19-07-2025
Stunning hotel on gorgeous sun-kissed Turkish beach takes all-inclusive to whole new level
It's not just food and drink on tap here, all your activities from sailing lessons to yoga and even the spa are included.
JOIN THE CLUB Stunning hotel on gorgeous sun-kissed Turkish beach takes all-inclusive to whole new level
CLUB Med's mantra is 'the purpose of life is to be happy - welcome to your happy place.'
As I gazed out over the turquoise Mediterranean Sea with a cocktail in hand, it was easy to see why the motto is well-earned.
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Club Med Palmiye set right on a long stretch of glorious beach
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Sunbeds and cabanas adorn the beach
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The hotel is near the Turkish resort of Kemer
Credit: Alamy
The iconic brand is celebrating 75 years of holiday bliss and has marked the milestone with an £11million refurbishment to its Palmiye resort in Southern Turkiye.
Club Med pioneered the idea of a resort where everything is in one place for one price and have stayed ahead of the game since they unveiled the concept in 1950.
And nestled between the majestic Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, this Turkish Delight is now the jewel in their highly impressive crown.
I flew from Edinburgh with SunExpress airlines to Antalya and wasted no time in getting down to the main aim of Club Med - getting a break from the real world.
Staring at your phone is the world's worst habit, it's certainly mine, but the experiences on offer at Club Med make that impossible
You can't be on your mobile when you are cutting through the turquoise sea waterskiing or taking the ropes of a sail boat and becoming your own captain for the day.
And the food, drink and entertainment make the resort a one-stop shop for a break like no other.
The first thing that grabbed me about the resort was how beautifully clean it was. The investment was well spent as the whole hotel was gleaming.
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The stunning room at Club Med
My room was bright and spacious with double glazed doors out into a balcony for an early evening drink as the sun went down.
It also had a very comfy bed with plenty of pillows - always a good sign of quality in my book.
I visited the pretty city that straddles both Asia and Europe
But I didn't stay long in the room before heading down to the beach front, attracted by the delightful aroma coming from the resort's restaurants.
The buffets are class acts - nothing is cold or looks like it's been there too long.
Turkish cuisine is famous for grilling and this place didn't disappoint with restaurant The Olympus grill the star of the show.
The chicken kebabs for dinner were delicious and lunch was grilled whole sea bass, bream or salmon.
It was simple cooking but that's the best kind. There was also a vast array of sides and salads to choose from and a mind-boggling spread of sauces and combinations.
Themed nights are a big part of Club Med and we were lucky to experience two of them during our stay.
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The view towards the beach from one of the resort's restaurants
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There a numerous restaurants to choose from
Credit: Supplied
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One of the themed parties at Club Med
On one evening, guests and staff were all encouraged to wear red and white to celebrate the Turkish hospitality we were receiving.
The second was a 'white' party which again led almost everyone to find their best white garb for the night.
On that evening, the chefs at Olympus spread the food around the sprawling front lawn and grilled up sirloin steaks how you liked them while trapeze artists carried out incredible stunts and tricks.
Of course it's only a bit of fun, you won't get booted out for wearing your normal clothes, but the party nights make Club Med feel more like a community resort.
Once the food was digested, that's when the party really got going. Efes beach nightclub was bouncing until the early hours with the dance floor a sea of matched colours dancing the night away.
The following morning, we were feeling a little delicate but a visit to the breakfast at Phasalis sorted me right out.
The lavish buffet was a sight for bleary eyes - and began with freshly squeezed orange juice.
There were numerous cereals, fruits, yoghurts and, in a rather classy touch, fresh honey straight from the honeycomb.
I then enjoyed eggs cooked to order and homemade pancakes with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
With the hearty breakfast demolished, it was time to enjoy Club Med's other main attraction - sports and recreation.
I'd never attempted any kind of sailing before but after a 30 minute tutorial, I felt like I could take on the high seas.
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Gordon tried his hand at sailing after a lesson from the hotel's professionals
Credit: Supplied
Luckily the wind was fair and the waves were calm so my first journey didn't end in a Castaway-style disaster, especially as I hadn't packed a volleyball called Wilson.
Nearby, some guests were trying their hand at the far more daredevil sport of waterskiing while some others took the far more sedate paddleboarding to enjoy the view.
Back on dry land, Palmiye had around a dozen other sports that all come as part of the package including tennis, archery, ping pong, aerial assault courses and the latest fashion craze, padel.
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You'll be flying high at Club Med Palmiye
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Just one of the SIX pools at Club Med Palmiye
Yoga and pilates are also available every morning for those who wish to get their zen on with a view of the turquoise coast at the same time.
Of course, no Club Med resort comes without swimming pools and Palmiye comes with six - including an infinity pool and zen pool.
There was acres of space to chill out and you could pick any lounger and not hear the conversations of the family next to you.
After a swim, I headed to one of the two spas in the resort. Again, I had to remind myself that all of this was part of the Club Med experience - it was all included.
The plush establishment had two saunas, two steam rooms and an ice bath to get the blood flowing.
From there, you walked through to a hammam - a Turkish bath to us - for an experience that has been enjoyed by locals for thousands of years.
GO: TURKEY
GO: CLUB MED PALMIYE
GETTING THERE: Seven nights all-inclusive stay at Club Med Palmiye Hotel from £2,620 per adult (based on double occupancy) with return flights from Glasgow (GLA) with transfers included.
See or call 03453 676767.
To complete the experience, there was a plunge pool outside with sun loungers to sit and relax in the sea breeze.
While most of the Club Med experience was on land, a classy element of the holiday was the boat trip laid on one afternoon.
The chance to see the resort from the gentle waters of the Mediterranean, along with some of the 'Turquoise Coast' was a fantastic way to spend a few hours,.
After some sunbathing on the deck, I then had the chance to get a snorkel on and jump into the clear ocean to cool off.
The whole experience left me with genuine holiday vibes; the exercise that I wanted, the rest I needed and the food I craved.
I couldn't remember when I last wore shoes or what day it was - that's Club Med relaxation.
