Marvels of Antalya region

#antalya #vacation #travel #motivation #adventure

Before the sun rises, a lot of things rise.

Turkish proverb Tweet

Before the debut of a certain virus, the name of which will not be mentioned, I had my last proper summer holiday. Yes, back in 2019. Despite the fact I tend to visit new places, this one that I had already visited, was simply so great, I had to come back. This time around, though, I gave more thought about it, in general. This magical wonderland is located in the south of Turkey (*the country should officially have changed its name to Türkiye by now) and it is called Antalya region. And yes, I was crazy enough to do it after recent earthquakes.

This marvelous destination has it all – a super nice exit to the Mediterranean Sea, beaches and mountains, water parks, hotels and tourists everywhere, a nice and organized airport, and most of all – one of the highest levels of hospitality I’ve experienced in my life. In fact, great hospitality is one of the most significant Turkish traits, and it can be felt evenly in Istanbul and any other region of the country.

I may have mentioned before, one of the best national cuisines in the world for me is Turkish. If not the single best. And this time around was absolutely no exception – fish each day, a plethora of vegetables, multiple types of meat, soups, countless varieties of salads, a sea of fruits and cakes, whatever anyone’s heart would desire. A reason why I love it so much is the clash between east and west – whatever spice comes to mind, combined with any meal in a western fashion, but with an exceptional array of flavors. One of the greatest specialties I tasted this time around, was any kind of soup, spiced up with (you won’t believe it) ground mint. The only thing I will say is try it for yourself, I strongly encourage you.

A great fad for any shopper is that this country is full of stores, literally brimming with them, in all parts. And you can buy anything imaginable, at mostly ridiculous prices. I don’t belong to this group, so I cannot really tell you what to buy. However, I can confirm that the quality of virtually anything is great, while the prices are low. The Turkish Lira’s value has dropped so significantly in the past decade, that anyone coming from most of Europe, or especially from the NAMER region will be surprised with how cheap everything turns out to be. Not a good sign for the Turkish economy, but definitely a high value of service provided by their merchants.

Let’s talk about beaches, as I am known to love a good one. Remember my stories about Cyprus and how unbelievable its sandy coast is? The ones in Antalya are not as turquoise. The sea, on the other hand, feels great to dive into, and makes the swimmers feel wonderful. With just right levels of salinity and warmth, overlooking the above-mentioned island of Cyprus, this part of Turkish coastline buys its way into the hearts of its visitors. Let’s not forget the palm trees and endless rows of flowers, decorating every street. Something I must warn you about, the humidity at the beginning of July was overly high – so much that going outside even at night would incur changing clothes upon return. Rumor has it this only happens around this time of the year, so it can help your trip planning significantly easier.

Recently I watched a video, stating that Antalya is in the top 10 visited cities worldwide, along with e.g. Bangkok, Tokyo, Istanbul and London. WHO KNEW! But then I did some research and discovered why this is the case. First of all, it is the home of a popular local airport, with frequent flights to and from countless destinations. This means not only that people from all around the world come to visit, but also that the locals are welcome to visit endless spaces of the planet, less or more renowned. Secondly, it serves as a transport hub for the entire region – quite a number of travelers to Side or Alanya also fly to Antalya. And it seems to be a fun place to buy real estate and settle in. Lately, Antalya’s become a popular destination at sea to relocate to. In fact, I keep receiving ads about new apartments in this area costing around $45k. Depending on where you come from, especially if you live in a European country, this price is to laugh at. No questions from my side, just a nod of utter clearance and understanding.

You know what else makes Antalya a popular summer destination? This is probably the child in me speaking, but some of the biggest water parks in the region most certainly do their trick. In fact, I need to visit one ASAP. For some reason, these go hand-in-hand with shopping, as they are built incorporating hotels, and even shopping malls. It’s not uncommon for visitors to buy Turkish leather and furs, and, as strange as it may sound, you may locate high-quality shops near water parks. So, if you’re an adult child, traveling with a shopaholic, I just found a great compromise for you and your loved one.

Digital nomads can outstandingly leverage moving to Antalya for a couple of months, if not deciding to settle in. Namely, the internet speed is fair, local communities are well developed, while goods are much cheaper than in most European and North-American countries. Let me remind you once again of great landscapes, beaches, and of course, local food. Living in Antalya for a couple of months can definitely enrich people’s lives, while at the same time working in a friendly way towards their budget. Also, a lot of fun places promise great leisure activities.

Some of my recommendation for a trip to Türkiye:

Try the famous Turkish ice-cream, if you can stand the ice-cream man spinning it and stealing it from your hand continuously,
Eat local food, and see for yourself why I love it so much,
Taste black olives, especially the ones in oil (you’re welcome),
Treat yourself to some clothing (I’m personally against leather and fur, but whatever rocks your boat),
Choose a first-time adventure for yourself, even if it means going to a water park as an adult,
Shop for spices,
Of course, enjoy the local beaches, palm trees and water activities,
Pick a new destination to fly to from a local airport.

As someone who is always for discovering new destinations, I will be your strongest supporter if you decide to have a favorite one, which you’d want to keep coming back to. After four years, I decided I needed some actual rest, not paid time off to wander around new unexplored cities. Nothing more than a sun-bathed beach, a lot of comfort, and endless supplies of marvelous food. I must admit, I did wake up extra early one morning, to walk to the Antique Side and enjoy it basking in the sunrise. And that’s another of the activities I’d recommend for everyone. Remember that leisure is not only spending time not moving muscles outside of your jaw. For hotel recommendations, feel free to reach out.

Calling all travel agencies and agents. Do you want to have your travels set up for success? Are you planning to not worry about organizing tours ever again, while doing it productively and straight-forward? Would you like to have predefined outlines for each of your trips? Are you ready to run tours off the beaten path? Don’t hesitate – reach out to me, and let’s make your success our common story.

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