Turkish delight!

FELICITY COLLINSON SHARES HER TRIP TO THE TURKISH RESORT OF SARIGERME IN A STUNNING TUI BLUE HOTEL, FLYING FROM NEWCASTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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TURKEY has been a popular holiday destination for thousands of UK holidaymakers every year - but it’s never a place anyone in my family had visited.

I'd spoken to lots of fellow Teessiders who'd been impressed with the likes of Bodrum and Marmaris over the years, raving about how clean and picturesque the destinations were.

But I’d never heard of Sarigerme, where our summer holiday jaunt would take us. It’s a resort in the south west of the country, in the Mugla Province, around a 20-minute drive from Dalaman Airport, one of the shortest transfers I've ever experienced on a foreign holiday - bonus.

It’s unbelievably stunning, with clear waters and a dark sandy beach, surrounded by beautiful greenery in a mountainous setting. We stayed in the Tui Blue Sarigerme Park, a 4* beachside complex, that’s previously featured on World Cook - and no wonder, the food was amazing.

When we woke on our first morning and stepped outside, the surroundings were breathtaking. I'll break it down.

RESORT

There are number of villages around Sarigerme, including Gokbel, Mergenli, Karadonlar, Fevziye, and it’s about 12km from Dalaman airport. It’s also close to the popular tourist destinations of Dalyan, Dalaman and Golbasi.

The beaches along this stretch of coastline are pristine with dark smooth sand. There’s a public beach and several more private ones attached to hotels, with plenty of water sports on offer.

During our stay, from July 27 to August 4, there was a lovely northwesterly breeze, which was so welcome on the ultra hot days when temperatures peaked at about 35C. It’s not very densely populated, so if you prefer a holiday with a bustling promenade or harbour then it may not be for you.