The Perfect Package Holiday in Antalya (Jet2holidays Review)
Readers of this blog will know that I love independent travel to places that can be considered ‘hidden gems.’
Up until recently, I’d been on a couple of package holidays as a child, but never as an adult, and so when Jet2holidays reached out and asked me if I’d like to experience a package holiday in Antalya, I was intrigued.
What does an Antalya package holiday look like?
Will it be really tacky, or will it change my perception of package holidays?
I decided to find out.
I accepted their invitation, and before I knew it, I was boarding a flight to Antalya for a 4-night stay at the Titanic Deluxe Golf Hotel in Belek.
Photo by Campbell at highlands2hammocks
In this post, I’ll be providing an in-depth Jet2holidays review. I’ll talk about whether the hotel lived up to expectations, what’s included in a Jet2holidays package holiday, and whether or not this independent traveller is a convert to the quintessential package holiday.
Let’s get into it.
The Perfect Package Holiday in Antalya (Jet2holidays Review)
The Jet2holidays Experience
One of the main reasons people opt for package holidays is that they make everything so easy.
You don’t have to worry about planning everything, as it’s all done for you!
This was absolutely the case with my package holiday in Antalya, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I wasn’t even remotely stressed in the days leading up to my trip!
When you book flights to Antalya with Jet2, you get a 22kg baggage allowance as standard, as well as a 10kg cabin bag and personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.
That’s a lot of luggage allowance for a 4-day trip, and as someone who is used to flying hand luggage only, I loved being able to pack all of the liquids I needed without having to worry!
Onboard, the staff were all super friendly (way friendlier than the staff on other budget airlines), and they even let us venture into the cockpit when the plane landed to pretend we were pilots!
As far as food and drink go, the Jet2 inflight menu is very affordable – I got a Pot Noodle, chicken sandwich, and a drink for just over £10. I also like the fact that you can get Starbucks coffee onboard for £3.
Although the flight to Antalya was 4.5 hours, the flight went really quickly, and before we knew it, we’d arrived!
The journey from Antalya airport to Belek is about half an hour, and all Jet2holidays include hotel transfers in the price (although these may take slightly longer, if the bus is going to multiple hotels).
Our hotel actually offered a free express transfer (less drop-offs, resulting in a faster transfer time), but my group and I had a private driver for the week, so we got there even faster! However, knowing that the express transfer is available and included in the price is definitely something I’ll bear in mind for future trips.
If you wanted more flexibility, you could also hire a car. This is a good idea if you plan on doing day trips around the area like we did.
The Hotel
There are A LOT of hotels to choose from on the Jet2holidays website, all offering different things, depending on your travel style.
We stayed at the Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek, which is part of Jet2holidays’ Luxe Collection.
As soon as we stepped into the expansive lobby, I knew that this hotel was going to be seriously impressive.
After being greeted with freshly-made lemon juice and Turkish Delight, we were led to a quiet seating area where we sunk into armchairs and filled out the check-in forms.
(Sidenote: for a full, in-depth review of the hotel, you can check out my hotel review here).
We provided our telephone numbers to Fatema, who was part of the Guest Relations team and our dedicated assistant for the trip. Fatema created a Whatsapp group where we would be able to reach her (or her colleague) 24/7. Through Fatema, we could book restaurants, arrange spa treatments, report any problems, and ask questions.
It was great having a direct line to Fatema at all times, and this service really cemented the Titanic Deluxe as a cut above the rest in the luxury hotel world.
My room at the hotel had two balconies, a comfy seating area, a welcome banquet of Turkish desserts, fruit, and wine (!), pool views, and a seriously comfortable bed.
In the bathroom, I found shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, a toothbrush and toothpaste, razor, and shaving cream – I couldn’t have asked for more!
The Facilities
One of the most important things to consider when searching for package holidays to Antalya are the facilities that your hotel offers.
Often, people go for package holidays because they don’t want to leave the resort – they just want to relax and make the most of the hotel!
If you’re one of those people, the Titanic Deluxe Golf Belek is perfect.
I spent 4 nights here and I still only scratched the surface with this hotel. In fact, you could probably spend a month here and not discover everything!
Some of the facilities that our hotel offered included:
- One of the largest spas in Antalya
- Gym
- 36-hole golf course
- Private beach
- 10 swimming pools
- 13 bars
- Aquapark
- Horse riding
- Tini Kids Club
- Various sports areas
- Bowling
- Games room
My friends and I used a rainy day (we visited Antalya in February) to take full advantage of the spa, and I loved getting a takeout coffee in the morning and enjoying a nice riverside walk to the beach before taking the free boat taxi back to the hotel.
