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- Jet2 Package Holidays to Turkey – An Honest Review [UPDATED FOR 2024]
Jet2 Package Holidays to Turkey – An Honest Review [UPDATED FOR 2024]
Why We Chose To Go On This Jet2 Package Holiday Trip
Firstly, let’s mention the elephant in the room when it comes to Jet2 Package Holidays… Yeah, we’re adventure travellers, we’ve ridden across Vietnam on motorbikes, hung 2000ft over a mountain pass in Switzerland, driven from Melbourne to Darwin and back in a junky-ass station wagon! The point is, we’re pretty well used to slumming it! In fact, we’ve spent the vast majority of our 10 married years living in hostels, taking night buses and living out of backpacks … were kinda your classic dirtbags.
The thing is, we’re now in our mid-30s! Our knees, back and shoulders are aching and our feet feel a little road-worn! We also love to try new things and we’re always willing to give something travel-related a go at least once. As we mentioned in the intro, we’ve had a busy summer of work and travel and a few days at a resort actually had a pretty nice ring to it!
Our family and friends back home have long since raved about the quality and affordability of package holidays with jet2. So, we were pretty keen to give them a red hot crack and have a few days of relaxation in the sun before the rest of our whistlestop summer continues.
Jet2 Package Holidays: Booking The Trip & Options Available
Searching for different options and booking our trip was super easy. We had a choice of “traditional” package holidays to places like Turkey, Spain and Greece and also learnt that jet2 holidays also do city breaks to destinations like Nice, Barcelona, Iceland, Poland and Prague to name but a few. They also fly from a range of different airports in the UK too. So if you’re looking at Jet2 Package Holidays for your next trip it’s super easy to book.
We chose to look at package holidays to Antalya as we’ve travelled extensively around Turkey and felt it would therefore allow us to actually relax without experiencing that familiar FOMO (fear of missing out) that we so often get!
As we’ve previously done things like hot air ballooning in Cappadocia and we’ve also got friends and family in the Fethiye region of Turkey, we thought we’d try out an area we hadn’t been to.
Jet2 Holidays
The Best Place For Affordable Holidays
If you fancy getting yourself off on a proper summer holiday, then Jet2 Holidays is the perfect place to look.
They offer a great mix of short and mid haul destinations with city breaks, all inclusive and everything in-between!
The Flights
So, back to the airport we went after less than two weeks since we arrived back on the redeye from JFK!
Thankfully Jet2 Package Holidays have a great online check-in system meaning we were ready with printed boarding passes before we even left home.
Upon arrival at Manchester Airport Terminal 2, we were able to use the bag drop to quickly and painlessly print out our labels and have our bags weighed. Despite the airport being pretty busy this time of year, we were done in 10 minutes with the Jet2 ground staff being super friendly and helpful.
One thing I wasn’t impressed with was the price of pre-booking seats compared to other airlines. I found them to be at the higher end for a budget airline.
The flights themselves were a fairly standard budget experience. The plane felt pretty basic and offered no-frills, especially compared to the transatlantic flights we’d just taken! For an almost 5-hour flight, I would have liked to have more comfortable seats and food included given the cost of the overall package.
Having said that, both flights were pretty uneventful apart from a bit of turbulence on the way home. However, the pilot did a great job of informing us what was going on and took a slightly diverted route to give us the smoothest possible flight given the weather conditions over Europe.
Our outbound flight was bang on time and we even arrived at our destination a touch early.
Unfortunately, we were delayed on our way home on what was already a late-arriving flight, but this was due to baggage handler issues at Manchester and had nothing to do with Jet2 Package Holidays.
Overall, we felt our Jet2 Antalya flights were good but not great. They served their purpose!
Our Favourite Travel Camera & Lens
Sony A7IV & Sony FE 24-105 f4
The Sony a7IV is the perfect travel camera. Offering incredible image quality, great portability and a varied lens selection.
Our favourite travel lens is the Sony FE 24-105 f4. it’s a great all-rounder, super sharp and a perfect focal range for travel.
