Side-Turkey.

A classic Side boat trip runs a full eight-hour day for around EUR 20 per adult and EUR 13 per child, and hotel pick-up is included. That headline price is honest and covers the day. What it does not cover is drinks, photos, sunbeds and a few optional extras. Here is exactly what to budget for, and how much cash to bring.

I run classic Side boat tour departures on the open Mediterranean, and the question I hear most from families is a fair one: what am I actually going to spend once I am on board? Nobody likes a surprise bill on holiday. So this page lists every optional extra in plain terms, tells you which ones are worth it, and gives you a sensible amount of cash to bring. The EUR 20 gets you the boat, the crew and the day; the rest is up to you.

What the ticket price already includes

Before the extras, be clear about what you are not paying twice for. The fare on the classic day boat is all-in for the core experience. When you book, the price covers hotel pick-up and drop-off, the boat tour itself, lunch served on board, supervised swimming stops on the open Mediterranean, a professional crew and insurance. You will not be asked for a landing fee, a fuel surcharge or a lunch supplement. Those sit inside the ticket, so the extras below are genuinely optional. You can enjoy a full day and spend nothing beyond your ticket, and plenty of guests do.

The extras list, honestly

Five things sit outside the ticket price on the classic Side boat trip. None is compulsory, and the crew will never pressure you. Here they are, roughly in the order most families end up spending on them:

• Soft and alcoholic drinks. There is an onboard bar. Water, soft drinks, beer, tea and coffee are sold on the boat. This is the extra almost everyone uses, especially on a hot day with children.
• Photos and videos. A photographer often works the boat, capturing the swim stops and the group. You view the shots later and pay only if you want them. This counts as a personal expense and is never automatic.
• Sunbeds and extra services. Some boats offer a reserved sunbed or an upper-deck lounger for a small fee. On a busy summer sailing this is worth it if you want a guaranteed shady spot.
• Optional activities. Depending on the boat and the day, there may be small paid extras such as a banana boat ride or similar water fun. Take it or leave it.
• Tips. Tipping the crew is customary in Turkey but never expected or added to a bill. If the team looked after you well, a small note left at the end of the day is a kind gesture, nothing more.

That is the complete list. If a boat asks you for anything beyond these, something is off, and you should say so. Reserve the classic Side boat tour and you pay on the day, so nothing changes hands until the morning.

How much cash should I actually bring?

I get asked for a number, so here is my honest guidance rather than a figure I would have to invent. Bring a modest amount of cash per adult for drinks across a full day, a little extra if you think you will want the photos, and a few coins spare for a tip if you feel like it. Card payment is not reliable at sea, so cash is safer. If you bring nothing, you will still have a good day; if you bring a sensible amount, you will not think about money again until you are back at the hotel.

Which Side boat trip suits you, and where the extras differ

The extras behave differently depending on which boat you pick, mostly because the day itself is different. Here is how the four Side sea-boat options compare so you can budget for the right one.

On the Side Pirates family boat the child price matches the adult price because the whole day is built around the kids, so expect the same drinks pattern but fewer paid add-ons beyond the bar. The Dolphin Island boat tour includes a BBQ lunch and a foam party in the ticket, so again your main extra is drinks. The Relax boat trip with waterfall costs more up front, but the atmosphere is quieter and the pull to spend on lively extras is lower, so many couples find the total day comes out gentler on the wallet.

A realistic budget by group type

To make this concrete, here is roughly how the extras stack up for three common groups on the classic day boat. The ticket figures come straight from the 2026 EUR 20 adult and EUR 13 child prices; the extras column is deliberately loose because it genuinely depends on you.

Two adults on the classic boat start at EUR 40; a family of four with two children starts at EUR 66. Everything on top of that is the bar and the small comforts, exactly as much or as little as you choose.

Why we do not hide these costs

Some operators quote a low headline price and lean on the onboard bar and photo sales to make their margin, which is why a cheap ticket can end in an uncomfortable bill. I would rather you saw the whole picture before you board. The lunch is in the price, the swimming stops are in the price, the crew and insurance are in the price. The bar, the photos and the small comforts are yours to choose. Knowing that difference is what lets a family relax on the water.

Prefer somewhere calmer than the open sea?

If a busy sea boat with a bar and a foam party is not what you had in mind, the Side coast is not your only option. For calm freshwater swimming, look at a Green Canyon day, where the water is cool and the pace is slower. For a gentle river day rather than open water, the Manavgat cruise drifts along the river with far less noise and far fewer upsells. Both are worth weighing if your priority is peace over party.

Booking and pick-up, made simple

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are already inside every ticket, so there is nothing extra to pay for the transfer. Reserve your seats now without any prepayment and be ready in your hotel lobby at the time we confirm with you the day before. On our Side sailings you pay on the day, so no money changes hands until the morning of your trip. You commit nothing up front and keep full control of what you spend on board.

To recap the honest version: the classic Side boat tour gives you a full eight-hour Mediterranean day, included hotel pick-up and lunch for around EUR 20 per adult and EUR 13 per child, and the only money you spend beyond that is on drinks, photos and a couple of optional comforts, as much or as little as you like. Bring a sensible amount of cash, enjoy the swim stops, and you will not be caught out.

Frequently asked questions

Are drinks really not included on the Side boat trip?

Correct. Soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, beer and other alcoholic drinks are sold at the onboard bar and are not part of the ticket price. Lunch, however, is included, so you only need cash for what you drink and any extras you choose.

Do I have to buy the professional photos?

No. A photographer may work the boat and capture the day, but you only view and pay for the shots afterwards if you want them. They are a personal expense and are never added to your bill automatically.

Is tipping the crew expected?

Tipping is customary in Turkey but genuinely optional and never added to any charge. If the crew looked after you and the children well, a small tip at the end of the day is appreciated, but there is no set amount and no pressure.

How much does hotel pick-up cost?

Nothing. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included in the ticket price on every Side sea boat, so the transfer is not an extra. We confirm your exact pick-up time with you the day before, and it varies from hotel to hotel.

Can I do the trip without spending anything beyond the ticket?

Yes. The boat, lunch, swimming stops, crew and insurance are all covered, so you can enjoy the full day and spend nothing extra. Most guests choose to buy a few drinks, but that is entirely your decision.