Best Hotel & Flights for Turkey

Turkey remains one of Europe`s most popular tourist destinations, providing entertainment and culture to millions of visitors every year. Renowned for its unblemished beaches and exotic culinary delights, Turkey is a hub of activity for people travelling to and within Europe. Given the popularity of Turkey, it is only fitting that the country boasts a wide selection of holiday resorts, which are accessible from a number of airports.

In total, Turkey comprises 19 international airports, including Esenboğa International Airport (Ankara), Antalya Airport (Antalya), Atatürk International Airport (Istanbul), Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Istanbul) and Dalaman Airport (Dalaman). Turkey has invested heavily in its air travel infrastructure, not least because it was necessary to ensure the safe passage of many millions of visitors.

Most if not all of the cheapest flights to Turkey from the UK are direct. At the time of writing, easyJet and Pegasus Airlines were offering direct flights from London (Luton, Stansted and Gatwick) to Istanbul (Sabiha Gökçen International Airport) for as little as £70, while Thomson Flights, Monarch and flythomascook were charging £87 for direct carriage to Antalya from Manchester and Exeter. Direct flights to Dalaman, an especially popular destination for British tourists, cost £96 with the same airlines.

Many of Turkey`s most luxurious hotels can be found in tourist spots such as Istanbul and Antalya. Istanbul in particular offers a vast selection of five-star resorts and hotels, with Hotel Les Ottomans being among the finest. The five-star Elite World Istanbul Hotel also offers exceptional luxury and comfort to guests, the majority of whom are usually keen to avail of the hotel`s superb gymnasium, indoor pool and spa facilities.

Legacy Ottoman Hotel, Dedeman Hotel, Swissotel The Bosphorus Hotel and Barcelo Eresin Topkai Hotel also offer five-star opulence, while there are plenty of exceptional three and four-star hotels available in the country. The four-star Best Western Acropol Hotel provides guests with glorious views over the Sea of Marmara, while a decidedly more modern setting can be found at the Blackbird Hotel.

Grand Hotel Gulsoy, Istanbul Assos Hotel, Marmara Pera Hotel and Pera Tulip Hotel also offer luxury at relatively low cost, while even more affordable accommodation can be enjoyed at the three-star Inka Hotel, Grand Tahir Hotel, Divas Boutique Hotel and the somewhat curiously named Lady Diana Hotel.

As with all holidays abroad, travellers are advised to fully research all flights and hotels before committing to a particular destination or itinerary. Google Maps with Street View offer holidaymakers an opportunity to inspect many resorts in the flesh, so to speak, which is useful for assessing the quality of a hotel in addition to exploring the surrounding area. Likewise, it is advisable to shop around for the best deals on flights, as many direct routes can be purchased for under £100 (one-way, single).

Finally, travellers who are keen on a holiday in Turkey may wish to consider alternative locations, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal. It is possible to shop around for cheap holidays in Albufeira and other popular resorts.