When you step out of the air-conditioned terminal at Antalya Airport after a roughly four-hour flight from London and the humid, hot slap of a Mediterranean summer hits you in the face, you’ll understand why hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers head here every year. The Turkish Riviera is the king of family holidays and one of the most popular summer destinations for anyone looking for all-inclusive in Turkey.
The reason is simple maths: where in Croatia or Italy you’d pay for an average B&B with breakfast, Turkey serves you up a five-star resort with an ultra all-inclusive programme, water slides and its own private beach. It’s a world where you lock your wallet in the room safe on day one and only pull it back out when it’s time to leave.
This guide will tell you what ultra all-inclusive actually means, which Riviera resorts to choose, what to watch out for (food, distance to the beach, pebbles) and when to book your holiday for the lowest price.
TL;DR
- Why go: a 5* resort for the price of a guesthouse elsewhere, a short flight, perfect for families.
- Where: Lara/Belek (closest to the airport, luxury), Side (the golden middle ground), Alanya (lively, cheap, far away), Kemer (mountains, pebbles).
- Ultra AI: imported alcohol, à la carte restaurants, restocked minibar – a big step up from standard AI.
- Watch out ⚠️: “the food gets samey after a few days”, the beach can be far away or reached by shuttle, pebbles instead of sand, morning battles for sunloungers.
- When to book: early-bird deals in January–February (45–50% off, kids go free); the best hotels sell out by April.
- When to fly: September–October = warm sea (25–27°C), fewer crowds, lower prices.
- Money ⚠️: bring euros for the resort area, pay by card in lira (TRY) in shops, use an eSIM instead of roaming.
What ultra all-inclusive actually means
The phrase “all-inclusive” carries more weight in Turkey than in the rest of Europe. Whereas in Spain it often just means full board and a local lager, the Turkish 5* standard is a universe of its own. The basics cover dining from the morning buffet through lunches, afternoon snacks (gözleme, ice cream, waffles) to lavish dinners and midnight soups, plus unlimited drinks, a free private beach, a spa, water parks and entertainment programmes for both kids and adults.
If you pay a little extra for ultra all-inclusive, a whole new level opens up: premium imported alcohol (genuine brands instead of local knock-offs), a minibar restocked daily in your room, and unlimited reservations at the hotel’s à la carte restaurants (Italian, Asian, seafood), where you’re waited on just like in a proper restaurant.
💡 Tip: Turkish AI works brilliantly for vegetarians – the buffets are packed with salads, vegetables, cheeses, meze, lentil soup and gözleme flatbreads. Leave the meaty specialities to everyone else’s plates.
Where to plant your parasol: the Riviera resorts
Choosing the right resort is absolutely crucial – each one has a different beach, a different vibe and, most importantly, a different distance from the airport. After a night flight with a tired toddler, the last thing you want is to spend another two hours on a transfer bus.
| Resort | Transfer from airport (AYT) | Beach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lara / Kundu | 15–20 min | fine sand | families with young kids, big resorts |
| Belek | 35–45 min | sand, shallow entry | luxury, golfers, the discerning |
| Kemer / Beldibi | 45–70 min | pebbles and shingle | active types, mountain lovers |
| Side / Çolaklı | 60–75 min | sand, pebbles in places | families, history fans |
| Okurcalar / Türkler | 90–110 min | sand | peace and quiet, isolated 5* resorts |
| Alanya | 120 min | sand (Cleopatra Beach) | younger crowds, couples, lower budgets, nightlife |
Lara and Belek are all about speed and luxury – Lara sits right by the airport, while Belek is home to the country’s priciest resorts and the giant Land of Legends theme park. Side and Çolaklı are long-standing favourites for families: excellent value for money, sandy beaches with a gentle entry into the water, and an ancient theatre right in the town itself (Side). Alanya is the liveliest and cheapest, but also the furthest (Alanya). Kemer pairs the beach with pine-covered mountains (you’ll need water shoes to get in the sea, though).
What to watch out for when choosing a resort
Reviews of Turkish hotels make for a fascinating read. Alongside the glowing praise, five complaints crop up with iron regularity – and those are exactly the things to keep an eye on when you’re choosing.
1. “The food gets samey after a few days”
By far the most common complaint. Even the biggest buffet starts to feel repetitive after five days. ⚠️ In weaker hotels you’ll see grumbles along the lines of “14 lunches, 14 plates of meatballs”. The fix: choose hotels with several à la carte restaurants and rotate between them, and read the reviews specifically about the food.
2. The beach is far away, or you have to take a bus
The brochure promises “a beach near the hotel”, but the reality can be a kilometre across a road with a shuttle minibus. Some resorts don’t even have their own beach, so guests are crammed into a designated strip. Always check the map to see exactly where the hotel stands.
3. We expected sand and got pebbles
Mismatched expectations ruin holidays. If pebbles bother you, cross Kemer off the list and read the descriptions for Side and Alanya carefully – water shoes are a must in many parts of Turkey.
4. Queues and operational quirks
Huge hotels with a thousand guests have their limits: the hot water can run low in the afternoon, mornings turn into battles for poolside loungers, and there are queues to book the à la carte restaurants.
5. Noisy entertainment
Turkish hotels thrive on entertainment. If thumping poolside music from morning onwards and evening shows in the amphitheatre aren’t your thing, look for “Adults Only” hotels or ones with a clearly separated “Relax” zone.
