Turkey’s ‘best kept secret’ is a quiet seaside village – and it’s right by a Brit-loved holiday resort

THE Sun's Josie Griffiths recently visited Antalya, here's what she thought...

Boat trips past waterfalls, sunset cocktails on Bali beds, a round of golf followed by terrace beers – sounds like pretty much the perfect recipe for holiday success.

And when your destination is Antalya, Turkey, that menu of break bliss won’t come with a terrifyingly high price. It’s luxe for less.

The seaside resort on the Turquoise Coast promises — of course — sandy beaches, warm seas and temperatures in the high 20s from April until October.

But the resort is much more than that, with theme parks, an historic old town, ancient ruins and professional golf courses created from reclaimed wetlands.

My home for the week is the 5 star Gloria Serenity Resort in the smaller neighbouring resort of Belek — set on its own private beach and backed by pine forests it oozes glamour and style.

For those who like to keep active, there’s seaside yoga and exercise classes, a state-of-the-art gym and not forgetting the hotel’s three on-site golf courses.

But there’s also a Maldivian-style beach, pier and three pools set in landscaped gardens as well as an   indoor pool. Plus, there’s access to the water park at the neighbouring Gloria Golf Resort.

The indoor pool is just one of the delights of the hotel’s spa, perfect for serious pampering with sauna, steam room and Turkish hammam. My massage was spot-on after a day of yoga and fitness classes and a  gym session.  

Antalya’s old town is a delight to stroll around with its atmospheric Ottoman architecture and winding lanes. 

There are stunning views from the city cliffs of the  Roman-era harbour and from here, you can jump on good-value boat tours that will guide you round the surrounding stunning coastline, including hidden gems like the waterfalls around the bay. 

We lunch at Arma, an old town restaurant with a lovely  terrace looking down on to the harbour. It’s popular, so book in advance and make sure to try the fresh fish — particularly the sea bream.

We also visit Side during our trip, a fascinating seaside town with an amphitheatre, temples and other ancient ruins which were recently uncovered underneath the modern town. 

You have to pay for access to the museum and amphitheatre, but you can see Apollo’s Temple and many of the ruins by simply walking down the street.

Antalya and its neighbouring coastal gems are proof you don’t need to splash out many thousands for laid-back luxury just like those in pricer Greek and Italian resorts. 

With all-inclusive deals that promise to take the worry out of holiday spending, you can relax and properly pamper yourself.