Off-course travel guide
When to go, where to stay and what to do... Plus some great travel deals
WHERE TO STAY
Nothing beats a bargain, but Belek is one place where you won’t regret splashing out. Gloria Serenity and Gloria Golf Resort are big on chic gourmet restaurants and luxurious spa treatments and sit just a stone’s throw away from the river and beach. It would take something special to top that, so believe us when we christen the Regnum Carya – the host venue for the 2015 G20 Summit – as a resort fit for a king. The amenities are simply breathtaking, with 11 bars, a private beach and a watersports pier and adventure park. Golf buggies are used to transport guests around the complex, and there’s even a helipad outside reception if you fancy arriving in style.
FOOD & DRINK
Food is like a religion in the Mediterranean and wherever you go, you won’t go hungry. The best eating (and drinking) experiences are confined to the all-inclusive hotels. TG sampled half of the six a la carte restaurants at the Regnum Carya, including a jawdropping six-course Tepanyaki degustation at the Chufang. If your eyes are bigger than your belly, the main restaurant offers a sensational buffet which will evoke memories of the Great Hall from Harry Potter. Gloria’s selection of nine eateries are just as impressive and are a match for many rosette-rated restaurants in the UK.
THE WEATHER
Belek has an average summer temperature of 28°, dropping to a bitter yearly low of 11° during January and February. When it rains, it pours, but the region typically enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. From May to October, there’s barely a cloud in the sky.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
There’s much more to Turkey than kebabs, carpets and extremely strong coffee. Archaeology is rooted in its culture, so jump in a taxi and make the 20-minute drive to see the spectacular Roman Ruins at Perge. Further afield, there’s the Roman Aqueducts of Aspendos and the 2,000-year-old Aspendos Amphitheatre, which still hosts open air music festivals today. Other attractions include the Gloria Sports Arena, the bazaar in Belek town centre, and the Kursunlu Waterfall in Antalya’s national park.
GETTING THERE
One of the main drawbacks of holidaying in Belek used to be the transfer into and out of Istanbul that added several hours onto your journey. Fortunately, those days are behind us and the likes of easyjet, Monarch and Turkish Airlines now fly straight to Antalya from the major UK airports, as well as a few regional ones. Prices are fairly reasonable if you book in advance, but just don’t forget to pay for an E-visa online (£20) before you travel. From Antalya airport, a transfer to the centre of Belek – where all the resorts are located except Lykia – takes just 35 minutes.
WORTH KNOWING
Turkey still uses the lira as its main currency, although many vendors now accept euros. The time difference is +3 of GMT all-year round, and no inoculations are required before travelling.
THE DEALS
Deal 1: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Gloria Verde Resort and three rounds/unlimited in winter 2017/18 costs from £339pp – spring/ summer 2017 prices from £539pp, depending on travel dates. To book, call Bilyana Golf on 01625 423003.
Deal 2: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort and three rounds/unlimited in winter 2017 costs from £589 – spring/summer 2017 prices from £799, depending on travel dates. To book, call Bilyana Golf on 01625 423003.