These photographs were taken in 2012 whilst in Kalkan, Turkey. It was the Doves first holiday abroad as a family. POD was 18 months old, walking but not talking. Unless you count the chattering captured in this video!
POD was impeccably behaved on her first flight despite being on Mummy or Daddy’s knee for the duration. Amusingly she kept a cup in her grasp until we arrived in Turkey. The transfer to where we were staying took an hour and a half but across incredible scenery.
We stayed in a rustic house that blended into the landscape and offered superb views across the Bay of Kalkan. 
A pool terrace and gardens provided the perfect retreat with the elegant harbour town of Kalkan only 5 minutes drive away. It was the perfect location for our first family holiday abroad.
Fresh bread was delivered daily and we enjoyed breakfast outside most mornings. The pool and gardens were secured with a gate which meant POD was safe to toddle around.
In Kalkan, cobbled streets were littered with colourful shops and harbour-side or roof top restaurants. Staff at the restaurants fell head over heels with POD. Typically we discovered an incredible restaurant a few days prior to leaving although we did get to enjoy it before we left.
We took advantage of the nearby Mahal Beach Club which was a wonderfully peaceful place to relax. Overlooking the sea it provided a restaurant, bar and massage centre. We saw fresh squid caught and POD insisted on trying fresh orange even though it made her shiver!
The house was ideally situated for the golden sands of Patara beach and the mountain villages of Islamlar and Bezirgan. We took POD to Patara one day and although she walked on sand for the first time, she wasn’t too keen on the sea. The waves crashing frightened her although I’m sure now she’d stay in the sea all day given the opportunity.
As well as enjoying the mountains, the ancient sites of Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos and Patara were also close by.
The Doves trip to Kalkan was an amazing first family holiday. It was full of firsts for POD too, first flight, first experience of an outdoor pool, first time walking on sand and first ice-cream being just a few. She’s yet to dip her feet in the sea!
We’ve not been abroad since this holiday as running a business to achieve a better work/life balance has been the priority. However having stayed in Mark Warner resorts as a couple we’d relish the opportunity to visit again as a family.
This post is a competition entry to win a family holiday with Mark Warner in association with Kiddicare
Mark Warner Holidays is giving away a summer 2014 family holiday in association with baby specialist Kiddicare. This awesome competition opens today (13th September) and closes on 31st October 2013.
You can enter in any Kiddicare superstore or via the online entry form on Kiddicare’s Facebook page. For tips on how to entertain the kids on your travels, the kit you absolutely shouldn’t leave home without, how to prepare your children (and you) for their first flight, and other useful know how, written by mums and dads, visit the Kiddicare blog.
Good luck with the competition. Looks and sounds amazing – fresh bread delivered especially sounds great
Thank you, we’d so love to win a holiday in the sunshine 🙂
Sounds really lovely and the views look amazing. Pod looks so cute – Z loves going on planes now. He’s only been twice but is always asking when he sees one in the sky!
Thank you Tas, it was a fabulous place. It’s funny looking at POD, she looks so different now with her blonde locks! Does Z shout aeroplane when he sees one, POD does that – coupled with much pointing!!
what a fantastic holiday, i am loving the photos xx
Thank you Jaime 🙂
Looks like a lovely holiday!
Good luck in the comp x
Thank you Kim, we’re in need of a holiday 🙂
We’ve been a little reluctant/terrified to get on an aeroplane with our two toddlers, but this article gives me cause for hope… and I have heard good things about Mark Warner holidays. I guess the balance to be achieved is that adults can enjoy such a holiday as well as the little ones… or should I just be a little more ambitious?
Definitely do take the twins on a plane, just don’t give them any sugar! POD has some on the way home and a 4 hour flight felt like 17 years. We had two Mark Warner holidays before POD was born and they were fantastic, played loads of tennis but you can do lots of other things. We’d love to go as a family. Their childcare is supposed to be very good too 🙂
It looks gorgeous, and I’m really envying that sunshine as I sit hear listening to the rain! Liking the fresh bread – nice touch!
Thank you Jocelyn, it was a wonderful place – seems so long ago! We’re itching for another holipops 🙂
This sounds absolutely idyllic. What beautiful photos and fantastic scenery. Good luck with the competition lovely 🙂 x Thanks for linking to PoCoLo x
It was fabulous Vicky, you would have loved it there too. Incredible how different POD looks now! Keep everything crossed 🙂