Alanya

The Turkish resort of Alanya is located in the south of Turkey on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This fortified town which once was a stronghold fighting off various European empires over hundreds of years has now succumbed to the softest of invaders, the tourist.

Today Alanya no longer fights off the invading hordes, but greets them with welcoming arms. In fact the town is split in two areas. In the old quarter you'll find the streets are eccentric, haphazardly laid out and made of cobbled stones. The buildings are old and beautiful and the atmosphere is one of serenity and security. The new part of the the town, on the other hand, has been specifically designed to welcome visitors to this beautiful area. It is vibrant and is more livelier and you'll find bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shops all aimed at making your stay as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.

The two most popular beaches are Alanya beach and Cleopatra's beach both of which slope gently towards the sea.

Alanya beach is a delightful beach and is slightly more shingle than sand and at the waters edge has some sharp rocks which may make it difficult for young children to bathe in. Cleopatra's beach, however, is a mile long beach made up of white sand and shingle and is perhaps more suitable a beach for children. Both beaches are south facing which means they get the sun all day and both offer a variety of water sports for those looking for something a tad more energetic.

Close by is the medieval Alanya castle which is worth a visit. However, be careful with young children as there are some unguarded areas which don't have railings. Also worth visiting are the Damlatas Caves which have incredible stalactites and stalagmites.

The resort of Alanya has a great selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs which will suit everyone's taste and budget.

There is also numerous shops, stalls and bazaars where you can either accept the asking price or bargain your way down to what you and the stall keeper would see as a realistic price. Things to buy are jewellery, leathers, perfumes, cottons, handmade pottery, copper and cheesecloth dresses.

Alanya also has modern shops which sell high fashion European designer clothes. However, keep a lookout for counterfeit clothes offered at apparently knock down prices.