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La Seguiriya is a delightful little guesthouse owned (and run with considerable warmth) by flamenco singer Paco Moyano and his wife.
Six comfortable, well-appointed rooms are dotted around an 18th-century townhouse. Downstairs, there's a lounge area/bar and an excellent restaurant. Best of all, though, is the extensive terrace area out the back, which boasts stunning views of the town's famous gorge.
www.laseguiriya.com
+34 958 36 08 01
Algeciras is Spain's busiest port. It’s handy for a trip to Africa (just roll up at the port at 8am and book a day out in Tangier) or to visit Gibraltar without staying in Gib itself. The Hotel Reina Cristina, built by the Englishman who built the railway from Ronda to the port, still has its colonial feel, even if its charms are a bit faded. Roosevelt and Churchill (when a journalist) are among the famous who've slept here.
The terrace was used by spies in WW2 to watch shipping in the Straits. You could still imagine Inspector Poirot taking a stroll round the well-kept grounds, which include an Arab well. Apart from wedding reception nights, it’s quiet, and not really for children - people look up from their books if someone even makes a splash in the pool.
Paseo Conferencia
11207 Algeciras, Spain
Tel:0034 956 60 26 22
www.hotelesglobales.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/yaqr2qr
10 minutes walk from Algeciras station or the port.
From Dalaman, through Fethiye, through Ölü Deniz, along a narrow road on the side of a mountain, we climb higher. The sun gets lower and sinks as a huge red ball into the sea. We stop, but we should be down at sea level. Out of the gloom a safari jeep appears. We climb in the back and the jeep plunges over the edge of the road, down a precipitous boulder-strewn track, winding between trees barely a jeep width apart. Eventually we do reach sea level and are greeted by Yalcin and his wonderful staff. They, carrying hurricane lamps, guide us to our rooms, which are balconied cabins – rustic, yet well appointed with all mod cons. They, the kitchen and behind the bar are the only places under cover. Elsewhere, sun shades and vines on pergolas shade the many peaceful lounging areas. Everything is clustered round the kitchen garden which provides much of the delicious food. On the first day, everyone was very British and ate at separate tables. Thereafter everyone was very Mediterranean and we all ate round one big table exchanging life histories and tall tales. There are great walks (look out for wild boar, tortoises and rare butterflies) and the sea to cool off in. If you can’t be bothered to go the three minutes to the sea, there is a pool – but don’t try diving in – the rocks on which it was built provide a smooth but uneven bottom. Not just Turkish Delight, but Turkish Paradise.
Beyaz Yunus Faralya, Faralya, near Ölü Deniz
www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk/destinations/property/oyster/detail/
+44 (0)20 8605 3500
This is a fully vegetraian eco-camp which is only accessible down a rocky path via jeep. Set back into mountains lie around 11 small huts with basic Turkish facilities but stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the Turquoise Coast. All meals are made from locally sourced produce, most of which is grown on the site itself. On-site the owners have built a raised wooden platform which hosts early morning yoga and there lies a private cove just 15 minutes walk from the camp which hosts evening bbqs, providing the little needed entertainment.
www.yuvaholidays.com
tel.+44(0)1760755888
e-mail: holidays@vegiventures.com
This three-bedroom villa is located in one of the most striking locations in Turkey. Kayakoy is a ghost town filled with fantastically preserved empty stone houses, gradually crumbling and being consumed by ivy. You can take a stroll up the hills on which it is situated, ducking in and out of the ruins, feeling like you own it completely. Small wonder Louis de Bernieres based his novel Bird Without Wings in this ethereal, historic setting. The villa itself does justice to the mystery and uniqueness of the place, built with regional masonry and cedar interior furnishing. It is spacious and comfortable, with not only a swimming pool but a Romeo and Juliet balcony with a prime view of Kayakoy. The town takes on an especially magical charcter at night, when it is floodlit, and you can hear the faint strummings of guitar players in the distance. What really sets this place apart is the owners; Selma and Hussein, whom we came to know personally, have their house next door. Expect to be invited to one of Selma's fantastic barbeques-welcome is the word, no strings attached. Picking of fruit from the surrounding fig, almond and pomegranate trees is allowed - if you are lucky Hussein will even help you to do it. To cap it all off, the villa is a short drive from the beach, walking distance from sumptuous pine forests, and is well served by restaurants offering the best in locally sourced Turkish food.
Phone Hussein: 00905326059072. Nearest airport Dalaman airport. Nearest large town Fethiye.
