Holidays in Turkey: general information on Turkey for tourists.

Welcome to our Turkey travel Guide! On its pages we give general information on Turkey and it's cities. Beautiful pictures will help you to choose destination of your holiday, hotel guide will help you to choose a hotel, if you do not know where to go, just check our page with featured destinations.

As you can see from the map, Turkey is a country that is situated both in Europe and Asia and is surrounded by four seas: Black sea, Marmara sea, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean sea. Nabours of Turkey are Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Georgia.

Though half of Turkey borders with Asian countries Turkey is considered to be a country with european views and modern development of cities, politics and education. Thanks to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Turkey got a chance to become a modern country and nowadays Turkey is fast developing country with great tourism resorces.

Though Turkey is developing quickly, it values its culture and history. Traditions and historical sites are highly protected by goverment and tourism organizations. Turkey is famous for its history and its traditions, tourists mostly come to Turkey for it's great history and wonderful beach resorts. If you are coming for history it is a must to visit Ankara, Ephesus, Capadoccia, Istanbul , Bursa, Trabzon cities. They are rich for history and when you visit them you feel like if you are in way a back machine!

Turkey has perfect weather conditions for holidays by the pool. Millions of people come to sunbathe and ejnoy warm salty water of Mediterranean sea every summer. A lot of hotels of all stars, cheap and luxury, by sea and in the city centers are waiting for tourists who can with families, friends and partners to have some days off under the sun. Most popular holiday resorts of Turkey are Antalya, Marmaris, Bodrum, Izmir, Kuşadası and so on. Everytime you can choose something new for affordable price. In our city guide i will tell you more details on every city of Turkey. But Turkey travel it is not only sunbathing or making pictures of ruins, Turkey travel includes also mountain skiing, sports and health tourism.

Getting to Turkey. You can come to Turkey by car, by ferry, by bus, but most common way of transportation is plane. Flights to Turkey, to it's main airports like Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Antalya airport, Izmir airport, Dalaman airport and other airports are organized regularly from almost from every country. Only in Antalya in summer planes land every 2 minutes! Flights to such hoday resorts like Antalya, Dalaman, Milas are always cheap and affordable, a lot of tourism companies have discounts for charters and tours during high season.

Turkey in winter is always ready for tourists, ity is not so overcrowded, hot so hot, but still tourists swim and enjoy their holidays even in most cold months. Those, who already know, that Turkey is also an alpine mountain ski resort book their holidays to Uludag, Palandoken and other ski resorts.

Once people come to Turkey they fall in love with it, some people come again and again, some buy in Turkey property, some even move to Turkey! Turkey always welcomes foreigners and helps in getting residence permit easy, especially for thouse who come from the UK and Germany.

Frequently asked questions about Turkey and tips on holidays and tours, Part 1.

When is the best time to come to Turkey for sunbathing and swimming?

On such popular holiday resorts as Antalya and Aegear region August is the hottest month. Turkey weather can reach really high temparatures! Sometimes temperature can be higher than 50 degrees! Though a lot of tourists come during this time ( and, by the way, August is the month of highest rates) i strongly advice to come in June, July and September for those who have skin and heart problems and for families with children!

Turkey tours: best destinations for your holiday in 2009!

Turkey is a country that perfectly suits for any type of the holiday! You vacation everytime will be different, unusual and colourful, just take a wish! Whyle on the north of it your friend is skiing, you are swimming on the south, whyle somebody is passing through caves in the east, somebody take a blue cruise in the west. Believe me, Turkey live easy and cheap opportunity to live all types of tours as for singles and for big families, making holidays bright and cheerful. Sun, snow, sea, history, extreme, healthy tourism: you can find any of them and even more - all on this web -site! Search, read and travel!

Antalya is definitely a pearl of Turkish riviera! Antalya has probably the hottest days in Turkey. August is the hottest month and the only opportunity to take a breath in Antalya is to enter its wonderful cool sea. Most of Antalya visitors come also for its history. Antalya is rich for historical places like Aspendos, Olympos, Phaselis and others. Antalya is bigger that you think. It includes such tourism resorts like Alanya, Side, Kemer. Center of Antalya is perfect for those who come for history and shopping, Alanya, Side and Kemer is perfect for lazy sunbathing and swimming. Antalya is the hottest place of turkey. Even in winter you can see people swimming...last years Antalya is also popular for its skiing resort Saklikent!

