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The
Times 11February 2006
When money is no object
The Dome Kempinski is
the grandest of Belek's luxurious hotels, and even though it
is sumptuous, children are welcome. There is a kids' club and
many double rooms with interconnecting doors.
The Times 11 February 2006
Luxury afloat
For lazy days at sea, try spending a few days
aboard M/Y Halas, a luxury floating hotel converted
from a First World War passenger ferry, a bit like walking into
the pages of an Agatha Christie novel with its teak furnishings,
impeccable service and glamorous 20s-style decor.
The Daily Mail 07 January 2006
... Gocek- a very pretty small town with its
own marina, filled with treasure troves of mosaic lanterns,
carpets, and slippers.
We landed at Dalaman, and were whisked for 25 minutes along
winding coastal roads to Gocek, where we were booked into the
Inn at Swissotel, owned by the same company who run
Singapore's famous Raffles Hotel- so we had high expectations.
We were not disappointed.
The rooms-overlooking the pool with their own patios- were spacious,
the beds huge and, mercifully, for the heat was intense- the
air-conditioning worked splendidly. Later, as night fell, we
took the little golf cart shuttle down to the beach for an unforgettable
dinner served at candle-lit tables at the end of the pontoon.
A few gulets were moored nearby and all around us was subtly
illuminated by underwater lamps, with the silhouette of the
majestic mountains behind. But there was not a building in sight.
As a shooting star burst across the sky, we realized just how
unspoilt this vast country would prove to be.
Next morning, we headed for the sandy beach and while some of
us sunbathed, others parasailed or accompanied them in the speedboat.
That night we found dozens of restaurants in the little town
to choose from. The reps from upmarket newcomer Elixir holidays
had already impressed. Better still, we had been told our booking
had been upgraded........
Hello Magazine 25 January 2006
M/Y Halas- cruises on the Turquoise Coast
The odyssey starts here:
Built in 1914, this 15-cabin luxury cruiser
plies the waters of Turkey's Turquoise Coast.
In its former life, the historic motor yacht carried Allied
troops during the Second World War before becoming a passenger
ferry on the Bosphorus. Now its interiors are resplendent with
four-poster bed suites, she could be something from an Agatha
Christie novel, all shimmering lights and teak interiors. Ottoman
and international cuisine are on the menu.
During May and June, M/Y Halas will gently
cruise the Bosphorus, the sea of Marmara and the wooded Princes'
Islands, a popular summer retreat from Istanbul, where Byzantine
emperors once sent bothersome royals and political figures into
exile.
From July to October she'll anchor at the smart southern Turkish
resort of Gocek, a favorite of the late Princess Margaret, for
flat-water cruises to the Gulf of Fethiye and the Twelve Islands,
each dotted with delightful bays and discreet holiday homes
for the rich and famous. One of them was the honeymoon hideaway
for Cleopatra- and was reputedly a present from Mark Antony.
Hello Magazine 25 January 2006
Start a revolution
Not ecstatic about the view from your bedroom
window? Then simply wait a few minutes and - effortlessly and
imperceptibly- your panorama will change. The revolving
Loft, part of the Marmara Antalya hotel, is the world's
first and only hotel that rotates through 360 degrees, completing
a full circle in a matter of hours.
That's not all that's different about this high-spec hang-out.
All 24 rooms also have a bath placed sociably behind the bed
so that you can soak and chat. The hotel has a gym, spa and
outdoor pool, but as it is on a clifftop, you need to ride the
lift down to the sea and bathing platforms. Also close to the
cliffs- two huts where you can enjoy Balinese massage. Dizzy
stuff.
Hello Magazine 25 January 2006
Go Underground
In the heart of Cappadocia, 1200m above sea
level on the Anatolian plateau, lies an extraordinary landscape.
Rock churches and vast underground cities are hidden away in
a labyrinth of tunnels and caves, topped by stalagmite pillars
worn by wind and rain into "fairy chimneys". Once
a safe haven for early Christians seeking shelter from the onslaught
of invading armies, now many of the caves have been converted
into snug holiday accommodation.
None more so than the Sacred House, an aristocratic
mansion hewn out of the rock, crammed with candelabra, icons
and ornate fireplaces. Each of the seven rooms has a different
theme: Chevalier could have featured in the epic film Troy;
The Full Moon suite, which you enter through the bathroom-with
jacuzzi-would be ideal for honeymooners. But perhaps the most
striking is the Old Chapel, which once served as the mansion's
private church. Whichever you choose, owners Turan and Talin
serve delicious Greek, Turkish and Armenian dishes, plus afternoon
tea and cakes. Fresh lemonade and cherry liqueur in crystal
decanters await you in your cosy cave bedroom. Sweet dreams...
The Hello magazine 25 January
2006
The simple life
If you fancy the simple life, make tracks for
Ucagiz and Kale- if you can find them. Land comes to a full
stop at Ucagiz at the end of a meandering road. To get to Kale,
you need to take a boat. The mysterious Lycians, believed to
have originated in Crete, buried their nobles in richly decorated
rock tombs on these bleached hills, though ordinary citizens
had to make do with squat stone sarcophagi that now litter the
shore and even cottage gardens. An old Crusader castle encircles
the hilltop. In Ucagiz, quirky alleyways lead to fish restaurants
and characterful shops, and local boatmen make trips to view
the ruins of the sunken city of Kekova, shimmering eerily below.
Your stay at Kekova Cottage, a converted house
with eight rooms at the water's edge in Ucagiz will be all about
tranquility, relaxation and retreat. Comfortable rather than
chic, the en suite bedrooms have four-posters and wooden verandas
over the sea, but they're not for the bright lights brigade,
so take a good book.
Please contact us directly
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7722 2288
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7722 5131 [email protected]
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