Has Turkey arrived as a chic destination for the discerning traveller?
Travel editor Sharon Ring explores the Turquoise Coast to find out… Turkey has been a budget destination for 20 years, with a reputation for quantity rather than quality. Now it’s being hailed as a rival to Tuscany – superior accommodation, wonderful food, undiscovered classical treasures and fantastic shopping. Is this far-fetched marketing or are we really going to see photos of Tony and Cherie belly-dancing on their hols? One region laying claim to Tuscany’s attractions is Lycia, known as the Turquoise Coast because of the colour and beauty of the sea. Until recently you could only get to it by boat but now, with good roads built, new resorts have grown and prospered. Yet the place has lost little of its age-old charm. Hip Hotels Exclusive Escapes specialises in guiding tourists towards small, select hotels in beautiful locations. The Dionysos near Turunc Bay and the Kalkan Regency at Kalkan are typical, although different in style. Here, fellow guests include a judge, banker, denti
