Airport Transfers with Kids in Turkey: Car Seats, Pushchairs and Long Drives

Travelling to south-west Turkey with a baby or young children? The airport transfer goes smoothly if you do three things: give the company your children's ages and weights when you book, size the vehicle for your luggage rather than just your headcount, and agree on a comfort stop before any long drive. Turkish traffic rules expect small children to travel in a proper child restraint, so asking for a car seat in advance is both the safe and the legal option.

This guide is written for families landing at Dalaman, Bodrum-Milas or Antalya and heading to Fethiye, Kaş, Datça, Sarıgerme and similar resorts. It covers the car seat rules, what to put in your booking note, which vehicle to choose, how to handle a two-and-a-half-hour drive with toddlers, and a printable checklist.

Child car seat law in Turkey: what applies to airport transfers?

Child seats are covered by Article 150 of Turkey's Highway Traffic Regulation (Karayolları Trafik Yönetmeliği), the article on seat belts. As summarised in the Turkish press, children shorter than 150 cm and lighter than 36 kg should travel in a suitable child restraint in a car. Excerpts of the regulation also say that children taller than 135 cm may use the adult belt instead, as long as they are not in the front seat.

An amendment published in the Official Gazette on 16 August 2022 extended the rules to commercial vehicles:

• Taxis must carry at least one child restraint.

• Intercity buses and minibuses must carry child restraints for at least one in ten seats.

• A vehicle may not set off until the driver and passengers have their restraints properly fastened.

In practice: whether your transfer is a saloon car or a minibus, request a car seat for your baby or toddler before you fly. Rules can change, so it is worth checking the current text before you travel.

Which seat for which age?

• Infant carrier: newborn to roughly 12 months, rear-facing.

• Toddler car seat: from walking age through the pre-school years.

• Booster seat: children who have outgrown a full seat but are still under 150 cm.

Prefer your own seat? Most airlines carry car seats and pushchairs free or as part of the allowance, but policies differ, so check with your airline.

What to tell the transfer company when you book

The Mavi Transfer private transfer and fleet pages do not say anything about child or baby seats, so put your request in the booking note and make sure it appears in your confirmation. A good note includes:

1. Each child's age and approximate weight or height (for example "baby 8 months, 9 kg; child aged 4, 17 kg").

2. The seat type you need: infant carrier, toddler seat or booster.

3. Pushchair details: a compact fold or a double buggy? It takes up real boot space.

4. Total number of suitcases plus bulky extras such as a travel cot.

5. Flight number and arrival time, so the plan can be updated if you are delayed.

6. Any stop you want: a supermarket for nappies and milk, for example.

Bringing your own seat? Say so; the driver can allow time to fit it and the luggage calculation changes.

Choosing the right vehicle size for a family

The classic mistake is booking for the number of people and forgetting the buggy and car seats. According to the fleet page, a saloon (sedan) takes up to 2 passengers, a Minivan or Business Van up to 6, a minibus up to 15 and a midibus up to 25. Route pages show luggage capacity in line with passenger numbers (1–2 bags for the saloon, for instance).

Simple rule: count the pushchair and each car seat as an extra suitcase. If in doubt, go one size up.

Long drives with kids: Dalaman to Kaş and Datça

Some of the prettiest resorts are a fair way from the airport. Mavi Transfer's route pages give the Dalaman to Kaş transfer as about 168 km, 2 h 15 min to 2 h 45 min, and the Dalaman to Datça transfer as about 167 km, 150–165 minutes. That is a long stretch for a toddler, but it is manageable with a bit of planning.

Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plan the comfort stops

• On a private transfer, agree a toilet and nappy-change stop with the driver at the start. On anything over two hours, one stop is sensible.

• Feeding a baby means pulling over; never take a child out of the seat while moving.

Travel sickness on winding roads

• Both the Kaş and Datça roads have winding sections. Seat a queasy child facing forward with a view of the road if possible.

• A light snack beats a heavy meal; looking out of the window usually helps more than a tablet.

• Pack sick bags, wipes and a spare outfit. If you are thinking about travel-sickness medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist before you go.

Heat, air con and drinks

• Midday in summer is hot on the Turquoise Coast. Mavi Transfer's VIP vehicles are air-conditioned, but a window shade and sun hat are still handy.

• Give each child their own water bottle and easy snacks; there may be no shop on the way out of the airport.

Photo: Babbsack, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shorter options suit families with very young children: the Dalaman to Ölüdeniz transfer and the Dalaman Airport to Sarıgerme VIP transfer are much quicker drives. Times and prices appear instantly on each route page.

Late-night arrivals with sleepy children

Plenty of UK and European holiday flights land around midnight or in the small hours. Passport control, the baggage belt and finding your driver feel very different with an overtired toddler. Our night transfer guide for Dalaman Airport covers the basics; for families we would add:

• Change the kids into pyjamas on the plane. Changing in the car wakes everyone up.

• One adult waits for bags while the other sits with the children.

• Take a minute to strap a sleeping child in properly; never leave the harness loose.

• Flight delayed? According to the route pages, the operations team tracks flights and can adjust the pickup.

Meeting your driver with a pushchair

At Dalaman Airport, the Mavi Transfer meeting point is desk no. 4. Pushchairs are usually returned at the aircraft door or on the baggage belt; collect yours first, then head to the desk. Our Dalaman Airport pickup meeting point guide shows exactly where to go.

Photo: Elelicht, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Going home, families need extra time for check-in, security and handing over the buggy. See how early to arrive at Dalaman Airport before you book your return pickup.

Shared shuttle or private transfer for families?

Mavi Transfer's shared shuttle lines run on a timetable between Dalaman and Datça, Dalaman and Kaş, and Bodrum and Datça. According to the shuttle page, children up to 2 travel free, each passenger gets one large suitcase and one piece of hand luggage, and cancellation is free up to 6 hours before departure.

With a baby, a pushchair and two car seats, a private transfer is usually the calmer option. For a family of four, a per-vehicle fare can come close to four shuttle tickets; live prices are shown on each route page.

Family transfer checklist

Ready to book?

A stress-free family transfer is mostly about clear notes and the right-sized vehicle. Request your car seats, count the buggy as luggage and agree a stop on longer drives. Pick your route and see the price on the private transfer page, then add your family details to the booking note.

Photo: William Neuheisel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons