Frequently asked questions

You pay the villa owner directly, through Stripe. Turkey Direct never holds your money — the deposit and balance both land in the owner's own Stripe account. That's why we can keep the service free for guests.

Most owners take a 25% deposit at booking and the remaining balance six to eight weeks before arrival. The exact split is confirmed in writing when the owner accepts your enquiry, so you'll always know the schedule before any money changes hands.

That's the owner's call and it varies by property and season. Many owners offer a full refund if you cancel more than 60 days out, with a sliding scale after that. The cancellation terms are shown on each villa page and again on your booking confirmation — read them before you pay.

Most villas are priced in GBP (£), though some owners list in EUR (€) or Turkish Lira. Stripe converts automatically at checkout if your card is in a different currency, typically at a better rate than booking platforms add on top.

None from us. The price you see on a villa page is what the owner is charging — no 15% service fee, no payment processing surcharge, no 'cleaning fee' surprise at checkout. Some owners do charge optional extras (airport transfers, mid-week cleans, late check-out) and those are listed on the villa page.

Owners are verified by Stripe — the same identity checks used by Uber and Deliveroo — so you know there's a real, accountable person behind each listing. We don't physically inspect the properties themselves, but we do rely on guest reviews and we'll remove any villa that attracts consistent complaints.

Most family-sized villas offer a cot and high chair free of charge, but it's always worth asking in your enquiry so the owner can confirm availability. If you're travelling with a toddler and specific kit matters (travel cot vs. full cot, stair gates, baby monitor), just mention it.

Some owners welcome well-behaved dogs, others don't — you'll see a 'Pet friendly' badge on villa cards where it's allowed. Filter the search by pet-friendly, then confirm the specifics (number, size, any extra cleaning fee) directly with the owner before you book.

Heated pools are the exception rather than the rule in Turkey — the climate is warm enough that most owners don't bother. If heating matters to you (early or late season), check the villa page amenities list and ask the owner to confirm it's switched on for your dates; some charge a weekly supplement for it.

WiFi is standard in almost every villa on the site and it's usually fine for browsing, video calls and streaming. Speeds vary by location — rural Kalkan hillside villas won't match a Bodrum town-centre apartment. If you need to work from the villa, ask the owner for a speed test result before you book.

UK passport holders don't need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Just make sure your passport has at least six months' validity remaining from your date of entry, which is a common Turkish border rule.

About 2.5 to 3 hours by road, depending on traffic. Dalaman (DLM) is the nearest major airport for Kalkan, Kas and the wider Turquoise Coast. Pre-booked private transfers are popular and usually cost £80–£120 each way for a family-sized vehicle.

May, June and September are the sweet spots — warm sea, long days, fewer crowds. July and August are hotter (often 35°C+) and busier, which suits beach-and-pool holidays but makes sightseeing hard work. April and October are lovely for walking and sightseeing but the sea is on the cool side.

For UK visitors, driving in Turkey is straightforward on main roads but requires more patience in resort towns where parking is tight and mopeds weave. Hire cars are inexpensive, fuel is comparable to UK prices, and you drive on the right. A car is genuinely useful if your villa is rural or you want to explore beyond the resort.

Yes — and a policy that covers private medical treatment and repatriation, since Turkey isn't in the UK's GHIC scheme. Standard annual multi-trip policies from the usual UK providers are fine; just check that Turkey is included and that the cancellation cover matches your holiday value.