To date, this has been the trip that was most outside of my comfort zone. My first time going somewhere not many people I knew had visited. My first time visiting a country so different from my own culture. It's also the furthest I've travelled across the globe. Turkey is a very fascinating place: full of history, visual appeal and ruins of the past. What fascinated me most though was its location. Turkey lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia; this creates a vibrant blend of both continents which you can definitely feel when you visit. There are several common destinations in Turkey, namely its captial Istanbul, Bodrum and resort beach areas such as Alanya and Antalya. The latter has earned the name of the Turquoise Coast or Turkish Riviera due to its stunning Aegean and Mediterranean waters. This area combines favourable weather, towering mountains and postcard beaches making it a tourist magnet. So what is this naturally beautiful destination like? What should you expect if you visit? Buckle up, and let's go!
DESTINATION OVERVIEW: Antalya, Turkey
Location: Asia and Europe (East Mediterranean)
Rating: 5.5/10
Language Spoken: Turkish (Tourist Areas also speak German and English)
Currency: Turkish lira
Go If You Like: History, Beaches, Affordable & Luxurious All-Inclusive Hotels, Architecture, Shopping, Tea
Entry Requirements: A visa is required for some nationals. The cost is US$64 for a Single Entry visa, which can be acquired online prior to your trip in a 5 minute application process. The visa can be delivered electronically within hours, at added an cost. For more information: https://visaturkey.com.tr/online/visit/?ref=visaturkey.com.tr
MY EXPERIENCE IN TURKEY : ACCOMODATION & HOSPITALITY IN ANTALYA
My experience was divided into two main parts. Our stay at the hotel and our experience in the everyday Turkey. We stayed at Side Crown Palace, a 5* all-inclusive hotel which was absolutely ravishing! The exterior looked like a modern palace and the interior glistened with opulent decor, unlike anything I've ever seen (more details on my hotel later).
We booked a full package trip from Berlin to Antalya, which included a free shuttle from the airport. It was a budget vacation costing about €260 per person for round trip flights and 4 nights at the hotel. Unfortunately, the low cost was first reflected in the rickety aircraft we flew on. When we arrived, it was quite a messy process finding our driver amidst pouring rain. Again, the price of our trip showed up in the customer service we received here. There were various desks with tour companies and we couldn't seem to find ours. We inquired around until eventually (in what seemed like a random process) we were assigned a driver. It was a relief though, as part of the hiccup was a language barrier. Most of the drivers didn't speak much English. It felt like a long ride to the hotel, but that's when I started to relax and the vacation seemed worth it (well, more than worth it, since we didn't pay much)! I guess you can say I felt like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air..."I pulled up the house around 7 or 8 (insert shock on Will's face)
And I yelled to the cabbie, "Yo holmes, smell ya later"
I looked at my kingdom
I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the prince of Bel-Air"
Behold! My kingdom...
The rainfall that greeted us was the first signal that we traveled at the wrong time of year. The price should have been the first, but we missed it. We visited in December. At the time of booking, all we saw was beautiful beaches and being from Jamaica, naively assumed that a tropical setting meant it would be warm! Nope! It was cold. We needed light jackets throughout our stay and the water at the beach was freezing cold! Moreover, since this was the off-peak season, though our hotel was fabulous, we unfortunately didn't experience the best parts of it. This seemed to be the time (and wisely so) that the management was investing in renovations. So the main pool with thrilling looking waterslides was completely empty. Oh! How fun it would have been if we visited at the right time (May-Sept). One pool had water, but was unswimmable due to the temperature (between 10-16°C). This trip taught me the value of researching climate before planning a vacation.
The building was being upgraded, so there was a crane in our shots and quite a bit of noise in some parts of the hotel.
The exterior, which looked like it would be an oasis in the warmer months, felt empty and under-manicured. Indoors, most of the restaurants were closed. Only one dining hall (and only part of it), was open. We ate there for the entire stay. I was surprised that a 5 star hotel didn't provided washcloths. But since then, I have experienced this at quite a bit of European hotels. It's not unusual. It felt overwhelming that often times those who served us seemed to expect a tip and appeared disappointed when we weren't able to (we were really on a budget!).
