Turkey is located in south west Europe, surrounded by the Black Sea in the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south and west. It is famed for its miles of beautiful beaches, wide array of top class resorts and wealth of natural beauty and historical sites.
There are many reasons why Turkey is such a popular holiday destination. Flight times to Turkey from the UK are usually around four hours, so whether you are looking for a quick break or longer, more relaxing stay, it is ideal.
Turkey is such a diverse country; younger people come for the nightlife; families enjoy the wide range of convenient facilities on offer and culture vultures soak up the vast array of history in the area.
The range of accommodation reflects this, with self catering apartments, beachside hotels, and secluded all inclusive resorts catering to everybody’s need.
Turkey also enjoys a Mediterranean climate and so it is fairly mild all year round. However, the best time of year to visit is in the summer months of April to October. At this time you will find long hours of sunshine and warm temperatures awaiting you. The full range of accommodation is available to you, and tourist sites can be explored at their best.
Known as the ‘cradle of civilization’, Turkey’s history spans Hittites, Romans, Greeks, Ottomans and many more, and each culture left their mark on the country.
In Marmaris, you can see the castle on the site where a fortification has stood since 3000BC; the ancient city of Kaunos is also thought to date from this time, and the remains to be seen here include city walls, public baths, temples and an amphitheatre.
The ancient Kings of Kaunos were buried in the elaborate Lycian Rock Tombs, which are carved right into the sheer face of a cliff and are quite a sight to behold.
Other ancient ruins include Halicarnassus and the cities of Physkos and Amos in the Iyilik Kayaliklari Archaeological Park.
Of course, the main focus of any trip to Turkey will be the beautiful beaches, and they are certainly not in short supply!
Marmaris, in south west Turkey, is a very popular resort; located very close to a lot of tourist sites and boasting a man made beach close to all the amenities on offer, this is a great base for your holiday.
The Pandora Apartments are a favourite with holiday makers as they offer self catering accommodation right in the heart of the city. With ease of access to shops, bars, restaurants and the beach, this is ideal for a flexible holiday.
If you’re a party animal then you’d be in your element staying at Hotel Honeymoon – located as it is very close the most popular nightclubs in the area!
Families would be comfortable at the Mustis Royal Plaza. This family run hotel is located in the quieter suburb of Armutalan and features an on-site restaurant and regular Turkish nights with live music.
Further north up the coast you will find the resorts of Gumbet and Bodrum. Gumbet Beach is a 600m sandy peninsula located right next to a range of amenities, and Bodrum Beach offers similar facilities – however, both beaches can become very crowded. If you fancy something more secluded, head to the beaches at Torba, Gundogan and Bitez.
The Aegean Gate Hotel is popular in this area, being located close to the centre of Bodrum but far enough away to not be disturbed by noise in the evenings. The bar, restaurant and swimming pool are also on-site for you to enjoy.
El Vino Hotel offers a mix of self catering apartments and hotel accommodation. Open all year round, you can enjoy the view over Bodrum with ease of access to the town centre.
Whether you are staying in Gumbet, Bodrum, Marmaris or Dalyan, you are extremely near to the mecca of Pamukale. Here you can take a dip in natural mud baths that are extremely nourishing for your skin – a perfect, natural way to revitalise your complexion!
And for the ultimate in relaxation, no trip to Turkey would be complete without a trip to a Hammam, or Turkish bath, where you can be treated with a scrub and stone massage before relaxing in a sauna.
On the other side of Turkey, popular areas to stay are the coastal areas Antalya, Side and Alanya.
The Mesut Hotel in Alanya is right by Kleopatra Beach and offers all inclusive accommodation with buffet style meals in the restaurant.
The Semoris Hotel in Side is ideal for families. Located just 2km from the centre of town, it is close to the action yet secluded enough to be peaceful. On-site there are several bars, a buffet style restaurant and a playground and swimming pool for the kids.
Or the for the ultimate in family relaxation, head to the Selcukhan Hotel in Kemer, where you can drop the children off at the kids’ club while you relax with a trip to the Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and sauna!
