Turkey Holidays 2012-2013

Eating out in Turkey should be enjoyed and savoured, with traditional cuisine coming in various shapes and sizes, you should try it all before deciding whether or not you like it. In Istanbul, a lovely place to escape for a bite to eat would be the rooftop restaurants of Beyoglu or to experience a gourmet restaurant take a trip to Alacati. For some delicious mediterranean cuisine try out the Juno cafe which stays open late. If you’d prefer something more familiar then there are lots of international restaurants to choose from too

Turkey isn’t just about beaches and fast paced full cities. There are plenty of escapes for the budding romantics to take advantage of too. Savour the isolation offered at Kalekoy or bask in the coastal gem of Bozcaada with its original unspoiled architecture and quaint taverns with beautiful views of the bay. Take in the history of Bodrum castle and later enjoy a sunset as it creeps over the surrounding hillsides. Turkey is a popular place for honeymooners too, choose a boutique hotel and enjoy the luxury of space and comfort in the sun.

The elegant Grand Yazici Mares Hotel, Marmaris is in a great seafront location just a couple of miles from the centres of Icmele and Marmaris overlooking a superb sandy beach complete with water sports centre. With its private beach and spectacular views of the bay, the Grand Yazici Mares Hotel is a popular choice for couples when holidaying in Turkey.

Beaches in Turkey are beautiful, white sanded coves with topaz waters leading to lush green hills and beautiful mountains. The Calis beach near Fethiye is perfect for familes with its long stretches of sand and calm clear waters, there are also a number of restaurants and cafe’s that are all family friendly. For a little exploration why not try Ovabuku beach on the Datcha peninsula which is surrounded by lush green countryside, much more peaceful than the usual turkish beach and lots of space for adventure.

Eating in Turkey is an experience in itself, with the cuisine taking inspiration from asian, middle eastern and the balkans. Of course there are restaurants offering worldwide cuisine too especially around the resorts and in the cities. Seafood is especially nice and there are some great places in Istanbul to try it out. The grand bazaar has a good selection but also has many restaurants catering to international fare too. For an Ottoman style meal, laden with kebabs and vegetables then Fatih should be on your destination list, there are also markets in the area selling spices and traditional foods.

The Viking Star Hotel is one of the most popular resorts in Antalya, offering a great location in kemer within 600m of the regions shoreline. Enjoy the hotel's various in-house facilities and services, including; a Hamam-Spa, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, theatre and three bars.

Whether your preference is scuba diving, jet skiing, wind surfing or white water rafting, Turkey has something for everyone. Turkey’s clear waters offer great visibility for diving and snorkeling with Kalkan being a popular destination. Turkey is surrounded by mountains with beautiful long flowing lakes, this makes it a good place for rafting and canoeing - try out the Koprulu canyon or the Coruh river.

With a little exploration it’s easy to find some beautiful isolated beaches, waterfalls and quaint old villages that’ll place you far from the more crowded sides of Turkey. Venture to Antalya in south west Turkey and from there head to the beautiful water falls of Upper and Lower Duden falls and then just outside of Antalya you’ll find Olympos, a beautiful unspoiled paradise of sea and sand. Here you’ll also find a rocky stream leading in to the thick greenery and the ruins of centuries old buildings.

Boat trips are a wonderful way to explore the natural coastlines around Turkey and they come in many variations from cruises to half day visits and luxury yachts. An ideal place to start is in Bodrum, from the harbour sail out to the bay of Gokova and the black island for a relaxing day of hot springs and natural mud baths. From Kalkan harbour take a glass bottomed boat to explore the bays of Kekova and swim in the turquoise sea or visit the five bays of Marmaris.