December 20th 2024.
Our first family holiday with our little one was an absolute dream. We were fortunate enough to stay at the Mövenpick Resort Antalya Tekirova, located on the stunning southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. My wife Freya, our one-year-old daughter Effie, and I were all excited to indulge in a much-needed getaway.
I remember standing in the pool, the hot midday sun beating down on me, and a cold beer in hand. It was pure bliss. My legs were being massaged by a hydrotherapy jet, and a gentle mist danced on the breeze. However, my peaceful moment was quickly interrupted by my daughter, who joyfully pulled on my leg. As I opened my eyes, I realized we were actually standing in the middle of a children's splash park, surrounded by colorful plastic and shrieking kids. The mist was coming from nearby pirate-themed water slides, and the stream that was pummeling my legs was coming from a grinning turtle. It was a far cry from my usual idea of a nightmare holiday.
Before this trip, my idea of a holiday involved avoiding crowded places with screaming children and plastic toys. But, I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by our experience at this five-star resort. Thanks to Jet2, our entire trip was taken care of, leaving us with nothing to worry about except making cherished memories.
Travelling with a child certainly changes things, from how you get to your destination to where you stay. However, our fears of flying with a toddler were quickly alleviated by a busy book and some entertaining turbulence. Our private transfer from the airport to the resort was also stress-free, complete with a car seat, air conditioning, and cold drinks. It may add an additional cost, but it was definitely worth it for the convenience and luxury.
Our room at the resort, the 'Experience' mini-apartment, was perfect for young families like ours. It had a separate living room, bedroom, two bathrooms, two TVs, a Nespresso machine, and a balcony where Effie could watch the cats. As parents who had endured sleepless nights for the first year of our daughter's life, we were relieved to find that the room provided a perfect sleep environment for all of us. A cot was set up at the end of our bed, allowing us to enjoy a drink on the balcony or relax on the sofa without worrying about waking Effie.
Although I tried to avoid it, we eventually ended up at the splash park. The main pool was too deep for Effie to play in, and the stony private beach was not as enjoyable without the sand. However, we still spent hours there each day, with Effie happily running around while making new friends with other toddlers. She even braved some of the water slides, while I reluctantly took on the 'big ones' next door. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying it, despite my initial reservations.
One aspect of our stay that stood out was the personal touch from the staff. As Effie is allergic to dairy and sesame, we were worried about finding suitable food for her. However, our concerns were quickly put to rest when Hassan, a member of the guest relations team, took the time to discuss Effie's allergies with us. The chefs then prepared a separate menu for her each day, and Hassan made sure to personally escort us to our table and ensure that Effie's food was served correctly. It was beyond anything we could have expected.
During our trip, we also ventured outside of the resort to explore the nearby areas. Instead of making the long journey to Antalya, we visited Kemer, a charming town with a beautiful beach and marina. We had a delicious dinner at a Turkish Mediterranean fusion restaurant and enjoyed some shopping at the various stores. We also visited Phaselis, a well-preserved ancient city with ruins dating back thousands of years. It was a short taxi ride from the resort and definitely worth the trip.
As vegetarians, my wife and I did find ourselves running out of food options at the resort towards the end of the week. However, there were still plenty of choices for everyone else, including a specialty fish restaurant, Chinese cuisine, and a pool bar serving delicious wraps and burgers. There were also mini 'food villages' scattered around the resort, offering everything from wood-fired pizzas to chocolate waffles.
One of the highlights of our trip was discovering Bomonti, a smooth Turkish beer, at the resort's bar. The bartender even showed us that you could shake the bottle as much as you wanted without it exploding in your face. It was a fun and tasty find.
In the end, our all-inclusive package at the resort, which included my biggest red flag - children's water slides, turned out to be the perfect choice for our first family holiday. It was a far cry from my previous idea of all-inclusive holidays involving too much tequila. But, I wouldn't have had it any other way. As they say, don't knock it until you try it. And now, I can confidently say that I have no qualms about giving waterslides a go.
My stay at Mövenpick was definitely a step up from my usual budget hotel experiences. It was a perfect getaway for our family, and we made unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. I was a guest of Jet2, and I highly recommend their all-inclusive package for families looking for a stress-free holiday. You can book a seven-night stay at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in September 2025 from £1,607 per person, including a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. Plus, one child can holiday for no extra cost. Alternatively, you can also book standalone flights from Stansted to Antalya with Jet2 starting from £51 this month. So, don't wait any longer, book your dream family holiday now!
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