Turkey Holiday Packages – In Vogue
> Posted by admin in Turkey Holiday Packages
If there is one destination that has grown rapidly in popularity during the last few years it has to be Turkey, and because of recent trends in holiday booking, Turkey holiday packages in particular are likely to offer some of the best value holidays in Europe over coming years. If you are finding it hard to make ends meet, like most people you will almost certainly not want to give up that treasured holiday in the sun. After all, it’s what keeps you going when you are faced with a bad day at work or a dark winter commute through the rain. Perhaps you usually go to Spain or Greece but you are struggling to fund the ever-increasing cost of a holiday to those destinations? If so, Turkey could be just the place for you, and I urge you to take a few moments to read why:
Turkey’s new-found popularity is well-deserved. Because of Turkey’s relatively late arrival to the beach holiday scene, Turkey holiday packages offer access to some of the most beautiful and un-commercialised beaches in Europe. The special people of Turkey have a great way with travellers – as a destination its hospitality is unrivalled. Children are especially well catered for, welcomed into restaurants with open arms, and often provided with dedicated seating areas and kept occupied with DVDs or games whilst adults get to enjoy some rare quality time.
Turkey holiday packages (by wikimedia.org user:Yosarian)
Turkey holiday packages are likely to increase further in popularity over coming years, for several very good reasons. One is that people are moving back towards the package holiday somewhat in a bid for protection against the airline collapses that have so badly affected the independent traveller in the past year or so. This is suggested by the annual trends survey by Thomson and First Choice, issued in September 2009, which reported that 13% of respondents who said that the recession had affected their holiday plans would consider packages next year, up from 6% this year.
Another reason for the increasing popularity of Turkey holiday packages in the last year or so is the strength of the Euro, which has been responsible for driving holidaymakers away from their usual Euro-zone haunts of Spain, France and Greece. A flight to Turkey is often very little longer than one to Greece, but of course Turkey is outside the Euro-zone, and this means it still offers the “old-world” value that we used to find in Spain and Greece, say, 20 years ago. This makes a difference all-round – hotels can offer more for your money; restaurants are significantly cheaper; souvenirs such as carpets, jewellery and leather goods cost less; excursions are better value – in a recession, this all-round value is just the sort of thing that people are looking for.
It looks very much as if all-inclusive Turkey holiday packages are going to account for an increasing proportion of holidays taken to Turkey over the next few years. This is partly due to the recession – people are looking for the best value. The Thomson/First Choice survey states that 16% of holidaymakers would consider an all-inclusive holiday, up from 10% this year. It is certainly true that hotels are gearing up to provide considerably more than the “bog standard” all-inclusive deal, with superior service and wider choice of food and drinks on offer, often at the same price or less than in previous years as competition for customers is hotter than ever.
Turkey holiday packages have a lot to offer. The stunning, unspoilt beaches, not unlike the Greece of the 1980s. The sleepy rural villages – almost unchanged for centuries. The clear sea, so clean and so blue that the word turquoise could almost have been invented to describe it – great for water sports. The historical Byzantine and Roman ruins.
If you are worrying about how to afford your next family holiday in the sun, Turkey really can be the answer to your prayers. There truly has never been a better time to go – Turkey is in vogue, and Turkey holiday packages, especially all-inclusive packages, offer some of the best value around if you are looking for a high quality holiday in the sun.
You can take a look at the very best of the amazing deals currently on offer by clicking this link: Turkey Holiday Packages
read comments (0)Turkey Holiday Packages – Paragliding in Oludeniz
> Posted by admin in Turkey Holiday Packages
Paragliding on Holiday in Turkey – Thrill of a Lifetime!
Imagine how it must feel to be soaring as free as a bird, feeling the cooling breeze on your forehead and looking down at the twinkling sea and the sunbathers on the beach far below.
Paragliding in Olu Deniz is not quite the same as gliding through the air like a bird, but it’s pretty much as close as a human can get to it. For many people who come on Turkey holiday packages to Olu Deniz, a tandem paragliding session at the world-famous paragliding school up on Mount Babadag is the highlight of their holiday to Turkey.
Anyone can do it, from age four upwards, because you are strapped in with a highly-qualified instructor who looks after you for the entire flight. You don’t need any experience whatsoever. Just wear comfortable clothes; the paragliding school provides your flying suit. Sunglasses and some water to drink are also advisable.
A good tip is to book a tandem flight for one of the earlier days of your holiday, as in the video above, because the instructors won’t fly unless the weather conditions are completely safe and you may have to wait until the next day.
For more information, take a look at this Oludeniz Paragliding link. (You can book from the UK before you go – highly advisable in high season.)
Meanwhile, if you are still looking for the best deal for your holiday in Olu Deniz and other resorts such as Dalyan, Fethiye, Marmaris or Antalya, you just have to see the prices here: Turkey Holiday Packages.