The Transfer
One of the massive benefits of booking with Jet2 Package Holidays is that transfers are included. So no more grabbing some random rickety local bus or trying to book an Uber on the dodgy airport WIFI.
As soon as we arrived through the baggage collection hall we saw a friendly member of Jet2 ground staff who pointed us in the right direction.
Being in Belek we were a little out of the way but what we loved is that Jet2 had put on several smaller buses, each carrying a small number of parties to more specific locations. That meant our transfer was as direct as possible rather than dropping heaps of other people off in all directions!
Belek Beach Resort With Jet2
Find Your Next Relaxing Break Here
Highlights include:
Elite over 13’s area
4 massive pools
Waterslides
3 buffet restaurants
Several cafes & snack bars including a Starbucks
Beachside location
Awesome weather
Historic location
Entertainment and activities
Great for families
The Hotel
Wow! Where do we start? We chose Belek Beach Resort for what was our first-ever all-inclusive trip as adults for a number of reasons, and on the whole, we were blown away. This place is what really sold Jet2 Package Holidays to us!
So we booked into the “Elite” section of the resort which was strictly 13+. I honestly can’t even begin to tell you how awesome this area of the hotel was, it was just so peaceful and relaxing compared to the other areas. The elite section had its own two-level pool, restaurant, cafe, bar, cake and coffee stall and small entertainment area which included a ping pong table.
The resort was big compared to anywhere else we’ve stayed before, yet in comparison to some of the absolute giant hotels in the area, it was actually quite modest size-wise. We liked this, it was big enough to offer a range of different facilities (which we’ll go into more detail about below) and have a good wander around without making you feel anonymous or at risk of getting lost!
Overall, we loved the hotel. The experience was truly top-notch, from the moment we pulled up at the door we were treated like royalty. The decor and overall vibe of the hotel were also very modern and well-maintained, everywhere felt fresh and sleek.
Our only complaint would be that it is quite far from any town or really anywhere to have a little stroll out to, especially at night.
The Room
Being in the Elite section of the hotel, our room was in the quieter area of the resort. We had a spacious and modern set-up with a large main bed, a smaller spare bed, a reading chair as well as facilities such as a fridge and coffee machine. Being all-inclusive the mini bar contents of the fridge were also included, though it wasn’t stocked with alcohol (we don’t really drink so it was fine for us!)
Another feature we loved was the balcony with two chairs and a small table, though the view from this part of the hotel wasn’t anything to shout about, it was still a nice place to sit out and soak in the sun.
The bathroom area was an open-plan walk-in design with the sink being in the centre and the toilet and shower sections on either side. Again, this layout and sleek design felt very modern with its clean lines and industrial tones.
The bathroom area also included shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion as well as a complimentary vanity kit. Most importantly the shower had great water pressure!
Overall the room at Belek Beach Resort was a lovely peaceful space to relax and unwind. It’s a great place to stay if you’re considering Jet2 Package Holidays for your next trip.
The Food
When you make the decision to go for an all-inclusive break, the food really is one of the most important factors!
So, when it came to food at this Jet2holidays All Inclusive Holidays resort, did it pass?
Overall the food here at Belek Beach Resort was of a great standard and really tasty throughout the day. We were even pleasantly surprised that one of the smaller restaurants was still open for small meals when we checked in well after midnight!
The resort has two main buffet-style restaurants, one in the main section of the hotel and one in the elite.
This is really where staying in the Elite section pays dividends because “Aspendos”, the larger main restaurant, can be a little busy at peak dinnertime and most of the traffic tends to be kids sprinting at full pace around the buffet area! The smaller elite buffet restaurant is like a calm and tranquil oasis in comparison!
A third smaller buffet bar and snack restaurant called “Side” opens once dinner is over and stays open until the early hours. “Side” restaurant is much more limited but serves its purpose for late arrivals/ departures as well as those partial to a midnight snack! (It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me!)
The hotel does have a wide range of other smaller restaurants, cafes, snack bars and Patisseries each opening at various times during the day. The addition of a specific pide and gozleme bar was something that I loved as it was open when the others were closed and added some of our favourite authentic cuisines to the choices. Also, let me tell you, the cakes here are divine and I will openly admit we probably indulged a bit too much!!