Interior Design at our hotel in Turkey
But the hotel was gorgeous and the food itself was an adventure. The staff was warm and particularly very welcoming to children, which was lovely. We appreciated that there was a kids' room with every passionate staff and nightly entertainment which included a short program for kids. Though it wasn't open everyday, there was a video arcade which was another fun spot for little ones. The main redemption was the indoor pools, which prevented me from going into entire vacation depression with the thought of not being able to swim. In the spa area, there was a sauna, an exquisite Turkish Hammam (steam room) and an option for a fish foot massage! Yes, tiny fish massage your feet!
Another thing I appreciated about our hotel was that it felt like a safe oasis. Once we stepped outside, it was so common to be bombarded. Persons asking where we were from, or prompting us to enter their store. Persons asking for money. Persons try to sell us a tour or clothes, or bags or perfume. The best tip here is to tell them you already have a tour booked (thankfully, we did)! When we got into downtown Antalya, it was even harder. Persons asking to take photos of us (I suppose it's not common to see people of colour in the region?). One restauranteur practically tried pulling me into his establishment to dine, though I tried explaining that I literally just had a full meal elsewhere. So yeah, just be mindful that a lot of soliciting of sales might happen. Prepare to say a lot of resolute "No, thank you's".
We paid for a shopping tour which took us to a high-end jewellery dealer and warehouse leather distributor. Even here, but more tastefully, the forceful vending happened. Typically we were offered tea. Tea is big in Turkey and part of the hospitality! Out of curiosity, I had expressed interest in seeing a particular gem at the store and wow, was that a bad idea! A senior staff member immediately started courting us and spent about one hour trying to convince us to buy the gem. This involved taking us to a fancy private room, offering beverages of our choice, lowering the price, and offering a payment plan. Let's just say we become professionals at saying "No". A similar pursuit happened at the leather store, except this time, they targeted males.
Photos from our visit to Turkish Jewellers
However, if shopping is your thing, you'll be thrilled! Turkey is well known for offering the "genuine fake" product. That is, they make generic products modelled off of top brands (Tommy, Gucci, etc) that look very much like the real thing! And yes, if you want affordable jewellery or leather jackets, here's the perfect place!
THE BEST THING ABOUT ANTALYA
What I loved most about Antalya is it's natural beauty, especially its water bodies. The Lower Duden Waterfall is majestic! That whole area is scenic and breathtaking. I also savoured overlooking the riviera downtown (pictured below). Framed with old stone walls and speckled with whitewashed, red-roofed antique houses, it looked like a painting on canvas. The hotel architecture also took my breath away! Never have I seen such luxurious buildings!
Incredible Hotel Architecture in Turkey
THINGS TO DO IN ANTALYA
1)Kaleici: Experience Downtown (especially the waterfront)- From shopping, to dining, to spotting historical buildings, to overlooking the water, you'll have a vibrant experience here!
2) Lower Duden Waterfalls- get your camera out as you gaze in awe at this towering waterfall.
3)Hadrian's Gate- a historical arch built in 130 AD, in honour of the then Roman emperor Hadrian, who visited the city. This white marble ornate ruin, is one of the best preserved pieces of history Antalya has to offer.
4)Shop (Terra City, Mall of Antalya, Bazaar)- if there's one thing to do in Turkey, aside from drinking tea or swimming in the warmer months, it's this! Shop for bags, clothes, tapestries, teas, perfumes and more.
5)Perge Ancient City- feast your eyes on ancient ruins in this historical haven. You may wonder if you've been tranported to Athens. Perge is home to some of the most beautiful Hellenistic and Roman Ruins in the country and is very easily reached from Antalya. You'll be walking the grounds of historical figures such as Alexander the Great, and the Apostle Paul who delivered sermons on site! Among the ruins you'll stumble into a well-preserved theatre, a Roman Stadium, beautiful Roman Baths, and collosal Hellenistic Defenses.
6)Visit a Beach- Antalya's beaches are stunning and inviting! So my advice is to travel between June-Sept, get out the sun creme and enjoy a Turkish tan! May and October are a sweet spot: enjoy warm weather, with much less crowds. Some popular beaches are: Tekirova Beach (no entry fee; great for swimming with kids), Konyaalti Beach (also free), Beldibi Beach (offers beautiful mountain scenes) and Side Beach (offers lovely Roman ruins). Prepare to pay a fee to rent a lounge chair.
7) Book An Adventure Tour- from hot air ballooning (typically in Cappadocia), to diving, to a quad safari, there are many ways to get your adrenaline pumping. Here are some ideas: https://www.excursionmarmaris.com/excursions-in-antalya/
THINGS I WISH I HAD DONE IN TURKEY
If I could redo my visit, I would definitely want to do the following.
