A look into the top Turkish holiday destinations according to holiday and flights provider, Jet2holidays.
If you want a reliable airline that won’t leave you stranded, Jet2holidays have proven themselves a worthwhile airline these last 18 months or so. Their holiday packages allow you to get the most out of your holiday time.
With so many holidays cancelled in the last two years, it makes sense that most of us feel a little trepidation before we book up. While we were researching the best holiday companies to travel with in the coming months, judging on past track records, we realised how well Jet2holidays have been performing.
Last week, we told you all about how they managed to get a couple of the Lilly Likes team all the way to Portugal and back with no problems. This week, we want to talk about how they have managed to keep flights coming and going from Turkey amid all of this. Travel chaos seems to have become a bit of an expected factor when planning post-pandemic trips – but we intend to spread the word and bring about some stability.
Here are the top 5 Turkish destinations and how you can get there safely, securely, and with the option of a refund should Covid make things tricky.
What makes Turkey a Great Holiday Destination?
Every year, an estimated 2.29 million trips take place between the UK and Turkey. One of this country’s favourite destinations for a holiday, Turkey has suffered a dent to the tourism industry at the hands of the pandemic. Although Turkey is now open for business, they had plenty of closures throughout the last two months which has put a serious downer on their tourist sector.
Why do so many UK tourists love Turkey? With its rich history dating back to before the Roman’s charged through it, Turkey was once one of the greatest countries in the world. Nowadays, it features beautiful weather combined with excellent sandy coastlines. It has buckets of nightlife and an ancient civilization for you to learn about. What’s not to love?
Travel to these 5 Turkish Holiday Destinations this Season
There are more than five terrific Turkish cities to visit, but here are the Lilly Likes favourites. Don’t forget you can see all the latest holiday snaps by following us on Instagram.
1 – Marmaris
Marmaris has been a popular Turkish holiday destination since the early noughties. It offers delightful waterfalls, beautiful mountains, water parks, grand bazaars and nightlife that rivals any other location in Turkey. The mixed blend of Turkish culture and heritage, with good nightlife and a party atmosphere, makes Marmaris popular among young and old tourists alike.
Of course, when the sun goes down, don’t expect to be asleep by 10 pm.
Jet2holidays have some excellent hotels in Marmaris, including the Club Exelsior family hotel and the Club Alize hotel, which is better for couples and small groups. To entice you to come along for a fortnight stay, Jet2holidays have a maximum baggage allowance of 22kg, which is enough to tide you over for the two weeks. Let’s not forget their awesome Covid policies as well. They will let you refund or change your date if something pandemic-related ruins your holiday.
As for Marmaris itself, some of the best attractions include the Marina, the Dancing Fountains, and Marmaris Castle.
2 – Antalya
Best known for stunning beaches and historical attractions, Antalya features the historic Kaleici Old Town as a main event. The beautiful sandy beaches of the Antalya coastline are what make this area such a popular destination with tourists… and if you’re young and beautiful, then all the better.
Jet2holidays offer several holidays to and from Antalya. Taxes and fees will be covered, of course, and you can get your money back if you must cancel due to Covid. You can even get your flight changed if a member of your family is diagnosed with a covid positive test.
Choose from one of many hotels here to suit your taste and style. There’s the Miracle Resort Hotel with a lovely pool and plenty of sun loungers to reserve with your towel and then not use all day. The Saturn Palace Resort is a firm favourite, which has an onsite waterpark for families to enjoy.
Attractions in the town itself include the old town and Old Harbour, the Antalya Museum, and the beautiful Hadrian’s Gate. Take plenty of pics there for the Gram. And yes! It is the same Hadrian who built the wall to keep the Scots out! We looked it up!
Everyone loves a holiday in Antalya 😌✨
— James (@jamesverige) October 6, 2021
3 – Belek
Situated in the Antalya area, Belek is the golf capital of Turkey. The main attractions here all focus around getting to the 19th hole. There is the Carya Golf Club, the Gloria Golf Club, and the Cornelia Golf Club, all within a fifty mile radius. That’s not to miss out the Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club, either. The Land of Legends theme Park is the next top attraction of Belek if we discount the golf. There’s something for the young and the obsessed, then.
Of course, if you fly to Belek with Jet2holidays you can take advantage of the Covid-19 hub they set up. This is an online space that allows you to stay on top of everything Covid-related which might affect your journey. They tell you which countries are Green, Amber, or Red, or what the government is up to most recently with regards international travel. They’re a good bunch.
In Belek they have The Sueno Hotel Deluxe resort with a lagoon-style pool, onsite waterpark and private beach with its own pier. They offer holidays to the Maxx Royal golf resort we mentioned earlier, which lets you stay in a five star resort while you play as much golf as you like.
4 – Bodrum
It sounds a little like ‘Bedlam’ but it’s far nicer. The Bodrum area of Turkey is known for playing home to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology – which is exactly as spectacular as it sounds. The museum attracts thousands of visitors every year with its exhibits which feature historic artefacts from all along the southern Aegean Coast. Other meaningful attractions in Bodrum are the Castle of St. Peter, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the ever-amazing Yahsi Beach. Bodrum is on its own peninsula, so it’s an interesting place to explore.
As for holidays in the area, there are a range of attractive offers. There’s the three star Watergarden Apartments which are best suited to small groups, couples, and singles. If there are more of you or if you want a larger pool, the Agar Apartments offer lovely terraces that give beautiful views. As well as allowing for great deals, when you choose your holiday from the Jet2holidays selection, you get the assurance of refundable tickets if Covid crops up. Jet2holidays let you pay monthly and have been thoroughly cleaning the cabins in between flights.
This coming holiday, consider flying with one of the UK’s most trusted providers. It’s hard to know who you can depend on in a post-pandemic world, but Jet2holidays do their best to provide clarity.
5 – Side
Of course, we couldn’t pass up a place named for a table. Side is a popular Turkish tourist resort that’s still considered a ‘hidden gem’. Side is famous for sandy beaches and hot summer days, thought the rugged coastline is equally as attractive for a winter holiday. There is a beach right on the edge of town, so you don’t have to travel far regardless of where your hotel is. Side is found only 30 minutes outside of Antalya, meaning you have access to all the attractions of the big city without the noise and bustle at your accommodations.
Side has ancient ruins because it is an ancient town. They are the second most popular reason for visiting here after that long, beautiful beach. Side is famed for it’s historical background so those who stay here should take time to appreciate the Greek amphitheatre or to peruse the Temple of Apollo. This area has some of the richest, longest, most dust-shrouded history you will come across in all of Europe.
When travelling with Jet2holidays, there are a few options of hotels to stay in. If you would like a modern hotel with a private plunge pool room and awesome views, then the Flora Garden Hotel is the one for you. Trip Advisor give it 4.5 stars. On the other hand, the Arum Barut Collection of hotels gets a 5 star rating from the providers and comes with a Traveller’s Choice Award.
Don’t forget that you will need to follow all the travel rules when you leave, both for the country you are arriving in, and on your return to the UK. Check whether a Passenger Locator Form is needed on return.
When to visit Turkey?
Normally, we would say that Turkey is best visited in the summer months, when travellers can enjoy the good weather. As things stand at the moment? We would say go and book before things change again. You know how it is. And Turkey is so worth the trouble!
Lilly Likes Turkey
Lilly Likes to approve of any foreign holidays, particularly in this trying time. We all need a break and that’s our final say on the matter. Go on holiday. It will do you good.
