Only hours away from the UK is the sun filled haven that is Turkey. There are many words to describe this wonderful destination, some of the obvious ones for me are picturesque, stunning, exciting, relaxing, family orientated and great value for money.

The resort of Antalya is made up of five main resorts each one with its own unique attributes: Lara Beach is an all inclusive resort of themed hotels with great facilities for both couples and families, and boasts award winning Blue Flag beaches. Belek has a spectacular range of hotels and villas making the choice of accommodation more flexible. The town centre has a great choice of shops, bars and restaurants and a weekly bazaar, all of which is accessible using local buses or taxis. There are also internationally ranked golf courses and just outside the resort is the country's second best preserved amphitheatre named Aspendos, which plays host to the Royal Opera and a variety of shows during the season.

I always say to anyone travelling to Turkey that the country has so much history and culture that it would be a shame not to see any of it when it is so accessible by local transport or car. A must place to visit is the resort of Side. It's a quaint fishing village with an amazing history that you can see in the town centre - the old agora ruins, an amphitheatre and one of the most photographed pieces of history on the Mediterranean, the Temple of Apollo. Aside from the history, you can go shopping, walk along the beach promenade, take a boat ride around the harbour or try some of the numerous watersports available on the beach. In the evening you can take in the arts and cultural festival shows or live music in the local bars. Side to me is the perfect destination as it is great for families and couples with its mix of hotel and apartment accommodation, history, sandy beaches, shopping and nightlife.