In the old quarter of Istanbul the Empress Zoe hotel is to be found. The rooms range from tiny to more spacious two roomed suites with kitchens and sitting rooms but what they all have in common is exquisite taste; hand painted Byzantine murals, antique furniture, traditional textiles and cool marble Turkish bathrooms. There are many twisting narrow stairs but they are worth the challenge to reach the cool, shaded courtyard garden. The breakfasts are to die for- plump cherries, freshly squeezed juice, crusty bread, olives, home baked cake, cheese and coffee. The staff are attentive and kind- when we arrived too early for our booking after a 12 hour overnight long-haul flight they offered us another room to rest for a couple of hours followed by a delicious breakfast free of charge. It is a popular hotel so book in advance.
Tel: 90 (212) 518 25 04 518 43 60 / Fax: 90 (212) 518 56 99
Empress Zoe Hotel,Akbiyik Cad. No: 4/1 Sultanahmet, Istanbul/TURKEY
www.emzoe.com
On Buyu Kada island just a boat ride from Istanbul stands the magnificent Hotel Splendid Palace with it's red shutters, silvery-grey domes and white wooden walls. When you enter the hotel you expect to bump into Hercule Poirot with its faded 20's splendour. The ballroom has huge gilt mirrors and a candelabra perched on the grand piano.There is a swimming pool surrounded by shady trees to cool off during the hot Turkish summer. The views are fabulous from the sea facing rooms.Horse drawn taxis wait outside the hotel to take you on tours of the car-free island to see the historic wooden mansions.If it's history and atmosphere you want then stay here but not if you want modern luxury.
www.splendidhotel.net
+90 216 382 69 50 or: info@splendidhotel.net
Ferryboat from Sirkeki to Buyukada
We stayed at this delightul apartment with stunning sea views for two weeks last year and have just booked to go back again in August. This is the 'hidden' part of Italy which is virtually undiscovered by tourists other than Italians. In two weeks we didn't hear another English voice and found all the locals to be more than helpful with our limited attempts at Italian. This coastline is totally unspoilt and it's possible to find little coves without hordes of other people kicking sand in your face. There is an abundance of fish restaurants which serve the fresh catch of the day washed down with lashings of the local Trebbiano white wine and all for less than €20 a head. San Vito Chietino is only 25 minutes from the nearest airport at Pescara and has good bus and rail links if you decide not to hire a car. The apartment is newly restored and perfect for our small family of three to use as a base and the garden with views over the clear blue sea is the perfect setting to relax after a hard day at the beach.
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/italy/IT2137.htm
Google map: tinyurl.com/yf544ag
This is a small hotel in a renovated wooden mansion of traditional Turkish design. We always make a beeline for it, whenever in Istanbul. It is an oasis of calm, just a few yards from the bustle of the blue mosque and the Hagia Sofia, and only a short walk from the Topkapi palace. There is a delightful garden, where drinks and snack meals are on offer, or there is a proper restaurant overlooking the garden. We recently (Nov '09) had a snack lunch of borek and beer, which was OK, and worth it for the sit down in such lovely surroundings. However, that was off season. In the summer there is a more imaginative lunch menu al fresco, and this peaceful lost world can't be recommended too highly if you are doing the sights. Sitting in the sun by the fountain eating plump Turkish Napoleon cherries is a treasured memory. Service is very proper, and prices are moderate. This is not a trendy boutique hotel - the rooms are all brass beds and antiques, but stylish and comfortable in a chinzy sort of way (with aircon). A double with breakfast is €250 in high season. And there's a Turkish bath!
Address: Kabasakal 5, Sultanahmet, 34400 Istanbul
Phone: +90-21-2517-6785
Website: www.istanbulyesilev.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/ydcurqa
Sleep in wooden bungalows, so buried in the orange trees and jasmine it is hard to spot them. The rooms are spotless and comfortable, the alarm clock is a cockerel. Breakfasts start early and continue until lunch time, everything comes fresh from the village. Stroll 100 metres down the path and you are on the beach. Walk to the left and find the Chimera burning constantly, walk right and explore the Lycian city of Olimpos or just grab a bed and a brolly and enjoy the view of the sea and the mountains. Dinners on the beach include the day's catch, but be prepared to wait whilst they go and pick the salad! So laid back all you will want to do is read a good book. (but they do also have wifi!) Room and breakfast for two is around 120 TL.
www.gunespansiyon.com/
Çıralı Köyü Ulupınar Kemer / Türkiye E-Posta: info@gunespansiyon.com Telefon-Faks: 0242 825 71 61
About 80km from Antalya, easily reachable by bus and then dolmus from the main road.
There can be few better experiences than sleeping in a (rather luxurious) cave hewn from Cappadocia's volcanic rock after a stomach-stretching meal prepared from local produce by an exceptionally talented chef. And all of this under the watchful eyes of a most attentive staff!
