Tour operators are right now reporting a massive resurgence in bookings to Turkey – up 310% on last year.
Why? Its simple really. Turkey offers some of the worlds most beautiful hotels, incredible beaches, friendly locals, value for money (the exchange rate is off the hook right now) and of course, really, really good food and wine.
While its popular all year round, Turkey has serious appeal for late summer sun – particularly alluring since the Indian summer we were promised seems to be a bit half-hearted.
Turkey in October still sees daytime highs of around 26c, with average temperatures around 20c – and with 300 days of sunshine a year, youre pretty much guaranteed a vitamin D fix.
Here are 7 hotels to tempt you back to Turkey:
Lux* Bodrum – Sumptuous Aegean Chic
Sleek and modern, set on a private peninsula on the Aegean coast, this stylish boutique hotel feels special from the moment you step through the doors.
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The LUX Bodrum Resort & Residences epitomises urban chic with a flick of the Hamptons – it is the kind of place you never want to leave. Looking out on to a glistening Aegean Sea, surrounded by lush hills and exotic gardens, this uniquely designed hotel oozes style.
With an Insta-worthy infinity pool, a private beach and an outdoor cinema there is no shortage of ways to spend your days.
Other offerings include a great spa, tennis, mini golf and activities like sailing.
Why Turkeys holiday hotspot Marmaris is back on the map
Dining venue Stella serves international and Italian dishes, while a couple of bars serve an extensive menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
And there are special touches. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby peer out across the sea to the horizon. Fun touches around the resort include a classic British red phone box which allows guests to phone home free of charge. When guests leave, staff carry out a ritual of pouring a jug of water onto the ground outside, to say get home safely and come back soon. Theres even a tree of wishes, where you can write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to a branch
There are private villas available as well as standard rooms Each of the 91 rooms has a balcony or terrace and views of the garden or sea.
Perfect for: Style lovers and romance seekers – this place oozes sex appeal
Room rates at LUX Bodrum for a Sea Front Room (entry category) are €200 in low season and €335 in high season. This includes breakfast. For more information or to book visit luxresorts.com
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D Resort Göcek: A Hidden Paradise in the Med
A sleepy and small resort town called Göcek is home to an extraordinary hotel. Fronting an archipelago of beautiful islands and a luxurious, yacht-dotted marina, D Resort Göcek is a truly luxe destination. An elegant boutique hotel set across ten design-led buildings, it feels incredibly stylish. Rooms are dressed in crisp whites and navy blue with white marble and whitewashed wood – the design is comfortable but chic.
Long a favourite of international film stars, Britains socialite set, and TV favourites like Sarah Parrish, this ultra private, secluded resort is beautifully natural, with a backdrop of dramatic forest-clad mountains and a white stretch of sand. And you are virtually guaranteed sunshine – Göcek experiences an average of 300 days of sunshine per year.
Dining here is a standout and the resorts Q Lounge is the star of the show. Located at the top of a hill with, this stylish night spot has incredible sea and islands views, Japanese-influenced cocktails and a menu of sushi, sashimi and robatayaki served in tapas style in a relaxed music-filled lounge environment. The food here is beyond incredible and the atmosphere electric. Truly the Mediterranean at its very best.
Perfect for: Those looking for a chic getaway far from the maddening crowds
Visit dresortgocek.com
Murat Reis Ayvalik – Unspoiled Perfection
For those seeking new destinations with an eye fixed on luxury and style, chic Murat Reis is a hidden gem. Located in the incredible area of Ayvalik – a part of Turkey that has long been a favourite destination for locals but little known outside the country, this stylish and inviting resort offers captivating views of the Aegean coast.
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An emerging wellness destination, Ayvalik offers the highest oxygen content outside of the Alps; it takes a breath of fresh air to the next level. It feels like natural Turkey at its best – including over two million olive trees which flourish on the lush mountainside.
The resort offers a fully equipped gym, a lovely long stretch of white sanded beach and fantastic dining. One major highlight – their sunset sauna is a stunning and spacious room encased in glass, just steps from the shoreline and with a front row seat for one of the loveliest sunsets in the world.
Rooms are decorated in crisp whites and blues – a modern take on a Hamptons vibe. And for spa aficionados, the luxury spa and fitness centre offers a heated open pool, sauna, steam room and Turkish Bath all with excellent sea and island views.
There are sunset wine tastings and inviting restaurants offering a wide selection of modern Mediterranean foods all fused with the best of beachfront living.
Ayvalik is reached via Istanbul with a 1-hour internal flight to Edremit Airport
Perfect for: Families with small children or couples looking to rekindle romance.
Room rates at Murat Reis start at €120 (approx. £106) per night. For more information or to book visit muratreisayvalik.com
Cornelia Diamond Resort – Stylish Crowd Pleaser
Cornelia Diamond Resort in Antalya is a dream hotel for luxury-seeking families.
For those whom bringing children along doesnt necessarily mean sacrificing style – this place will feel ideal. Located in Belek, about an hour from the Antalya airport, the hotel is on an impressive scale – offering stunning views of the sea and a modern décor.
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The facilities here are seemingly endless. Set on its own 27-hole golf course, the resort has seven outdoor swimming pools and waterslides all within a short distance of the sea – you are literally surrounded on all sides by beautiful blue water.