Where to stay: tried-and-tested resorts
💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to search for places to stay on Booking.com, where the cancellation policies tend to be the most generous. For tickets, day trips and activities, it’s worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.
If you want a sure thing, go for the proven resorts that British and German travellers rave about time and again. We’ve picked the cream of the crop across every category:
Here are some specific tips for tried-and-tested resorts across all categories (you can compare prices and availability in a single click via Stay22, which finds the best deal across Booking.com, Airbnb and others):
- Rixos Premium Belek – a legendary ultra all-inclusive resort with unlimited access to the Land of Legends park; the top of the Riviera.
- Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort – absolute luxury with the Maxx Inclusive concept and a personal assistant via WhatsApp.
- Gloria Serenity Resort – a premium resort set in a pine forest with golf and top-tier all-inclusive.
- TUI Blue Palm Garden – an award-winning family hotel with outstanding value for money.
- Delphin Imperial – a popular family resort a short hop from the airport, with a huge water park.
- Crystal Sunset Luxury Resort – family all-inclusive with a water park and a gentle entry into the sea.
💡 Tip: Aim for a rating of 8.5+ and a large number of reviews, and read the comments about the food and beach distance in particular. In high season the best family hotels sell out as early as April – book the early-bird deals.
Day trips from the resort: organised tour or on your own?
Tired of a week by the pool? Every resort runs day trips. The most popular are Pamukkale and Hierapolis (white terraces and ancient ruins, Pamukkale), rafting in the Köprülü canyon, relaxed boat trips along the Manavgat river (Manavgat) and the Demre–Myra–Kekova combo with a cruise over a sunken ancient city.
The classic dilemma “rep or local agency?” has a clear answer: with a tour operator you’re paying for convenience and peace of mind (an English-speaking guide, a guarantee you’ll make it back for your flight), while local agencies save you a fair bit of cash. For anything adrenaline-fuelled (rafting) go with the operator; for a simple boat trip, feel free to use a local seller.
When to book and how much it costs
Turkey sells in waves. Early-bird sales peak in January and February, when tour operators offer 45–50% off, kids often fly free and deposits are minimal. These perks end the moment March arrives. ⚠️ Waiting for last-minute deals in July and August is a gamble – the best family hotels sell out by April, leaving only the ones with some kind of issue or the most expensive options.
Rough prices for 2026: last-minute deals to weaker hotels start just over 400 € per person, while a quality seven-night stay at a 5* resort in high season works out at 800–1,000 € per person. The best balance of price and experience is in September and October (sea at 25–27°C, fewer crowds, lower prices). More on timing in our article on when to go to Turkey.
Practical tips
- Flights: Antalya is well connected from the UK – airlines like Jet2, easyJet, TUI and Pegasus fly there from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other regional airports, often as part of a package.
- Money ⚠️: Bring euros for the resort area (day trips and souvenirs), pay by card in lira (TRY) at supermarkets and markets, and decline DCC conversion at the till.
- eSIM ⚠️: Turkey isn’t in the EU, so your usual roaming won’t apply. Sort out a data eSIM before you leave to avoid a nasty bill. Our guide on what to pack for a holiday in Turkey will help too.
- Water: Don’t drink from the tap – bottled water is everywhere for next to nothing (for kids too).
- Tipping: A couple of euros to the barman on the very first evening works wonders for your service all holiday; leave a euro a day for the cleaner.
Where to next
The main hub holidays in Turkey, timing in when to go to Turkey, the resorts of Antalya, Side, Alanya and Manavgat, the Aegean alternatives Bodrum and Fethiye with Ölüdeniz, plus ancient sites Pamukkale and Ephesus.
Frequently asked questions
What does ultra all-inclusive mean in Turkey?
Ultra all-inclusive is an upgrade from regular AI: in addition to unlimited food and drinks, it also includes premium imported alcohol (original brands), a daily refilled minibar in your room, and unlimited reservations at the hotel’s à la carte restaurants. Turkish 5* standard typically also offers its own beach, aquapark, and well-developed entertainment programs.
Which resort on the Turkish Riviera is best for families?
For families with small children, Lara (15–20 min from the airport, fine sand) or Side and Çolaklı (sandy beaches with gradual entry and ancient ruins right in town) are ideal. Belek is a luxury choice with water parks and Land of Legends. Avoid Kemer if you want sand – it’s all pebbles there.
When is it cheapest to buy a package holiday to Turkey?
The most advantageous is first minute in January and February with discounts of 45–50% and children for free. The best family hotels sell out as early as April, so waiting for last minute in high season is risky. If you want to combine low prices with warm sea, fly in September or October.
Is Turkish food in all-inclusive suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, no problem at all. The buffets are full of salads, vegetables, cheeses, meze, lentil soup and gözleme flatbreads. Vegetarians will always find plenty to choose from at a Turkish resort, and the à la carte restaurants (Italian, Asian) offer even more options.
Is water and food in Turkish resorts safe?
In 5* hotels, hygiene is at a high standard and “Turkey tummy” is much less common here than in Egypt. However, the golden rule applies: never drink tap water (bottled water is available everywhere for just a few cents, even for children) and watch out for ice and unpeeled fruit from street stalls.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
