Penelope Boyd

Describe the perfect day in your destination?

My perfect day would include an early morning down on the beach for a swim, enjoying a peaceful coffee by the sea. This would be followed by a late morning kahvalti - the Turks really value breakfast as an important family time to eat and share together, and often after a Turkish breakfast you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day. Green, blue and pink colours make me smile, so I feel blessed to live and work in areas with the most inviting, stunning turquoise waters, to swim or just to sit back and admire. Generally accompanied by lush blue skies and lots of pink bougainvillea, it’s the perfect combination.

What are your top travel tips for your destination?

A day on a boat is often a highlight of the holiday. The joys of swimming or jumping off into in turquoise waters, relaxing with a sea breeze and sharing a delicious lunch onboard with friends and family is an experience not to be missed. If invited to join locals for a ‘cay’ take time to enjoy the local hospitality and the warm welcome you get. Bring cash with you too - you always get a better exchange rate in resort ,and often goods & services are priced in GBP and Euros. In Croatia many smaller places are still cash only, so it's always handy to have some with you.

What local cuisine would you recommend to people staying in your destination?

Juicy, chunky lightly coated calamari is my favourite dish, and I enjoy playing ‘scores on the doors’ in both Turkey & Croatia. Sharing a wonderful array of colourful Mezes is a great option too. My favourites are Fava (bean puree), Pembe Sultan (beetroot & yogurt), hummus, Yaprak Salma (stuffed vine leaves) and Turkish hamsi (anchovies). Beyti is a delicious kebab dish with ground meat wrapped in lavas, tomatoes and yoghurt. In Croatia, black ink risotto is a favourite of mine.

What experiences would you recommend to our customers in your destination?

Boats - all forms of water transport be it a boat trip, water taxi or ferry are the best way to enjoy combining the sea, scenery and transportation. A wonderful way to travel is the water taxi from Cavtat into the Old town of Dubrovnik, or the ferry from Split to the islands of Hvar or Brac. The mountain villages are great for a Turkish breakfast feast, where you get a real feel for rural rustic Turkey. Also, just driving past the old stone houses can be a great experience, with the only traffic stop often being thanks to a herd of goats in the road. Make the most of a slightly cooler climate with amazing views across to Kalkan or Kaş. Some other favourites of mine include sitting on the sand dunes for the sunset at Patara, taking in the views of Turkey’s longest beach, and seeing across to Rhodes on a clear day.