Turkey Holiday Packages – Dalyan and the Dalaman River
> Posted by admin in Turkey Holiday Packages
I’ve just been watching a re-run of the Keith Floyd around the Med and he was visiting Dalyan and the Dalaman river, which is a great location these days to experience what Turkey holiday packages are all about.
Keith spent some time along the river, which is absolutely beautiful and unspoilt, and even went white water rafting! It was no tame experience either – once or twice it looked as if he was going to take an unplanned dip! Even I didn’t know you could go white water rafting on the Dalaman river – it’s not what you think of when you think of package holidays to Turkey! Here’s a Youtube clip of what you can expect if you fancy trying it on your next holiday to Turkey:
On the river delta of course, you will find the ancient tombs carved into the stone of the cliffs:
Turkey Package Holidays Dalyan River Tombs (Photo thanks to: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Radomil)
There were also some great scenes down on the beach at Dalyan. The town itself is a little way from the beach and a very nice place to stay despite some tourist development. But the beach is the real star of the show. Picturesque, sandy, clean – it’s a gem of a beach and this for me is what Turkey holiday packages are all about:
Turkey Holiday Packages Dalyan Beach (Photo thanks to: http://picasaweb.google.com/fotokraj2)
Of course, it would not be Keith Floyd if he didn’t do some cooking outside in the hot Mediterranean sunshine, and he soon had a barbecue going and was making all kinds of local delicacies – the ingredients reminiscent of Greek tavernas as much as Turkey – all those olives, peppers, aubergines, olive oil, garlic, cucumber and yoghurt. It reminded me how similar Greek and Turkish cooking is. This should not be a surprise of course, as the two countries have an intertwined history and share the same climate.
If you need a holiday in the sun, and you like Greece, you will also quite likely love Turkey. Take a look at these Turkish holidays and you will be amazed what you can get for your money!
Turkey Holiday Packages – A Look at Olu Deniz
> Posted by admin in Turkey Holiday Packages
Olu Deniz is a well-established holiday resort with a lot to offer – it could be just the place for an ideal Turkey holiday, especially if you have never been to Turkey before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turkey Holiday Packages Olu Deniz Paragliding
Where is Olu Deniz?
The town lies on the Aegean sea, on the west side of the country, something like 12 miles away from the larger town of Fethiye, to the north.
Who is Olu Deniz best suited to?
probably best for couples of all ages, and also families as there is a lot for kids to do here.
Who would you not recommend it for?
Those looking for a non-stop party resort. If you want to do a bit of partying while you are here, you can take the minibus to the nearby town of Hisaronu which has more late clubs and bars, but Olu Deniz itself is a little lower key when it comes to nightlife.
How hot is it?
The main holiday season, offering warmth and sun, runs from the start of May to the end of October, but people often visit during the other months these days too, because the climate here is mild all year round. You can expect temperatures averaging around 25 degrees celsius in the summer months with peaks of 30 degrees or more in July and August.
Unlike many Turkey holiday packages, holidays in Olu Deniz come very close to being all things to all people, because there really are so many things to do here, let’s take a look at a few of them:
Eating Out
You can find all of the main cuisines of the world here, so if you fancy a curry, a pizza, a fajita – or maybe even some
Turkey Holiday Packages - In The Pool
Turkish dishes – go on, I dare you – in Olu Deniz they have it all covered – there really is “something for everyone” – which should really be the catchphrase for Turkey holiday packages in Olu Deniz.
If you fancy a posh cocktail with the sea as your backdrop, the Buzz Beach Bar is the place to go. Later, you can try one of their rather good seafood dishes, or perhaps head to the popular, if a little hard to find, eaterie known as “The Secret garden”, just off the main street in the Belcekiz area of the town.
After Dark
As I said, this is not a place for 24-hour all-night partying. The Sugar Shack and the Buzz Beach bar are lively at night, and there are late night places to go here – but it is fairly low-key so if you’re after a beach holiday that offers wall-to-wall clubbing, well, there’s always Magaluf or Kavos.
In and on the water
Olu Deniz is very famous, and rightly so, for its unique blue lagoon with its amazing clear and sheltered waters, just behind the main beach. Backed by the rocky slopes of Mount Babadag, the lagoon is a great place to enjoy snorkelling or a safe swim. Overhead you will often see paragliders swooping across the sky from the paragliding school that has a base on the top of the mountain. It’s a very beautiful place.
Activities in and around Olu Deniz
Turkey holiday packages don’t often come within range of such a choice of activities as those offered by Olu Deniz. I will say it again – there really is something for everyone here.
The beach itself is a great draw, of course, and you can choose from a range of water sports – even diving lessons are on offer, which is something well worth a try because here the waters are so clear, and of course warm! There are also boat trips that will take you all round the little islands that stud the sea along this part of the coast, and if you are feeling really adventurous, you can take a tandem leap off the top of Mount Babadog and soar through the air, across the lagoon, landing on a quiet stretch of the beach.
