Holidays in Turkey

Tanya and I have enjoyed holidays in Turkey about 8 times since 2008. The entire SW coast of Turkey has been developed into tourist resorts from the Bay of Antalya clear around almost to Izmir. The major airports serving the resorts are Antalya and Bodrum. We have favoured the west side of the Bay of Antalya around Kemer.

We are end-of-season tourists, going the lend of September and into October to take advantage of both cooler temperatures and cheaper rates.  We have always picked 3 Star resorts, never the same one twice, and managed to survive tolerable food and tolerable service. Until this year. We had stayed at this resort several years ago when it was a 3 Star.  It changed hands and now bills itself as 4 Star.

The facility and rooms are 4 Star though there is still maintenance work to be done. The bar is 4 Star, not that it did me much good. The food was 2 Star minus and I will not go into detail. We went out for supper three times the last week to a great Turkish restaurant just down the street. The housekeeping was 1 Star as there was only had one housekeeper on staff for 60 rooms. We were next door to the housekeeping storeroom so served ourselves. It seems the new owners were trying to pay for the upgrades the first or second year.

But the sea was 5 Stars, as always. Mornings and early afternoons were the best time to swim as the water was smooth as glass but tends to roughen up a bit by late afternoon. The shore drops off about 10 meters out into 3-meter deep water and drops further fast. Even way out from shore, you can still see bottom. Technically, I can't swim. Freshwater lakes or swimming pools are not for me, though I can paddle well enough for a short way. Even the Black Sea is no good for me. But in the Mediterranean, I have no fear. Enough salt to keep me buoyant and warm enough I can stay for quite a while.

The beach is gravel as all sand has been washed away to the east side of the Bay around Alanya. In bare feet, it is like walking on Lego. Everyone wears sandals or plastic slip-on shoes. There are all kinds of chaise lounges to lie on for tanning and a few brave souls actually spread a towel on the beach. Several of the hotels have long concrete piers out into the sea, not for boats but for more chaise lounges. The hotel next to ours (we stayed there about 8 years ago) has one which guests from our hotel use to access the water without having to cross the beach. The ladder off the side takes you directly into deep water.

Tanya and Masha were to Greece last year and that is where we are going next fall if we can. Because the Halkidiki Penninsula is farther north, end-of-season starts a couple weeks earlier. And she says the food is wonderful.

Belrose Hotel

View from the beach

View from the main exit to the beach

The mountains run close to the beach. 

Date Palms

Swimming pool but why?

Parasailing is just one of the many extras one can purchase

Concrete pier next door

The barrier rope is out near the boats. I go out and back twice. My limit.

Chaise Lounges for sun tanning

Gravel or as I call it Lego

The ladder direct to deep water