There’s popular, and there’s really popular. If Turkey is booming, the Antalya region will burst your eardrums.
Tui Travel has increased capacity to Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast by more than 50% this year. Olympic Holidays has upped capacity across Turkey by 35%, with half of this increase across the so-called Turkish Riviera, which includes Antalya, Belek and Side.
Wings Abroad has expanded its programme in the area to include Alanya, and Thomas Cook and Cosmos Holidays have also added new hotels around the Antalya gateway.
Coastal attractions
It’s hardly surprising that Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast, boasting some of the country’s most developed beach areas, is proving so popular. On top of the non-eurozone incentive of Turkey as a whole, this stretch of coast is particularly scenic, with rugged rocks, pine forests and some lovely beaches.
Most hotels front the beach, and the Mediterranean waters tend to be shallow and safe for families. The majority of the resorts have an old centre, and there are ancient ruins at Perge and Aspendos, so even though this coast might be too developed for some, there is a flavour of authentic Turkey for those who want to find it.
Hotels
Accommodation ranges from budget to luxury and all board types are available, including the increasingly popular all-inclusive option.
“The hotels in the Antalya region offer great all-inclusive facilities,” says Gemma Moret, Thomson and First Choice’s senior product manager for Turkey. “An increasing number of four and five-star all-inclusive properties are coming online, offering affordable luxury similar to that found in Egypt or in long-haul destinations.”
Both Tui Travel and Thomas Cook are featuring more resorts with 24-hour all-inclusive properties.
Olympic has also put the emphasis on all-inclusive packages. Commercial director Photis Lambrianides says: “The all-inclusive hotels are of an extremely high quality and represent amazing value.”
Though Alanya and Side also cater for the value end of the market, luxury is on the up in the Antalya region. Lara Beach and Belek in particular have a wide choice of four and five-star hotels offering affordable quality (see this week’s luxury Turkey feature for more).
Families fare well in Antalya too, as many of the hotels offer dedicated family rooms with separate sleeping areas. As well as the usual kids’ clubs and activities, both Tui and Thomas Cook feature many child-friendly hotels that have great water-based activities in the area. There are four First Choice Splash hotels and six Thomas Cook Aquamania properties, all perfect for waterbabies.
And properties such as Club AliBey Manavgat, near Side, and Royal Wings Resort at Lara Beach – featured by both operators – boast slides and flumes at on-site waterparks.
It’s not all about beaches. Cosmos Tourama says Antalya is becoming popular with the escorted tour market. There’s no shortage of sights, from ancient cities to natural wonders such as the stunning Kursunlu waterfall.
Resorts
Antalya
The regional capital’s biggest attraction is its picturesque, car-free old town, Kaleici. Hotels in this central area are mainly boutique; some are beautifully restored Ottoman mansions.
There’s a marina and palm-lined boulevards to wander around, plus no shortage of historical sights, including the elegant fluted minaret of the Yivli Mosque, Hadrian’s Gate, which dates from the Roman era, and the prize-winning archaeological museum.
Kaleici has its own small beach, Mermerli, which is accessed down some steep steps, but it is more shingle than sand, and those looking for a beach-based holiday tend to choose neighbouring Lara Beach and visit the city’s sights from there.
Lara Beach
This modern, developing resort is just outside Antalya and offers beach and hotel-based stays in high-quality properties. The fine, white beach is great for sunbathing and watersports, but the area itself is quiet, with nightlife mainly within the hotels.
Alanya
Alanya is the easternmost resort on the Turkish riviera, two hours from Antalya airport. It’s quite high-spirited, tends towards the value end of the market, and can get too loud and crowded for some in peak season.
However, it is popular with good reason, located on a rocky promontory between two sandy beaches, Alanya to the east and Cleopatra to the west.
The marina area is very tourist focused, with plenty of bars, a few clubs, and restaurants and boutiques catering for international palates and purses. Up on the hill, the old town’s narrow streets are overlooked by a 13th-century fortress and lined with mosques, Byzantine churches and shops selling leather goods and jewellery.
Belek
The hotels scattered around the sprawling resort of Belek mostly cater for upmarket guests, offering them the perfect place to combine sun-worshipping with sport.
The golfing facilities are excellent, with 14 courses including ones designed by Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo. Those who think golf is just a good walk spoiled can have a go at sailing, rafting, waterskiing, wind surfing or mountain climbing instead.
Or they can just relax. Rivers meander through the resort to the sea, the beaches are pebble and sand, and the area is known for its ecological credentials, with many species of bird to spot and even sea turtles, which nest on the shore.
Just 40 minutes from Antalya airport, Belek is also well placed for visits to the remains of the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos.
Side
This is a good all-round resort an hour from Antalya airport, offering a sense of the real Turkey alongside developed tourist facilities.
The quaint old town has winding streets, city walls, traditional bazaars, a popular market and historical sights including an amphitheatre, temples and churches, so it offers plenty for those seeking activity and culture as well as the beach.
The long stretch of sandy beach outside the city walls provides a centre for the modern tourist facilities including a range of watersports, with a wide choice of hotels and self-catering accommodation.
There are a good selection of restaurants and bars, plus a couple of nightclubs, so Side can cater for couples, families and those looking for lively nightlife.
Kemer
The beaches around this town, 25 miles west of Antalya, are made up of coarse sand and pebble, but they’re backed by beautiful pine-clad mountains.
Kemer was one of Turkey’s first purpose-built resorts, and has a marina and touristy shops and restaurants, though many visitors book all-inclusive and it tends towards hotel-centric holidays.
It’s fairly new to the UK market but has long been popular with visitors, in particular families, from Germany, the Netherlands and Russia, so the infrastructure is well developed. British operators are increasing their options here each year.
Sample product
Cosmos Holidays offers seven nights’ self-catering at the three-star Sun City Apartments in Side from £399 per person. The price is based on three adults sharing and includes flights from Gatwick between July 22 and September 2. cosmos-holidays.co.uk, 0871 423 8518
Wings Abroad has seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Doganay Beach Club in Alanya from £493 per person, based on two sharing, including flights from Gatwick and transfers, departing on June 6. wingsabroad.co.uk, 08445 768086
Thomas Cook offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Royal Wings Hotel in Lara Beach from £715 per person, including flights from Gatwick in September. thomascookworld.com, 0871 230 2399
First Choice is offering seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa from £729 per person, based on two sharing, with flights from Birmingham on May 25 and transfers. firstchoice.co.uk, 0871 200 4455
