Its a hard search isnt it marj. the Belcekiz is hard to beat for friendliness, food and location.

We have chosen the Hemera in side for this year . It gets fab reviews and there appears to at least be some civilisation just outside the gates and side within walking distance .

Try the Antalya region as they have 5 star Ai.

how about letoonia, they have their own website to look at, we stayed there and it was lovely, views fab, 24 hr all inc with some international brands

Belek has some really great all inclusive hotels right on the beach .

We have stayed at the kaya belek hotel was fantastic, also stayed at firstchoice holiday village in turkey also fantastic. This year we are staying at wow topaki palace in lara beach,also a 5* so hoping this will be great too.

Thanks for the replies so far, will have a look at some of these.

just a warning about the lara beach area although the hotels are supposed to be a good standard, there isnt much to do outside them so its mainly a hotel only based holiday, if youre happy with this thats fine but if like me you would hate to be hotel bound then it might be best to avoid this area, beaches arent that great around there either

Have to disagree with ellie meg, the beaches are very good in Lara and all the hotels have lovely piers, some with bars on them! The views out to the Taurus mountains are very nice.
We went to the Club letoonia and there is not much of a beach at all! We have been to bodrum and only had a man made beach area in the hotel . In Kusidasi we only had a small manmade beach
Side, Belek and lara beach all have great beaches. The all-inclusives there beat any we have been to in other areas.The problem is once you try the all-inclusive there you are spoilt and do not want to try other areas! Yes not the most scenic resorts in Turkey but the standards are so much better!

I know lots of posters dread the thought of going all inclusive and much prefer self catering (which I do).

However, I find it interesting reading all the very complimentary posts about all inclusive and it goes to show that many people have good experiences and still favour A/I. It makes me think that I wouldnt rule out going A/I in Turkey. As I said previously
it doesnt mean you have to be "confined" to your hotel/complex. On any A/I holiday we have been on before we have eaten out
lunch and dinner many times and still spend on trips and days out etc.

I think especially for families all. incl. will have lots to offer.

violet the area of lara beach i went to wasnt that nice, beach was dirty and shingly no sand and the scenery wasnt that great, ive been to much nicer beaches in other parts of turkey in the 27 years ive been visiting there , but everyone likes different things, what suits 1 person doesnt suit another , i like nice sandy beaches with fabulous scenery and safe for kids, thats why i love akyaka and go back there so much

Ellie meg
Like you say what suits one would not suit another!
We all have our favourite places to visit, I did say that Lara is not the most scenic area! but the hotels we go to have pristine beaches and the hotels get rave reviews! I was giving the poster another view point which is the point of these forums!
Side is a lovely resort with the harbour and ruins there!
The views were nice at the club letoonia but the rooms are basic at best! the quality of drinks was poor unless you went to the main hotel. We enjoyed the holiday but now we have had so much better !

ive been to most resorts in turkey from kusadasi down the coast to antalya, side etc visiting turkey up to 6 times a year, over 27 years so i do know most areas, the best hotel we have stayed at in turkey was lykia world, but its only full board +, the 5* i stayed at in antalya was the pits , although was not in the lara area, i did say the hotels in the area are good standard just not a lot outside the hotel

we obviously had a different experience at letoonia than you did, our hotel room was roomy and had nice views and wasnt basic, not sure if you stayed in the bungalows, the drinks were great including archers, baileys etc and that was in the bar near the ampitheatre, it wasnt as good as lykia but still was great, theres a thread running saying how good it is

you love antalya area i didnt, best to agree to disagree, as we obviously like different things and i dont want to get into a debate over it

I thought I would join in the debate as I sort of know what everyone means

We too love Olu Deniz(been there for last 6 holidays) and don't normally like AI.

We have stayed (last year) at The Cornelia Deluxe resport in Belek. If was fabulous, we had a junior suit so we have fantastic accomodation. All international drinks included and fabulous food. It was for a golf break in May and although we thought the hotel was fab we did miss the buzz of a resort like Olu Deniz. In fact it was not really a patch on our normal September holiday. We had a trip out to Aspendos and the Koprukey river which we loved, but as all the hotels in the area are AI, there is no point locals opening bars or restaurants around the area as they wouldn't get any trade. The beach was nice and sandy but I the sea did not look very inviting. In Olu and Fethiye its not very sandy but that makes the sea really clear. Turquoise blue!

This year in September we are staying at The Club Letoonia, Fethiye. That way if we miss Olu Deniz too much we can hop on a dolmus or taxi for a visit.
We are also going again to Belek in May, this time staying at Letoonia Golf.

I'm lucky to be going twice this Year ! Which saves all that dicision making.

dadooronron
I saw your previous comments about going AI this year because of forever being at the cash point last year! I think that is why so many like all-inclusives because you can budget for the holiday! With kids and teens more so, and it is a great way to let them have freedom but in a safe complex! We are actually going to the Cornelia at easter and looking forwards to it! I can understand that others prefer SC but we just like to chill and not to have much to think about!

Regarding the Club Letoonia we did like the holiday but you do have to watch them with the drinks or you got the local stuff and the choice was limited for branded drinks! The moonlight restaurant and food was nice.We were very cramped in the room with the extra bed.It was august so we enjoyed the seating in the square. It is 4 star in some areas but 3 in others!
I must say the gulet sounds great! is that all inclusive to??

If your on a budget, go all inclusive, the food is perfectly nice and value for money! Plus, atleast then you dont have to worry about running out of money at the end. What we do is go all inclusive, and then take money for day trips and things, plus you get some really nice resorts all inclusive. We are staying in a 5* this time, and it has cost us £345 each for 4 of us to go, well worth it considering it would have cost us more to go self catering, and then spending money on top.

Hi marjiae

I think the BB will be a hard act to follow, the food there was excellent. One of the main advantages is that it is in the town, so you can go out for a few hours of an evening by walking and not getting cabs everywhere. Plus you can walk to the beach and lagoon.

If you dont fancy trying a different resort, but just want a different hotel you could go to the Olu Deniz Resort Hotel that is next door to the BB, that also get excellent reports and seems to have many people who go back year after year so they must be highly satified with it. Otherwise apart from Club Letonnia you will need to look at other areas of Turkey. Club Sun City seems to not get such glowing reviews as the BB and the ODR.

I know there isn't much outside the hotels but I would love to try one of the resorts at Lara, Belek or Side maybe just for a week though. Unfortunately having been to Turkey twice in the last three years my family have put their foot down and said it's a big world out there can they go somewhere different.

Hi, we have also been to the BB three times and had a fantastic holiday each time. I asked a similar question on here last year because we also fancied a change. I think it is the staff and the atmosphere at the BB that make it special. I do not think I would enjoy one of the AI's in Lara Beach because luxurious they may be but you could be anywhere in the world. The other beauty of the Belcekiz is being able to have that stroll down the street of an evening, oh and that view from the Plaza Bar!
Oh dear we have booked the Hemera in Side this year am beginning to wonder if we have done the right thing! Oh well can always go back to the BB next year! Hope you find somewhere as good,be sure to let us all know if you do.

i totally agree with what you are saying minione and that was the point i was trying to say about the lara hotels, olu deniz is gorgeous , have you thought about trying lykia world thats fab

Yes, looked at Lykia, looks great but expensive. Got a good price for the Hemera and looks like there is plenty to see in Side so thought we would try it for a change. Yes, agree Olu is gorgeous.