The resort does also have 6 à la carte restaurants which include Turkish, Italian and other international cuisines. Depending on your level of stay, you get a free visit for every 7 days you’re booked in, otherwise, they are very reasonably priced.
However, when it comes to the food we do have probably our biggest area of complaint. Though the food we did have was incredible, as vegetarians we do feel the choice was somewhat lacking and unimaginative at times, especially for dinner.
At breakfast we had a great selection including grilled halloumi and eggs, lunch and dinner on the other hand, not so much and what was on offer felt like side dishes rather than main courses. Having said all that, the pasta range that was cooked fresh in front of you was excellent in this regard, but we would have loved that range of choice for different cuisines.
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The Facilities
When you’re staying in a resort, particularly one that is a little out of the way, the range of facilities on offer is a real deal breaker. Thankfully, Belek Beach Resort hits the ball out of the park once again here.
Firstly, let’s look at the pools because, let’s be honest, this is what it’s all about!
The resort is pretty much pool central and I am just living for it because the set-up really works well for the different types of people here.
In the main part of the hotel, there is an indoor pool with a kids’ section, this is always super quiet!
Outside you’ve got the massive main pool set around a small bar. In all honesty, this does get mega busy with families and screaming kids! But … it’s easily avoided and means the other slightly smaller pool hidden behind a few rows of swaying palm trees is much more serine!
Both of these do also feature dedicated kids’ pools and a colossal amount of deck chairs so you never have to find yourself starting WW3 with Ze Germans over the beach towels!
Speaking of beach towels, these are provided free of charge by the hotel and there are a number of little huts where you can switch yours for a fresh one whenever you like. These can be used anywhere in the resort, including at the beach. This is ideal for saving some weight in your luggage for some Turkish delights!
Over in the Elite section of the resort we had our own two-tiered pool just for the over 13’s. I gotta tell you, this is genius because it was always so peaceful, quiet and relaxed.
Now for the best bit … the waterslides! Yes, we are just big kids and yes, we spend the vast majority of our time on the slides! Judge away, we don’t care! The 5 different slides provide different ranges of intensity but some of them are pretty wild!
We also loved that the resort also included a private beach and jetty/ pier area too. It meant it was so easy to just stroll down and take a swim in the sea without having to jump on a bus with sand still occupying regions of your body you’d rather it didn’t!
Other facilities worth mentioning around the resort include free-to-use ping pong tables, organised games and events such as football, volleyball and water aerobics. There are 10 different bars, an extensive kids’ entertainment and play area, an evening entertainment stage, tennis courts, a spa, a fully equipped gym … and saving the best till last, an on-site free Starbucks! Yeah, you read that right!
There are also several paid facilities such as a photographer, masseur, hairdresser, games room and shopping area.
Jet2 Holidays
The Best Place For Affordable Holidays
If you fancy getting yourself off on a proper summer holiday, then Jet2 Holidays is the perfect place to look.
They offer a great mix of short and mid haul destinations with city breaks, all inclusive and everything in-between!
Things To Do In The Antalya Region
So, if you’re looking at some of the awesome holidays to Turkey with Jet2holidays in the Antalya region, you’ll also be wondering what else there is to do around the region, so we’ll have a brief look.
There’s a good amount of things to do including historical places, beaches, waterfalls and adventure trips. Like Fethiye which we’ve visited many times, you can also go paragliding in this area of Turkey too.
Antalya
The old town of Antalya is the perfect place to spend a day exploring and visiting historic sights such as Hadrian’s Gate, Karaalioglu Park, Yivliminare Mosque and Hidirlik Tower. Get lost in the maze-like streets of this ancient city, indulging in local tea, coffee, spices and delicious food. Be sure to also head down to the harbour for a more relaxed pace or head to Konyaaltı Plajları beach to cool down.
Nearby Waterfalls & Canyons
The Antalya region is close to the magnificent Taurus mountain range, as a result, the area has some impressive canyons and waterfalls.