Make time to enjoy the hotel as well as rushing around the lunar landscapes and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia - a 7Km hiking trail starts right from the hotel's front door.
Gamirasu Hotel
Ayvali Koyu 50400 URGUP/ TURKEY
Tel : +90 384 354 5815
: +90 384 341 7485
Fax : +90 384 354 5864
Mobile : +90 530 468 2637
E-mail :info@gamirasu.com
Website :www.gamirasu.com
A truly wonderful Riad. From the spacious and beautiful room to the friendly and helpful staff everything about the riad was perfect. Whilst only a short stroll to Djemaa el Fina the Riad was a haven of peace and tranquility. Breakfast and lunch in the courtyard (or one of the other lovely dining areas) was delicious. The hamman and massage was blissful. Having travelled extensively and having stayed in some wonderful Hotels/B&B's/Guesthouses/Villa's etc, Hotel Riad Al Moussika is up there with the best.
At the edge of the Black Sea and about an hour's boat ride from Istanbul up the Bosphorus River, sits the little known hillside town of Kilyos. A 20euro ride from the port, the Kilyos Kale hotel was situated at the top of this quiet town and holiday residents were all Turkish, except for my boyfriend and myself.
The rooms were large, with stunning views of the Black Sea and surrounding beaches, cleaned to pristine standards every morning and complete with quiet air con and coffee table and seating areas.
Food was inexpensive in the hotel and tourist prices in the town were unheard of makming it the cheapest three nights of our trip and we enjoyed some of the town's freshest fish in local restaurants just a couple mins walk away.
The hotel boasts a quiet but pleasant outdoor pool complete with stunning backdrop views and is less than a five min walk to one of three potential beaches in the local area.
Would reccommend this hotel to anyone needing a break from the city style of Istanbul but wanting to avoid the tourist rife areas of Bodrum and Marmaris.
Phone: +90 (0) 21220 11251
www.kilyoskalehotel.com
Cale Kaddisi no.78
34450
This beautiful old hotel is traditionally decorated, serves a great Turkish breakfast and its staff will go out of there way to help you. It is situated only 20m away from the Akbiyik Mosque, established in 1453 and the street it's on is filled with 500-year-old wooden buildings making it feel as if time is standing still. It's owner Mehdi is a fountain of knowledge, speaking four languages fluently, making sure you make the most out of your visits to the wealth of attractions situated 5-15 minutes walk away. If you truly want to experience Istanbul's colourful history and culture then this is the perfect place to do it from.
www.ahmetefendievi.com
+90-212-518-8465
Very small hotel near to trains, long-distance coaches, park with cafes to sit in, decent places to eat, tombs and main sites. We looked at other hotels, but they were expensive and a bit tatty: probably thought pilgrims to the tombs would pay.
Run by a great "host" Ali, who attracts all nations, backpackers, individuals, friends, couples of all ages. Definitely our best selection of fellow guests ever, who congregate in the first floor sitting areas to share breakfast, experiences and travel tips.
Alaaddin Cd.[ behind PTT ].
ulusanhotel@hotmail.com
Email : ulusanhotel@mynet.com.
LA is a night and day town.
Watching the sun go down after a long day or before a long night is a great way to break up the pace of this city and see it at its most beautiful.
Sunset Blvd is the vein that flows from Hollywood down through Beverly Hills onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Driving down here anytime of day is fun.
Take a trip north up PCH 1 to Malibu for sunset on Zuma Beach. Tackle point Dume, Dolphins and Pelicans may turn up and it is a stunning beach.
Before the beach off PCH 1 Topanga, or Malibu Creek State Parks are both wonderful spots to watch the sun go down. Get up high to see the city, canyons, sea, simply amazing. Get down fast'ish as it gets dark out there!
Anywhere on the beach can be great for sunsets.
The chic suburb of Manhattan Beach has a romantic pier nicely lit with a small aquarium, stroll on the beach, or head on down the stylish beach side broad-walk to Hermosa for the most laid back beach scene in LA.
Santa Monica pier to Venice Beach. Walk, (hire) blades or bikes. Soak it all up. Get back into the canals of Venice and the Albert Kenny Blvd area for an a different perspective of Venice.
Away from the beach the Yamashiro in the Hollywood Hills is a super cool Japanese restaurant with an amazing view especially for sunset and night views.
No need to damage the budget either, hit the bar room for refreshments. Drink up the views and their delicious cocktails. Mia Tia and the Zombie, I can taste them now ... Zombie = don't drive.
