Traveling with your friends, family and loved ones are some of the best holidays that you will cherish for the rest of your lifetime. However planning and organizing such a group holiday for more than 3 people, and getting the whole family together can be demanding. Everyone might have their idea of what relaxing or fun holidays are and on top of that, group holidays might sound like an expensive thing to do. However, there are some amazing choices that Turkey has to offer for a fantastic holiday with your closest and dearest ones where you won’t have to spend a fortune. Turkey is a diverse country with beautiful shores, great cuisine, magnificent landscape, ancient history, to suit all tastes. Here are some fantastic ideas for a group holiday that might inspire your next trip to Turkey.

1.Food tour holidays

We all love food, but some love it so much that they organize a whole trip revolving around it. This concept of traveling is becoming more and more popular in the world. Now you can enjoy diverse cuisine that Turkey has to offer and some delicious dessert combined by undeniable Turkish hospitality. Holidays planned around food, are a great group activity, and a fun way to explore your chosen destination. You might even take it to the next level and participate in some cooking class and learn the new traditional Turkish recipe. Many cities around the country offer diverse attractions, many food choices so everyone can find something they love, and things usually are very budget-friendly especially when it comes to beyond delicious food. The most popular dishes to try while you are visiting this country are Baklava, Muhallabia pudding, Lahmacun pizza, Patlican karniyarik – aubergines with minced meat and fresh tomatoes…

There are also many nice restaurants along with this country, and depending on your preferences, you can choose one of your likings. However, among the most popular ones are, Mezze Grill Ocakbasi Restaurant in Antalya, Roof Mezze 360 or for fine dining Deraliye Ottoman Palace Cuisine Restaurant in Istanbul and Annalivia Restaurant Gumbet in Bodrum.

2. Active holidays

Active holidays don’t have to be reserved only for the young and the fittest, now the whole group can enjoy action-filled holidays adapted to all generations, even your kids and grandparents. Depending on your level of fitness you can choose to try adrenaline-packed activities like rafting, mountain biking, paragliding in regions of Ölüdeniz, or go scuba diving on the Lycian Coast and even rock climbing in regions such as Marmaris or touristic center Bodrum.

For a more relaxing easygoing activity that grandparents and teenagers can enjoy, choose things like canyoning or perhaps cycling tours throughout the south-west coast of Turkey. Also, you may do a combination of activities and leave some time for enjoyment and relaxing, so you and your loved ones have a perfect mix of both worlds.

3. Hire a luxury private gulet

Nowadays cruising on a luxury boat isn’t just an activity reserved only for the richest. If you are looking for privacy and spending your holidays away from heavy crowds, and you wish to spend your time on a yacht that looks like a hotel on water, then this might be a great choice for you.

Affordable isn’t a word that comes to mind when you think of luxury yachts, but in some destinations, such turkey you can get amazing offers and deals you’d be surprised. Going on a luxury gulet with a group of friends or family at your side can be an amazing holiday idea.

You and your loved one will be able to enjoy gorgeous seas, plenty of cultures, exquisite islands, coastline, remarkable ruins, plus an endless array of entertainment and activities organized by your preferences. This is a recipe for the ultimate stress-free getaway.

4. Book family-oriented hotel and resorts

If you are a family who loves the comfort and easy-going atmosphere, then Turkish family-oriented resorts are the way to go! The best and largest resorts are located on the Turkish coast in regions like Bodrum, Marmaris, and Antalya. Getting the whole family together for some fun in the sun has never been easier. This group holiday can be a perfect break for the whole family while everyone can enjoy some serious savings on the cost per person. These places also often have many activities that kids will love, while parents relax and enjoy. Some of the best resorts for your holiday are Delphin Imperial Hotel Lara or Aska Lara Resort & Spa in Antalya, Salmakis Resort Bodrum, or Green Nature Resort & Spa in Marmaris.

About author: Mitja with his family has an active lifestyle. They love to explore new, hidden places, experience new vistas and try local cuisine – but most of all, they love to spend our holidays traveling from place to place.

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Only 4 hours away from the UK is the sun kissed country of Turkey. With coastlines on the Aegean and the Mediterranean, a great exchange rate and an outstanding choice of resorts, it is little wonder that so many Brits now flock there every year. Whether or not you have been to Turkey before the following guide should see you in good stead if you are considering a Turkish holiday in 2014. If you were not considering this great destination, well, maybe after reading this you will be looking for a great value Turkish holiday.

