The Mediterranean coastline in southwest Türkiye (the preferred name of Turkey) has long been a vacation paradise — and if the crossroads of beach and luxury with some international travel added in sounds appealing then start planning your next trip to Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort Belek.
The main building of the resort only opened ten years ago, but it’s the recent additions that you should keep your eye on when booking your stay. The Luxury Lagoon Suites, opened in 2021, are a short walk from the main building with bedroom and living room areas. Step out the patio for your own private sun deck and then drop down the steps into the ‘lagoon’ — a heated pool that stretches across the suites.
For those looking for even more space and privacy the Mansion and Grand Mansions, four and five-suite private residences, opened last year. These stand-alone houses have their own saunas and steam rooms, both fresh-water and sea-water pools, fire pits and terraces. Need a place to land your helicopter? An upgrade to the just-opened Royal Mansion will better suit your needs.
Along with the resort’s long stretch of beach, guests of Lagoon Suites and Villas can reserve private over-the-water cabanas where you can lay out in the sun or drop down and take a dip in the Mediterranean. Drinks and food are available there or the open-air Palazzo Lounge restaurant is also nearby with stunning water-views while dining. In the evening it then transitions into a nightclub after dinner.
Looking for more excitement on the water? Jet-skis, catamarans, windsurfing and diving are available. But for the big-kid inside of you there is the Aquapark with tall water slides and pools right before the beachfront. And if you have actual kids, there is a ‘Mini-Club’ where children can participate in water sports, indoor activities and even a mini-disco.
Along with the beach, sports are a main draw to the resort. There is the 18-hole golf course designed by WATG, 25 tennis courts (grass, clay and hardcourt) and four soccer fields. And after working up a good sweat no trip to Türkiye is complete without a Turkish Bath and then a massage in one of the resort’s twenty therapy rooms.
For all day dining, those staying at the Lagoon Suites have their own Lagoon Restaurant, while the Mansion guests have the Golf Club Restaurant. Within the main resort building there are four specialty restaurants to enjoy: Devali which features Turkish cuisine, Serafina for Italian dishes, Yada Sushi for Asian-inspired cuisine and the Palazzo Steak House (for when you’ve worked up a true appetite).
The Antalya Province is also home to many wonderful scenic and historic sites, which are definitely worth setting aside time to travel from the resort and enjoy. There is the old town of Kaleiçi which along with shops and restaurants contains Hadrian’s Gate, an arch built around 150 A.D. to honor a visit from the Roman Emperor. The Aspendos Theater, built around the same time by the Greek architect Zenon, is extemely well-preserved. Less ancient but still worth a visit are the Düden Waterfalls, formed by water from a recycling plant. Köprülü Canyon is a national park where you can for a scenic drive or take a rafting trip under a second-century Roman bridge.
Visitors headed to Türkiye should also be sure to take advantage of the ‘Istanbul Stopover Service’ from Turkish Airlines. Rich in history, filled with fantastic cuisine and bridging two continents, any chance to visit Istanbul should be taken advantage of and instead of just switching flights at the airport, Turkish Airlines offers Business Class travelers with lenghty layovers a complimentary three night stay at a 5-star hotel. Economy class travelers aren’t left out either, they get a two night stay at a 4-star hotel. And if you don’t have the days available for a full stay you can opt for a long layover instead. The airline’s Touristanbul program, complimentary when layovers are six hours or longer, provides a day tour of historical sites, a chance to sample Istanbul cuisine and transportation to and from the airport.