For Turkey: Amazing Hotels
Alavya, Izmir
About
Perched on the hilltop village of Alaçati on the Aegean coast, bougainvillea wrapped stone walled cottages. The name a play on how the owners daughter says ‘I love you’, I love this place.
What to do there
A choice of beaches are a short drive away or if you are after the ancient site of Ephesus, it is also in easy reach. Best of both worlds!
Getting There
Fly to Izmir, an hours drive away towards the sea
Cost: From £250 a night Bed & Breakfast
Argos Cave Hotel, Cappadocia
About
A cave hotel in a lunar landscape where hot air balloons take off over breakfast daily. A special hotel that matches the uniqueness of the area.
What to do there
Hot air ballooning is an absolute must, in truth there is an 100% chance it is why you are here in the first place. Back on ground, there are cowboys who can take you horse riding, walks by candle light, hikes to locals homes for cooking lessons and treasure hunts.
Getting There
Connecting flight through Istanbul to Kayseri, an hours drive away
Cost: From £300 a night Bed & Breakfast
D Maris Bay
Gaia Alacati
Amanruya
Hillside Beach Club, Dalaman
About
Hugged by a pine wood, this is a large hotel with a beach club feel. The water is wonderful and your room is bright light and full of Turkish sunshine. A daily newsletter keeps guests up to speed with what’s going on and a club card handed out on arrival lists the facilities, which are many.
What to do There
Inhale a library of books and rest your enormous beach bum in the sand. Time to time, but only if you fancy, you could saunter from lunch to bar to consume and hydrate on local delicacies. There is a shuttle to different beaches and three within the resort itself or a daily shuttle bus runs to Fethiye if you want to leave the resort and see some local life.
Getting There
Hell loads of direct flights to Dalaman, tend to be cheap as chips too. The airport is only 45 minutes away.
Cost: From £285 a night Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Pera Palace
The Stay Warehouse
Six Senses Kocatas Mansions
Macakizi, Bodrum
Getting There
Bodrum Airport is just down the road, well serviced by every European airline you can name except Martin O’Learys yellow and blue tin cans
Cost: From £450 a night Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
About
Baklava wafts from the hotel’s restaurant by lunch where your head chef has spent the morning quite literally diving for your dinner. This is a place to be seen, be sunned and be massaged on a pine-lined deck in view of the shimmering Aegean sea.
What to do There
Wander the length of the Göltürkbükü waterfront in the early evening, pausing only for a round or two of drinks and a bout of celebrity spotting. Or, bored of dry land, hail a gulet and spend the day on the high seas, feasting when the sun is too hot and snorkelling with turtles when you need to work up more appetite for seconds.
The Bank Hotel, Istanbul
About
Housed in a former bank in the hip Karaköy district, The Bank Hotel Istanbul sets a stately scene for contemporary art and design.
What to do There
Karaköy is home to Istanbul’s one-time financial district, as well as an industrial hub, but today it’s being reinvented and so galleries and museums are opening here there and everywhere.
Take a walk with a local journalist and discover more about this incredible city.
Getting There
You don’t need me to tell you the best airport for this one
Cost: From £200 a night Bed & Breakfast