Saunter down into Hollywood after and hit a dive bar and hustle some pool. Or go into West Hollywood and watch the people go by (in Lamborghini's) from the numerous establishments on Sunset Blvd.
The vibrancy of this city and variety of places and things to do is too immense a task for quick tip.
LA is well worth a long flight and pricy hotels.
So many hotels good and otherwise I can't scrape the surface.
Hostels are also hit and miss but some are no good altogether.
Try
USA Hostels in Hollywood - clean, friendly
YHA in Santa Monica.
Clean, central
Surf City in Hermosa. Fun, friendly on the beach.
Camping is available at Malibu Creek SP and is one of the coolest ways to get cheap accommodation in the LA vicinity.
An unspoiled region on the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey, Lake Tuzla is home to hundreds of flamingos in winter and is famous for its wild life.
The Aegean sea meets the fresh water Tuzla Lake all surrounded by mountains. There are authentic Turkish villages dotted in the mountains. The sunsets over the sea are spectacular and the sunrises reflected in the lake are unmissable.
Fresh sea food restaurants are found in nearby Bogazici or Gullick, your choosen sea food is cooked over charcoal and served with a fresh bowl of salad and crusty bread.
Bodrum itself is a well known holiday destination steeped in history with an international marina surrounded by bars and restaurants. Everything from the magnificent indoor market selling the freshest of fruit, vegetables, spices, leather and textiles goods through to designer shops.
Bodrum is only 2.5 miles from Ehesus and Pamukale and coach trips are laid on with extras.
Take a trip to Dalyan by boat. Cruise down the Koycegiz lake before entering the mud baths. You will see the famous tombs of Caunos as you approach the Iztuzu coast which is the breeding place for the Caretta (sea tortoises) in the region where you will have a short rest on the golden sands before heading for the thermal spar which is believed to help skin disorders and rheumatism.
All in all an excellent place to spend some time and explore Turkey, something for everyone.
Only 20 mins from Bodrum airport, sitting on top of mountains, Flamingo Country Club caters for the discerning traveller.
www.flamingo-country-club.com/
Hotel Poem is a lovely, economical boutique hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet.
I think it's ideal for people travelling on a middling budget who would like comfort, cleanliness, character, charm and location without breaking the bank. People who prefer five-star luxury and facilities should expect to pay accordingly and would do better at the nearby Four Seasons (the ab fab refurbished prison in which Midnight Express was set).
The Hotel Poem however is set in a refurbished traditional 19th century Ottoman house. It's located in a quiet side street just off a characterful road lined with many shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. A few doors down from the hotel there is a wonderful traditional bakery - the smell of fresh bread is gorgeous and the taste even better.
It's a very short walk away from all the main sites (Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar etc) & handy for the city hop-on-off tour bus stop. The Poem is just around the corner from the Fez bus office (if you happen to be hopping on and off buses all around Turkey).
The Poem is a quiet oasis from the bustling city. It has a shady little garden terrace where you can eat a decent buffet breakfast or sit with a drink. There's also a lovely roof terrace that looks out to the nearby sea - great for catching the breeze with a cold drink on a hot summer evening.
The 17 rooms are named after traditional Turkish poems rather than numbered. I was travelling with two others and noted the rooms varied in size from large with balcony to a bit small and cramped - our bathroom was very small but everything was clean and worked fine.
Overall the Hotel Poem had everything we needed. It was charming, comfortable and clean, the staff were hospitable and the location fantastic. I would stay there again and recommend it as a great base from which to visit the exciting city of Istanbul.
www.hotelpoem.com
By Post: Akbıyık Caddesi, Terbıyık Sokak No:12, Sultanahmet 34400 İstanbul, Turkey
By Telephone
+90.212.638 97 44
+90.212.638 95 53
+90.212.458 17 92
info@hotelpoem.com, hotelpoem@superonline.com
The hotel's website says: The distance between Poem Hotel and the Ataturk International Airport is 18 kilometres (a 20 minute drive).
When you exit the customs area you may easily find a taxi since drivers are waiting outside of the arrival floor. If you ordered a pick-up service you will meet us at the exit of the customs area. If you experience any problem please dial 24 hours 0090 (212) 638 97 44 to contact our reception.
Great accomodation in central Tehran and superb food.
The Grand Onder is just minutes from the centre of Kusadasi-it's not modern but clean, with polite friendly staff & the sea views are amazing. Everyone went out of their way to make sure I enjoyed my stay.
Ataturk Bul. 4.Sokak No:10 Yatlimani Karsisi
Kusadasi - Aydin - Turkey
90 256 6181690
www.onderotel.com
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