I went to the Turkish TUI resort where you never have to fight for a sunlounger and has free entry to massive theme park
I BELIEVE IN MAGIC I went to the Turkish TUI resort where you never have to fight for a sunlounger and has free entry to massive theme park
I'M not one for getting up and dancing in front of strangers.
So I'm impressed by the gumption of the hotel guests, who get up, no questions asked, when the music starts playing.
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The Magic Life chain of TUI, Beldibi, Turkey
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Sunbathe to music by the poolside paradise
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The hotel's lush gardens
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But what I did not expect was them to break into a dance routine.
No, it's not a flash mob, but hotel guests singing and dancing to the TUI Magic Life anthem in unison.
The next evening, I'm amused at myself, getting up and joining in, singing 'Feel the magic in the air, ooo lay-o-lay-oh-lay' as I wave my arms.
Apparently, the Magic Life chain of TUI brings a certain buzz.
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I'm at the one in Beldibi, Turkey, which is the smallest.
Giddy with gin, mum and I stroll to our hotel room and bump into a lady in the lift who claims it's her 66th time at a Magic Life resort.
'It's my favourite place in the world,' she tells us.
'I'm the Queen of Magic Life!'
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And she's got the badge to prove it — literally, she's wearing it, given to her by the adoring staff.
So what's the deal with this, we wonder?
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As a pair who have done their fair share of all-inclusive holidays, my mum and I wanted to see what makes these hotels 'next level', as claimed on the website.
Our seaview balcony room is modern with upscale touches, and I get to watch the sunrise each morning from bed!
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We go for breakfast, wondering if we should have been up at the crack of dawn to lay towels on sunbeds.
But we are pleasantly surprised to find there is no scramble, with dozens of beds to choose from.
Though the hotel is the smallest of the TUI Magic Life group, with 200 rooms, it's still spacious.
With the pool, beach and lawns, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to sunbed spots.
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But the views are also worth mentioning because Beldibi is surrounded by natural beauty.
A village near Kemer, it's less than an hour away from the city (and airport) of Antalya.
The hotel has a backdrop of rugged mountains and is next to a golden sandy beach.
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A modern seaview room
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Myra is famous for its carved tombs
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The Sun's Vanessa Chalmers tries archery
The gardens, however, really make this hotel special.
They are maintained by a team of gardeners, one of whom offered me fresh, juicy strawberries as I strolled past the herb garden — full of lavender, mint and parsley.
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Tree-lined paths meander through lawns dotted with sunbeds, hammocks and swing seats.
While there's lots of welcome shade in the hotel grounds, you'll find plenty of sun on the beach.
There is one vast outdoor pool but with lots of activities and rather loud music, we preferred other areas of the hotel, like its private jetty.
You can hire sunbeds or a cabana — with a mini-fridge and a hammock-like net you can lie on, that hangs over the sea.
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Feast on local dishes and salads
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Vanessa with her mum
With packages ranging from €99 to €229 (£84 to £196), it's an extra worth considering if you really want ultimate peace and seclusion.
When you stay at this resort, however, you do get a 3-in-1 deal.
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There's free entry to the Land Of Legends theme and water park, with rides, slides, shops and more.
And you can also use the Rixos Sungate hotel nearby — featuring its own mini-waterpark with 13 flumes and various pools.
To be frank, we were far too happy where we were and didn't use either.
When you're not snoozing under the sun, there's a list of activities to choose from every day, including mountain biking, beach volleyball and tennis.
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It's not all exercise, though there are nearly ten fitness classes per day.
Darts, shuffleboard, and archery are popular too, all bookable with mobile app Magic Life.
There's also a decent gym, indoor pool and spa complete with beauty salon.
While Mum got a pedicure, I enjoyed a full-body 45-minute massage that was very reasonably priced at £58.
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And there are almost 60 excursions to choose, from jewellery shopping and traditional Turkish baths, to the historic day trip we opted for.
Stunning blue waters
The first stop was Simena, an ancient town half-submerged under water, caused by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD.
It's only accessible via a half-hour boat trip in stunning blue waters — with time for a short swim stop.
Even more marvellous was the ruined city of Myra, renowned for its tombs carved into cliff faces.
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The tombs date back to the 4th century BC, built by the Lycian people, who believed that burying someone as high up as possible would help them reach the afterlife easier.
Back at the Beldibi, we enjoy dinner on the terrace of the main restaurant, Magico, illuminated by atmospheric lights each night.
The food is of a high quality with plenty of local dishes, from kofta to fresh salads.
At breakfast, we didn't just have eggs — they were scrambled with chorizo, folded with cheese or eggy bread, alongside roasted potato wedges, sauteed mushrooms and baked beans.
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Lunch, at the Downtown restaurant by the pool, was vibrant and included crunchy salads with a side of treats — pizza, chips and an ice lolly for dessert.
There are two other speciality rest-aurants you can book for dinner once per week at no extra cost, as well as a coffee shop and two bars — one of which, the Wunderbar, is open 24 hours.
The outdoor bar is nestled in the gardens surrounded by tropical plants.
By day, this is the perfect spot for shade and a sea breeze — and by night, it glows in the dark.
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There are plenty of comfy, private areas where you can have a romantic drink, too, watching Antalya sparkling on the horizon over the dark ocean.
The Stage is where the magic starts at 10.45pm each evening.
Entertainment is on a two-week schedule, so you should never see the same show twice.
The team genuinely make an effort to get to know all the guests, and solo travellers even have their own designated staff member called a Magic Angel.
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As the beats get louder and heavier, the entertainment team go around tugging on guests' wrists, willing them to get up.
The party can go on until 2am and we find ourselves staying later and later as the week goes on.
I guess you could say I am a Magic convert — I won't be settling for anything less now.
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