Altinkum is a relatively small resort on the Aegean coast of Turkey, close to Bodrum and Kusadasi. Growing all the time this popular beach resort is visited by holiday makers looking for great beaches that are perfect for all the family to enjoy. The name Altinkum means ‘golden sand’.

Altinkum

With three beaches, Altinkum’s main golden sandy beach is located in a bay which is backed by lush pines and is particularly popular with young families as it is very safe. The warm waters here are deep blue in colour and extremely clear. Located very near to the resorts third beach is a horse ranch which offers riding trips along the beach.

The resorts scuba diving centre offers diving experiences for all ages and levels. The waters here are teaming with marine life including dolphins, octopus and barracudas.

The resort can be described as having three different areas. On it’s west side is the original fishing village complete with traditional Turkish cafes. The

Altinkum

 centre of Altinkum is a modern commercial area with hotels, apartments and residential properties with the third area being the resorts beautiful beach area. The sea front is pedestrianised with a lovely promenade which is lined with restaurants, cafes and shops. Evenings can be spent enjoying some great different cuisine in one of the restaurants overlooking the bay or by taking a romantic stroll along the promenade. Altinkum is known for it’s outstanding fish restaurants, as well as those serving international dishes and fast food. For those looking for something a bit more lively in the evenings there are bars, pubs and clubs offering music and entertainment. During the day activities are geared towards the beach, with watersports and boat trips on offer.

Didim

A great day out is a trip to the Roman Temple at Didim, just 3 miles away, or the archaeological site of Ephesus. Bodrum and Kusadasi are not far fron Altinkum and also offer a good day out for the whole family.

Whilst in Altinkum a visit to the resorts huge Saturday market and a relax in a Turkish bath are not to be missed.

Altinkum has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.
Altinkum is ideal for direct holidays during the summer season when temperatures hover around 30C to 35C in July and August with plenty of sunshine, warm waters and no rain. Winters here see a high rainfall, especially in December and January.

A great place to take the whole family, look for the last minute holiday deals which are always available to this amazing country of Turkey.

The Dalaman region in south west Turkey stretches from Antalya in the east to Marmaris in the west. To the west of Dalaman are the resorts of Icmeler, Marmaris and Turunc, with the resorts of Olu Deniz and Fethiye to the west. The region is regarded as the gateway to Turkey’s Mediterranean Blue Coast, boasting miles of sandy beaches, including Patara Beach and the family friendly Ataturk Park, and many quiet coves.

Dalaman region

The wonderful golden sandy Patara Beach is backed by semi submerged Roman ruins, giving you the opportunity to enjoy some exploration along with relaxing on the beautiful sands. Ataturk Park, to the east of Marmaris, is great for families as the waters here in the bay are warm and shallow.

The region is steeped in history and natural beauty, including the Lycian rock tombs which are set in the Dalyan cliff face, the ruins of Olympos and the Xanthos Valley, and the 12 mile canyon of Saklikent Gorge.

Lycian rock tombs

There is a multitude of things to do and see in the Dalaman region. A visit to the large resort towns of Marmaris and Bodrum is a must, for some great watersports  including windsurfing and paragliding  there is the resort of Olu Deniz, and for those seeking something different there is hiking and bird watching on offer in the Besparrnak Mountains. There are lots of boat trips on offer, including an excursion to Butterfly Valley or an island hopping trip which includes stop offs for a swim along the way. Boat trips to Rhodes can include an overnight stay so that you can explore this lovely island.
Although there is plenty of nightlife in the area, the best place for the liveliest bars and nightclubs is Marmaris.

Holidaying in the Dalaman region wouldn’t be complete without sampling the regions traditional aubergine stews, aromatic lamb and the rose-scented baklava at one of the great restaurants. The restaurants also serve international cuisine, catering for all tastes.

Olu Deniz

The Dalaman region enjoys 320 days of sunshine a year with mild weather all year round. Temperatures average between 20C AND 35C from April to October, July and August being the hottest.

To enjoy some winter sunshine there are always great last minute holiday deals available to Turkey.

Holiday packages to this Turkish haven are always on offer throughout the internet.

Celebrity Cruises is offering three new round-trip Greek Isles and Turkey cruises out of Istanbul on the Bosphorus Strait. The cruises will depart in September and October 2011.

Istanbul Port

The 12 night round-trip cruises on the newly refurbished Celebrity Constellation will call at the ports at Bodrum, Marmaris and Chania.
The new itineraries will include an overnight stay in Istanbul and trips to Ephesus, Rhodes, Athens, Mykonos and Crete.

