With 17 restaurants and bars, numerous pools, an aquapark and so much else to do on site, you’ll not want to leave this luxurious all-inclusive beachside hotel
All-inclusive hotels sometimes get a bad rap, but while there are many with mediocre food and facilities, it’s unfair to tar them all with the same brush.
I must admit I was a bit unsure I’d like staying in one, but the moment I entered the swish, recently opened Liberty Signa on Turkey’s southwestern coast in Fethiye, Muğla, my mind changed completely.
The location
Open from March to November and boasting a great beachfront location, the hotel is a great base for exploring the broader Fethiye region. It is well worth visiting bustling Fethiye Market, with fruit, vegetables, honey, clothing and crafts, and Fethiye Museum provides an insight into the area’s past, housing artefacts from the Lycian, Roman, and Ottoman periods.
Ancient burial sites, the Lycian rock tombs, are carved into cliffs overlooking the town and are remnants of a civilisation that thrived in the region more than 2,000 years ago. History buffs can also visit the ruins of Tlos, one of the oldest and most important Lycian cities, located near the modern town of Seydikemer, and where you can explore the ruins of city walls, tombs, and a Roman amphitheatre set against a mountainous backdrop.
For those in search of adrenaline, a visit to BabadaÄŸ Mountain offers a thrilling paragliding experience offering panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding mountains.
However, the sheer range of facilities at this upmarket resort just a 35-minute drive from Dalaman Airport is impressive to say the least and it’s possible you won’t want to leave the complex at all.
Hit the beach and pools
Overlooking mountains on one side and the glistening Aegean Sea on the other, the hotel has a number of swimming pools including freshwater pools, adult-only pools (including one with a swim-up bar), kids’ pools, a waterpark and two indoor pools.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s a private blue-flagged 220m beach complete with sun beds and cabanas. So it is easy to find your perfect spot, whether travelling with family, as a couple, or solo. There’s a range of watersports on offer, including scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, beach volleyball, white water rafting and water polo.
What are the rooms like?
Rooms are spacious and benefit from sea or garden views. Many have direct pool access, or even their own plunge pool. There are a number of room options to choose from, including family rooms with PlayStations and suites geared to couples. Calming neutral tones like taupe, tan and white abound, with natural wood and marble used for table tops and flooring. All rooms feature air conditioning, a LED TV, a safety deposit box, minibar and capsule coffee machine.
Fab food and drink options
There are nine restaurants and eight bars on site, including a very varied buffet restaurant and a 24/7 à la carte option. Restaurants include Tatre Türk Turkish Restaurant with authentic food from across the country including kofta, dolma, lahmacun, pide and regional specialities such as manti (Turkish ravioli), and ekşili tavuk and yuvalama yoghurt-based soups. Okeanos Seafood Restaurant has dishes like grilled grouper with asparagus, capers and tomato concasse, or pan fried jumbo prawns with lime and garlic butter. At Miyabi Asian Restaurant there is an Asian Fusion menu featuring sushi, tempura and more, while Ricotta Italian Restaurant features dishes such as beef carpaccio, gnocci and tiramisu. Bon Bon Patisserie is another treat, serving ice creams, pastries and refreshing iced coffee.
While not everything is included in the all-inclusive deal, the overall range and quality of the food here is very high.
Other facilities
There is a large open-air theatre space with nightly entertainment, and an outside gym, while activities like yoga, pilates, zumba, tennis, belly dancing classes and aqua aerobics are held during the day. There is also an on-site nightclub, and a kids club open from 10am to 11pm that organises activities like sushi-making and treasure hunts.
There is also a decent fitness centre and a lovely hammam offering both traditional Turkish baths and various spa treatments including massages, facials, and hydrotherapy. There is no booking required for using the sauna, steam and salt rooms, and there is a vitamin bar with herbal teas, freshly made smoothies and juices.
The spa treatments usually incur an extra charge, but cost much less than similar services in many other parts of the world, making Turkey an attractive wellness destination for those on a budget.
And with the exchange rate remaining favourable, coupled with Turkey offering warm, sunny weather year round and being less than four hours’ away by plane, it is no surprise the attractiveness of this destination.
Liberty Signa Hotel: libertyhotels.com/en/hotels/liberty-signa