Last week I went on an all-inclusive trip to Turkey with Jet2holidays and stayed at the Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection, a five-star resort in Side, Antalya.
Within this blog post I want to share with you my experience of booking with Jet2holidays, what it was like staying at an all-inclusive resort and also a guide on what to do around Side, Antalya, Turkey.
Side is a small town on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, about 60 miles east of Antalya city and 60 miles west of Alanya.
If you are looking for a holiday destination that offers both stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, then Side, Turkey is the place for your next vacation.
Side, Antalya was once an important port and trading centre in ancient times, and today offers loads of historical value and is a popular tourist spot that attracts visitors from all over the world.
Enjoy the read and hope it inspires you to book your next holidays to Turkey with Jet2Holidays.
What was the experience like booking with Jet2holidays?
If you’re dreaming of a hassle-free holiday that offers great value, choice and service, then look no further than Jet2holidays.
I booked my holiday with Jet2holidays as a solo traveller. You can use the code “solo30” to grab £30 off your solo booking.
You can secure your Jet2holidays vacation with a low deposit of only £60 PP which is great value if you wish to split the costs over a set period of time.
In recent years they have become the UK’s largest tour operator and have the added benefit of being ATOL and ABTA protected so you can ensure your holiday will go smoothly.
Jet2holidays have something for all types and needs of travellers such as an all-inclusive holiday to Side, Antalya, Turkey, which is what I ended up booking.
If you want to make your money go further and enjoy a stress-free holiday, then an all-inclusive holiday with Jet2holidays is the perfect option for you.
With an all-inclusive holiday, you get everything included in one package: return flights, accommodation, 22kg baggage allowance, hotel transfers, three meals a day, drinks and snacks, all included in the one package price.
You don’t have to worry about budgeting or finding a place to eat or drink as everything is taken care of for you. You can truly relax and focus on enjoying your holiday in your chosen destination.
Jet2holidays offers a wide range of all-inclusive holidays across more than 50 sun and city destinations in Europe and beyond.
At the moment you can find several very good deals in Turkey, so be sure to have a look. You can choose from 2 to 5-star hotels that cater to different tastes and budgets.
Best way to get to Side, Antalya, Turkey with Jet2holidays
One of the added benefits of booking your trip with Jet2holidays is they have their airline to take care of the Antalya Jet2 flights.
Jet2 fly from 10 regional airports across the UK giving you loads of choice on your departure airport. Airports include London Stansted, Belfast International, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds Bradford Airport.
I went for the London Stansted option and found the Jet2 staff at the airport both friendly and helpful.
With 22kg baggage allowance and 10kg of hand luggage allowance, Jet2 truly are one of the most generous airlines when it comes to baggage allowance.
I can see this being a massive bonus for families that don’t want to worry about travelling light and can have a comfortable trip.
Some airlines can be rather strict when it comes to baggage size and weight restrictions. With Jet2 you have less to worry about.
All you have to do is ensure that you check in online or via the app before you arrive so you can scan your ticket.
You can opt for an additional payment to check in at the airport desk.
Baggage drop is self-service, and staff will be on hand at the airport to ensure you’ve collected your baggage tag correctly from the self-service machine and scanned and sent your bag on its way correctly.
It’s great fun to scan your bag and saves you from having to pay for the check-in service if you prefer to check in online.
You can print your digital boarding pass if you like, I found the Jet2 app easy to use.
This was only needed on the outbound flight from London Stansted Airport as Antalya airport didn’t have the self-service facilities in place.
You can book your Jet2 holiday with your local independent travel agent, by calling the free UK call centre, online using the website or like I did, via the Jet2 app.
Loads of options to choose from.
On the flight itself, I opted for an extra legroom seat which was located next to an emergency exit.
I’m so happy that I did as I was able to have a full row to myself which was a luxury on the return leg.
I found the seats to be comfortable in design and full of leg space.
I liked the added addition of the pull-out cup holder to free up space from the tray table, so you could use it for other things like working on your laptop.
Also, another tip is to order your inflight meal ahead of your flight, not only will it be guaranteed to not run out, you will be served first, and it offers better value compared to the onboard prices.
I went for the all-day breakfast, which was wonderful. I was surprised to see that it came as a meal set including a starter and dessert, which was a nice surprise.
A drink was also included and I went for the best brew in the sky, a Yorkshire tea. Nice one.
Great to see Jet2 supporting a local Yorkshire brew.
I was very Impressed with the Jet2 airport to resort transfer
The town of Side is around just over an hour’s drive away from Antalya Airport.
The great benefit of booking a Jet2 Holidays package is the hotel transfer is included in the total package price.
I found the whole transfer to be both easy and smooth and found the local Jet2 staff on the ground most helpful with finding the correct bus to get on.
The last thing I enjoy when going on holiday is chasing around trying to find a reliable taxi for a good price without being scammed.
Having your transfer arranged for you makes the whole experience go nicely and smoothly. Perfect start to your holiday!
Pick-up and collection times and locations were communicated with me well ahead of time via email and Whatsapp text message, and all went perfectly well. That’s a nice added peace of mind to your holiday.
What to see and do in Side, Antalya, Turkey?
Side has something for everyone, whether you are interested in history, nature or relaxing on the beach.
Here are some of the top attractions that you should not miss on your visit Side, Antalya:
– My top pick would be the Amphitheatre. This is an impressive monument built in the Roman era, 2nd century AD.
It could seat up to 15,000 spectators and host gladiator fights, theatrical performances and musical events.
It is still used today for concerts and festivals during the summer months.
An entrance ticket will set you back around £7.50. My advice would be to buy the Side multi-entry ticket, which includes entrance to other attractions such as the Side Museum.
– The Temple of Apollo is one of the most iconic landmarks of Side, located at the tip of the peninsula.
The temple was built in the 2nd century AD and dedicated to the god of light and music.
It is especially beautiful at sunset when the sun’s rays illuminate the columns and create a magical atmosphere.
– The Roman Baths are the largest and best-preserved Roman baths in Turkey, dating back to the 3rd century AD.
They were used for bathing, socialising and relaxing by the ancient Romans. Today, they house a museum that displays various artefacts and sculptures from Side and its surroundings.
– The West Beach and the East Beach. Side, Antalya has two main beaches that offer different experiences for beach lovers.
The West Beach is closer to the town centre and has calm water, fine sand and various water sports options.
The East Beach is more secluded and rocky, but also less crowded and more scenic.
You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing or walking along the shore on both beaches.
Side, Antalya is a perfect resort town to enjoy an all-inclusive holiday in Turkey.
You will have access to all the facilities to enjoy at your resort, which will take up the majority of your time.
When you want to venture outside the resort, you can take a 20-minute walk along the coast to the local old town.
It’s a perfect stroll to enjoy at the end of the day after dinner when you want to get some steps in.
Once you’ve arrived in Side’s old town, you can explore all of the area’s popular attractions.
You don’t have to stay all the time at the resort unless you want to; if you do fancy going for a walk and exploring some historical sites at your leisure, you have that wonderful option.
You can also do several day activities from Side, such as a day trip to either Alanya or Antalya, go on a Jeep safari and explore some local waterfalls or take a boat trip along the coast, as well as a whole host of watersports activities.
What time of the year is best to visit the town of Side, Antalya, Turkey
I had the pleasure of staying at this resort for a week in April 2023, and I was impressed by everything it had to offer.
Side has a Mediterranean climate that makes it an ideal destination all year round. The visitor season starts to pick up in early April.
However, the best time to visit Side depends on what you want to do and see there. Here are some suggestions:
If you want to enjoy the beaches and watersports, then the summer months from June to September are the best time to visit Side.
The weather is hot and sunny, with average temperatures around 30°C. However, this is also the peak season for tourism, so expect higher prices and crowds.
I opted to beat the crowds and visited in the shoulder season of April/May, and the weather was perfect for the duration of my stay.
Where to stay in Side, Antalya, Turkey – Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection hotel all-inclusive resort
I booked my package holiday to Antalya through Jet2holidays and unlocked an incredible value deal for a luxury all-inclusive resort.
As part of the Jet2holidays package, I opted for the more luxurious end of the spectrum and stayed at the Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection.
This was my first ever stay at an all-inclusive resort, and I wanted to go all in with my first experience.
