Shannon Airport has whet the appetite for summer sun holidays by confirming that Turkey is back on the menu this year following confirmation of weekly charter services to the hugely popular Izmir.
Sunway Holidays will put on services from May 23rd to September 19th, carrying up to 6,000 additional passengers through Shannon to the sun-kissed city on the western tip of Anatolia this summer. Sunway are 100% Irish owned and the largest Tour Operator to Turkey from Ireland.
The news comes after last week’s announcement by Shannon that it grew its passenger numbers by 17% in 2014 and is looking for further increases this year.
The new charter will serve the resort of Kusadasi, which is one of the largest and best known of the Aegean Sea holiday resorts in Turkey and has been the most popular resort for Irish tourists for many years. It is a port city built along the shores of a bay. Cruise ships from all the around the world often dock in Kusadasi.
The resort offers an abundance of activities including historical and religious excursions, shopping, water sports, excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Passengers can book seats only or packages with Sunway. Log onto www.sunway.ie
Welcoming the news, Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey, said it’s a good start to the New Year. “The resort offers the best of beaches, old city walls and great arts and culture, perfect for couples and families. This news represents a positive start to 2015 and broadens summer sun options again for Shannon passengers.
Declan Power, Head of Aviation Development at Shannon, stated
“There continues to be a very strong demand from this region and the West of Ireland for sun holidays and we are delighted that Sunway has decided to become part of this very successful and growing market from Shannon Airport.
“Customers can avoid the inconvenience of travelling from other airports now that these flights to the sun are right on their doorstep. We will be working with Sunway over the coming months to grow and develop this business for future years”.
Commentating on this new service from Shannon, Tanya Airey, Managing Director of Sunway Holidays “Sunway is delighted to reintroduce the many wonders of Turkey to the West of Ireland”.
There are a number of very good beaches in Kusadasi, the two most popular being Ladies Beach and Long Beach. Many of Sunway’s featured properties are within walking distance of Ladies Beach. A gently shelving sandy beach with water sports, several cafes, restaurants and shops across the road from the beach. Long Beach is easily accessible by Dolmus (frequent local minibus service) from the resort centre. Long Beach is also home to Aqua Center, one of Kusadasi’s water parks.
There is a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and bistros around the resort and the fresh fish restaurants in the marina area come highly recommended. There is also an abundance of nightlife ranging from upmarket beach clubs to pulsating disco bars which line the famous Bar street. Kusadasi is a shopper’s paradise and best buys include branded fashion wear, leather goods, gold, jewellery, rugs and spices; be prepared to haggle for the best price.
Many of the best known attractions in Turkey are located close to Kusadasi including the ancient city of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, the House of the Virgin Mary and St. John’s Basilica. The famous cotton castles of Pamukkale and the Greek island of Samos are other popular day trips and there are many other daily boat trips to choose from. There are two very large water parks also, one with that proudly claims to be the biggest in Europe.
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