I visited the Turkish hidden gem that’s the country’s ‘best kept secret’ with TUI resorts and private beaches

YOU may think you know Turkey – but what if I told you it was harbouring a hidden gem you likely haven’t heard of?

Just half an hour away from the western city of Izmir sits a region with bustling bazaars and picturesque bays and beaches.

Seferihisar might just be the country’s best-kept secret.

I was staying on the coast at the newly-renovated Angora Beach Hotel where I could soak up everything this region had to offer.

The resort was recently awarded TUI’s Blue classification, an accolade given due to its authenticity, local cuisine and top quality service.
And it delivered on all fronts.

“Can I get you anything else?” is likely to be the phrase you hear most when staying at this intimate complex with food, drinks and activities on offer around the clock.

There are two restaurants and three bars to keep you fed and watered (with plenty of stronger options if you desire), plus a 24/7 snack bar because who doesn’t need a slice of pizza and an ice cream between each meal?

The restaurant puts on a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner that is packed with local favourites such as manti (meat-filled dumplings) served with garlic yoghurt and tomato sauce, or lamachan bread — a speciality flatbread baked with minced lamb, as well as everyone’s continental favourites.

For those craving a finer dining experience, the Culinarium has a four-course a la carte menu where all-inclusive guests can dine free of charge once per stay. I loved the octopus starter.

Plus, from June to August there are barbecues, themed evenings and gala dinners.

But summer is not the only time to visit this paradise with the weather staying warm well into September and sometimes beyond.

Activities at the hotel run throughout the year too, from dancing to karaoke, quiz nights and entertainment which while I visited included some of the winners of Argentina’s Got Talent.

Or join one of the cocktail classes held for visitors. There are even language classes for those who want to brush up on their Turkish — be warned, though, it’s not easy.

Aside from all the activities, history buffs will take a shine to this hotel because of its proximity to Ephesus, an ancient city that locals pride themselves on being bigger and more impressive than Pompeii.

You can book excursions through TUI, for two or in groups which will include collection from the hotel and a handy guide to share their knowledge with you.

I didn’t know much about this extraordinary place before visiting but you don’t need a keen interest in history to understand the significance of this site.

And if wandering around the 2,000-year-old buildings seems a bit sleepy, I guarantee learning about Roman toilets will at least perk you up — I won’t spoil the fun of it, though.

It’s a (long) stone’s throw away from the House of Virgin Mary, a shrine believed by many to be where the biblical Mary lived, and possibly even died, in the years after Jesus’ death.

Tangerine trees, ruins and olive groves

For those who believe or not, it is a spectacular sight, immersed in thousands of years of history with a reconstructed house built on the same foundations Mary is said to have lived.

But Seferihisar is not just cultural offerings.

The peaceful district is ideal for gentle strolls through the sweeping landscape further inland, littered with tangerine trees, olive groves and millennia-old ruins.

You can, of course, take advantage of the region’s sizzling sunshine, too, without even leaving the hotel.

There are three pools and a private beach looking out on to the Greek island of Samos.

If you want to venture further afield, a number of companies offer boat trips that run on a daily basis to Samos from the nearby harbour of Kusadasi, which you can see from miles away thanks to its Hollywood-style sign.

Most routes take visitors to three bays, perfect for getting your flippers on and exploring with a snorkel to make the most of the crystal-clear waters and the fish that inhabit them.

Some excursions offer freshly cooked barbecued fish on board, served with dips, bread and unlimited drinks to enjoy on the comfortable cushions of the berth.

I’d recommend a good few hours out on the water if you’ve got your sea legs, to get the most out of it.

Naturally, thanks to its vast coastline and gentle waters, a boat trip is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

But for me, it still couldn’t top the hotel’s on-site spa with a long treatment menu, including variations of the traditional Turkish Bath.

This experience begins with a sweaty relaxation period in the sauna before you’re scrubbed down on a warmed marble slab, and gently washed by a massage therapist.

After a short break to sip on some Turkish tea, you’ll then be taken off for a head-to-toe massage.

Who could say no to that?