Wow, did the Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection deliver!
First of all, I have to say how friendly and helpful all the staff was during my stay.
From every moment I was looked after and taken care of at the resort.
“My pleasure” was mentioned over a thousand times during my stay.
All the small details were taken care of from start to finish, and I was very impressed by the high quality of service provided by all staff members across the resort.
Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection is a five-star hotel that offers spacious rooms, stylish and modern in design and excellent service.
A stunning location with a large range of amenities and services.
This resort is composed of two hotels: Acanthus Hotel and Cennet Hotel, both overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by long coastal beaches.
Here are some of the highlights of my stay:
It has a prime location on the beachfront, a massive pool as well as an indoor pool, a spa centre with Hamam, a fitness club, and several restaurants and bars to choose from.
It is ideal for couples and families who want to enjoy a relaxing and comfortable stay in Side, Antalya, Turkey.
Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection has 250 rooms and suites, all with their style and character.
I stayed in a standard room with Sea View at the Acanthus Hotel, and I loved the space and comfort that the room offered as well as the décor in my room.
The room had a double bed, which was two single beds put together. There was also an arm chair, a flat-screen TV, a minibar that was restocked daily, a Nespresso coffee machine, a safe, and free Wi-Fi.
You could also request a pillow menu and daily turn-down service if you required.
The bathroom had a rain-style shower, a hairdryer, beach towels and beach bags and bathrobes and slippers that could be used for the spa.
The best part of the room was the balcony, which had a stunning view of the sea. It was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunset at the end of the day.
You could also make the most out of the spa facilities as the use of the sauna, Hamam and steam room was included in the stay.
Wait till you check out the all-inclusive dining options here
Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection has four restaurants and a selection of bars, offering a variety of cuisines and drinks to choose from.
The main restaurant is the Safran Restaurant, which serves a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner option and doesn’t require a reservation.
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating areas and offers live cooking stations, which kept the buffet offering fresh.
The food was delicious and varied with options for different dietary preferences and needs, which was rather impressive.
Every day was a different menu with an impressive selection. The Safran buffet is great if you fancy an easy dining option.
The resort also has a selection of à la carte restaurants to choose from that only require a reservation which can be made via Whatsapp.
The exception is the à la carte restaurant next to the pool, which doesn’t require a reservation and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner menus from morning to night. I visited this restaurant a lot during my stay as the food was great and easy to order.
Three à la carte restaurants that required a reservation were the ones with seafood, Italian and international cuisine.
The seafood restaurant also offered a lunchtime sushi menu (apart from Sundays) which offered fresh seafood and was incredible. I ended up going here maybe a bit too often and have no regrets. I love sushi and this was a real treat each day.
The Italian restaurant had a wonderful menu offering a large selection of dishes to choose from. The beef Carpaccio with mustard and truffle oil was superb and that was only dish one of six.
The seafood restaurant was a wonderful option to try some locally caught fish and dine by the sea as the sun started to set, a magical setting with a wonderful menu.
It was also nice having a Patisserie Café bakery on-site offering cakes and pastries and coffees from morning to night. My favourite part of the café was the ice cream station which I made the most out of daily.
The resort also has several bars around the resort: a Lobby Bar, Pool Bar, Beach Bar and Vitamin Bar serving a wonderful selection of cocktails, perfect for chilling by the pool or watching the sunset.
This was my first ever all-inclusive resort experience and I was very impressed with the Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection experience. Not once did I have a bad meal or drink service; everything went smoothly and was a true extravagance.
You could go all out and indulge in whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted.
Another nice touch was that the in-room mini bar fridge was restocked daily, so you could enjoy cold and hot drinks in your room as often as you liked.
Thank you for reading my review about Jet2holidays all-inclusive holiday to Side, Antalya, Turkey
I loved my first Jet2Holidays all-inclusive holidays experience in Side. You simply didn’t have to worry about any costs when it came to food and beverages, everything was taken care of for you.
A wonderful experience that I would try again.
Thank you for reading my review about my all-inclusive trip to Side, Turkey with Jet2holidays.
I hope it has helped towards planning your own holiday with Jet2holidays and wish you a wonderful time! Thank you for reading and enjoy exploring Side, Antalya.