Unique location

Some view Turkey as a virtual bridge between the continents of Asia and Europe as whichever way you look at it Turkey enjoys a unique location geographically. Being the point where the Christian West meets the Muslim East, the country gains extra frisson when you compare it with its Mediterranean competitors such as Greece and Italy. While you are quite likely to roused at dawn by the call to prayer for the predominantly Muslim population, it is every much a secular state and when you hear the calling for dusk prayers emanating from the closest mosque’s minaret you will probably be sitting enjoying a beer or a glass of wine with a delicious evening meal.

Origins and culture

Giving a partial nod to the Islamic heritage of the county, and another to their origins as nomadic herdsmen going about their business on Central Asia’s steppes, you will find that the Turks are incredibly open, friendly and hospitable. Being served a glass of tea in an unusual, tulip shaped glass and then being joined by the shopkeeper from a local bazaar will not usually be a ploy for him to use you as a captive audience for his sales spiel, it is merely part of the Turkish culture and should be welcomed.

Major attractions

The thrill of taking a holiday somewhere with such a different culture to our own, and being surrounded by some of the friendliest people in the world, does not go very far in explaining why 35m visitors choose to holiday in Turkey every year. A major player in its appeal is its coastline, and 1700 miles of Aegean coast and 1000 miles on the Mediterranean will satisfy even the most discerning of beach lovers.

In Turkey’s Aegean region are the mountains belonging to the Anatolian interior. Anatolia itself is a vast and tilting tableland of mountain and ‘steps’ which run for nearly 1000 miles up to the border with Iran. The mountains are at right angles to the coast, thus giving this area a beautiful, indented coastline consisting of coves, bays, peninsulas and promontories, and this coastline is at its most dramatic around the hugely popular resorts of Marmaris and Bodrum.

In some areas of the mountainous south west of the country you will see the mountains actually plunging into the sea, and this is also the area where the Aegean and the Mediterranean merge. Head east past Antalya and you will find a broad plain, with a backdrop of the stunning Taurus mountains, that is fringed by an endless run of glorious sandy beaches.

Development

Despite the fact that the Turkish authorities vowed long ago not to go in the same direction as Spain when it came to development, it has had a huge impact on the landscape. This is particularly noticeable around the Antalya area where golf courses and all-inclusive resorts have irrevocably altered the whole outlook of the area.

The rockier shores around the southern Aegean and south west Mediterranean have been much more reluctant to make such changes however. And resorts such as Kalkan, Kas, Dalyan, Bodrum and Gelemis (Patara) have managed to retain a lot of their original charm. Even though most visitors to these resorts are more than content to swim, soak up the rays and take the odd tour, those who like to keep active have ample opportunities to go diving, kayaking and windsurfing.

This rocky coastline lends itself perfectly to the ‘gulet’ tours. These ancient, wooden yachts are a major tourist attraction and if you want to go one step further you can charter your own. There are many that are so luxurious they are akin to a floating villa and perfect for a spot of self-indulgence.

History

Exploring the ancient sites of Turkey is hugely enjoyable, whether you are a history buff or not. The Mediterranean and Aegean littoral is generously strewn with some outstanding Greco-Roman ruins from such historical heavyweights as Ephesus and Troy but there are also many lesser known wonders to be discovered such as Sagalassos and Arykanda. Most of the sites are easily accessible by either a hire car or on an organised tour, but there are some who are best visited by boat.

Easily accessible from a large number of main coastal resorts are such geological wonders as the hot springs and amazing travertine basins at Pammukale, and if you fancy taking a trip from Antalya an absolute must is the stunning Turkish lake-land around Egirdir. This gives a lush, cooling respite away from the extreme summer heat. The Carian, St Pauls and Lycian marked trails have effectively opened up the mountains behind the coast so walkers can enjoy their splendour and those who choose to visit in the winter will enjoy the ski resorts at Davraz and Saklikent.

A bit more info

Few realise just how big Turkey actually is, and with the country enjoying so many return visitors it is hardly surprising that they, after several forays to the coast, find the lure of Anatolia’s austere landscape too hard to resist.

The strange formations of volcanic rock cut for the Byzantine churches at Cappadocia are hugely popular and this is the most appealing region to visit inland, not least because of its “cave” boutique hotels, of which there are hundreds.

