Turkey, October 23. - 29. 2019

When planning our one-week vacation in October 2019, we considered several destinations before finally choosing southern Turkey—Antalya, to be precise. The decision was an easy one in the end: a wide selection of all-inclusive resorts, a relatively short flight time, and excellent chances of warm, pleasant weather in October without spending too many hours in the air. It wasn’t our first time in Turkey either; we had spent four memorable days in Istanbul back in February 2015 and absolutely loved it.

There were no direct flights from Nice to Antalya, and the most convenient option turned out to be Lufthansa, flying out via Zurich and returning via Munich. Interestingly, despite booking through Lufthansa’s website, none of our flights were actually operated by Lufthansa. Instead, we flew with Swiss Air, Edelweiss Air, SunExpress, and Air Dolomiti. Edelweiss Air stood out in particular, with modern aircraft and excellent service.

The flight from Nice to Zurich was quick—just about an hour—and the onward journey from Zurich to Antalya took a little over three hours. Upon arrival, we picked up a rental car from a local company called Erboy Car, and we couldn’t recommend them enough. The service was friendly, the car (a Fiat Tipo) was new and spotless, and the price was very reasonable: 120 euros for seven days with full insurance. Although we knew the exchange rate at the airport wasn’t ideal, we also picked up some Turkish lira for convenience (at the time, approximately 1 EUR = 10 TRY).

We were once again traveling with my sister’s family, who had already arrived at the hotel. Since everyone was in the mood to relax—and the kids were eager to have fun—we opted for an all-inclusive resort, much like we had done in Crete the year before. We were rewarded with fantastic weather, enjoying warm, summery temperatures throughout our stay.

Our hotel, IC Hotels Green Palace, is located in Lara, about half an hour from Antalya’s city center. Lara is a popular resort area known for its large all-inclusive hotels, and Green Palace fit right in. We had booked a family room with a queen-size bed and two single beds, and upon arrival we were welcomed with a lovely fruit platter and a bottle of wine—a thoughtful touch that immediately set the tone for the stay.

The hotel grounds were vast and impeccably maintained. On days when we didn’t leave the property, I still managed to walk more than 10,000 steps just exploring the grounds. There were several swimming pools, some connected by bridges, including one designated for adults only. The hotel’s private beach was equally inviting, complete with a jetty and an easy, scenic walk from the main buildings. One charming detail was the hotel’s small vegetable and herb garden, where we occasionally spotted chefs picking fresh herbs and chilies during the day.

View from our hotel room

Hotel beach

 

 

The hotel was a paradise for both kids and adults. There was a large splash area for younger children, and an incredible water park with slides for older kids and adults alike. Our children—and admittedly, we adults too—spent hours every day zooming down the slides and in the pools.

Water park

 

Splash area

We usually had breakfast and dinner in the main buffet restaurant, and lunch at one of the hotel’s snack bars. The main restaurant was enormous, with the buffet spread across multiple sections, including an outdoor barbecue area. Breakfast was consistently excellent, featuring freshly made pancakes, omelettes, and a wide variety of hot and cold options. The coffee was top-notch, and I especially appreciated the availability of soy milk for cappuccinos. Dinner was a treat as well, with a different theme each evening—Friday night, in particular, was a Turkish feast, honoring the significance of the day in Muslim culture.

Lunch was generally more casual, taken at the larger snack bar offering burgers, pizzas, kebabs, salads, and more. There was also a smaller snack bar near the beach, serving delicious gözleme—a traditional Turkish street food—and baked potatoes. Throughout the hotel, several bars and a charming cafeteria offered a wide selection of coffees, cakes, and light refreshments, making it easy to grab a snack or a drink whenever the mood struck.

Pre dinner drinks at the pool bar

 

At the lobby bar

The hotel also featured a spa, which we made good use of. We loved relaxing in the sauna, enjoying the Turkish hammam, and swimming in the indoor pool. The kids, after hours of sliding and splashing in the water park, also enjoyed warming up in the sauna—it became a little post-adventure ritual for them.

If we had left it entirely to the children, they probably would have spent the entire vacation at the hotel. We adults, however, had other plans. One day, we set out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pamukkale and the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis, a bit over a three-hour drive from Antalya. Pamukkale—meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish—is famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters cascading down brilliant white travertine terraces. Just above it lies Hierapolis, a Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Although the drive was long, especially for my sister’s little ones, the destination was more than worth the journey.

The drive itself was smooth and enjoyable. Most of the road was a modern dual carriageway with light traffic, allowing us to take in the beautiful hilly landscapes along the way. The only busier stretches were near Antalya and around Denizli, but even these were manageable, and the scenery made it feel far from the hustle of city life.

 Pamukkale

Hierapolis

 

We also took some time to explore Antalya’s harbour and old town. Antalya, the eighth largest city in Turkey, is considered the capital of the “Turkish Riviera.” Its old town is lively and charming, with several pedestrian-only streets winding between historic buildings, quaint shops, and cafés. The harbour area is equally inviting, perfect for a leisurely stroll. We couldn’t resist picking up a few souvenirs—pashminas from a little shop tucked down a side street—and the kids enjoyed choosing their own keepsakes to bring home.

With our batteries fully recharged, it was clear this holiday had been exactly what we needed to escape the everyday routine. Sometimes, an all-inclusive resort really is the perfect choice for a short break. Turkey, with its stunning landscapes, friendly people, delicious food, and endless opportunities for discovery, left us with wonderful memories. We hope to return one day and explore even more of this beautiful country.