Celebrity Constellation

Celebrity Constellation – Cruise ship information

The Celebrity Constellation has all the luxurious features of a floating resort, including award-winning cuisine at the casual Waterfall Cafe, the main dining room and the specialty restaurant. You can see a film at the cinema or a show in the tri-level Celebrity Theatre, or just lounge in the Italian coffee house, champagne bar, martini bar or Michael’s Club. For the children there is the Ship Mates Fun Factory and the video arcade. One of the ship’s unique features is the Magnolia Garden, a floral boutique that offers flower-arranging classes. For guests who wish to unwind there is the two-story library and Notes, where you can pick your favorite tunes from a large music library and settle into a listening station. The AquaSpa offers the ultimate way to relax, with its wide range of traditional and exotic body treatments. Staterooms include interactive television (use it to order room service, shop or play casino video games), VCR, direct-dial telephone and voice mail, safe, hair dryer, minibar and complimentary room service.

Dining: The San Marco Dining Room is on 2 levels and provides freshly cooked good food with excellent service. Dinner is also available as room service. Alternative dining is provided in the Speciality Restaurant and the Oceanview Cafe & Grill.

Cruise ship amenities

Cabin Features & Amenities
24hr Room Service, Hairdryer, Safe, Telephone,Television.

Special Needs
Adjoining Cabins with private connecting doors, Kosher Meals, Wheelchair Accessible Cabins.

Childrens Facilities
Babysitting, Playroom, Supervised Youth Programme, Teenagers Centre.

Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges, Beauty Salon/Barber, Shop, Casino, Cinema, Disco/Dancing, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Laundry/Dry Cleaning, Library, Lifts, Onboard Weddings, Shops, Showroom, Spa, Video Arcade.

Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court, Fitness Centre, Golf Simulator, Jogging Track, Swimming Pool (inside), Swimming Pool (outside).

Ever fancied a cruise? There are loads of offers from all the cruise lines for last minute holidays throughout the internet.

First time cruising? Look out for the many bargain holidays that are being offered for this year and next year.

For more information on Turkey and to view my latest articles please visit my Turkey Blog.

Turkey is one of the few destinations that offers cheap package holidays whilst still offering all the attractions of the more expensive destinations. This glorious country has an abundance of resorts offering anything from self catering to bed and breakfast to all inclusive accommodation.

Marmaris

Resorts in Turkey include Marmaris, Bodrum, Dalaman and many more.

If you are looking for a beach holiday, diving holiday or even an outdoor activities holiday, this is the place to be.
With a long history which was influenced by the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires, Turkey has many historical attractions to visit including the ruins of Ephesus, regarded as one of the finest archaeological sites in Turkey.

Turkey also offers sailing along the blue coast, paragliding, hot air balloon rides, river rafting and even skiing in the mountains!

Alanya beach

But don’t forget apart from the more unusual activities Turkey has beautiful sandy beaches, plenty of restaurants, bars, nightlife,bazaars and shops. Istanbul has a bazaar that has over 3,000 shops spread across over 60 streets!

Some of Turkey’s best beaches are located on the Bodrum Peninsular and at Patara (Fethiye), Olu Deniz (Fethiye), Calis (Fethiye), Side (Antalya), Kemer (Antalya), Olimpos (Antalya), Iztuzu (Dalyan), Pamucak (Ephesus) and Alanya.

Thinking of visiting Turkey but don’t know which resort to chose? Then why not have a look at this interesting and informative destination guide to Bodrum. As i enjoy lots of watersports, my favourite part of Turkey is Bodrum where i can enjoy both modern and tradition activities. Cheap holidays to this lively resort can always be found on the internet.

Bodrum is renowned for its watersports, including snorkelling, wind surfing and boating, but also has lots of tourist attractions, fine beaches and nightlife. There are also regular boat trips to the Greek island of Kos on offer which make a lovely relaxing day out.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

Turkey is a beautiful country steeped in history, these are just a few of the historic places i have visited, I will be returning for more!

Aspendos

ASPENDOS

The most famous attractions found here are the theatre, the stadium, the aqueduct and the agora.

BERGAMA

Bergama is home to two of Turkey’s most famous archeological sites, Pergamum’s Acropolis and Asklepion, both of which are listed in the top 100 historical sites on the Mediterranean.
Pergamum (now Bergama) was an important capital city in ancient times and was built on a hill which rose to 1,000ft. The ancient city is made up of three main parts, the Acropolis-a sacred part but also used for social and cultural activities, the Lower City-where the lower classes lived, and Asklepion-home to one of the earliest medical centres on record.