If you’re into ancient ruins, you must meet the mother-in-law, as Les Dawson might have said. Seriously, Turkey holiday packages often come with the chance to see some of the ancient wonders of this magical land, and holidays to Olu Deniz are no exception. One thing not to miss is a trip to the eerie, deserted town of Kayakoyu.
There is some great walking around this area. Little paths wind up through the trees and into the mountains – a great way to get a birds-eye view of the resort (assuming that you don’t take up my paragliding idea).
Verdict on Turkey Holiday Packages in Olu Deniz
Olu Deniz is a lovely resort, well-established and well-equipped with a lot more choice of things to do than many holidays in Turkey or anywhere else for that matter. Perhaps for this reason it is a firm favourite with people taking holidays in Turkey. Perhaps it will become a favourite with you, too.
To find and book great value holidays in Turkey, you can use this link: Turkey holiday packages.
Turkey Holiday Packages – Beach Top Three
> Posted by admin in Turkey Holiday Packages
If you’re already a fan of Turkey holiday packages, you’ll know about the amazing beaches, but if it’s all new to you, let me show you three of the best:
Olu Deniz
Turkey holiday packages - Oludeniz paragliding
The blue lagoon – a natural inlet behind the beach at Olu Deniz – must be one of the most photographed attractions in Turkey. It really is stunning, with its blue, crystal-clear water, so sheltered and calm that it’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling – safe even when the sea outside is rough. At the back of the lagoon is the towering Mount Babadag from where paragliders can be seen launching off into the blue. You can join them if you wish, because the school there offers tandem “flights”.
The main beach at Olu Deniz is pretty, with find white grit rather than actual sand, but no less attractive for that. The beach is well-equipped with showers and toilets; sunbeds and umbrellas. Watersports are also on offer here. Such is the popularity of the beach as a mainstream destination for Turkey holiday packages that it can get a little crowded in high season. The good news is that there are more tranquil coves within easy walking distance if you want to really get away from it all for a while.
Because the town of Olu Deniz has a lot to offer too, this resort is an ideal destination if you are trying Turkey for the first time and want a safe bet for a good holiday.
You can find Olu Deniz on the Aegean coast of Turkey, about 12 miles south of the larger town of Fethiye.
Patara
Patara can be summed up by the expression “ancient ruins in the sand”.
Turkey holiday packages Patara beach, by flickr.com user: jries
It’s a very atmospheric and stunningly beautiful place. The ancient Lycian city of Patara really is literally buried, or half-buried, in the expansive dunes at the back of the beach, which makes for some great exploring. The beach itself – clean and sandy – stretches out along no less than 32 kilometres along the coast. You will, therefore, always find a quiet spot somewhere on the warm white sand, I absolutely guarantee it!
Because of the unique ruined city at the back of the beach, development is not allowed here, and the beach remains – and shall remain – unspoilt and undeveloped, which unfortunately cannot be said of all beaches you will encounter on Turkey holiday packages. There are toilets and a snack bar – and that’s about it. You can, however, hire umbrellas and sunbeds. Please, if you come here, make sure you know about the endangered loggerhead turtles that nest here – we all need to do our part to make sure that their eggs, buried in the sand, are not damaged. Just follow any signs carefully and don’t stray into the nesting areas, not even for a second.
The present-day village of Patara, also known as Gelemis, is about a 30-40 minute walk inland from the beach, and about 47 miles south of Fethiye. It’s a very low-key and relaxing place, with a smattering of bars and eating places. Many of the Turkey holiday packages are centred on nearby Kalkan instead, which is more lively in the evenings but still easily within reach of the fantastic beach at Patara.
Olimpos
And now, as they say, for something completely different!
The beach at Olimpos, or Olympos, or Cirali – same beach different names – lies 50 miles south of the large resort of Antalya. Look for the turning off the main coastal road signed for either the village of Olimpos or the village called Cirali. You will be headed in the right direction because basically the two villages share the same beach.
Idyllic is a word that comes to mind when I think of Olimpos. A few years ago, I would never have thought that Turkey holiday packages could offer beaches like this – it’s stunning. In some ways it reminds me of the best of Greek Islands beaches – the clear blueness of the sea, the golden-white sand, the magnificent pine-clad slopes at the back of the bay. Hand on heart, if I was staying on one of the many Turkey holiday packages to Antalya, I would head here every day, I know it! Definitely my kind of beach.
This is just a taster of some of the many amazing beaches that Turkey holiday packages can give you easy access to. There are many more on offer too – you’re welcome to drop me a line if you have your own special favourites so we can share them on this page.
You can find the best deals and latest prices on holidays to Turkey here: Turkey holiday packages.
Book Turkey Holiday Packages: