Turkey educational October 2012 - Kalkan

The trip started with a flight from Monarch airlines from Gatwick at 07.20 am. The flight was on time and a comfortable Airbus 3-4-3 configuration. Extra leg room seat can be purchased at an additional cost if you wish to have the most comfort as the leg room is not very generous generally. The flight was only a little late and 4 hours later we arrived in Dalaman. Visas are £10 per person and they prefer a nice crisp £10 note and advise correct money or no change will be offered!!!

We were a nice small group of 10 and were transferred the 1 and a half hours to our first hotel, the Oasis Hotel in Kalkan. The group was put into a variety of rooms; I was lucky to have 1 of 2 suite rooms with porthole window looking down to Kalkan, large terrace area with table and chairs and 2 sunbeds (in need of a little staining to the wood and sunbed covers stained) but the room inside was spacious and clean with beams to ceiling and nice furnishings. Jucuzzi bath was fun and shower on bath or seperate walk in shower. Tea/coffee making facilities, hardryer, safe, air conditioning and satellite tv. We ate at the rooftop restaurant with fabulous views over Kalkan and the food was lovely.
The hotel is in a good position just a few minutes walk to restaurants and bars and Kalkan itself has great character with steep narrow streets and superb views over the Turqouise coast.The breakfast was very good with a selection of cereals, salad, cheese, and sliced meats, fruit as well as a hot choice with mushrooms, eggs(scrambed or boiled) We then set off to visit a few hotels in Kalkan, starting with the Oasis to see other room types,some with private pools

My room in Oasis Hotel

Jacuzzi bath and separate walk in shower

View from large balcony

View from pool area with unusual sunbeds flat on floor and difficult for us oldies to get up from!

Kalkan is all steep cobbled streets - not good for stilettos!

Another street in Kalkan - very picturesque and full of character

View from breakfast room of Oasis

We then moved on to the Likya Residence which was my favourite hotel (Aykan Group)of the day but with a price tag to match with lead in prices of £1200 for a week. It has an eco feel to it with lots of plants and very chic. There were 2 room types deluxe and deluxe plus and we viewed a deluxe which had its own access to the infinity pool from the balcony (room 100) very good spa, small gym, steam room and second pool with superb views.(min age 16 years) We did see the retreat rooms (annexe buillding separate) but I did not like them so much and there is a building in between with a pool which was not being maintained at the time of inspection and balconies overlooked green pool - perhaps not in season!  This is a popular hotel so need to book early and rarely has offers. They have a lovely relaxing spa offering a range of facilities.

 

Infinity pool

Other pool in lovely setting

The next hotel the Rhapsody Hotel (a good hotel in its day but a little dated) It is due to undergo a large renovation programme but at present is very simple and basic in style, lacking in character though rooms were not too bad and there are a selection of room types which include jacuzzi suites, those without jacuzzi had larger balconies, 4 duplex sleeping up to 4 (min age 12 years)

The next hotel was the Asfiya Hotel which has no lift and ever suite is different so best to stipulate what you want from a room ie big balcony, jacuzzi bath etc. (ie if you dont have a jacuzzi in deuxe suites, you have a bigger balcony). Oldest in Aykan group of hotels. Viewed master deluxe where 3 rooms share private pool. Both this hotel and Likya Residence have use of the Yali area with pontoon into sea.

We then moved on the to Elixer Hotel which offered us a lovely lunch which was a good standard 4 star hotel with nothing in particular which makes it unique but had a very pleasant and friendly feel to it with a good standard of room, a more modern feel to it and nice pool, bar area and friendly staff. We viewed deluxe and superior rooms, deluxe have jacuzzi with the exception of ground floor which does not. There is a lift and some interconnecting rooms. Photos unavilable for this hotel.

 

 

More to follow as we travelled to Antalya, Kaleici, Datca, Olu Deniz............................................

 

 

Florence 4-7 October - Sue Tooke

This weekend was the second Emsworth Travel hosted trip and we chose to use BA flights leaving at 11am to Pisa and return at 22.35 hours to maximise the length of time there.  We arranged shared taxi pick ups and set off at 7am for Gatwick North Terminal.  BA flight was comfortable with good leg room and a snack on board this 2 hour flight.  We then took the one hour train journey to Florence (note - tickets have to be validated by machines before travel or you could face a fine). Taxis charge extra for luggage so this was 13.00 euros for 4 people plus 4 cases but 16 euros on the return!. The hotel we had chosen was the 3 star Pitti Palace with an excellent central location by the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge.  There was the added bonus of a breakfast room on the 6th floor with fantastic views over the city.  Here we also enjoyed a predinner drink in the evening before exploring the city.

View from breakfast room/bar on 6th floor of hotel

This is the view towards the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Uffizi Gallery

On the day of arrival, we settled into the hotel and opted to have a snack at the bar on the 6th floor.  There is a small choice of pasta dishes all around 7 euros for a small plate of pasta (considered a bit expensive for the quantity served) and a reasonable bottle of wine for 18 euros.

On the second day, we opted to try and get as many of the main sights visited as possible so as to leave us the possibility of an excursion on the third day.  There are so many churches and museums in Florence that I researched the main sights beforehand to save time.  The Ufizzi (Gallery with the the largest and greatest treasures of Renaissance Art) and the Galleria D'ell Acadamia (displaying the original 5 metre marble statue of Michelangelo's David), together with the Duomo (largest cathedral in Europe with the cupola having the largest frescoed surface in the world) can have enormous queues and may be best to prebook to save queueing.  You can book online if you know you are travelling at peak times but this tends to be the most expensive booking fees - I saw prices of 21.50 euros online, but your hotel will book for you when you arrive; we chose to do this for the Ufizzi and we were able to get a reservation for midday for a price of 16 euros with a 5 euro booking fee (the earlier you book, the more choice you will have) This was worth the additional fee as the queue was very long.  The alternative would be to book a half day tour, to include a guide and some of the main attractions at a price around £50 bookable at the hotel.   The Ufizzi is very extensive and the set up is with several rooms with one entrance. The rooms recommended by the guide books were Room 10-14 for Botichellis 'Birth of Venus' and other works, Room 15 for Verrocchio's Baptism of Christ, Room 28 for Titian's Birth of Venus, 43 for Caravaggio including his 'Medusa'.

This is the Santa Croce church which is known as the Pantheon as it houses the tombs of most of Italy illustrious figures, such as Michelangelo and Gallileo and the richest medieval church in the city (founded in 1228).  Note shoulders should be covered and shorts are not accepted for entrance into the churches. Entrance fee 6 euros.

Inside the Santa Croce Church

This is the Showcase Square - the Piazza della Signoria with the best know cafe 'the Rivoire' with its ideal position opposite (though you pay for the position and its great coffees).  In the evening at Loggia dei Lanzi (adjoining this Piazza) musicians play daily and there is a good choice of bars and restaurants in the area.

In front of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the piazza della Signoria, there are several statues including a copy of Michaelango's David

This is a bronze of Cellini's Perseus and Medusa

This is the  Duomo (Dome) a great example of Gothic architecture - free entrance to the church but 11 euros to climb to the top of the dome.  The queues were not too bad when we chose to visit waiting approximately half an hour but you can pay a supplement to jump the queues.

Half way up you come into the top of the church and stand below the frescos.  You are able to appreciate the story painted more from this aspect.

