THE JOURNAL
As the long-awaited summer holiday season of 2022 inches ever closer, what better time to reflect on what travel means to us – and what we want from it – in the post-pandemic world? For some it’s spiritual enlightenment, for others it’s adrenalin-fuelled adventure. Some are looking for a culture trip, while others are content to simply lounge by the pool. And then, of course, there are the golfers, for whom a leisurely break in the sun isn’t complete without a few mornings spent thwacking balls down the fairway.
When it comes to travel, then, it’s very much a matter of each to his own. And while this is surely something to be embraced –variety is the spice of life, after all – it does raise the question of how to keep everyone happy. In search of an answer, we found ourselves on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, an idyllic stretch of the Mediterranean between the cities of Fethiye in the west and Antalya in the east. This is Turkey at its most picturesque, a meandering coastline studded with ancient Lycian ruins and taking in sweeping beaches, sheer cliffs and densely forested hills that slip away into crystal-clear waters.
It’s here, too, that you’ll find the twin properties of Maxx Royal, Turkey’s most luxurious all-inclusive resort group. Just west of Antalya is the group’s flagship resort in Kemer, an old fishing village in the shadows of the nearby Tahtalı Mountain, while a couple of hours’ drive to the east is Maxx Royal’s golf resort in Belek, a coastal township with a burgeoning reputation as a world-class golfing destination. Together, they represent that rare thing: a holiday with something for everyone, and in a gorgeous climate to boot.
Foodies are amply catered for by the resort’s “Maxx Inclusive” concept, which extends beyond the basic buffets of your typical all-inclusive hotel to offer several à la carte restaurants and flagship eateries, including Italian restaurants from Michelin-starred chef Mr Alfredo Russo; Gastro by Alfredo Russo in Belek and Emerald Gastro in Kemer. Parents, for whom keeping the kids entertained is a constant head-scratcher while on holiday, will be glad of the on-site kids’ clubs, swimming pools, ice cream parlours and chocolatiers. As for the aforementioned golfers, they can enjoy a true destination course at Belek in the form of the Montgomerie Maxx Royal.
Developed by the renowned course design firm European Golf Design (EGD) and with a layout overseen by the British golfing legend Mr Colin Montgomerie, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal is a challenging 18-hole course set in what was once an area of commercial pine forest. Its design makes use of the natural features of the site, with fairways lined by mature trees and bunkers carved out of the naturally sandy ground. A championship course with pedigree, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal has hosted numerous occasions of the Turkish leg of the PGA European Tour, most recently in 2019, and has welcomed golfers such as Messrs Justin Rose and Tiger Woods over the years.
The course also plays host to Maxx Royal Belek’s flagship properties. Nestled among the pine trees are four luxurious villas that range in size from the two- and three-bedroom Albatross villas to the larger Owner and Presidential villas. These secluded, colonial-style properties are designed to feel like a home from home; the latter two even come with the services of your own private butler, so you really don’t have to lift a finger. The same service is also offered at Maxx Royal Kemer in its 15 beachside villas. Stay for seven nights in the finest of them, the aptly named Presidential Villa, and the hotel will even arrange a helicopter transfer to and from the airport.
It’s in little details like this that we see the true appeal of Maxx Royal’s twin properties on the Turquoise Coast. Whatever you look for in a vacation – whether it’s a week of uninterrupted golf, some time off from the kids, a gastronomic tour or an indulgent spa break – one thing we can all agree upon is the desired end result, which is to achieve a state of total relaxation. After an anxious couple of years, perhaps what we really want from a holiday is to be taken care of.
Don’t get us wrong. We still crave the intoxicating energy of city breaks, the bewilderment of losing our bearings in labyrinthine bazaars and night markets, and the satisfaction of tracking down a legendary custard tart. But there are other times when we could just do with a break from it all. And in times like these, we can’t think of anywhere we’d rather be.