Olu Deniz is backed by the dramatic Babadag Mountains and is home to one of the best beaches in Turkey and is just beside the beautiful Blue Lagoon. The resort is located close to the popular resorts of Marmaris and Fethiye in the Dalaman region of Turkey. Ideal for lounging on Belcekiz Beach or taking part in exhilarating water sports, Olu Deniz offers the perfect beach holiday in a perfect location. In 2011 the beach won

Olu Deniz

an award for Europe’s Leading Beach Destination and was also nominated for a World’s Leading Beach Destination award. Apart from the beautiful beaches, Olu Deniz is home to one of the world’s best paragliding areas and some fascinating ancient sites. The beautiful turquoise lagoon is a protected National Park, ideal for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the warm shallow waters.

The resort offers an array of water sports including snorkelling, windsurfing, water-skiing, sea biking, kayaking and pedalos. For scuba diving fans there are diving schools in nearby Fethiye. Read more »

Located on the south-west corner of Turkey, the Bodrum region has something for everyone, from beaches and water sports to culture. The region is made up of a small peninsula with the Mediterranean Sea at its southern coastline and the Aegean Sea at the north. The region is very diverse with a multitude of things to see and do and it also has many different beaches to choose from, all with their own unique

Bodrum Castle

characteristics. The regions beaches stretch for miles along the coastline with many blue flag beaches where you know the waters will be clean and safe. Some of the best known beaches are Turgetries, Gumusluk, Akyartar and Karaincir but there are also lots of smaller beaches that are hidden away and are just waiting to be discovered! The area is steeped in history with many sites and ancient ruins to visit, including Bodrum Castle, the Amphitheatre, the site of King Mausolous’ Tomb, Read more »

The large bustling beach resort of Alanya is located on the Antalya Coast of south west Turkey and is famous as the gift that Mark Anthony gave to Cleopatra. Alanya is split in two by a large rocky peninsula, with beautiful sandy beaches to the east and to the west. Backed by the Taurus Mountains, this popular beach resort offers a mix of the old and the new with modern hotels, lively nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, ancient ruins and captivating minarets. Alanya offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. From self catering accommodation to all inclusive hotels, Alanya has something to suit everyone.

Alanya

The fortress district on the rocky promontory is home to Alanya’s old town which is a stark contrast to the main resort. Here you will find a waterside harbour area, tiny winding streets, interesting hillside cafes, ancient towers and ruins, mosques and castles. Around the harbour area you will find tea-houses, restaurants serving delicious seafood dishes and relaxing bars. Read more »

The resort of Calis is a quiet family beach resort on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Located close to Fethiye, the resort is a popular holiday destination with families looking for a traditional ‘seaside’ atmosphere with low-key nightlife. Evenings can be spent at the romantic seafront

Calis promenade

tavernas, in the friendly music bars, at the small discos or by taking a leisurely stroll along the beautiful promenade which is traffic free and very romantic at night. Calis also offers you the chance to have a flutter at one of the resorts many casinos.

The resort has many child-friendly hotels and self-catering apartments which offer great budget price holiday accommodation for families. Most of the hotels, including the cheaper ones, offer children’s clubs and entertainment during the summer season. We found this really good site where you will find offers to suit all ‘pockets’. Parents can sit back and relax while the children enjoy the beaches while older children and teenagers can take part in scuba diving, paragliding lessons and horse riding. Read more »

This review and photographs for the 5* Renaissance Antalya Beach Resort & Spa Turkey has been supplied by our reader Jackie Measor from Kent.

Renaissance Antalya Beach Resort & Spa

“We booked our last minute holidays for this hotel and as it was winter we knew everything was not open, we were amazed as we walked through the doors to a welcoming drink of ice cold lemon. The hotel is amazing marble everywhere and a vintage car in reception. Our luggage was taken from the mini bus for us and was in our room before we got there! The rooms are nice, very clean and had a huge and very comfortable bed. The maids were brilliant and unobtrusive – they even turn down the sheets at night and leave a sweet on the pillow! The balcony was small with a chair and not much room for anything else. Friends we made upgraded their room and when we saw it we wish we had as they had a huge balcony with sun beds and much more room with lots of windows giving a light and airy feel to the room. Read more »

The second Cappadocia Relief Ride will take place in central Turkey from the 19th June 19 to the 1st July. The award winning Relief Riders International combines the adventure of riding horses through some of the most beautiful locations in the world with the opportunity to profoundly affect the lives of those people they visit along the way. The inaugural Cappadocia Relief Ride took place in 2011 and those who took part rode through streams, canyons and over mountains. They also met some amazing Turkish people, sampled delicious tradition food and under the direction of Dr. Ozay Mutluay ran four free dental camps and installed two playgrounds for local children.