Looking down into the church from the frescoed balcony

Views from the top of the dome are exceptional

You are able to get a 360 degree view of Florence from the top of the Dome

Florence itself has a great charm, with narrow streets and a feeling that time stood still and it remains, as a whole, as it has been for hundreds of years







Battistero (Baptistry) built in 6th or 7th century next to the Duomo

On day three, a couple of the group decided to travel to Siena by rail. Taxi from the hotel to the airport was 7.30 euros and rail ticket from the machine was 7.50 euros each way.  We were helped by a local (without request!) but at the end of the transaction, he expected to be paid 3 euros for the assistance given so beware of those offering to help. The train time was 1 hr 28 minutes and the centre is a fair walk so, as we were short of time, decided to take a taxi which was 7 euros each way. Siena is in the guide books as the most beautiful city in Tuscany.  It is much smaller that Florence and quite hilly but it has a lovely Piazza del Campo with Palazzo Pubblico and Tower which boasts unrivalled views over Siena. Here we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the sunshine. This piazza is famous for the Palio, world famous bare-backed horse race which takes place in July and August. There is a Duomo, hidden gardens, tunnelled passages and secret piazzas. The weather was ideal for a city break with temperatures in the mid to upper 20s, some cloud, some sunshine. 

On the final day, we decided to view the Pitti Palace in the morning and head towards Piza after lunch.  We opted for a cappucino and a pastry - generally coffee was around 5 euros but we were shocked that the pastry also was 5 euros, not much less than the cost of a panini or similar sandwich.

This is the Pitti Palace built by the Medici family who ruled Florence for 300 years.  There are 3 museums here (you can buy dual entry for 6 euros) which house the entire Medici collection. There are 3 charges here.  One for Palace and Gardens (Boboli), one for Museums and another for buildings in the grounds or you can opt for a joint ticket.  Palace and Gardens is 10 euros

The gardens had great views over the city

Boboli Gardens

Gardens looking toward Palace and Florence beyond

We arrived at Pisa Centrale (which took approx 1 and a half hours on a slow train) and the leaning tower was a good 15-20 minute walk from the train station.  It is possible to leave your luggage at the train station at a cost of 4 euros per piece of luggage which we took advantage of. The entrance to the leaning tower was 15 euros which was expensive for what it was but there were good views over Pisa from the top.

One of the views from the top of the leaning tower. 

Norton Grange Holiday Village - nr Yarmouth, IOW - Sue Tooke

After visiting Bembridge Coast, Warners then took us on a round island tour of the picturesque countryside of the Isle of Wight before arriving at Norton Grange on the west coast

This is a typical bedroom at a warners holiday village

There is an amazing view from the terrace



Indoor pool



Another view from the terrace

Bowling green

Outside seating area

Lounge area

Dining room

Games room

This is a smaller resort with more of a holiday village feel to it, there is still a good range of facilities on offer and there is plenty to do to make your stay more enjoyable.

Warner Holidays - Isle of Wight

Warner Holidays invited a few travel agents over to the Isle of Wight this summer to view the two 'adult only properties' they own, and the following gives an idea what they offer.

We caught the ferry across to Ryde and were met by an open top bus to take us to the first property Bembridge Coast.  The 3 AA star property was in a perfect location with great views of the solent and on the beach and set in 23 acres of grounds.

Views from the patio over the solent



Prices include a buffet breakfast and 3 course evening meal with waiter service



Games room








Bowling green

There is a supplement for rooms with outside seating areas

 We had an enjoyable lunch followed by a spot of rifle shooting.  There are a good selection of daytime activities which includes archery, crossbow and rifle shooting, pitch and putt, fun croquet, outdoor, indoor and shortmat bowls, tennis, table tennis, line dancing, walks, talks and falconry.  They have a pool sauna and steam room and free wifi in public areas.  These activities are all free. They offer other activities at a supplement such as tenpin bowling, wine tasting, beginners dancing for waltz, jive, salsa and tango, murder mystery dinner.

There are excellent bowling facilities

Prices lead in from £129-£239 for a 2 nights, £234-£439 for a 4 night stay and £449-£789 for a 7 night stay on a half board basis.  They have many tribute or theme 3 night breaks also. See next blog for Norton Grange Coastal Village near Yarmouth, Western Isle of Wight - these breaks can be booked by Emsworth Travel and for more information call 01243377211