Myndos Gate

BODRUM (ancient Halicarnassus)

Home to the famous Underwater Archaeology Museum, Castle of Crusaders, the ancient Mausoleum, the ancient Theatre and the Myndos Gate.

DEMRE (KALE)

Located about 5kms from Cayagzi, Demre is home to the Church of St Nicholas, the ruins of Roman Myra, a preserved theatre and rock-hewn tombs.

EPESUS

The ancient city of Ephesus is located in Selcuk, 30kms from Kusadasi.
An established port which was once the trade centre of the ancient world and an early Christian religious centre, and now a tourist centre.

Delphinion

MILETOS

Miletos is one of the oldest cities of Ionia and is located about 60kms from Kusadasi, on the western coast of Anatolia.
The most important monuments here are the Delphinion Temple (dedicated to Apollo Delphinion, the protector of ships and harbours), the Amphitheatre and the Bath of Faustina.
Miletos was a centre of philosophy and learning, home to Thales, Anaximander, Hekataios and many more.

OLYMPOS

Olympus is an ancient city, located in a valley, near the town of Kumluca.
Here you will find ancient Lycian ruins, mystery flames that burn from the side of a mountain, accommodation in treehouses, amongst other attractions.

Patara

PATARA

Located at the mouth of the Xanthos River, Patara was the main naval and trading port of Lycia until it became silted and turned into a disease ridden marsh.
Features of Patara include the oldest lighthouse in the world, Tepecik Acropolis & Necropolis, The Arch of Modestus, The Harbour (Date) Bath, The Vespasian Bath, Amphitheatre, The Marcia Temple Tomb, The Akdam Temple Tomb, The Pseudoperipteral Temple Tomb, Hadrians Granary and the Harbour Church.

PERGE

Perge marks the start of the St Paul Trail and is located about 18kms from Antalya.
Features of Perge include the Hellenistic Gate, the Agora, the Nymphaeum, the Sarcophagi, the Basilica and the Acropolis.

SIDE

One of the most important buildings here is the 15,000 spectator theatre. Other features include the city’s gates and walls, remains of aqueducts, temples, agora, the old baths and the harbour.

Xanthos

XANTHOS

Xanthos(located not far from Patara) and Letoon are regarded as a ‘double site’ as they are closely linked, Letoon (located about 10kms to the south of Xanthos) being administered by Xanthos.
Xantos-Letoon is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as it is one of Turkey’s most remarkable archaeological sites.
Features of Xanthos include the Amphitheatre, Acropolis (1 & 2), Necropolis, the ‘Harpy Tomb’, Pillar Tomb, Xanthian Obelisk, the Roman-Byzantine Street and Byzantine Basilica.

Turkey is a beautiful country steeped in history, these are just a few of the historic places i have visited, I will be returning for more!

The above are just a few of the historical sites of Turkey that i have visited whilst on my numerous summer holidays to this intriguing country, there are far too many to mention!

There are thousands of cheap holidays to Turkey on offer throughout the internet, a destination not to be missed.

For more information on Turkey and to view my latest articles please visit my Turkey Blog.

Gumbet, a suburb of Bodrum, is situated on the southwest coast of Turkey on the southern shore of the Bodrum peninsula. The resort overlooks the Aegean Sea and stretches for 1 km around a horseshoe bay which is lined with hotels offering cheap holidays, restaurants and bars. The sandy beaches

Gumbet

here are very family friendly and offer plenty of watersports, including windsurfing, jet-skiing, paragliding, banana boats and ringos.
There is also an official topless beach just a short distance out of the town.

Located in Ortakent is the Aquapark Dedeman, a massive waterpark with slides and flumes which is a popular destination for all the family.

During the high season,Gumbet is popular with youngsters looking for plenty of nightlife. At night the clubs and bars along the seafront and the side streets come to life.

For those looking for less energetic pleasures there is to the north of Gumbet, Ephesus and Selcuk, the preserved Roman city where St Paul preached to the Ephesians and where the Virgin Mary lived. Also worth a visit are the ruined cities of Priene and Miletus and the temple of Apollo at Didyma. Further inland are the ruined cities of Aphrodisias and Hierapolis and the frozen falls of Pamukkale.

Pamukkale

CLIMATE

The weather here in Gumbet is mild all the year round, however the best time to visit is between May and October when the average temperature is 25C. In July and August the temperature often exceeds 30C.