The games room also had everything from arcade games to pinball, ping pong, and table football. This was often the busiest part of the hotel, with lots of families choosing to spend their evenings here.
The Vibe
As someone who:
A) Doesn’t do package holidays and
B) Doesn’t have (nor particularly like) children
I was a bit apprehensive about a trip like this.
Would I be surrounded by screaming children or obnoxious Brits abroad?
Surprisingly, the answer turned out to be no.
While there were definitely a lot of families (mainly Turkish) staying at the hotel, the games centre and ample activities for kids kept them occupied.
As well as families, the hotel guests were mostly groups of men on golfing trips, and people who were at the hotel for a business conference.
Presumably, the hotel will be a lot more family-orientated in the summer months, when the kids are off school and more of the activities are available (some things, such as the Aquapark, are not open during the low season).
My Package Holiday in Antalya | Cost Breakdown
As I visited Antalya as a guest of Jet2, I didn’t have to pay for the trip, but I did do some research before I went to see if I thought the trip would be worth it if I was paying (I never like to recommend things that I don’t think are worth the money).
Prices vary depending on when you go, but the lowest prices I could find were £716 PP. These prices are based on 2 adults sharing a room for 4 nights.
Personally, I think that this is a steal, and here’s why.
What’s included:
- Return flights
- 22kg baggage
- 10kg cabin bag and personal item
- Coach transfers to/from the hotel
- All Inclusive Plus (see next section)
- Standard room (you can upgrade to the room that I had for an extra £58 PP)
- Free travel for infants under 24 months
Normally, flights alone can reach £200 (especially if you’re adding baggage), so when you think about it, you’re really only paying about £100 per day for a 5-star hotel with a premium food and drink package!
All Inclusive Plus
All Antalya holiday packages will vary based on which hotel you’re staying in, but we stayed at the Titanic Deluxe on an ‘All Inclusive Plus’ package, which is just as fabulous as it sounds!
Unlike many ‘all inclusive’ deals, where you are restricted to bottom shelf spirits, filter coffee, and ‘cocktails’ that are basically juice, the All Inclusive Plus package does not scrimp on quality.
Not only does it include a buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main restaurant, but you can also enjoy one dinner at an à la carte restaurant during your stay.
The mini-bar, which is refilled daily, is also included, and you can go to any of the 13 onsite bars and order whatever you want for free.
This could mean a herbal tea at the Turkish tea room, an ice cream or cake at the patisserie, cocktails at the lobby bar, or a pint of Guinness in the Irish pub.
As someone who is usually on a tight budget, I loved the freedom of being able to order whatever I wanted without having to overthink it or ask for the price.
From pre-dinner cocktails to shots in the nightclub, everything was covered.
What’s not included?
While I certainly think that you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck, there are certain things that are not included in the price of holidays to Turkey (Türkiye) with Jet2holidays, I wanted to share them here.
Below are the things that are not included in your package holiday:
- In-flight meals
- Holiday insurance
- Hotel extras e.g. massage, à la carte dining, room service
- Excess baggage or sporting equipment
- Private transfer to hotel
My Package Holiday in Antalya, Türkiye | Final Thoughts
After a pretty hectic start to the year, my package holiday to Antalya was exactly what I needed.
Not having to think about anything besides which spa facilities to use or what cocktail I wanted was amazing, and while these types of holidays are not my usual travel style, I can certainly see the appeal.
Not only is everything you could ever dream of right there in the hotel, but once you’ve made the initial booking, you don’t have to stress about organising anything else because it’s all sorted!
This trip to Türkiye was the third time I’ve travelled with Jet2 (I previously took Jet2CityBreaks trips to Rome and Athens), and yet again, the value for money blew me away.
So, am I a package holiday convert?
Not entirely.
I can certainly see the appeal, and this trip has definitely shown me that I can enjoy package holidays, but I also crave the excitement that comes with backpacking the road less travelled.
I think for me, package holidays will be an occasional treat that I can look forward to when I need a break from some of the more adventurous travel that I do!
That’s all I’ve got for today, but as always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below!
Until next time,
XOXO
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Disclaimer: Travelling Jezebel uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase on a recommended site, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I visited Antalya as a guest of Jet2holidays. All opinions are my own.
