Our Top Three Recommendations for Turkey for 2013

LONDON, December 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Find the best places to live it up in the lap of luxury
• Focus on the family on your trip to Turkey
• Blow the budget on an all-inclusive break

With holidays to Turkey set to be top of many people's wish lists for that all-important annual break next year, the next decision holidaymakers need to make is what part of this beautiful country they most want to visit. You might be looking to splurge for your annual holiday next year, or maybe you're tempted by the all-inclusive option. Perhaps the biggest deal-breaker is trying to find somewhere the whole family can enjoy.

To help clarify your thinking we consulted our partners at the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office to find out where they would choose if they were faced with the same dilemma. Below are our top three recommendations to help you make the most of your Turkey holidays next year:

Unleash your urge to splurge

For city lovers the cultural capital Istanbul boasts stunning Bosphorus views and fine dining. Popular tourist areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean such as Antalya, Cesme and Bodrum offer discerning travellers the chance to book spacious but affordable five-star suites with an incredible range of options, including infinity pools, spas and even butler services. For something a little more unusual, luxury establishments can also be found in converted cave dwellings in Cappadocia and renovated caravanserais in the east of the country.

With an unspoilt coastline of 8000km of spectacular beauty, 352 Blue Flag Beaches and 19 Blue Flag Marinas for 2012 as well as being the second highest producer of luxury yachts in the world, Turkey ranks among the top sailing and cruising spots globally. Sailing enthusiasts enjoy a tradition of regular international boat races and festivals throughout the year. Holidaymakers can discover the serene 'Blue Cruise' on a traditional wooden boat and explore the breathtaking coastline, accessible only by water. Enchanting anchoring points offer snorkelling, swimming and diving, as well as the opportunity to explore secret bays.

Focus on the family

As a nation that focuses on the family and loves children, Turkey is the perfect choice for Brits and their little ones. Alongside the classic sun and sea holiday it has a great variety of locations, activities and sports.

To try something a little bit different to the norm, why don't you check out the Organic Eco Farm in Fethiye. The farm is set in the middle of a valley surrounded by pine forests and a river, and boasts arts and crafts workshops to keep the children busy making original souvenirs or learning to bake bread and traditional borek (fried filled pastries). The youngsters can also help out around the farm and meet the animals, go fishing and swim in the pool, or visit the beach, just a 10-minute drive away. Families stay in stone, wood or mudbrick bungalows, while all the food is healthy, organic and local.

It's all about the all-inclusive

Belek tops the list for all inclusive holidays to Turkey. The Antalya region on the Mediterranean coast is well-known for its luxury resorts, with two of its best-known being the purpose-built towns of Belek and Kemer, and has a great variety of five-star world-class all-inclusive hotels and resorts. Other features of the area include the Kurşunlu Waterfall with its 100 species of birds, the Hellenistic city of Perge and the great 2000-year-old Aspendos amphitheatre which hosts a yearly opera and ballet festival to over 15,000 spectators at a time.

SOURCE Thomas Cook