TRAVEL TIPS FOR EXOTIC TURKEY

If you love Greece, you'll love Turkey. It's a massive country with loads of history, culture, beautiful landscape and natural scenery, plus its citizens are friendly, hospitable (friendlier than Greece) and in many ways more exotic than Europeans. That's because Turkey is the gateway to Asia and it is a powerful blend of European organisation and Asian mystic flavour. These are the places I travelled to with the accompanying excursions which enable the most viewing so you can have a relaxing beach summer holiday combined with culture. My tips would be to go for a 4* hotel as prices are reasonable and the food is just much better than a 3*. I've been multiple times so obviously as a young traveller you'd need to spend a summer in Turkey to see all.

1. Alanya - Cleopatra Beach

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever experienced. It's tiny, tiny pebble stones mean no sand mess and it's kissed by hugging rock mountains. Moreover, the sun sets over the sea and it's gorgeous! The city is small but there's an old fort to visit and the views are spectacular! Take the taxi up and walk down, stopping in at one of the up market restaurants with a view to die for. Other than that and the beach, take a Turkish Spa, mud bath and relax. This is what Alanya is for. By the way, this beach is where Cleopatra and Marc Anthony used to meet, and I know why :)

VIEW FROM THE BEACH

CLEOPATRA BEACH SAND WHICH ARE TINY TINY PEBBLES SO NO SAND

VIEW FROM THE CITY FORT AND WALL

2. Marmaris & Icemeler

This is so beautiful I went twice, to introduce it to a friend. Make sure you get a hotel high up with a spectacular sea view with forested mountains hugging the bay. It's stunning. Do visit Icemeler, it's a short 20 min bus or taxi ride. Easy to catch as everything is pretty flexible there. The beaches in Icemeler are less crowded and the town is nice to wander through too.  Marmaris is for younger people as it has a very long promenade along the beach front with almost endless restaurants, bars, clubs or whatever you want. One street in and you have loads of shopping to do. Remember, the Turkish are brilliant with leather and prices are better than in your home country , plus the Persian rugs are exquisite. The selection is huge and for every shopping palette. From Marmaris you can also visit Rhodes for a few days by a fast ferry. You will need your passport. 

 

VIEWS FROM MARMARIS BEACH 

ICEMELER

3. Kusadasi

Moving from the south west of Turkey to more of the west coast, this place is also very special. It has quaint shopping streets, wonderful views for coast driving and there are plenty of excursions to take. I went to Ephesus, which was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, built in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. The ruins have been well maintained and are impressive. If you are there in summer it will be really hot, 40 degrees so take all the necessary. There is also a a huge amphi-theatre and you feel part of the ancient history as you walk around this place which was once the religious centre of Christianity.  In town, see sundown on a beach lounger and don't forget to walk the old port walls of the city, as the city wakes up for the night. From Kusadasi, you can also visit the Greek island Kos.

I do prefer Greek food to Turkish though is personal preference but good hotels have fantastic salad bars and summer food and the service is always outstanding. Turkish coffee and tea is also good.

KUSADASI TOWN FORT WALL

 

EPHEZE 

 
A BEACH OUTSIDE OF KUSADASI CENTRE
 

4. Bodrum

Bodrum is also south west coast and more of an upmarket place. Again, seaviews are amazing so get a hotel high up and you will see all the boats and sailships cruising across all day. Shopping in Bodrum has a wonderful host of things to buy and good quality too. Plenty of restaurants and places to walk at night but the nicest is of course, the Castle, built in 1402 which is a short walk from the city centre. Walking the walls you see the views all around the city and they are even nicer than Dubrovnik in Croatia! You can also visit the smaller city of Gambet close by.

From Bodrum you can do the Dalyan tour which is an absolute must! The natural scenery is spectacular, and the water, on which you'll spend most of the day boating around on the river is pure pure green. Stop in at a restaurant for lunch and admire the scenic routes as you pass the ancient royal grave caves carved out of the mountain rocks.

 

 

THE FAMOUS ROYAL CARVED INTO THE MOUNTAIN CAVES

 

I still need to do a city trip to Istanbul as I've only traveled through, and I'd like to to see Izmir and of course the famous Cappadocia. Even after that though, I am certain I will find new places in Turkey to visit, or I will just revisit the ones I've been to. Turkey is a wonderful, safe, hospitable, warm and stunningly beautiful country to visit, plus there's enough history and culture to keep you entertained. Of course don't forget your exotic Turkish night to watch some belly dancing! I love Turkey!

Türkiyeye bayılırım

BEACH MONUMENT IN KUSADASI