Those who have penchant for an altogether wilder vista and/or lesser known civilisations should head to the Hittite heartlands which are to the east of Ankara. Armenian churches as Urartian fortresses encircle the ridiculously blue waters of Lake Van whilst to the south east are the basins of Euphrates and Tigris, known as the “cradle of civilisation”. These areas are an awful long way, and in more than just distance, from the overcrowded coastal hotspots, and are both beautiful and fascinating.

Wherever you stay in Turkey, be it in a budget priced apartment from providers such as Icelolly.com or a posh private villa, make the effort to take either an organised tour or hire a car and criss-cross the country. You are guaranteed a warm welcome anywhere you decide visit and will come away knowing about a country that is not east or west, but it unique in its own right.

This article was contributed by Sam Jones

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Istanbul has a lot of great snacks for the casual wanderer. This article examines some street-side goodies the culinary curious can try while exploring Istanbul.

If you’re looking for the best street food, don’t be too shy to ask the staff at your hotel. They’re sure to know the best spots nearby for getting a true taste of Istanbul. And, if you’re still organizing your trip to Turkey, check out hotels in Istanbul on Venere.com for a quick way to get your trip in order so you have more time to find out about the region’s food and culture.

Outside of Turkey, the food name most recognized from the country is the kebab. However, kebabs are found in many Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisines. The word “kebab” simply means meat that has been flame-cooked, usually in smaller pieces, though sometimes it’s cooked after being ground up. Usually this meat is by default lamb, but you’ll also find chicken, beef and goat kebab.

In Turkey, lamb kebab is found roasting on a rotating vertical spit, from which the seller will slice off thin bits of meat. This is döner kebab, or “rotating kebab.”

Popularly served nestled in pita bread, döner kebab is a quick-and-easy morsel to snack on in the streets of Istanbul. You can also get it on a salad, with french fries or with another kind of bread.

However, just because kebab in all its forms is famous doesn’t mean that’s all Istanbul street food is!

Börek

Paris has croissants, and Istanbul has börek. This flaky pastry stuffed with a savory filling makes a fantastic quick bite as you walk through Istanbul’s streets.

However, while croissants always look like a crescent moon and are often of a standardized size, börek come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is baked in a larger pan or tray, and then cut into pieces before eating. It can also be fried, depending on how crispy you like the outer layering. In other regions, it’s boiled.

The filling of börek varies with the person cooking it. Popular filings are spinach, cheese, potato and meat.

Kestane

If you’re lucky enough to visit Istanbul in the cooler months, you may find vendors selling paper bags of piping hot kestane — chestnuts. In the United States, roasted chestnuts are only featured in holiday carols, but in Turkey they’re a popular, and inexpensive, street food.

Sellers roast their chestnuts over open flames on the street (chestnuts cooked this way are also a kind of “kebab” because of the manner of cooking). Each seller has a cart with a built-in roaster and a metal top on which the roasted nuts can keep warm before purchased. If you’ve never tried them before, the texture of a roasted chestnut is starchy, like a dry sweet potato, and faintly sweet.

If you’re visiting Istanbul in warmer weather, you’ll find vendors selling roasted corn instead of chestnuts. This is less exotic to American palates, but also delicious.

Midye Dolma

“Stuffed mussels” sounds too elegant in English to be a street food, but in Turkey it’s a widely enjoyed pedestrian snack. Midye dolma is made from saltwater black mussels that have been stuffed with a combination of rice and spices.

However, not everyone’s stomach can handle seafood street snacks and there is a risk of food poisoning or a reaction to toxins in the shellfish. Luckily, this dish is also available in restaurants, so you can try it if you don’t want to buy it on the street.

Simit

When all you want is a simple and filling snack, simit is at your service. These baked rings of dough are a typical snack or light breakfast fare, and are often consumed with tea.

Like a bagel, they are also sometimes sprinkled with sesame seeds or eaten with soft cheese, but they are not made into sandwiches. On the street, the simit you find in Istanbul may be crispier than the kind sold in shops.

 About the Author: Louise Vinciguerra is a fantastic joke teller, has a million and one hobbies, and enjoys matching her fonts with her moods. This Brooklyn native dirties her hands in content on weekdays and as a devout nature lover, dirties them in soil on the weekends. When she’s not on Facebook, WordPress or Twitter, she’s traveling in search of fun food, dabbling in urban farming or planning nature trips from her resident city of Rome. When she’s not doing any of the above, she sleeps.

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