Neilson Family Fun in Turkey

I’ve had many happy clients go on Neilson holidays, so I decided that this summer we’d pack our bags and head to a Neilson resort in Turkey and see what the fuss is all about! With two 8-year-old boys in tow, we were hoping they’d be kept busy whilst we had time to relax, and we were not disappointed. ‘Relax as hard as you want’ is Neilson’s motto, and I thought I'd put this to the test!

Whilst I experienced the ultimate sunbed and pool relaxation, both boys loved the kids’ clubs and experienced paddleboarding, sailing, pizza making, kayaking and much more. And they still managed to fit in around 8 hours a day in the pool! I also decided to sign up for a level 1 sailing course, which was so much fun with a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. We literally didn’t stop laughing, whether on shore or at sea, where I became quite a master of the capsize!

When not devouring a good book by the pool I also did cycle rides, a Turkish hammam massage, shopping in local markets and a 2 km swim back from a nearby island to the mainland. It was the perfect mix of downtime and activities. It was also great to spend quality time with the kids and take them out on the water where we paddle boarded, water-skied, sailed and kayaked together.

The standard of food at the hotel far exceeded our expectations. Even though it was a buffet it was all very fresh and locally sourced, there was never a queue, and the service at our table was excellent. I did find the prices of drinks a little more than anticipated, however my bill at the end of the week wasn’t dreadful despite several evenings with the cocktail list! It was great being on ‘club’ board, as twice in the week we ate out at local restaurants instead of at the hotel, which is always a real highlight. Local restaurants line the seafront and are lit by twinkling lanterns - they all serve fresh seafood, and our meals out were excellent.

I met many people at the hotel who have holidays as a family every year with Neilson, and it’s easy to see why they have such a loyal following. The whole family can find activities that suit - even teens have their own ‘club’ so they can choose to eat together and generally avoid their (embarrassing) parents, so families with children of all ages are well catered for. There’s a lovely atmosphere at the hotel - everyone is very friendly, and by the end of the holiday we knew lots of people and had made great friends.

"Relax as hard as you like" isn’t just a tagline with Neilson, it’s their philosophy. It doesn't matter whether you relax doing 360s in the Med, surfing the powder of the Dolomites, cruising the blues of the Alps as a total newbie, or by taking a breather on a sunbed, with just headphones for company. Neilson offers both summer and winter holidays to keep the whole family content.

Neilson have two new locations for 2017 in Croatia and Sardinia, which is exciting as Croatia is still my number one destination in Europe. As a parent, it’s rare to find a beach holiday where both kids and parents are kept completely happy - well done Neilson for finding that perfect balance. We’ll be back soon!

If you’d like to find out more about Neilson, or any aspect of family holidays, please get in touch and I can help find a holiday to keep the whole family happy and make memories to last a lifetime.