An all-inclusive hotel, there is 24-hour room service (perfect if the baby is fussy, or for a late-night adult feed) and nine à la carte restaurants, plenty to keep you full for the entirety of your stay.
An inviting pool meanders around the whole property and is scattered with whirlpools.
The white sandy beach fringes the property, providing plenty of opportunity for sandcastle-building, but there is also lots of other entertainment for older children.
The kids club is shaped like a pirates ship and there is a mini train that can be boarded for a tour around the grounds.
For those seeking shade, the indoor pool is enticing, along with the 12 aromatherapy saunas and steam rooms.
Perfect for: Families that want a place each member will love equally.
Room rates at Cornelia Diamond Resort start at approximately £370 per night, all inclusive. For more information or to book visit corneliaresort.com
Indulge in Istanbul – True Ottoman Luxury
The only Ottoman-era palace on the Bosporus to run as a hotel, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski is one of the most incredible destinations in Turkey not to mention the world. Guests wake to jaw-dropping views of the Bosphorus — and not one but two continents, as the historical waterway divides Europe and Asia.
Lush, manicured gardens line the river leading down to a 33 metre infinity pool overlooking the Bosporus. All four of the hotels restaurants have balconies or terraces offering great views. The white marble spa features traditional Turkish baths, massages, and steam rooms and some suites feature marble hammam-style bathrooms.
The showstopper is the Sultan Suite, furnished with 19th-century antiques and plenty of gold and glitz. And a good nights sleep is a certainty as guests can control the softness of their mattress on the vast four-poster at the touch of a button.
Those staying in the 11 Palace Suites can arrive by private helicopter are greeted by their own butler.
Perfect for: Those looking to experience the ultimate in elegance in Istanbul
Visit kempinski.com
The Bay Hotel – Peaceful Retreat on the Turquoise Coast
Set up on a quiet road away from the lively harbour town of Kalkan, The Bay is a peaceful retreat at the heart of Turkeys beautiful Dalaman coast. Run by Fairlight Jones, the The Bay offers private villas, each with their own good-sized pool, dotted across the slopes of the leafy property, each one with a panoramic view of the ocean.
The Bay Hotels duplex villas, spacious and elegantly decorated, have their bedrooms on the top floor, with full-width picture windows and balcony offering a window to the Med without ever having to leave your bed.
Guests have a private beach club a short walk down to the waters edge, as well as access by speedboat to Hotel Villa Mahal, a boutique hotel across the bay with exquisite infinity pool and sunbathing platforms. Even if you dont go there by day, book for dinner, when the terraced descent to the waters edge becomes the restaurant – voted the most romantic dining spot in the Med by Conde Nast traveller.
The Bays restaurant, with wraparound sunset views over Kalkan bay, has its own great menu created by the head chef and hotel manager Korhan, inspired by the Turkish dishes of their childhood with a modern twist. Mezze is a house speciality – all freshly made and so flavoursome – and the entire menu can be delivered to your private villa for lunch or dinner for poolside dining.
No need to deal with tiny mini bar wines either – the WhatsApp room service system is so slick, one message to the team and an ice-cold bottle of Anatolian white will be delivered to your door, along with a bowl of sensational olives.
Airport transfers are included, as is a luxury day on a gulet at sea – a sailing trip exploring the magnificent coastline, with swimming stops, lunch and tea on board – a Taste Of Turkey at The Bays lovely restaurant, water sport equipment, mountain biking and a personal assistant to have on hand day and night. You also get to keep the lovely white and grey cotton striped beach pestemal, which is a nice touch.
Incredibly friendly staff, nothing is too much trouble. Theres a reason why people come back to this hotel again and again.
Perfect for: Romantic retreat for couples craving peace in a beautiful setting – but with reach of a lively town.
Visit fairlightjones.com for more on The Bay.
The Waterside – The Best of Barefoot Living
Sister property to The Bay, The Waterside, as its name suggests, is even closer to the azure waters of the Med. Set right into the cliffs looking out over the bay of Kalkan, this dramatic location offers a luxurious, romantic retreat. There are 9 suites, sensitively positioned for maximum privacy, 7 of which have their own pool, and a private seafront cabana with private beach club. Beautiful, ultra laidback, chic design but with perfect service – this is barefoot living at its best.
The bustling town of Kalkan itself is just a 10-minute walk away, and here youll find dozens of shops, restaurants, watersports and boat trips – everything you could possibly need to keep you busy, but if you just want to kick back and relax, this is the place to do it. Just like The Bay, staff work with WhatsApp, so if you want to lounge by your pool and order from The Bays menu, consider it done.
If youre feeling more adventurous, Fairlight Jones, who manage the property, have a programme of activities, including gulet trips, tours of spectacular ruins and scuba diving.
If youre lucky, you might even see a turtle – they often swim around these shores and have been spotted by many a guest at both The Bay and Waterside.
Just as at The Bay, airport transfers are included, as is the luxury day on a gulet at sea, Taste Of Turkey meal at The Bay (a short walk along the peaceful ocean path), water sport equipment, mountain biking and a personal assistant to have on hand day and night – and you can also keep your pestemal!
Perfect for: Incredible views, relaxed, chic, boutique villa living without lifting a finger.
Visit fairlightjones.com for more on The Waterside.
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