Alanya is famous for it's longest sandy beach. Sand is not that thin like at Sedir island but still it's sand and swimming in the sea and sunbathing is a real pleasure, beach is covered by hotel chain and has 2 or sometimes even three raws, one- zero to the sea- the most expensive and luxury hotels usually take place there, second and third raws are after road ( but still close to the sea) are cheaper and more affordable for tourists. As Alanya has very big number of hotels prices are cheap, but still it's not easy to get a room, if you want to have your vacation in Alanya do reservations in advance. All the hotels are full generally. If you see that in a high season hotel is empty that means that hotels probably has bad reputation. Analya is visited by English, German, Russian and Turkish tourists mostly, but of course there are tourists from all over the world!

Why Mugla? Mugla itself is a small city with a population about 35 000 people. But at the same time it is a center of some biggest holiday resorts of turkey, to say more it includes most number of turkish resorts, such as: Akyaka, Bodrum, Dalaman, Dalyan, Datca, Fethiye, Koycegiz, Marmaris, Milas! Just think! When you go to Fethiye, you know that its center in Mugla, but it will take you 2.5 hours to get from Fethiye to Mugla! Its amazing and no other cities of Turkey has so many holiday centers under its responsibility. Those who visit Fethiye usually land at Dalaman airport and those who visit Mugla center are advised to land in Milas airport, and during one trip its almost impossible to visit all the towns that belong to Mugla, it will take at least 2 of your trips but it worths it!

There are some ski resorts in Turkey, most of them have perfect conditions for skiing and snowboard, Uludag is not the biggest one but its advantage is that it is situated close to Europe, so its easy to get there from Istanbul. Uludag is perfect for a winter vacation for families, for fun and just spending time in a snow area. Alpine skiing of Uludag is amazing and good hotels give all the opportunities you holiday to be fullfilled with happiness and real winter smell. The city Bursa is also famous for its history, so you have the chance not only of skiing but also you can have some tours around the city and Uludag national park of Bursa.

Izmir is situated at the east end of Izmir Bay. To reach the main facilities of the port of Izmir, a ship must enter Izmir Korfezi (inlet) from the Aegean Sea on a southeasterly course for about 20 nmi, then turn eastward through Izmir Bay for about 10 nmi.Izmir is Turkey's third largest port and has the best natural harbor. Traffic at the harbor is not congested; the ships transit the channel each day. Plenty ships can load/unload simultaneously, but Izmir is primarily a discharge port for tankers. The port is divided into several sections: outer harbor, middle harbor, inner harbor, and an explosives anchorage. The inner harbor has two primary port facilities: the old port which is sheltered by a breakwater and Alsancak. Izmir is famous not only for its port.

Ephesus proudly houses one of the seven ancient wonders of the world; the Temple of Artemis. The city is dedicated to her and has many fascinating buildings. The precise date of the city's foundation is not known but legend said that the first Efes was founded by Women Warriors of the Amazon in the 14th century BC and later inhabited by lonians in the 11th century BC after the first settlement of the Anatolian's natives, the Lelegians. In a short time the city became very important. After 133 BC it became a Roman province and during the reign of Augustus it became the trade center of Asia.

Sedir Island. This island is situated in the gulf of Gokova, Mugla city, Aegean region of Turkey and is famous for its thin sand that by legend was brought for Kleopatra. Nowadays everybody knows that it is only a legend, this sand wasn't brought from Africa, its naturally belongs to the island. You can find alike sand near by at a place, called Incekum. To tell the true, it's perfect place for swimming and sunbathing, probably the perfect and the best sand of turkish riviera, Kleopatra island is protected area that's why it is better to visit Incekum for swimming. Those area doesnt have hotels or beach services, it takes time to get there, beaches are hidden and not easy to find but once you find them, you understand what we mean! If you want to visit Kleopatra Island you have to take your tour to Akyaka!

