CULTURE and history are now as important to the traditional fun-in-the-sun
holiday as value for money, according to a Mintel survey - all of which is
good news for Turkey. The country also caters for off-the-beaten- track
holidays, with more holidaymakers staying in its small, family-run hotels
and tucked-away villas.
Luxury and boutique hotels in Istanbul and along the Turkish Riviera are
booming, as are adventure holidays combining watersports and mountain-based
activities such as paragliding and trekking. There are now two waymarked
walks; the Lycian Way from Fethiye to Antalya, and the St Paul Trail from
Antalya to Lake Egirdir.
Here are some suggestions for original summer holidays. Unless stated, prices
are for one week in June and two weeks in August and include flights.
SINGLES
HOLIDAY WITH YOUR MATES
Sailing is great for groups and the best way to experience Turkey's
sandy beaches and hidden bays - many of which can be reached only by boat.
Sunsail has been operating flotilla and bareboat holidays in Turkey for 30
years. One week's self-catering bareboat charter costs from £589/£1,219pp.
Sunsail (bareboat charters 0870 7770318, flotilla holidays 0870 1128489, www.sunsail.com).
GET ADVENTUROUS
Combine trekking, a gulet cruise and canoeing in a small escorted group with
cultural visits to Istanbul and Ankara, Konya (home of the whirling
dervishes), Olympos, Gallipoli, and the classical city of Ephesus. Fifteen
days costs £525, irrespective of when you travel (flights arranged for about
£150), plus a local payment of £103.
Imaginative Traveller (01473 667337, www.imaginative-traveller.com).
EASY EXPLORING
Explore has several trips with easy walking and plenty of chances for a dip,
scuba diving or a Turkish bath. For example, the Turquoise Coast Tour from
May to October visits ancient ruins such as Phaselis and Olympos and pretty
harbour towns such as Kas. It is ideal for singles since a single room is
guaranteed for £55 extra a week. The basic price based on two sharing B&B
on all tours is £600-£610pp.
Explore (0870 3334001, www.explore.co.uk).
INDULGE YOURSELF
The Montenegro deluxe boutique hotel at Gökçeovacik (near Dalaman),
with sauna and specialist treatment room, ticks all the right boxes for
pampering. But, being hidden away up a mountain track and with only six
rooms (no children), it is more intimate than some of the executive-style
golf and spa hotels. The only downside for single travellers is that all
rooms are doubles, so you end up paying extra for single occupancy, working
out at £850 for one week's B&B in June, including two one-day
cruises. The single supplement has been waived for yoga courses in April and
October, costing £900pp with half-board accommodation and a day on a gulet.
Exclusive Escapes (020-8605 3500, www.hiddenturkey.com).
COUPLES
LUXURY AFLOAT
For lazy days at sea, try spending a few days aboard Halas, a luxury
floating hotel converted from a First World War passenger ferry, a bit like
walking into the pages of an Agatha Christie novel with its teak
furnishings, impeccable service and glamorous 20s-style decor. During July
and August, one night is from £95pp sharing a double cabin with all meals.
Flights extra.
Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288, www.elixirholidays.com).
BIKE AND HIKE
Combine sightseeing in Istanbul with guided hiking and biking in Cappadocia,
where the erupted topography lends itself to outdoor adventures. In June,
Original Travel offers five days from £1,178pp, based on two sharing, one
night's B&B in a posh hotel in Istanbul and three nights in a cave hotel
in Cappadocia; in August prices rise by about £100pp, depending on the cost
of flights.
Original Travel (020-7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk).
FUN ON THE WATER
There is plenty of sailing, windsurfing and water polo at Mark
Warner's adults-only Palm Beach. One week in June from £704pp, based on two
sharing, full-board; two weeks in August from £1,194.
Mark Warner (0870 7704222, www.markwarner.co.uk).
TEE TIME
Belek has six golf courses, including Tat Golf, which proclaims itself "tastefully
Turkish, traditionally British". Golf is increasingly popular, and
packages combine well-designed courses and off-green distractions. Book
a golf package with Anatolian Sky, which also offers traditional gulet
cruises, and tailor-made cultural holidays.
Anatolian Sky (0870 8504040, www.anatolian-sky.com).
WALK THROUGH HISTORY
Headwater's Best of Turkey guided walking tour takes in Istanbul and
Gallipoli, as well as Ephesus. The price for the 11-day tour in June is
£1,379pp, based on two sharing half-board accommodation. In September the
same trip is from £1,329pp.
Headwater (0870 0662650, www.headwater.com).
GO YOUR OWN WAY
Put together an independent trip to Istanbul and explore the city using the
American- run Empress Hotel Zoe in the tourist district as a base - it is
small and friendly, tastefully styled with a restful garden built around the
ruin of a 15th-century hammam. Doubles from £58 a night, including breakfast
for two.
Empress Hotel Zoe (00 90 212 5182504, www.emzoe.com).
COSY HIDEAWAYS
The newly opened Sumahan On The Water hotel, overlooking the
Bosphorus in Istanbul, is ideal for a romantic hideaway. Recently converted
from a 19th-century raki distillery (Suma means unadulterated alcohol while
han is the Ottoman word for inn), the hotel has luxurious bathrooms and a
private motorised launch to make connections for sightseeing or an evening
out. Savile Tours has seven nights in June from £900pp B&B; a week
in August is from £945. Longer twin-centre holidays combining Istanbul with
another destination can be arranged.
Savile Tours (020-7242 8488, www.saviletours.com).
ROMANTIC HIDEAWAY
The one-bedroomed Caria Villa is hidden 500m up a track from the hamlet of
Gokcebel on the Bodrum peninsula. There are shops near by where you can
stock up on supplies for evenings in, and restaurants for nights out. One
week in June is from £515, including car hire; two weeks in August is from
£879.
Simply Travel (0870 4055005, www.simplytravel.co.uk).
GODDESS WORSHIP
The Datca peninsula in southwest Turkey has the Mediterranean on three
sides, with pine forests, fishing villages and farmers' markets. Drive to
Knidos at the tip of the peninsula - the site of a statue of Aphrodite that
dates back to 400BC. Ilios Travel has self-catering villas and boutique
hotels from £620/£910, including flights and private transfers.
Ilios Travel (0870 0600607, www.iliostravel.com).
TREAT YOURSELF
The five-star Hillside Su, with 294 all-white rooms, is 15 minutes from
Antalya airport. It combines minimalist decor with opulent facilities and
white-coated staff. One week in June costs from £513pp, based on two sharing
B&B; two weeks in August is from £1,033pp.
Thomas Cook Select (0870 1111111, www.thomascook.com).
GREAT ALL ROUND
There is no danger of becoming bored with the view in the 24-room revolving
loft at the new Marmara hotel in Antalya. The hotel also has
a private beach, wellness centre with Turkish bath and, for creative types, a
graffiti column. At the time of writing, Expedia was offering standard
doubles from £91 a night, including breakfast for two in June; the same room
in August was £101.
Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk).
FAMILIES
FUN FOR UNDER-FIVES
The Hillside Beach Club, near Fethiye, is popular with families, but the
nearby converted village of Ocakkoy offers simple accommodation (some
self-contained). There is a family pool, village shop, restaurant, low-key
crèche and friendly staff, as well as a cat, tortoises and goats. The price
for one week in June is from £569 per adult; two weeks in August is from
£739 per adult. Children under 15 are £400, infants £30.
Tapestry Holidays (020-8235 7777, www.tapestryholidays.com).
TROUBLE-FREE TEENS
If you would prefer to self-cater, the four-bedroom Asfiya Villas in
southwest Turkey are a 20-minute walk from Kalkan old town and Kalamar Bay.
