Turkey Holidays
There is much more to Turkey than meets the eye.
Turkey Holidays
Tukey is a real gem - right on the doorstep for those of us in Europe, and with much more to offer than just crystal clear beaches. It’s a great place to explore culture & history, has many stunning natural wonders to visit and can be a great family destination as well. Because Turkey is so accessible, you can spend a long weekend in Istanbul, a week on the coast, or three weeks travelling through the different regions of Turkey. Many of the well known areas / attractions such as Cappadocia or Pamukkale can be a little difficult to reach, so if you are wanting a great cultural experience - why not try a guided group adventure? Or if you’re wanting to relax on the beach, or in a resort, we’ll have something for you, with many beautiful resort cities along the Mediterranean Coast - offering direct flights to many larger British airports.
Istanbul
Istanbul, the world’s only city that sits on two continents - has so much to offer for a weekend break. Offering direct flights from many of the larger European cities, and just a 4 hour flight from London, Istanbul is a great destination for a long weekend, or week away. There’s plenty to see and do in Istanbul - start off with the famous Hagia Sofia, and marvel at the Topkapı Palace and take a river cruise down the Bosphorus Strait. Istanbul holds one of the largest covered bazaars in the world - the Grand Bazaar. Built in the 15th century, lose yourself amongst the 4000 stalls selling everything from spices, to fabrics, souvenirs and ceramics. When you’ve done all the exploring you can for the day, enjoy a local turkish dinner and perhaps take advantage of Istanbul’s great nightlife - which can easily compete with many if it’s European neighbours.
If you're looking for the best place to stay, speak to one of our experts, but generally it’s best to stay in Istanbul’s old town if you want to take advantage of being closer to the main sites.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a region located in central Turkey, famous for its “fairy chimneys” - large pointed rock formations, packed together in the valleys in the region. A UNESCO world heritage site, Cappadocia is a land straight out of a fairytale. Stay overnight in a renovated cave house, and explore the underground city located in the region.
Cappadocia offers many hiking opportunities for lovers of the outdoors, with many short trails in the region through winding rock formations previously walked by age-old civilizations. A must do in Cappadocia is a hot-air balloon ride over the chimneys. The incredible formations change colour with the sun depending on the time of the day and are spectacular viewed from above.
Getting There
The closest airports to Cappadocia are Kayseri and Nevşehir which are both around 30-60 minutes drive from Göreme, one of the main cities in the area. There are many multi-day tours departing from Istanbul, or Kayseri if you’d prefer to be guided through this stunning landscape.
Antalya Holidays
Perfectly situated on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Antalya is a perfect getaway for those wanting sun, sand and sparkling blue water. With direct flights from many of Europe's larger cities, Antalya is not only accessible, but it’s great for a quick beach getaway. Home to some of Turkey’s best beaches, Antalya also offers a historic old town, full of hip bars, restaurants, plenty of cafes as well as art galleries. Nearby, you’ll also find the Düden Waterfalls, flowing into the sea. There are plenty of resorts located right within Antalya town, offering a convenient location for wandering through cobblestone streets, and being right on the beach.
Luxury Holidays in Antalya
A bit further out of Antalya, you’ll find the glitzy Lara beach - 10 kilometres of golden sand, which also hosts many hotels and resorts if you’d like to stay here. Lara Beach is classified as a Blue Flag beach, which is an award given to beaches around the world for cleanliness, good water quality and sustainability.
Family Holidays in Antalya
Bringing the family to Antalya? There are plenty of family friendly resorts in the area, get in touch with our experts for recommendations. There are plenty of things for the kids to do within Antalya itself as well such as the aquarium and Aktur Lunapark.
Bodrum Holidays
Located on Turkey’s Southwestern Peninsula and one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations, Bodrum is the perfect Turkish destination if you are looking for sun and sand, with a mix of history and great food. If you want to stay in a resort, you’ll find these located all over the Bodrum peninsula.