Marmaris holiday resort, hotels and general information on Marmaris.

Marmaris is a very popular holiday resort that is situated on the south west coast of Turkey and it takes about 1 hour to get to Marmaris from Dalaman airport by transfer. Or you can hire a car in Dalaman airport. One more airport to come to Marmaris is Milas airport, which is also used by tourists to visit Bodrum. Marmaris is situated where Aegean and Mediterranean Sea meets. That's why temperature of sea water in Marmaris is a bit cold in early months but it is perfect in hot summer season! Marmaris weather generally is hotter not only in summer, but also in winter seasons as compare to Turkey weather in another cities cause it is situated between mountains and a bit down, very close to sea level. Very beautiful smell from pine trees that surround Marmaris gives healthy breathing to everybody who visits Marmaris.

Marmaris grew up very quickly. Just about 50 years ago it was a small village for fishermen, who earned their living by fishing and now Marmaris is a big holiday resort with a lot of hotels, pools, restaurants, aquaparks, night clubs and shopping centers. A lot of villas and apartments are in rent during summer for tourists, those who prefer apartments than hotels.

Marmaris beach is very long and stasts with marina with beautiful yachts and fishermen boats. Just opposite the beach there are shopping centers and restaurants, close to marine there's a bar street, goverment desided to take most part of night clubs and bars to bar street, in this way Marmaris can become a calm resort for families, and those who come to Marmaris for night life can visit bar steet with a lot of bars and live music.

Marmaris travel spots are historical places like Knidos at Datça, villages like Bozburun, Turunc, Selimiye, Icmeler, one more part of Marmaris. Check a map to travel secure to those historical sites and villages, roads are mixed though there are a lot of signs.

When booking a hotel, be sure you can find afforable deals, Marmaris hotels are considered to be the cheapest on Turkish riviera. Marmaris 2009 is awated to be overcrowded though new season is being opened only in May. All the hotels are good, mostly new, with pools, gardens and beautiful sea views. Some of them are placed in pine tree forests. Most popular hotels of marmaris are: kervansaray, sun, pineta, litera, garden, golden orange, oasis, marmaris princess, ekin hotel and others. Before booking your holiday read holiday reviews on Marmaris hotels on forum, you are sure to find a good one for cheap prices.

When you are a Marmaris I advice to visit Akyaka and Sedir Island ( Kleopatra), they are situated about 30 minutes from Marmaris, back to Dalaman road, but they worth visiting, Akyaka is a wonderful village that is called but many tourists as a hidden paradise, and Sedir Island is famous for it's thinnest sand. What are the things to do in Marmaris? Take a boat tour from marina to Dalyan and Koycegiz, rent a boat for fishing, visit aquapark!
It is said that Marmaris word came from a phrase that used turkish Sultan Suleiman the great, he said 'mimari as', that means hang up architect as he made very bas and shameless walls of the tower, later Sultan rebuilt the tower and the castle and around it a city grew up.

Turkey holidays, national and religious holidays in Turkey.

Turkey both celebrates worldwide holidays lile new year, mother's day, father's day and religious holidays. Please read carefully informaiton on religious holidays when choosing a tour to Turkey. Now i will list holidays by day starting with January and give some information on their selebrations.

January 1 - worldwide holiday when people celebrate New Year. Now it becomes more and more popular, though still families do not give so much attention to these holidays. Europe brings tradition of new year tree decorations but still not so many people celebrate this holidays. By the way hotels already organize programmes for tourists on new year eve, so if you don' tknow where to spend your new year holidays this winter, check bookings in Antalya region.

April 23 - Children's day. This day was offered by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and is selebrated every year all over Turkey with programmes for children in schools and outdoors. These holidays are very important for turkish children, cause only now Turkey started paying good attention to children education, especially girls' education. Schools still need financial support, expecially in small villages where still a lot of people don't know writing and reading. But goverment does all it's best and education is developing very quickly, especially university education.

