the bathroom to give us more space and shut off the noise for her.
A Typical Day
Up early for breakfast - we'd be the first ones down when it opened, while most of the resort was still asleep. We'd grab a seat on the outside patio and it was beautiful - looking out at the pool, seeing the sea. Tallulah was only on formula at this point so feeding her was easy.
After breakfast, Liam's mum would take Tallulah so we could go to the gym for an hour. Then the rest of the day was spent at the beach or by the pool. The key thing at 4 months: she just sleeps. We got a buggy shade cover and a clip-on fan, and she would quite happily sleep in that pram for an hour or two. Those were two vital bits of kit - we wouldn't have travelled without them.
Some days we'd just go off and sleep in a hammock by the beach. Even being 20 metres away from the grandparents, it gave us some time. We went on the waterpark slides together. Just a little break - and it made the world of difference.
The Baby Pool and Waterpark
The waterpark has a pirate-themed baby pool area - shallow water, little slides, a big pirate ship statue. It's great for kids. At 4 months, Tallulah was a bit shocked by it - maybe a bit loud, strange environment. But in her inflatable float in the calmer bits she was fine.
The main waterpark has bigger slides - proper ones that you ride on tubes. We took turns going on them while the other watched Tallulah. Grandad loved them too. The slides are genuinely good - not just token hotel slides. There's a big tower with about six different slides, including some fast ones.
The One Big Problem: The Pool Was Freezing
May in Turkey is warm - 25-28°C air temperature. But the pool water hadn't warmed up yet. We put Tallulah in for some photos and that was about it. She was NOT happy.
It was a bit of a shame because we would have liked to play around with her in the water more, but at 4 months old in cold water - she wasn't having it. We might have been expecting too much for May.
Honest warning
If you're booking Turkey for May with a baby, know that the pool water will be cold. The compromise of going before half-term is that the pools haven't heated up yet. June onwards is a much better bet for actually using the pools with a little one. That said, the air temperature was warm enough and the resort was quieter for it.
The Beach
Literally outside the hotel. Walk past the pool and you're there in about 20 seconds. Not a massive beach and it didn't have much depth to it, but there was a floating pontoon - a dock area you could run along and dive off, which was quite nice.
The sea was that typical “it's alright when you're in” temperature. If you dangled your foot in from the shoreline you wouldn't do it. But once you jumped in off the pontoon, you could actually stay in. Warmer than the pool, which felt ridiculous.
It's a private beach - sunloungers included with the all-inclusive. You could take food and drinks down from the resort. We'd grab a spot, set up under a parasol, and just chill with Tallulah. At 4 months she was happy being held, looking at the sea, and chewing her own feet.
The Food
Great selection. Not the healthiest options - but there were healthy choices if you wanted them. The reality of all-inclusive is the desserts, the chocolate crepes, all the ice cream, plus your alcohol. We came away having put on weight and feeling full. That's the deal, isn't it?
It's buffet-style so you make your own meal, which can be a problem because you tend to have a little bit of everything rather than something that complements each other. The bread was lovely though.
Tallulah was only on formula at 4 months so the food was about us. But knowing we didn't have to leave the resort, find a restaurant, translate a menu, and hope they could accommodate a baby was massive.
The Drinks Situation
One gripe: plastic cups and paper cups rather than a proper glass. You end up asking for three beers at a time rather than having one decent pint. And there were quite often queues to get drinks, which was a little frustrating. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning.
Bottle Feeding Abroad: How We Did It
We took a steam steriliser and Milton tablets. We had pre-bottled Cow & Gate formula for convenience, plus powdered formula - we'd get a bottle of water from the resort and boil it up. The mini bar fridge in the room stored her milk. The whole setup worked fine.
Evening Entertainment
They had entertainment every night - dancing shows, a circus act, and a little kids' show to start. Tallulah loved watching the dresses, the dancing, all the light shows. We'd keep her up for that and take her off before the end - she'd go straight to sleep. Good routine.
The Local Market (and Getting Lost)
We walked into town once and went to the local market. Felt absolutely safe. The market was a bit busier - you'd be more cautious - but nothing happened.
The funny part: we went the wrong way and walked for about an hour in the sun trying to find it, when it was 10 minutes from the hotel. With a 4-month-old in the heat. Not our finest moment. Bring Google Maps.
