We stumbled upon what we consider the best beach (for the price and hassle) yet. It was a weekday morning in September and the beach was not crowded. The water was calm with sand beneath, but be warned, there were rocks and pebbles above the surface, so rubber swim shoes are essential. For 30TL per person, you can rent a lounge chair and umbrella, or for 35TL, you can upgrade to a VIP spot under a thatched roof near the concession stand. The best part? The chairs are cushioned, far more comfortable than the hard plastic ones you usually find.
The concession stand is also reasonably priced, with tea for only 2.5TL! Plus, they set you up and leave you alone for the entire day, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet. There are WCs available, but they are in the usual condition, with men's on the north end and women's on the south end. The showers and change rooms are ample. The sea views are quite nice, with assorted islands, tour boats moving by, parasailing, horses on the beach and paths, and a few dogs. The best part? No biting fish, no bugs, and no lifeguard to bother you.
Getting to this hidden gem is not easy, though. You'll need a car and be prepared to drive on the D400 and a long, windy road. But the signage is good, and the road is well maintained. Parking is free and right in front of the beach. The beach itself is clean, with just a few scraps of trash around. It's mostly sand with big rocks, and very quiet with no music. There are few tourists, mostly expats, and mostly locals. The water was warm in mid-September, but there were patches of cold.
In the morning, there were no waves, but by 2pm, the winds whipped up 1m waves, so only the brave (and kids) ventured into the water. Overall, Karaot is better than Inlice or Akmaz, but all are very good. It's a great contrast to the overpriced chaos of commercial tourist beaches like Butterfly, Oludeniz, and Kaputas. Another example of Halk plaji (city managed beaches) being of good quality and reasonable price.