May 1 - Labour and Solidarity Day. This is a new holiday for turkish people.

August 30 - Victory day.

October 29 - Republic day.

Religious holidays.

There are two main religious holidays in Turkey. 'Seker' and 'Kurban'.

'Seker Bayrami' is a holiday that celebrated at the end of Ramazan and lasts 3 days. This is also very important to tell about Ramazan. Ramazan doesnt have exactly day on the calender. It moves back every year. So if it was in September this year, next year it will be at the ent August and so on. During Ramazan still a lot of tourists come to Turkey, but for turkish people it is time when loud mucis and entertainment and alcohol drinks are forbidden. Most people have fast, so the can not eat and drink anything till the sun goes down. If you are looking for a calm, zaly holidays under the sun, it ok, but if you are looking for nightlife and drinks and crazy dances you are welcomed in another months!

'Kurban Bayrami' is a holiday that lasts 4 days. During this holidays people sacrifice a sheep and give its parts to poor families. It is also time when people do not entertain and as Seker Bayrami it doesnt have some certain day for celebrating. Everyyear it chages so when you book your Turkey holidays check religious holidays calender!

Turkey hotels, how to book the best hotel, tips

As it is common all over the world hotels in Turkey are devided by stars. You can find very cheap 2 stars hotels as well as most luxury 5 stars hotels all over Turkey. Though prices differ on stars, still quality of the hotels may differ. You can find a perfect, clean and new 3 star hotel for a cheap price and some bad, dirty 5 stars very expensive hotel. Tha is why when booking a hotel in Turkey you must be careful and not to hurry.

How to choose a best hotel for a one or 2 weeks holiday?

1. When booking a hotel in a travel egency ask more details. Do not be shy, ask everything you want to know starting from air conditions and finishing with cats on a hotel territory.

2. Read holiday reviews and be helpful for others, write holiday reviews after your holidays. Check reviews with pictures. A new hotel in 1995 looked better on pictures than now in 2009.

3. When booking a hotel in a region like Alanya zero to the sea, ask if there is a road between hotel and sea. Some tourists are shocked when arriving to a 5 stars hotel that was booked as a '0' to the sea and hotel 'forgets' to mention that there is road that you have to pass everytime you go to the beach. Book such a holiday only if it not important for you.

4. All inclusive system. Everybody like all inclusive for its cheapness. But do not forget that in Turkey all inclusive in a 5 stars hotel and in a 4 stars hotel may differ a lot!

5. Turkey has just some resorts with sandy beaches. Mostly Turkish coast has stones. If it is important for you, tell it to your travel agency! Such resorts as Alanya, Didim, Akyaka have thinnest sand and such regions as Kemer, Marmaris, Bodrum, Aegean region have stones.

Bodrum, Turkey, hotels, flights, boat trips to Greek Islands.

