Top Tips for Getting From Dalaman Airport
There's also the situation where you may be travelling to south-eastern Turkey on a package tour, in which case your Dalaman transfer may have already been arranged for you (although you may still be able to arrange for a private transfer if you wish).
However, where a choice does exist, what are the issues?
Public transport
There are some bus services from Dalaman to Marmaris (1.5 hours) and Fethiye (1 hour). At the time of writing, that's about it. Schedules and costs may vary and should be researched before you set off. Strangely, there are no public transport services from the airport into the centre of the town itself, although situations do change and you should confirm prior to your departure to make sure.
Taxi
There are taxi services to many locations in the area. Perhaps the most commonly used are those into the town for other bus connections to elsewhere in Turkey. The costs are typically modest. You can also take a taxi to just about any of the resorts in the general area. The costs here can vary quite a bit and it's always a smart idea to discuss and agree your fare in advance rather than starting to hold a similar discussion after the journey.
Shuttle transfers
There are private companies who offer a Dalaman transfer to a variety of resort destinations. These range from private limousines to cars, mini-buses and coaches for shared or group transport. These are usually well-publicised on the Internet but it's worth booking ahead for all the usual reasons. Chancing your luck after a long flight isn't advisable. As you might imagine, prices will depend upon how far you're going and your chosen method of transport.
What's for you?
Of course, many of us would prefer to be met at the airport when travelling, and get a comfortable ride on dedicated private transport to the door of our holiday accommodation. If we perhaps can't quite afford that, shared private transfers might be the next best thing.
The shuttles and transfer services to the resorts are typically excellent, but make sure you've booked in advance where humanly possible and that you've discussed any special requirements, such as outsize luggage or limited mobility.
Taxis are also fine but do watch the costs. If you're hardy and adventurous you can try and make your way around exclusively via bus services, perhaps including several transfers depending upon your final destination. Not too many holidaymakers might relish that one though. For most, on the whole, a specialist Dalaman transfer by comfortable shuttle is by far the easiest solution.