FOR some reason, when flicking through the endless pages of holiday destinations in the travel brochure the section on Turkey is usually overlooked by us Brits.

It has never really managed to attract the devoted hordes who flock to Greek and Spanish resorts every year for their annual holiday.

But things are definitely changing, and although Turkey is arguably in its infancy as a popular holiday destination, the "cradle of civilisation" has everything to offer.

For a start it is a vast and beautiful country, with a climate that settles in the 90s during the summer months, but is warm all year round.

Much of eastern Turkey is poor and is only really inhabited by farming communities; most of the population lives in the west near the capital Ankara and the more cosmopolitan Istanbul.

The holiday resorts are dotted along the south coast, which boasts some breathtaking mountains and long sandy beaches.

A flight of just over five hours will land in you in either Dalaman or Bodrum airport, which serve the many resorts along the coast, dominated by Bodrum and Marmaris.

The first thing you notice about Turkey's two main resorts is that you are not met by a sea of sunburnt, beer-swilling teenagers wearing Union Jack t-shirts.

Instead there's a good blend of visitors from a host of nations, the majority being German and Dutch which means the atmosphere in the resorts is slightly less raucous than you might expect in some of the Greek and Spanish spots.

Marmaris is the largest resort, and with endless hotels and apartments stretching miles along the coastline it looks like it is still growing in popularity. Its location is near perfect with a vast and well maintained harbour lovingly embraced by a stream of bars and restaurants offering superb views of the Mediterranean.

The main road follows the coastline and is a busy thoroughfare that seems to be eternally crammed with traffic. Despite this, traffic creeps along at a lazy pace; the best and cheapest way to travel is to flag down a dolmus, a glorified minibus to you and me.

It costs about 25p to get into the central harbour area, but much of it is done on trust and the bus drivers don't seem to mind as long as you throw a note at them.

Which is, excuse the pun, something worth noting. Before you rush off to get stuck into the nightlife or browse around the bazaar, make sure you have fully taken in the ludicrous cash denominations.

Give or take a few pence, a pound is worth one million Turkish lira. On the other hand, you can at least enjoy being a millionaire for a couple of weeks.

But once you're au fait with the currency it's hard to get rid of - food and drink is cheap, with a decent three course meal for two and a bottle of wine costing £10-£15.

As far as excursions go, and it is a must, visit a Turkish bath. It's wise to go at the start of your holiday because one of the treatments they subject you to is the removal of dead skin before scrubbing and massaging - you risk losing your tan in a matter of minutes if you go at the end of your break.

But anyone not so keen on being grappled by a hairy Turk for an afternoon can find a wealth of activities. History lovers can visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus, about a day's travel from Marmaris and well worth a look. There are also cruises to both Turtle Beach and Cleopatra's Island, reputed to have been the holiday destination of the Egyptian beauty herself.

The Turtle Beach cruise will also take you to some natural mud baths, which is quite an experience. A jeep safari is recommended, and takes you to some fantastic locations high up in the mountains. The trip includes traditional Turkish food and a spot of swimming in the sea.

A typical Turkish night is great fun and you might even be lucky - or unlucky - enough to be plucked from the audience and shown how to belly dance. Talk of the Town, a cabaret act with a difference, has to be seen to be believed. All in all Turkey has everything, the perfect mix of action and relaxation. Better get there before it gets too popular.

FACTFILE

Onur Airlines operates weekly flights (Mondays) out of Newcastle Airport.

Jeep Safari £15, includes lunch; Turtle Beach Cruise and Mud Bath £10; Cleopatra Island Cruise £13, includes barbecue; Talk of the Town £19, includes meal and free bar; Turkish Bath £5; Turkish Night £14, includes meal and free bar.

For more details on trips to Turkey contact Sunquest Holidays on 0207-499 9991