The phrase "all inclusive" has long characterized the preferred family vacation, the one that meets quite a few demands of many families in Israel and around the world. But there is also one level beyond it - "ultra all inclusive": an hour and a quarter from Ben Gurion Airport, at the entrance to the Rixos Premium Belek Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, meets the vacationers a personal assistant who accompanies them 24/7 throughout the vacation and clarifies at the very beginning: "We are here so you can enjoy without worrying about anything."
Rixos Premium Belek Hotel covers a huge area and includes private beaches, two gyms (one open on the sea and the other closed), an exceptional Turkish spa, sports fields, personal training, live performances and more, and this is just the beginning.
Rixos Premium Belek Hotel in Antalya, photo: Rixos Hotels
It's worth coming hungry, because the hotel's culinary offerings are rare in hotels around the world – from a Greek restaurant on the water designed like Mykonos, with the island's typical floors and small blue-and-white houses, through an Italian restaurant with dishes that are no lower than those served in Italy, to an Asian restaurant with excellent dishes and a meat restaurant that is considered the culinary highlight of the hotel.
And if that's not enough, the hotel has a huge branch of GODIVA with the chocolates and desserts known all over the world, and they are also "ultra all inclusive": you can just enter and eat without limit. There is also a small Starbucks stand that is included in all inclusive if you are still hungry, and there is also a restaurant that is open 24 hours a day with dishes made to order and of a very high standard.
Rixos Premium Belek Hotel in Antalya, photo: Rixos Hotels
Perfect world for kids
The enormous pools at the hotel made us walk and check out, and we found their total length to be an infinite 380 meters. The pools are immersed in huge green areas, alongside a whole wide world for children, including a large trampoline room, table games, special pools for the little ones, a basketball court, climbing facilities, creative areas and more.
And if that's not enough, anyone staying at the hotel is entitled to free entrance to Land of Legends Park, which can easily compete with the large parks in the US. This is an amusement park and a huge water park, with a dreamy artificial beach with sands brought especially from Egypt, the longest roller coasters in the world, sharks and dolphins, water rides, slides and favorite children's characters. The park is about a 100 minute drive from the hotel, and there is a free shuttle throughout the day. For those who don't stay in Rixos hotels in Antalya, entrance to the park costs $90-<> per person.
The pool at the hotel // Photo: Shimon Yaish
Taking care of the big ones too
Rixos Premium also has a large offer for adults. Apart from the spa we already mentioned, where you can also enjoy treatments for an additional fee, even the alcohol in the hotel is included - and these are luxury drinking brands and bottles worth hundreds of shekels. Live performances take place here in the evenings.
The company that markets the Rixos hotel chain in Turkey in Israel is an airline relations company. Nir Mazor, the company's vice president, explains: "These are all-inclusive hotels at the highest level in the world, offering everything and every style of vacation - families, couples, groups of friends, and more - with restaurants, Land of Legends Park, beaches, entertainment, pools and attractions for children."
Rixos Premium Belek Hotel in Antalya // Photo: Shimon Yaish
Apart from the hotels, Antalya is considered an amazing area that includes interesting attractions - from the old town, through natural sites such as Dodan Falls, to shopping and culinary - so if you have already arrived, it is also recommended to explore the surroundings.
Go, for example, to Doden Falls, the top of which is on top of a mountain and the lower one falls from a height of 40 meters. The waterfalls in Antalya are less known to tourists and are recommended as a site for a trip that does not require much walking.
The sea in Antalya, photo: Shimon Yaish
Adult
Many tourists are looking for romantic vacations with a lot of quiet, tranquility, good food, sea and pool, and it is fair to say - without children. Rixos Premium Göcek Hotel is just like that, reached by a direct flight of 25 hour and <> minutes (landing at Dalaman port and <> minutes drive).
This is an adults-only hotel (over 13 years old), with large and spacious rooms, the highest level of service as is customary in Turkey and an all-inclusive experience that includes, among other things, five restaurants (grill, fish, Asian and more), a patisseries, a small branch of Starbucks, live performances, a large pool and many green spaces.
Land of Legends Park // Photo: Shimon Yaish
One of the highlights of Rixos Gocek Hotel is the secret beach in Gocek Bay, reached by a short free cruise. This is an amazing private beach that looks just like in Thailand - white sands, turquoise sea and lots of green mountains around.
If you really want and agree to pay more, there's also a section for families with children, but it's far from the hotel and much more luxurious. The annex consists of 14 private villas with a pool and a personal assistant in each villa, and also has a private beach with cabins and a <>-hour restaurant.
The sea in Antalya // Photo: Shimon Yaish
The biggest hit in the Gocek area is the cruises to the Bay Area. The hotel offers private cruises, but there are plenty of different price cruises to areas that will make you feel like you're in Thailand or the Philippines – with clear seas and water temperatures that allow you to disembark and swim. Cruises last six to eight hours and should not be missed when visiting the area.
Just a short drive from Jutsk, you can also visit Pattaya's enchanting beaches, whose mountains and bays resemble distant and exotic places. For shopping lovers - in Antalya and Gocek there are quite a few large malls with stores of world-famous brands. Add to that the low of the Turkish lira against the shekel, and you will understand that visiting the country these days is cheaper than ever.
The writer was a guest of an airline relations company
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us