The sea and the town’s nightlife are accessible to teenagers old enough to
be let out on their own. Each villa has its own pool and guests can use the
services of the Asfiya Hotel next door. The price for one week in June is
from £950pp; two weeks in August is from £1,495pp.
Tapestry Holidays (020-8235 7777, www.tapestryholidays.com).
KEEPING THE PEACE
Portakal Villa at Bitez on the Bodrum peninsula sleeps up to ten,
divided between a main villa (sleeps six) and small separate house (sleeps
four), useful for separating warring stepsiblings or providing an
adults-only escape. Shady terraces around the pool are ideal for coming
together for meals (the caretaker’s wife will prepare food and do laundry).
And for those days when you all want an escape, there is a good beach and
restaurants near by. The price for one week in June is from £565pp, based on
ten sharing, including two hire cars; two weeks in August is from £885pp.
Simpson Travel (0845 8116506, www.simpsontravel.com).
GETTING TO KNOW THEM
Tussock Cruising owns a fleet of nine wooden yachts, which sail along
the southwest coast of Turkey from Bodrum, Marmaris and Kusadasi. In
child-friendly Turkish style, it offers discounts for children throughout
the season, and a one-week children’s cruise with only families on board
leaving Bodrum on July 22 and July 29. Children receive a 50 per cent
discount on this trip, and on-board activities include fishing with the
captain, baking with the cooks, games on board and a shore excursion to
visit a local Turkish family. A week in June is £193 for board, £255 for
crew, including all daytime meals, drinks on board and five dinners. Two
weeks in August is £386 for board, £550 for crew.
Tussock Cruising (020-8510 9292, www.tussockcruising.com).
WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT
The Dome Kempinski is the grandest of Belek’s luxurious hotels, and
even though it is sumptuous, children are welcome. There is a kids’ club and
many double rooms with interconnecting doors. The cost for one week over May
Bank Holiday is from £1,290pp, £490 for children 2-6, £870 for 7-12s,
including flights and half-board; two weeks in August is from £ 2,190pp,
£550, £1,190 respectively.
Elixir Holidays (020-7722 2288, www.elixirholidays.com).
NEED TO KNOW
Getting there: Direct scheduled services typically cost £150
to £250 with Turkish Airlines (020-7766 9300, www.turkishairlines.com) to
Istanbul and Antalya, British Airways (0870 8509850, www.ba.com) to
Istanbul, or Cyprus Turkish Airlines (020-7930 4851) to Antalya, Dalaman and
Izmir. From May to October Excel Airways (0870 1690169, www.xl.com) operates
to Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman.
Charter flights to the main holiday gateways of Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya,
and to Izmir, are typically between £100 and £250: try MyTravel Airways
(0870 2418983, www.mytravel.com), First Choice Airways (0870 8503999,
www.firstchoice.co.uk), Thomas Cook Airlines (0870 2430416,
www.flythomascook.com), Thomson (0800 000747, www.thomson.co.uk) and Avro
(0870 4582841, www.avro.co.uk).
Red tape: British passport holders require a visa bought at
point of entry with a £10 note.
Health: Vaccinations against diphtheria, hepatitis A, tetanus
and polio are recommended. Drink bottled water and eat well-cooked food to
avoid stomach upsets.
Driving: A full British licence is required and should be
carried in the car, together with your passport and insurance documents.
Opening hours: Shops, banks and post offices are open daily
in the main tourist areas with closing times between 7pm and midnight. Most
museums are open every day, except Mondays. Further information at
www.kulturturizm.gov.tr.
Money: From this year only the new Turkish lira will be in
circulation; £1 buys about 2.4 new Turkish lira. ATMs are available in
tourist areas.
Reading: Turkey: Special Places to Stay (Alastair
Sawday Publishing, £11.99), Istanbul (Time Out), monthly guide
available in the city or see www.timeout.com.tr.
Further information: Turkish Tourist Board (020-7629 7771,
www.gototurkey.co.uk).
