With family-friendly Turkish boltholes in high demand this summer, Karl Cushing checks out 10 of the best
Like this and want more details? Click here to download and save as a PDF.
With its excellent range of child-friendly hotels and resorts it’s small wonder Turkey is a family holiday powerhouse.
Casually thumb a brochure and you’ll find mention of all manner of kids’ clubs, fun activities and flexible room types. Thanks to the exchange rate it’s also about 30% cheaper for Brits than last year, so all-inclusive packages aren’t the only way to get a good deal.
In such a high-value market, having a few dependable teen or toddler-tastic options up your sleeve can really pay dividends.
However, as Classic Collection Holidays’ head of purchasing Gary Boyer points out, “It’s not just a question of finding a hotel that is child-friendly, but finding a hotel that offers a great experience for the whole family.”
1 Gloria Golf Resort, Belek
Sovereign Luxury Travel recommends this five-star property for its free places for two to six-year-olds, aqua park, mini aqua park, and activities from mini golf to mini disco and cinema. There are kids’ clubs for one to 12-year-olds, including VIM Club for one to three-year-olds, which features a baby kitchen stocked with HiPP baby purées and organic infant milk. It also hires out baby monitors and strollers. Adults can tee off on Gloria Golf Club, which with 45 holes, is the largest in Turkey, or unwind in the La Source spa.
Book it: Sovereign offers a week half-board from £2,149 for a family of three departing May 30, including Monarch flights from Manchester and airport lounge access.
sovereign.com
0843 770 4526
2 Casa dell’Arte, Bodrum peninsula
From the sumptuous suites in the gardens sleeping a family of four to the excellent kids’ club, afternoon Art Workshops and Evening Escape activities ranging from movies to karaoke, this hotel is truly unique. There’s a top-notch spa too.
Book it: Ilios Travel offers one week B&B from £575 based on a family of four sharing, including flights from Luton to Bodrum.
iliostravel.com
01444 225633
3 Hillside Beach Club, Fethiye
This flexible five-star holiday village features clubs for kids and teens, a children’s pool and four water slides, not to mention games consoles, a cinema and activities. When they’re not busy scuba diving, wakeboarding or sampling the Sanda spa, parents will appreciate the adult-only refuges, including an à la carte restaurant and a ‘silent’ section of the beach.
Book it: Classic Collection offers seven nights’ full-board from £5,699 for a family of four sharing a superior family room, including flights departing July 24.
classic-collection.co.uk
0800 008 7288
4 D-Hotel Maris, DatÇa peninsula
This 200-room five-star hotel enjoys an enviable clifftop setting and welcomes kids over eight. Of the five beach areas, two are reserved for over-12s. There’s also an excellent teens’ club, sailing school, tennis school and dive centre, plus activities from wakeboarding to waterskiing. Monied types will appreciate the Executive Club Lounge, reserved for guests in the suites; and the option of chartering the resort’s 100ft super yacht. And did I mention the Espa spa?
Book it: Carrier offers seven nights with breakfast from £3,735 for two adults and one child under 12 including private transfers and flights from Gatwick on June 4.
carrier.co.uk
0161 492 1357
5 Beyaz, Bodrum peninsula
If you’re looking for smaller properties, this 40-room hotel scores points for its individual style and seafront setting in swanky Göltürkbükü. Family rooms are available and there’s a separate children’s pool, while a minibus service runs to Bodrum and Yalikavak. And it’s suitable for younger or older kids.
Book it: Ilios Travel offers one-week B&B stays from £599 based on a family of three, including flights from Luton to Bodrum.
iliostravel.com
01444 225633
6 Elegance Hotel, Marmaris
While the parents are relaxing in the health club at this 193-room mid-market option on the beach their children can hang out in the play area, kids’ club for four to 12s or teen-friendly internet cafe and PlayStation zone. Atlantis Water Park is nearby too.
Book it: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for £3,403 for two adults and two children in a twin garden view room in late July, including Thomson Airways flights from Gatwick to Dalaman.
olympicholidays.com
0844 499 4449
7 Liberty Hotels Lykia, Olu Deniz
From its spacious family-friendly rooms sleeping six to the children’s theatre, cinema, 18 water slides and seven pools, this five-star hotel has it all. Besides the clubs for six months to two years, three to 12s and 13 to 17s, there’s ample baby care facilities and even a kid-friendly restaurant and bar.
Book it: Thomas Cook Style offers seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,739 for a family of four sharing a larger family room, based on a May 2 departure from Gatwick.
thomascookworld.com
0871 230 2399
8 Hotel Meri, Olu Deniz
Anatolian Sky managing director Akin Koç tips this affordable all-inclusive for its enviable beachfront location. In addition to the separate children’s pool and playground, the shallow waters are good for little ones while older children are well catered for in Olu Deniz itself.
Book it: Anatolian Sky offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in a family room from £885 per adult and £375 per child aged two to 12, including flights.
anatoliansky.co.uk
0844 273 3585
9 Royal Wings hotel, Lara, Antalya
Direct Traveller’s marketing manager Enver Ozdemir recommends this choice. “With its ideal beachfront location and fantastic children’s facilities, including cinema, water park and funfair, this hotel would be the perfect choice for families,” he says. There are several dining options and seven pools, including a kids’ pool, plus activities such as archery, beach volleyball and weekly children’s shows.
Book it: Direct Traveller has seven nights’ all-inclusive in a land view room for two adults and one child sharing, from £889 per adult and £759 per child in May, including flights from Gatwick to Antalya.
directtraveller.com
0844 414 1686
10 Sea Garden Beach Resort, Bodrum
Mark Warner properties tick a lot of boxes for kids, and the strong points of this four-star all-inclusive include the watersports offering, with the calm waters in the sheltered bay ideal for amateurs, and the kids’ and teens’ clubs. Adults with toddlers looking to try the Knidos spa and Buddha Bar nightclub, will appreciate the crèche and babysitting facilities.
Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive for a family of four starts from £2,656, departing June 7 and including flights, transfers, kids’ club, windsurfing and sailing with tuition.
markwarner.co.uk
0844 273 7332