Practical Tips for Turkey with a Baby
- Buggy shade cover + clip-on fan: These were the two vital bits of kit. We wouldn't have travelled without them. The clip-on fan kept her cool and she'd happily sleep in the pram for an hour or two.
- Formula: We took Cow & Gate pre-bottled formulas for convenience plus powdered formula. Bring a steam steriliser and Milton tablets. The mini bar fridge stored her milk.
- Transfer time: The transfer from Bodrum airport to Akbuk is about two hours, not 20 minutes like some sites suggest. She just sat on our laps and was fine, but know it's a longer coach ride than you might expect.
- Cot in the bathroom: Sounds mad, but putting her cot in the bathroom in the evenings gave us more space and shut off the noise for her. Worked perfectly.
- Don't overpack swim stuff: We bought rubber dinghies, loads of swimming costumes, tons of swimming nappies - she literally went in the water once. At 4 months in cold water, it's just not happening. Save the suitcase space.
- Sun protection: At 4 months you can't put suncream on a baby. Shade, a hat, and light layers are your only options. The SnoozeShade pram cover was essential.
- Bring grandparents: Seriously. Having Liam's parents there was a game-changer. Built-in babysitters meant we could go to the gym, sleep in a hammock, go on the waterslides together. It made it feel like an actual holiday, not just parenting in a warmer country.
- Plan your flight around sleep: Time the flight so they're due a nap. Give them a bottle before takeoff. Tallulah was asleep before we left the ground and didn't wake up. That's really all there is to it.
The Verdict
We wouldn't not go back - but we wouldn't go back. That sounds confusing, so let me explain: there was nothing wrong with it. The hotel was great, the entertainment was great, the food was great. But once you've done it, you've kind of done it. We'd choose to go somewhere else next time because after a week you've seen everything the resort has to offer.
The whole trip was generally a lot easier and smoother than we anticipated. We were dreading it and it was fine. At 4 months she didn't have a clue what was going on - she just slept. So it really wasn't a problem. If a mate said “should I take a 4-month-old abroad?” we'd say absolutely. Just plan your flight time so they're sleeping, and prepare for them to be asleep most of the time. That's genuinely all the advice you need.
Did this trip give us confidence for bigger things? It did, but not as much as Norway. Norway was more of an insight because she was older and had an awareness of what was going on. Turkey was the proof that flying with a baby isn't the disaster you think it'll be. Norway was the proof that you can actually do proper trips. Together, they're why we're doing all of this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take a 4-month-old to Turkey?
Absolutely. We took Tallulah at 4 months and it was a brilliant first family holiday. An all-inclusive resort takes all the stress out of it - food, shade, pool and beach are right there. The flight from the UK is about 4 hours, which is very manageable with a young baby (ours slept the whole way).
Is Akbuk good for families with babies?
Akbuk is quieter and more relaxed than the main Bodrum resorts. It's not a party town - it's more local and chilled, which suited us perfectly with a 4-month-old. Long Beach Club Nature has a baby pool area, cots in the rooms, and the beach is right there. Just go in June or later so the pool water is warm.
Are the pools heated at Turkish resorts?
Generally no. Most Turkish resort pools aren't heated, which means in May the water can be genuinely cold. Our biggest lesson from this trip was that Tallulah hated the cold pool water. If pool time is important (and with a baby it usually is), go from June onwards when the water has had time to warm up naturally.
Is all-inclusive worth it with a baby?
With a baby under 6 months, absolutely. Not having to leave the resort, find restaurants, or plan meals is a game-changer. You eat when the baby lets you eat, you grab a snack at 3pm when you've missed lunch because of a nap, and you don't have to worry about the bill. It removes so much mental load.
What's the best month to visit Turkey with a baby?
June or September. June is warm enough for the pools to be comfortable, the weather is consistently hot (30°C+), and it's before peak summer prices. September is similar but slightly cooler, and the pools have been warm all summer. We went in May and while the weather was perfect, the pool water was too cold for Tallulah.
How long is the transfer from Bodrum airport to Akbuk?
About two hours by coach. Some sites list it as much shorter but that's not accurate - Akbuk is in the Didim area, which is a proper drive from Milas-Bodrum airport. Tallulah just sat on our laps and slept through it, so it wasn't a problem, but plan for it.
More from Our Family Trips
This review is based on our own family trip in May 2025. We paid for everything ourselves. Some links are affiliate links (Amazon) - if you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep reviewing family-friendly places.