Bodrum is situated on the south west part of Turkey and considered to be Turkey 's most modern and popular resort. Turkish prefer to have their holidays in Bodrum cause Bodrum has rich night life and enterteinment during summer season. Because of these resons Bodrum is more expensive that other resorts, its both expensive for hotels and for properties, though Bodrum as a tourist area is not big it is very ovecrowded in high season.
How to get to Bodrum? If you come from abroad, the best is to take flight to Milas airport and from there a transfer, private or a bus, or taxi. Milas airport is not big and dont have enough flights so a lot of tourists come for holidays to Bodrum to Izmir or Dalaman airports.
What to see in Bodrum? Center of Bodrum has a castle, that you should visit, around it there is a shopping area and souvenir shops. Center of Bodrum itself is very small, and mostly tourists stay in small villages that surround Bodrum. Gumbet, Turgutreis, Ayvallik, Torba and other villages are very popular. Also these regions are cheaper that center of Bodrum. Bodrum marina is for those who loves yachting. Bodrum every year has yacht festivals and welcomes for them yachtmens from all over the world.
Night life of Bodrum differs. Its not a bar street like in Marmaris. Bodrum restaurants, live music, its really worths visiting. Very popular singers of Turkey come to Bodrum in summer and give concerts, almost every night. Just follow Bodrum news and events to know where what concert is taken place.
As for cultural life of Bodrum- summer is the best time for fairs, festivals and picture galleries in open air. Bodrum, with its hot turkey weather, fresh wind, is the best place for any event in open air. People come to Turkey for holidays both for seeing it culture and for enjoying hot sunny days that they lack in their countries. Sunbathing, swimming are the best for a summer holiday. Weather in Bodrum is hot in summer but windy in other seasons, its not best time for children swimming, they can get cold. And not only Bodrum, usually Aegean region is windy during spring, autumn and winter.
Bodrum doesnt have so much hotels to choose like Antalya and its towns, so when coming to Turkey, Bodrum, do you reservations in advance. Bodrum hotels are luxury and expensive, but as other resorts it also has some affordable aparts and motels for everybody. Rixos Bodrum, Kervansaray Bodrum, they are very popular Bodrum hotels.
What to do in Bodrum? Bodrum, as I have already said before is perfect place for yachting, and also diving and fishing under water and from a boat. Bodrum underwater is very beautiful and rich with fish. Fishing is also very popular. Its popular to rent a small boat and early in the morning go out for fishing.
Bodrum is very close to Greece. When you are in Turgutreis you can watch Greek islands from a restaurant or walking on a beach. Its seems like you can swim over the sea and go out on Greek Islands. If you really want to visit Greece and Rodos Island exactly, you can do it buy buying a tour in one of Bodrum tour agencies to Rodos. There are one day tours and larger, for some days. Rodos is also very close toBodrum so it will not be a long trip and also a good chance to see Rodos. Usually those who come to Greece dont visit this island.

Turkey weather

Turkey weather may change depending on season and region but generally, climate in Turkey is warm and at touristic places is always ready to warm you with sun and warm wind. As north parts of Turkey are visited but tourists rare first of all i will mention weather there.
First of all its Cappadocia. Cappadocia is visited by tourists all year round so weather there maybe important. In winter it may even snow but not much. But if we speak about wind, its really windy in that part of Turkey.
For those who is coming to Turkey for skiing, weather in winter is perfect. Mountains have enough snow for skiing and at the same time, temperature of air is not cold and not freezing. Such skiing resorts like Sarikamis, Kartalkaya, Uludag and others are very comfortable for skiing from weather side. Especially wether in Saklikent, Antalya is good and warm so ideal for children.
Weather in Istanbul area is not so hot in summer like in Antalya and Aegean. Actually Antalya has the hottest weather in Turkey. Hottest days in Antalya are in August, in shadow temperature can reach 50 degrees! I dont advise to come to Antalya in August for those who have heart problems, skin problems and for children. In August in Antalya weather is so hot that birds die when flying! The only way to get cool is to swim, and even swimming you must always wear hat and use skin protecting suncreams.
Weather in Antalya in other months is also hot, and even hottest in winter as compare to other regions of Turkey. In winter, it maybe even 20 degrees! That enough for a holiday, so Antalya is the city where tourists come all year round. As for aegean region we can not say the same. Aegean region of Turkey is windy and cold in winter. You can never find rain in summer in Antalya. Maybe one time, or never.
Weather in Marmaris, Bodrum and Izmir is cooler that in Antalya, in summer, always has cool wind and more rains in winter. Aegean is really rainy in winter months but Antalya is sunny, even if its cold. In summer months weather of such cities like izmir is also hot, about 35 degrees, but fresh wind helps to feel yourself better, and its easier to walk around. As for Antalya, its better to use air conditioned car or bus whyle travelling. In winter temperature usually is 10- 15 degrees on the sea side of Aegean and 5 degrees deeper to the center. Mugla, the center of Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum resorts has only 3-5 degrees in winter and maybe really cold and last years even snowing!
Weather in Turkey changes a lot during some years, it is spoken about global warming but Turkey even if it really becomes extremely hot in summer also got colder temperatures in winter! For example central heating in Turkey is only in big cities like Istanbul, Ankara and other big cities but other citizens of Turkey in hotter places has to use electrical stuff for heating. And last years turkish people spend a lot of money just to heat their houses with wood, coal or electricity. And though big cities like Istanbul and Ankara have gaz as central heating still prices grow every year and houses stay cold and uncomfortable cause people just have little money they can spend for heating the house. This is not the problem for the hotels in Turkey, cause hotels never sort their heating, to give maximum comfort for their tourists. Istanbul hotels have so hot temperatures that even in winter you will open windows in your room.
Turkey weather forecast you can find on international web sites, that provide information for all countries. Turkey itself has it own forecast web sites that give detailed information on weather in all even very small regions and towns of Turkey. Looking for weather for Turkey choose exactly the region of your coming. As an example: Mugla city is always colder that Fethiye, Marmaris and Bodrum, though they are parts of Mugla region.

