Edward’s Turkey Familiarisation Trip – with Anatolian Sky

My latest Fam trip saw myself and a group of other agents be taken away to Turkey courtesy of Anatolian Sky. Departing early on Saturday morning we arrived into Dalaman airport where we were transferred to the Petunya Konak based in Icmeler.
Situated just outside of the main town the boutique hotel benefits from the quiet tranquillity of the hillside which allows it to be undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of Icmeler. With a clean and attractive décor guests looking for a quiet retreat can find this in the Konak but can alternatively use the establishment as a base of exploration. Due to our exertions early in the day the first afternoon of the trip was given to us to spend how we wished. I used this time to explore Icmeler briefly before returning to the Konak for a traditional Turkish meal which concluded the day.

Our first full day in Turkey proved to be a busy one. After checking out of the Petunya we made explored Icmeler’s beach and resort areas. Soon after we made a number of site visits in Akyaka. Firstly we inspected the Azmakhan Hotel. Like the Petunya the hotel is situated among a mountainous backdrop alongside the Azmak River providing some genuinely beautiful scenery. Aside from the unspoilt scenic background the Azmakhan provides all rooms with balconies or terraces which enjoy views of the area. Meals at the hotel can be eaten outside – which at night provides both a charming and romantic atmosphere especially by the riverside.
Moving from Azmakhan we had a guided tour around the Merve Han Residence which is a short ten-minute stroll from the Akyaka resort. It’s bright and pretty exterior is carried on within the inside of the hotel with white walls and classic wooden balconies. The swimming pool; located at the front of the hotel, is a good size with an adjoining children’s swimming pool eases the amount of navigating one has to do.
The final hotel inspection of the day saw our group of agents arrive at the Yucelen Hotel & Gencel Apartments. Designed in the local Mugla style the Yucelen is bound within a stream home to many fish and turtles and it’s luscious gardens. The hotel has recently refurbished its family rooms to an excellent standard which have proven to be very popular in the recent season, so to avoid disappointment families should book well in advance! Our tour concluded with a lunch break at the Yucelen – after which we continued on our little mini-bus to the Dalyan resort. Our evening was spent freely before dining at the Calypso Plus.

Early the next day our group was shown around the Dalyan resort; having already spent the previous night there, I would recommend the resort. Separated into three accommodation blocks the hotel is designed to an impeccable clean standard with two pools. I had a ground floor room; next to the pool, which was both modern but carried over a boutique style. The spa includes a variety of packages which a number of my group tried and reported back positively.
Checking out of the Dalyan we made the trip to the Keskin Hotel which is an attractive hotel surrounded like many of the hotels we visited by mountainous scenery. The large stretched of gardens and swimming pools is popular with families and those who love the outdoors. Aside from the grounds, the hotel is superbly located as it is within ten minutes’ walk of the Dalyan town and a thirty minute transfer from Dalaman Airport.
Our full tour of the Calypso was completed after having dinner there the previous night and the hotel is even more striking in the day light. Like the Keskin the Calypso is bound within luscious gardens and pathways leading towards the river. Even in the cooler autumn sun you could imagine spending the afternoon reading or dining on the riverside in the height of summer. The rooms sport a traditional Turkish design ranging from standard rooms to suite rooms.
Our final site visit of the day was carried out at the Montana Boutique. Going by its name the Montana offers not only a refreshing boutique exterior but it has a warm and intimate interior with an ideal five minute walk from Dalyan town centre. The reclusive feel of the hotel allows families and couples alike to rest and relax by the pool or explore the town. From my perspective the Montana doesn’t have so much facility wise but for a relaxing and quiet hide away then few do it better than the Boutique.
With the completion of our tour we moved on towards Gocek and checked into the stylish D-Resort Hotel. The hotel is suitable for families and for honeymooning couples who are looking a luxurious accommodation situated just a short walk away from the village of Gocek. Taking on a chic style the rooms at the D-Resort are decorated with Mediterranean colours and are finished to a high standard. My favourite aspect of the hotel was the availability of bicycles and golf buggies to travel to and from the local village and the long sandy beach of Gocek. Our overnight stay was complimented with dinner on the beach-side restaurant.

Bright and early the next morning we headed off to Oludeniz in order to conduct another three site visits. Firstly we taken to the Unsal Hotel which is an intimate family run hotel based within the centre of Oludeniz. A small and friendly hotel, the Unsal prides itself on its family heritage and local tradition. This tradition continues despite its recent renovations to their thirty-one rooms providing a simple but comfortable standard.
In the same area we next moved on towards the Oyster Residence, which is an ideal destination for couples looking for that reclusive and high standard hideaway. The Oyster is only a brief walk away from the promenade and the coastline allowing guests to come and go from the peace of the hotel vibrancy of the hotel. With only two room types; the standard room and garden terrace, you can get a feel for how reclusive the hotel is. The Oyster is a small residence and has become very popular so it is recommended that you book early too avoid disappointment.
Our final site visit of the day was at the Jade Residence, an adult only hotel which has a feel of a secret garden much like the Oyster Residence, with the outdoor lounge giving off a colonial vibe with its wicker furniture. The Jade Residence has a direct access to the seafront promenade from the swimming pool area. I appreciated what the Oyster and Jade residence have tried to do with their respective establishments and feel that it gives alternatives to the large resort hotels and allows those looking for tranquillity and quiet a chance to seek and experience it at a high standard.
Following lunch we finished our minibus driving for the day by making our way to Fethiye. In the market town the group were split in two – one group staying in the Yacht Classic and Yacht Boutique for the next two evenings.

Arriving at the midpoint of our week-long tour the two groups met up to have a tour around the stylish and charming Yacht Classic. The Classic has its own private waterfront with Jacuzzi and duel swimming pools for adults and children. Some of the rooms have sea views but these are not guaranteed to all the rooms in the hotel and are available upon request. For 2014 the hotel has constructed five spacious luxury rooms; called “villas”, with their own sharing pool. If I was to visit Fethiye I would look to stay in the Classic and would highly recommend it to clients and friends.

After spending a second day and evening in Fethiye the group were itching to visit Kalkan. Known as a harbour town with the classic flavours of Turkey, Kalkan is a great base for exploring the surrounding area which is rich with history. Over the course of the day we visited many hotels in the Kalkan area such as the Asfiya, Exlixir, the Rhapsody and finally staying in the Oasis.
The Oasis Hotel is an adult only hotel which offers an intimate, boutique styled safe haven with rooms decorated to high standard. During our stay my room-mate and I were fortunate enough to be given a garden terrace deluxe suite with private swimming pool which we utilised to its full extent! Where normally guests would be utilising the sun loungers and dining on the roof top a la carte restaurant, unfortunately during our two nights we were subject to thunder storms and heavy showers which admittedly detracted from the exploration. On Friday afternoon a months’ worth of rain fell on Kalkan and the surrounding area which cancelled our excursion to the Sunken City of Kekova which would have been a fitting way to end the week long fam trip.

Despite being in Turkey for only a week I felt that the group and I covered a lot of ground and learnt a lot about the vast and historical land of Turkey. Obviously I’ve limited myself to speaking briefly about the hotels I inspected and my views on them so if you’d like to know more about Turkey and Anatolian Sky products don’t hesitate to call us or drop us an e-mail using the links on our site.