The Turkish Riviera also known as the “Turquoise Coast” is a perfect mix of favourable climate, warm sea, amazing mountain views and fine beaches for more than a thousand kilometres of a shoreline along the Aegean and Mediterranean waters.
I would like to introduce you to one of my favourite summer holiday destinations, the Antalya region. In less than a 100 km you can find more than 300 luxury hotels and the most beautiful Turkish beaches with amazing white sand and warm sea.
In the summertime it is really easy and affordable to reach Turkey from almost all major European countries. From Hamburg there are many airline companies offering direct flights to Antalya. So in less than 4 hours you can enjoy your cocktail at the sea-side. Booking your holiday through a travel agency is strongly recommended, that way you can be sure that all the transfers and services are included in the price. By paying for your summer holiday in early spring you could also save lots of money.
Once a year, for 9-10 days I really love to literally do nothing, just sipping my cocktails beside the pool, eating exquisite Turkish dishes and bathing in the big blue and especially warm sea.
For this kind of relaxing holiday your best pick is one of the all-inclusive packages offered by a lot of hotels at the Turkish Riviera. Some of them are even quite funny: exact replicas of famous buildings, such as Taj Mahal. Sometimes complete sites have been “cloned”, such as the old town centre of Venice or the Red Square from Moscow. So without even entering Russia you can eat your ice-cream on the Red Square. Our last all-inclusive stay was at the Kremlin Palace, and our room was inside the Kremlin’s main building(!). Surprisingly we didn’t meet Mr. Putin. Maybe he was on holiday… somewhere else...
The sea is really warm, sometimes even 28°C
The food in Turkey is absolutely fabulous, you can choose from a wide variety of fresh salads, all kinds of exotic fruits and oriental spices are always on the table. I find the all-inclusive system awesome, this way I can try out various interesting and new food combinations and of course delicious cocktails.
During your stay, a personal travel assistant pays you a visit at your hotel — courtesy of your travel agency. This travel specialist presents you with several optional day-excursions, all with minivan transfer directly from your hotel. Each year we attended one of these trips, and I can totally recommend them. Even during a relaxing holiday, a one-day excitement still fits well. On our honeymoon — two years ago — we made a rafting trip, and last year we visited the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Perge and the antique Aspendos Theatre. Outside was really hot (about 38°C), but fortunately all the minivans are air-conditioned.
An astonishing combination of culture, delicious culinary experiences and a tranquillizing seaside holiday, the Turkish Riviera is an amazing choice for an unforgettable and truly relaxing summer holiday.
Güle güle!
