Turkey Holidays on the Mediterranean Riviera

The Mediterranean Riviera

The beautiful southern coast of Turkey makes an arc around The Gulf of Antalya, where the sea washes the shores of some of the best seaside resorts in the Mediterranean. The Riviera is where you'll find the top destinations for Turkey holidays of Kemer, Lara, and Belek.

Kemer's Turkey Holidays

On the west of the Antalya Gulf is the resort of Kemer. Perhaps the best of Turkey's luxury hotels in the area takes the name of the region as its own: The Kemer Resort Hotel. This is the foremost family, all-inclusive hotel on these western shores, and Turkey holidays here benefit from the region's fine scenery. Kemer has beautiful views all around with its beach looking east over the sea towards Asia, and behind - looking inland - are the magnificent Taurus Mountains.

The Kemer Resort Hotel is as grand as its backdrop, and modern too. The interior is stylish and vibrant, with giant glass doors, trickling indoor fountains and halls twinkling with lights. The lobby atrium has a high ceiling with a glass lift that ascends a central column. From here you can explore the hotel during your Turkish holidays, taking a tour of the hotel's five restaurants - which include French and Japanese - each styled to match the cuisine.

To make sure your Turkey holidays are relaxing, the hotel has a selection of spa treatments available, but it's the variety of activities on hand that make the hotel great for family Turkish holidays. As well as the pool with its water slides, there is mini golf, tennis, bowling, billiards, water polo, beach volley ball and a cinema, to name a few. And if you feel like leaving the hotel, there's a water park and a dolphinarium not far away.

Turkish Holidays in Lara

Moving clockwise around the Gulf to the north takes us to Lara. This resort is not far from Antalya, the city after which the gulf is named. From here you can see the Taurus Mountains in the distance across the gulf.

In Lara, you'll find The Marden Palace Antalya, the venue of maybe the finest luxury holidays in Turkey. This is a five star deluxe hotel that ranks among the most opulent luxury hotels Turkey and the Mediterranean has to offer. The hotel combines Ottoman architecture with a stylish imitation of a Turkish palace, including hand-painted ceilings, gold leaf adornments, rich fabrics and marble floors.

If you treat yourself to Turkish holidays here you can enjoy a restaurant that has aquariums for walls, filling the dining area with watery blue light. There are fish close by outdoors too, with eagle rays in the reef adjoining the Marden's beach. If you don't want to snorkel with them, you can enjoy the gondolas on the hotel's canal, or take a dip in one of the world's largest swimming pools.

Belek: The Best Luxury Hotels in Turkey

Following the bay away from Lara to the East will lead you towards Belek. The Turkish holiday town of Belek is positioned in the centre of The Gulf of Antalya, halfway to Manavgat. The Kempinski Hotel - the Dome, The Gloria Serenity, and the Rixos Premium Hotel are the three best Belek luxury hotels in Turkey's central Riviera.

You will be blown away if you choose the Rixos Premium hotel for your luxury holidays in Turkey. When a hotel is rated as Five Star Deluxe accommodation, you know you'll be happy with the luxury part of your luxury holidays. Turkey becomes France here in a mall area of boutiques known as "French Street", which looks like an outdoor street scene, but is in fact under cover. The rest of the hotel also has a spacious and open feel, with giant indoor palms along polished tiled hallways, and pretty walkways, bridges and gardens outside.

On the beach, a wooden pier extends into the sea with a decking area of sun-loungers at the end for attaining that Turkey holiday tan. As well as the beach, the Rixos has its own water park with steep and spiralling slides, river channels, fountains and a wave machine.

Whichever side of the Antalya gulf you choose to stay we know you'll enjoy your Turkey holidays on the Turkish Mediterranean Riviera.

Jane Wilkinson is the marketing manager for Cadogan Holidays. This multi award winning travel company has been providing tailor made Turkey holidays [http://www.cadoganholidays.com/destination.aspx?Id=F516853E-8911-49CB-B3FB-90180B00618B&show-tips=false&type=country] with inspirational experiences and the very best luxury hotels in Turkey.