Exploring Bodrum
Getting to Bodrum is easy, there is an airport located in Bodrum, which offers flights that connect to many of the European airports, with direct flights from London. There are lots of things to do within Bodrum town and the surrounding area. Tick off one of the seven ancient wonders of the world - the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, or St Peters Castle. Walk through the streets and take in the lines of white washed houses and visit the small shops throughout the town. Being on the coast, Bodrum has no shortage of water based activities. Kayak through the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea, head out on a jet ski or fishing for the day. There’s plenty of opportunities to get out on the water with lunch cruises, yacht trips, and even multi day sailing trips.
Bodrum Resorts
Not here to explore? No problem - we’ll find the perfect place for you to stay, whether you prefer all inclusive, luxurious or you're on a budget. Bodrum is known for its wide range of resorts and hotels so we’ll be able to put together the perfect package for you.
Family Holidays in Turkey
Looking for a family adventure? There are plenty of great places to take the kids along the Mediterranean coast - with some great family friendly resorts, as well as all inclusive if that’s your preference. Kusadasi, south of Izmir, is a great choice for families with kids, with multiple waterparks for the kids. Aqua fantasy Aquapark Hotel and Spa is a great choice, with it’s own waterpark, and can be packaged up as an all inclusive bundle. Also in the area you’ll find Tortuga Water Park, a pirate themed waterpark, and when you’ve visited all the waterparks, maybe take some time out from the kids with some sightseeing, with Kusadasi featuring its own castle and markets nearby. Get in touch with one of our experts who can suggest the perfect resort for you and your family, whether it be luxury, or budget.
When to go
The best time to visit Turkey depends on what you are going to see and where you are planning to go. If you are visiting the Southern coast, for sun and sand, the summer months, June through to mid-September, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees celsius and very little rain. If you are heading to one of Turkey’s cities for some exploring or sight seeing, or are looking to visit Turkey for a more active holiday such as hiking or cycling, you may want to avoid the summer months, and visit in September, October, or before summer in April or May when the temperatures are a bit more pleasant. If you are visiting Turkey during winter, expect cold days - with Istanbul having an average temperature of 5 degrees in January and February and the Cappadocia region reaching negative temperatures with snowfall.
Travelling within Turkey
Turkey is a big country - around 3.2 times larger than the UK, so it can be difficult to get from city to city. Domestic flights are the easiest and most convenient way to get around and are reasonably priced if booked in advance. Istanbul is the country's main hub, and international flights connect to many countries around the world. If travelling on a budget, and you have more time, Turkey’s railway system is reliable and overnight buses are one of the cheapest ways to travel.
Turkey Food
Most people have tried Turkish cuisine - or at least a kebab, in their hometown or own country, but Turkey, covering approximately 783,000km and being located in both Europe and Asia, has so much more to offer as well as a huge variety of dishes to choose from. Some of our recommendations include Meze platters - a great way to try a bit of everything. Pide bread, which can be topped with lots of different toppings. Baklava, a rich, syrupy dessert consisting of many layers of filo pastry. Borek, pastries made with thin, flaky dough which can be filled with many things, such as meat or cheese. Lokum, often referred to as Turkish delight around the world, is another must try when visiting Turkey.
Turkey is also famous for its coffee. Known for its strong flavour, and it’s unique preparation method, Turkish coffee traditionally derives from the Arabica bean. Often served in small amounts, we highly recommend that any coffee lovers give it a go.
The Holiday People Financial Protection
At The Holiday People we give you full financial protection.
Simply, when you make a booking your money goes into a sperate business account and stays there until you go on holiday.
Your money is separated from the money we use to run the business. Your money enters into either a Trust Account or Client Account pending what elements of a holiday your booking.
This means that we will always be able to refund and even if, for some reasons The Holiday People failed, you'd be able to get a refund or go on holiday because your money is separated from the business.
The Holiday People offers some of the most comprehensive financial protection in the travel industry. Many travel companies do not offer the protection we do so even if you don't book with us, please do check how you are protected!
We hope this makes sense!
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