The
Mediterranean - The Most Popular Region All Year Round by P Walker
Buying in the Med
The Mediterranean is more
international than the Aegean coast with many buyers from Ireland, Scandinavia,
and the Netherlands as well as the British. The main airport at Antalya
is the second busiest airport in the Mediterranean region, with only Palma
airport in Mallorca being busier. There are direct all year round flights
from the UK and Europe to Antalya, and because of the 12 month season the
rental potential is considerably higher than the Aegean coast.
Alanya - Delight of the
Turkish Med
Whether you are young or
young at heart, the Alanya area is one of the warmest all year round spots
in Turkey, making it increasingly popular for a second home with UK buyers.
The main town on the Mediterranean coast is Alanya, located to the east
of Antalya Airport.
It is reached by a modern
motorway passing through typical Turkish Mediterranean farming countryside
with the sparkling clear Mediterranean Sea on one side, and fabulous pine-clad
mountain scenery on the other. It lies at one end of a rocky promontory,
which juts out into the Mediterranean between two long sandy beaches. An
ancient fortress crowns the headland and is one of the most magnificent
sights on the coast. Alanya's history dates back to the Romans, rising
to prominence under the Seljuk's with Alaeddin Keykubat making it his winter
residence. Unlike other parts of the Turkish coast, especially the Aegean,
Alanya does NOT shut down during the winter months and with a permanent
population of around 138,000 inhabitants, the cafes, restaurants and shops
continue to remain busy during these warm winter months. Alanya has 16
miles of coastline, with three Blue Flag beaches.
Side - Ancient and Modern
About 30 minutes east of
Antalya Airport on the azure Mediterranean coast the town of Side is situated
on a headland with long sandy beaches east and west of it. Side is most
famous for its Roman ruins which include the walls of the Roman town, the
amphitheatre and the temples of Athena and Apollo. Today's Side is a happy
mixture of ancient and modern and a must for the serious romantic and casual
historian alike. As the ancient Romans liked to live here so do we, being
attracted by those same qualities of beauty, stillness and accessibility.
Belek - The Home of Golf
In Turkey
To the west of Side lies
Belek, the foremost golfing centre in Turkey, with white sandy beaches
and fragrant pine forests. First developed as a purpose-built resort in
1984, the area has been carefully planned to make the most of its stunning
natural environment and has won international recognition for its environmentally
friendly development.
Belek is the perfect retreat
for nature-lovers who will be entranced by its 574 different species of
flora-with many rare endemic species-and the different types of birds of
which many are unique to the area. This beautiful area is also home to
the town centres of Kadriye and Belek which offer many services such as
shops, exchange offices, bars and restaurants. Belek is also within an
easy 'dolmus' or taxi ride of the bustling city of Antalya, and not far
from the ancient historic sites of Aspendos, Perge and Side. Belek boasts
6 top quality and affordable 18-hole golf courses, at a time when other
Mediterranean golf courses, especially those in Spain, are becoming vastly
over-priced and over subscribed. Belek remains an attractive, affordable
and expanding resort in which to purchase for investment or for your own
use. The 27-hole championship golf course designed by Nick Faldo opened
in November 2006, and five more courses are planned. Belek probably boasts
more 5 star resort hotels than any other place in Turkey, outside of Istanbul.
Sakilikent - Morning Skiing
and Afternoon on the Beach
About an hour West of Antalya
is the ski resort of Saklikent. Being close to Antalya allows to you to
have the best of both worlds', skiing in the morning and sunbathing on
the warm Mediterranean beaches in the afternoon. Saklikent resort is 6,560
feet above sea level and offers visitors all the facilities you would expect
from such a resort-ski school; ski and snowboard equipment rentals, hotel
and rental chalets.
There are runs for beginner
and intermediate skiers and snowboarders with T-bar ski lifts rising to
nearly 8,000 feet for the more advance skiers. The ski season is from mid-December
to April with the best snow during January, February and early March.
Kas - Seductive Old Word
Charm
Its cobbled streets, picturesque
harbour, beautiful mountain backdrop and its relaxed atmosphere make Kas
a popular choice during the summer months. During this time of the year
the town has a well deserved reputation for its enjoyable and noisy nightlife.
For sea and sun lovers though, the nearest sandy beach is 16 km west at
Kaputas. Kas, with its rich variety of underwater life and water clarity
is unrivalled as a centre for diving. Not easy to get to out of season
and very quiet when you do.
Kalkan - Tradition and
Good Food Served Here
With over 100 restaurants
open during the season and many old and new houses built in traditional
stone with carved wooden balconies, Kalkan has a distinct character of
its own. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy the wonderful views of
the bay as they walk the steeply sloping streets dropping down to the harbour
with its busy fishing boats and backdrop of pine clad hills.
Building regulations haven't
encouraged tourism here and neither has the pebble beach. The nearest sandy
beach is at Kaputas well away from the centre of Kalkan. During the summer
months free water taxis will take you to beach clubs 20 minutes away. During
the season entertainment and nightlife is extremely low key and hard to
find. Not much going on even in the hot summer months. Kalkan is difficult
to get to out of season.
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