Antalya Muzesi- The Antalya Archeological Museum is one of Turkey's largest museums. It's a great way to immerse oneself in the history of the region. The museum boasts 13 exhibition halls and an open air gallery, with approximately 5000 works of art.
Visit a Hamamm- the Hamamm is quintessential part of the Turkish experience and history. This centuries old spa treatment is a fabulous way to pamper yourself. Modeled from Roman thermae these steam baths nourish your skin and provide an oasis for relaxation. Though our hotel had one, it would have been nice to also have a local experience.
Theme Park- There are several to choose from, some with water and some without. Consider Aqua Atlantis, Aktur Park, Land of Legends, Aqualand and Dolphinland.
FREEBIES: THINGS TO DO FOR FREE IN ANTALYA, TURKEY
Side Ancient City- full of ruins of the past, stemming from various civilizations including the Persians, Roman and Ottomans, this peninsula will thrill you with history. Feast your eyes on fountains, the city's preserved walls and gates, the basilica, the trade agora, the agora bath, a episcopacy palace and more. All sites except for the theatre and museum are free to visit.
Apollon Temple- dating back to 150 AD, this Roman temple is another fascinating piece of history to behold.
Hadrian's Gate- described above
FOODS TO TRY IN TURKEY
Highlights of the beautiful and tasty fare we enjoyed at the hotel
Turkish Pizza (Pide Salonu)- this was one of my go to meals at the hotel (see top left of the photo above). Made with a flatbread and topped with flavourful minced meat, I quite enjoyed this dish! Thumbs up!
Baklava- its debated whether it's Turkish or Greek in origin, but nothing says Mediterranean dessert like Baklava. Made with a thin phyllo dough, glazed in honey and lemon syrup and drizzled with nuts ( often pistachios), this treat is a great way to bite into the culture.
Turkish Delights- these are absolutely beautiful to behold, especially through store windows! Made from a gel of starch and sugars, it often contains dates or nuts, rose water and citrus flavours.
Kebabs/Grilled Meats- for the meat lovers you'll want to grab some of these for a filling meal!
Ice Cream - before you think, "How standard!" Have you ever tried this popular dessert with a goat milk base? Well then, get ready for a twist on a old classic!
Borek- another popular choice, these snacks (pictured at the bottom left of the plate above) are rolled dough filled with minced meat, cheese or potatoes.
Fresh Pressed Pomegranate Juice- hands down the best thing, I had on the trip. You'll be spoiled and all other versions will taste inferior after this!
HELPFUL TIPS FOR VISITING TURKEY
Expect to tip for everything! As tourism is a primary income earner and much of the population seems to depend on it, it's quite common for a tip to be expected.
Religion is very ingrained in the culture. You may be awoken at what felt like 6:00am by morning prayer, or feel a little lost when everyone suddenly turns to the east while you're strolling downtown at midday. It took a while for us to realize it was for prayer time.
You will be offered tea everywhere you go, so make room.
Vendors will try to sell to you hard!!!! Practice saying "No, thank you!"
I had a better experience in the hotel than outside. Perhaps this was just me, though.
December is low season. What you don't pay for in price, you pay for in a somewhat limited experience, as it's too cold to swim in the signature beaches.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT ANTALYA, TURKEY
1)Stunning Architecture!- when I say stunning, I mean ravishing!
2) The opportunity to get affordable jewellery and see rare jewels like Tanzanite, if that's your kind of thing.
3) The Hospitality- in general, people were warm and chatty.
4) The Affordability- your dollar will stretch here as most things are low cost.
5) Natural Beauty- and lots of it! Streets lined with orange trees, waterfalls, water views. Take it all in!
WHAT I DISLIKED ABOUT ANTALYA, TURKEY
Being Hawked to Make Purchases
Always being asked where you're from and being asked for money based on the response.
So the big question is, would I go back to Turkey? I think I'd need to remind myself to be open-minded and vocal (although that honestly felt tiring). I would love to experience the IG-worthy hot air balloon filled skies of Cappadocia. I'd also visit Biblically renowned sites such as Ephesus, Antioch (where followers of Christ were first called "Christians") and the Aegean Sea where the 7 Churches of Revelation were located. Many key events in Christian history took place in Turkey. I'd definitely want to experience that.
What are your thoughts? Have you been to Turkey? What stood out to you from this blog? The food looks great, right 😋?
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