Istanbul, Turkey, history, hotels and restaurants of Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey...its a great city with great history. A bridge not only Bosfor, but a bridge between Asia and Europe, bridge between christian and islam world, bridge between nations and years that have passed, city where black sea meets sea of Marmara . Huge city of Turkey with population of more that 15 000 000 people, though capital of Turkey is Ankara, everything meets in Istanbul. Its not a city for living but for travelling. For how many days will you be able to see Istanbul and what to see? First of all take a good Istanbul map and plan your holiday to Istanbul carefully. What to see in Istanbul? First of all history. People come for history, that is unique and amazing. Sultanahmet square, Aya Sofia mosque, Bosfor bridge, Buyuk Ada, Eminonu, Galata tower, just so many places that its better to take a tour, book a hotel in the center of Istanbul and put on comfortable footwear to be able to walk around and see everything.
Istanbul hotels differ a lot but most of them try to keep that ottoman style, that attract our minds and eyes. When you book a hotel in Istanbul try to choose some special, maybe old one but some that hotel that gives you the feeling you are surrounded by history and smell of Kalyan:) As Istanbul is really big city and attracts not only tourists bu business companies for fairs and meetings of caurse, great hotel chains has their hotels in this part of Turkey. Eresin Crown Hotel is a luxury hotel in Sultanahmet area. Its a very expensive hotel, if you are looking for something cheap and affordable hotel or even apart, you are sure to find them, just what i want to mention is that really, if you come to Istanbul for a holiday for the first time you should book your holiday in Sultanahmet area. It is close to other historical places like Topkapi palace, Topkapi fish restaurants, and other museums and grand bazaar. Grand bazaar is the place for tourism shopping, dont buy gold or carpets there, its the place for souvenirs and sweet memories that you can bring from Istanbul to your home country. If you are looking for gold, carpets and leather, you'd better go to some trade regions of Istanbul and Turkey, then you can really find them cheap. Here are some hotel names where you can make a reservation in advance: season hotel, swiss hotel, star hotel, sultan hotel, beyazit tower hotel, les ottomans hotel, orient hotel, royal hotel, best point hotel, express hotel, marmara hoteli president hotel, agan hotel, askoc hotel and others.
Istanbul restaurants are famous for fish. Fish restaurants along the sea side serve freshiest fish and sea products. The biggest restaurant place is Kumkapi restaurants. This place has some fish restaurants inside. All of them serve the same meals generally, and have the same price, when you are there, just choose which you like most and take your place at one of the tables.
If you look at the map of Istanbul city you will notice that Istanbul is situated on two parts that are separated by Bosfor Bridge. European part of Istanbul city is mostly historical and has hotels to accept tourists all year round. As for Asian part of Istanbul city, its mostly full of houses for citizens and industrial factories of Turkey. Nowadays houses in Asian part grow and grow and accept more and more turkish people from other parts of Turkey, so propably in future Istanbul will become even bigger than now.
Istanbul is not good for a beach resort holiday, really there are no clean and save places for swimming, if you are ooking for a calm, family holiday in Turkey, please visit Antalya, you are sure to like it. Antalya itself is a great historical part of Turkey that worths visiting and ptaying in Antalya not only in summer but also in winter season. Antalya is the second big city of Turkey, that visited by tourists, after Istanbul. Turkey weather is generally mild , and also in Istanbul is always warm, and comfortable for visiting all year round. Still if you care about weather its better not to visit Istanbul in January and February cause in February it even may snow.

