posted by Travel Cat on Mar 18
I have been to Turkey three times now, and to a different resort each time. So here is each location and what was better (or worse) about each one - giving you some of my ‘Turkey tips’.
Generally we wanted to see wild Turkey as well as the cities, so we had read up before we booked our latest Turkey vacation, to make sure we experienced both. All 3 times we got a late deal to Turkey from the UK, paying no more $400/£200 each time for all inclusive.
If you are planning to travel to Turkey yourself, I would definitely look into which tours you are most interested in before you choose your resort as there are many types across Turkey. These include:
Biblical Tours of Turkey - these are very popular and usually offer taking in Mount Ararat where Noah’s ark was supposed to have landed in the far east of the country, close to the border with Iran. You would need to check the security situation in the region before going here though. Also there are the Seven Churches of Revelation dotted across the country.
The region known as the Anatolia was where the first people to be call ‘Christians’ met together, and the St Peters’ Grotto in present day Antioch is one of the very first places where they held their secret meeting! Mary Magdalene’s last resting place is also here and Tarsus is believed to be the birthplace of the apostle Paul.
General Turkey Excursions- including caves, snorkeling and dolphin tours. You can book a trip to Turtle Beach and the rivers where the film The African Queen was filmed. You go in a canoe to reach this spot if that takes your fancy. Mud baths are also on offer.
There is a great deal of history in this country, spanning 2 continents and vast eons of history. The ruins of Troy are here and the modern city of Truva is the closest ‘base’ from Istanbul, as well as the great Gallipoli battlefields - the site of a great Anglo-French battle against the Ottoman Empire also within a short drive of the capital.
A visit to Ephesus on a tour is always popular, and will take you to the best preserved classical city on the eastern Mediterranean. This marble beauty is the location of the famed ‘Temple of Artemis’ - one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World!
Luxury Turkey Escorted Tour - this will include many great escorted tours of not just Istanbul tours, but out across the great sites of this country.
Istanbul tours are obviously a great place to start, and the sites of this amazing capital include the gemstones at the Topkapi Sarayi, the sacred Sultan Ahmet Camii - the blue mosque, and the Grand Bazaar - where you are sure to get lost amidst the 58 tiny streets and over 1200 shops!
Take a cruise up the Bosphorus (sometimes called the Istanbul Strait) which divides the European side of Turkey - Thrace, from the Asian side - Anatolia. There are many legends along this river, and the sides are crammed with great Ottoman castles and palaces!
Istanbul hotels are some of the most splendid I have seen - although there are many more boring accommodations available depending on your budget. You will get the best if you book through a luxury escorted tour company - and the architecture and views of these locations can make every penny worth spending!
Marmaris - this popular resort in south west Turkey was once just a tiny fishing village - but the location is so beautiful, that it has become a victim of it’s own success. In peak season the tiny town can fill with nearly 400,000 tourists - both local and foreign!
As a result, this beach resort in an amazing natural harbour has some of the best shops and night clubs in the whole country. You can still do fishing trips but it mainly is a tourist ’sunshine’ resort, with nothing much to do but sunbathe and admire the scenery.
Marmaris Fethiye cruises are a popular day trip. This ruined town is still beautiful with boat trips taking you to 12 different Islands where you can swim at every location - and of course the many Lycian sarcophagi dotted around the place.
Marmaris Hotels are a-plenty and The BlueBays Hotel where we stayed was 4* and lived up to that with all free Saunas Gym and hot tubs. Food was well displayed and very good choices to cater for everyone. Rooms were up to a good standard and cleaned every day. But there are obviously many to chose from at all * ratings.
Oludeniz -is another great beach resort and has one of the most photographed stretches of beach in the Med! It is a National Nature Reserve so the building regulations are much stronger than in Maramis - allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty!
You can arrange Oludeniz yacht cruises to view the ’Blue Lagoon’ from both sides, and there is even paragliding available to get a birds eye view of the great landscape and clear seas!!!
And Finally:
Turkey has been named as joint holder of the European Capital Of Culture for 2010 and much of Istanbul is now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Now is certainly a time to visit!
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