The ride departs from Nevsehir and lasts for 14 days. It is suitable for all riding abilities and will entail 4-6 hours of riding a day. An excellent opportunity for horse lovers to spend their direct holidays to Turkey doing something they love and at the same time helping others. Non-riders can accompany the expedition by jeep. Read more »

The attractive seaside holiday town of Yalikavak is located Turkey’s Bodrum peninsula where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. Situated close to some of the country’s top beach holiday resorts, the town is popular with couples and families looking for cheap holidays in the Bodrum area. The town offers lots of good cheap accommodation, including self-catering apartments, low-cost family hotels and top quality

Yalikavak

larger hotels along the coast. With ideal all year round sea temperatures and over 300 days of sunshine a year, Yalikavak is the ideal destination for both diving holidays and winter sun holidays. The town has an impressive marina which attracts many yachting enthusiasts and a picturesque harbour where you can sit and relax, watching the world drift by. The town’s weekly market attracts people from all over the Bodrum region looking for gifts, souvenirs and the odd bargain or two. The market also sells local hand made products and freshly caught seafood. Read more »

Originally a peaceful little fishing village, the beach resort of Ozdere has developed into a popular Turkish holiday choice with both families and couples alike although it is still relatively quiet and unspoilt. The resort of Ozdere is located on the Aegean coast in the Izmir region of Turkey. Set on a beautiful bay the resort features narrow sad and shingle beaches which stretch along the promenade coastal road. Ozdere is just 30 minutes from Izmir International Airport between Kusadasi and Cesme. Accommodation in Ozdere offers great value for money for families looking for cheap package holidays to Turkey. The resort is quiet and romantic with just a few bars and some small restaurants serving traditional Turkish food and international cuisine. Just a 10 minute walk from Ozdere are some excellent seafood restaurants overlooking the bay, just right for that special meal on your holidays to Turkey. Attracted by the beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear water, many yacht and Turkish gulet cruises anchor in the bay of Ozdere. Read more »

The small resort of Tekirova is located in the Antalya region of Turkey. This quiet beach resort is set in beautiful pine forests with a backdrop of the dramatic Taurus Mountain range. Terikova’s unspoilt stretch of coastline has amazing sandy beaches and small secluded coves just waiting

Tekirova

to be explored. The resort offers a wide range of accommodation including luxury hotels, budget hotels and plenty of self-catering apartments. Most of the larger hotels offer family entertainment, children’s clubs, sports facilities and some have their own private beach. Even the budget hotels offer plenty of family entertainment and activities.

Tekirova appeals to families and couples looking for relaxing beach holiday packages to Turkey. The main focuses here are the beautiful Mediterranean beaches and the local tavernas which add a touch of romance to this attractive resort. The Blue Flag sand and pebble beaches in Tekirova are lapped by the warm Mediterranean Sea and are all close to either small quiet or bustling towns giving visitors plenty of choice. Read more »

Akyaka is an unspoilt village set in a beautiful riverside location at the end of a beautiful bay in the Dalaman region of Turkey. This traditional beach resort attracts couples and families looking for a quiet scenic setting in which to spend their holidays. The village can really be divided into three areas : the town, the river and the beach. Akyaka has it all, a laid back village centre, an unspoilt beach, a quaint harbour and amazing mountain views. Accommodation in Akyaka includes stylish hotels on the River Azmak, luxury resort hotels and plenty of cheaper hotels and self catering apartments near the beach.

Akyaka Beach

The gently shelving sand and crystal clear sea is perfect for children and for relaxing in the sun. Along the beach there are several restaurants and cafes where you enjoy some refreshments whilst watching the world drift slowing past. There are plenty of water sports available at the beach, including snorkelling, windsurfing, canoeing and the family favourite pedalos. Read more »