Antalya, Turkey, hotels and holidays in Antalya.

Antalya is considered to be the biggest and most popular resort of Turkey. Its called turkish riviera and accept a lot of tourists from all over the world every year. Antalya itself is not a big city. It becomes bigger with such towns that belong to Antalya like Side, Alanya, Kemer and others, smaller, like Belek, Manavgat, Kundu. Most of tourists come to have a holiday in hotels of these towns.
Antalya itself has a lot of hotels, but generally business people come and stay there, cause Antalya itself dont have a lot of place to enter the sea. Actually during last 4 years, Antalya opened a new beach- Lara, with a lot of 5 stars hotels on it, Lara mostly has luxury hotels, prices are very high there, and it is natural, Lara is situated in Antalya, but not the center, so tourists are not disturbed by noice of the city, clean and perfect thin sand on the beach, and close position to the Antalya airport, by the way, Antalya flights are considered to be most often in Antalya than in other parts of Turkey in high season. Planes land evey minute or maybe even more often . Flights to Antalya are always full and its better if you book your holiday to Turkey in advance. If you are looking for a luxury holiday in Antalya, Turkey, i can advise you Lara, you are sure to like it. Dont mix old Lara that is situated closer to the center of Antalya, and is on the beginning of that big sandy beach. Its a very old part of Antalya, with a lot of cheap hotels and aparts to stay in, generally 2 and 3 stars. Sera hotel is the best of that region and has it own beach, and the others do not.
Why not staying in the center? Center of Antalya city is overcrowded and if you want to walk around Antalya, you can easy take taxi or use a dolmush, small bus. What to see in Antalya center? Center of Antalya city has beautiful historical sites, like Hudrian gate, Old town. For entertainment you have to go to Konyaaltı beach. There is a hotel, Hillside Su. Entertainment park is situated just behind Hillside Su hotel, there is a beach with comfortable shezlongs, beds, chairs, just on the beach. Though beach has no sand but water is clean and hot, perfect place for children. İn the entertainment park there are units for playing, sometime are organized some concerts. Infront of Hillside Su hotel there is an aquapark with slides and dolphins show. After show you can swim with dolphins for some price. Not cheap, about 100 Euro.
Hotels in Antalya Konyaaltı differ, you can find cheap 2 stars hotels, and in a new part of Konyaaltı, closer to Kemer you can find 5 stars hotels like Porto Bello hotel, Sea life hotel, they are great. If you want to stay this time in the center of Antalya i can recommend Cender hotel, Sheraton Voyager hotel, Hillside Su hotel.
Antalya holidays and Turkey holidays in general always mean sunny beaches, warm Mediterranean sea, historical places like Aspendos, Olympos, Phaselis, and others but do you know that nowadays Antalya is also an alpine ski resort? Saklıkent is a new ski resort of Antalya which is situated in the mountain that borders with Kemer, one more resort town of Antalya. Sure it is not something big that you may imagine when you hear word alpine skiing, but its has enough snow in winter renting ski stuff like ski and snowboard, and its a perfect way to spend your winter holiday in Antalya. Nowadays though Antalya is considered to be a beach resort tourists come to Antalya 12 months a year and also celebrate new year and Christmas holidays in Antalya. Some people even swim in January and February- the coldest months. Its both healthy to swim and to ski, so Antalya is perfect for a family holiday and family tours.
As Antalya is a big city with a lot of towns Antalya has really great number of hotels. You can easily find cheap hotels, and book cheap, really cheap holidays in Antalya, at the same time luxury expensive hotels will always attract those tourists who can pay more.
Doesnt matter if you stay in a cheap hotel or expensive one, go out, have a look around! Antalya is great, sunny, hot and happy to see you and to show you what it have! If you have alredy visited Antalya and want to see Turkey from a historical view i advice to visit Istanbul. Istanbul is a city of Turkey that must be visited if you are interested in history of Turkey.