Some of the must-visit waterfalls include Mangavat, Kursunlu, Upper and Lower, Duden Falls and Sapadere Waterfalls.
There are also some impressive canyons to explore too, some of them offer rafting and canyoning as well as trekking and swimming opportunities. Some of the ones you should check out are Göynük Canyon, Green Canyon, Güver Canyon, Köprülü Canyon and Sapadere Canyon.
Historical Sites
Aspendos is the number 1 must-see sight if you’re heading to the Antalya region. This impressive 2nd-century theatre is one of the best examples of Roman architecture in the world and one of the most well-preserved. In fact, it still hosts performances for up to 15,000 people to this day! You’ll be blown away by the sheer scale and magnificence of this ancient venue.
The ancient city of Perge is also a must for history buffs. Dating from the 12th century BC it charts the area’s various eras from Persians to The Greeks and its glory days under Roman Rule. This remarkably preserved city includes ancient streets with sewage systems, shops, gyms, swimming pools and various municipal buildings.
The old town of Side offers another look at the impressive history of this region. The once mighty city crumbled away before being rediscovered as the new city was built around and incorporating the ruins. Highlights here include the Temple of Apollo, the main gate, a Byzantine hospital, an agora, and bathhouses.
Short on time?
Having only a few days in the Antalya region and wanting to make sure we made the most of the incredible accommodation, we decided to take an organised day tour to check out the highlights of the region. This was great because transport to each area can be a bit of a pain and we also ended up with a great guide that filled us in on all the history of these incredible places as well as giving us enough time to explore and take photos.
We took a tour which began at Perge before visiting Aspendos, Mangavat Waterfall and finally Side Old Town, it also included lunch.
Sort Your Tours Out
Best Place to Organise Your Tour & Much More
Another great site to check out if you’re looking to book tickets or organise a tour is Viator.
Viator often offers different tours to other companies, ones that aren’t otherwise available or have tickets still on sale.
Final Thoughts of our Jet2 Package Holiday
Pros And Cons
Let’s take a look at some of the things we loved and some of the things we didn’t in a more analytical way … because we’re OCD like that!
Pros
Enough pool and deck chair space for everyone
The waterslides were epic!
Direct beach access was great
The Elite section was super peaceful and quiet
A good number of restaurants, bars and cafes
Onsite Starbucks is an absolute game-changer
Other onsite facilities, even paid, were great, especially given its location
The room was comfortable, modern and spacious
The staff from start to finish were all lovely, helpful and friendly
Loved having the onsite gym, spare and healthy food choices
The free mini bar in the room was appreciated!
Cons
Vegetarian selection could have had more choices for lunch & dinner
The main area is pretty overrun with kids!
The entertainment wasn’t really our thing
The resort is in the middle of nowhere so nowhere to walk out to
The Flight felt like a budget experience but the hotel felt like a premium experience, for the price it didn’t quite gel.
Well, there you have it, we’ve come to the end of our Jet2 package holiday review and our short but super fun trip to Turkey. It was amazing to get back over to a country we love and have spent so much time in, though we weren’t quite ready for it to end and we’re already planning our return!
So, what did we think? Well, as you can probably gather, we loved it! We truly felt like we were spoilt over the few days we spent at the resort and it was so nice to be able to kick back, relax and actually have a proper holiday for once. Changing up the pace from our busy city breaks, long backpacking stints and wild adventures was actually really nice and refreshing!
So, Jet2 Package Holidays … it’s a yes from us!
Belek Beach Resort With Jet2 Package Holidays
Find Your Next Relaxing Break Here
Highlights include:
Elite over 13’s area
4 massive pools
Waterslides
3 buffet restaurants
Several cafes & snack bars including a Starbucks
Beachside location
Awesome weather
Historic location
Entertainment and activities
Great for families
For transparency’s sake: Many of the links we have on our site are affiliate links. This means that when you click one of these links and make a booking or purchase, for example: accommodation, gear, insurance or transport, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Also, know that as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Most importantly, know that we still only recommend services, gear and products we believe in and our earned commission helps us keep travelling and bringing you high-quality posts and content.
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