I’ve never had what I’d call a brilliant relationship with the dentist. The memory of an encounter when I came away from a dental surgery in Scotland feeling bruised and a little shaken, many years ago, springs to mind.

My experience of a visit to a dentist is going upstairs in a rickety Victorian terraced house, where the dentist makes you feel awkward for not having brilliant pearly whites and you rehearse what you’re going to say about not having been for a while, before getting there.

Now, I am 100% clear that’s not everyone’s perception, but that’s my own experience, and I know there are very many brilliant and lovely dentists in the UK (I have friends whose husbands are dentists, so apologies in advance). Mine was essential work, not cosmetic, and when I found out that I could have dental work done and a family holiday for the cost of what I had been quoted in the UK, I had to check it out.

Difficulty in getting an appointment within a few months and the overall cost of treatment had meant I had put back and put back work that I needed doing, hence why I started to look overseas for treatment, first in Hungary and then Turkey, having been highly recommended two clinics by journalist pals, whose opinions I trust.

I’d holidayed in Turkey many years ago and hadn’t fallen in love with where we’d been (it might have been something to do with the company I was keeping, TBH), so I was ready to have my opinion changed.

But, if I hadn’t decided to embark upon a dental tourism adventure, I would never have discovered the oasis of class and tranquility which is the urban retreat of Hotel Akra in Antalya which, to me, helped put the cherry on top of what was a highly successful trip (or trips – I have been twice now and plan to go again next year).

The dental clinic I had decided to put my faith in was Sevil Smile whose Instagram had me hooked. I’d had a video consultation before setting off and you need to send them confirmation of your flights before they confirm your booking.

I didn’t go wanting reality TV star-style pearly whites. I was there for essential work; to fill a couple of gaps with bridges on my first trip. I liked the results so much that I booked again the following year to have another gap filled, an extraction and a new crown. I plan to go back next year to have a couple of implants, then I am done.

Treatment cost a fraction of what I was quoted in the UK. The clinic itself is so high tech (there is none of that horrible x-ray thing where they put a sharp square in your mouth and you nearly gag as they leave the room to take a picture) and immaculately clean.

I was blown away by the place itself, with its shiny marble floors, glass-fronted treatment rooms with sea views, free cafe, garden (for sun-bathing between spells in the chair) and the super-smiley multitude of staff, buzzing around in trendy uniforms like happy ants with great teeth.

Sevil Smiles communicates with you via Whatsapp and messaged me to confirm where their representative would be when we landed. We flew Easyjet and Wizzair from Gatwick to Antalya return. I recommend shopping around re airlines to ensure you get the best prices.

We were met in arrivals by a man holding a board with my name on it, before being whisked away in a flashy Mercedes van with leather seats and disco lighting. He was exactly where they said he would be and was uber polite, taking our luggage and leading the way to his nearby vehicle.

Driving through the outskirts of Antalya at night, seeing the occasional stray dog crossing the road, my initial thought was that Antalya was not the sort of place I would choose for a holiday myself. As it was dark, we didn’t really see just how stunning the Akra is, but thought the view from the balcony was terrific at night, so looked forward to seeing that it was like in the daytime. Room service arrived quickly and was yum, despite it being after midnight.

We opted for a corner deluxe room on both stays, which can comfortably sleep up to three people and which has access to the excllent executive lounge on the top floor of the hotel. Prices start at £1,170 for seven nights in a deluxe double or twin room with city view in April 2024 on Booking.com. It’s cheaper if you book directly. The Urban Chic Lounge, which is open from 7am to midnight, has tremendous views over the sea and the nearby mountains.

Here, guests in certain rooms within the hotel,can enjoy a free open buffet, drinks and desserts throughout the day. And let me tell you; the desserts are to die for. During both stays, we’ve spent a lot of time here. On our second stay, the space had been renovated, making it even more ‘bougie’ than before.

Staff were so friendly and thoughtful. They were the kind that remember what you drink after just one visit and arrive with it in hand minutes after you sit down, on subsequent stays. My vegan daughter was well catered for in Antalya on the whole, but exceptionally so in the Urban Chic Lounge, where there was plenty of choice for everyone.

People had breakfast, lunch and dinner here, but we tended to use it for afternoon snacks (aka cake and wine), a pre-dinner aperitif and night cap.

Daytime views from our room were honestly quite stunning, against the backdrop of a busy city, and breakfast at the Akra is quite unlike anything I have ever seen before – and I have stayed in quite a few hotels. It is abundant and endless.

On both occasions, we travelled in April and it was warm enough to sit outside to eat, although the outside eating space, which is served in the main buffet restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel, is in the shade, so a cardigan or pashmina was needed on a couple of days.

If you don’t like cats, eat indoors, as they do rub against your legs while you eat outside, but the waiting staff are always shooing them away. They are fed by the hotel and don’t look at all malnourished or poorly, so they don’t need anything from your plate. As an animal lover (my partner isn’t), my daughters and I loved seeing the cats and who made our stay feel a bit like a home from home.

The breakfast buffet is laid out on several stations, with separate, dedicated areas for the range of honeys, olives and fruit, for example. Chefs make fresh omelettes, waffles and pancakes on request and the bread and pastry area was bigger than some bakeries I have beenin. It was so good that we would have three courses and come away planning what we would have the following day.

What are restaurants like at the Hotel Akra?

There are an astounding 12 places to eat and/or drink within the hotel (it doesn’t look big enough) and our favourite of them all was the rooftop Asmani Restaurant with its unforgettable views over Antalya and the nearby mountains. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas (seasonal) and blankets for you on fresher nights.

The cocktails are sublime and you can choose either the fine dining or the sushi menu. We had both and highly recommend. Prices aren’t online, unfortunately, but off the top of my head, I remember the meals being reasonable but not over-priced (about the same as what you’d pay in the UK).

We ate at Pablito Bistro on the ground floor of the hotel on a couple of occasions and it was heaving each time, so booking is essential. We booked our second visit purely because the vegan offering was so good. We were really disappointed when we learned that the kitchen serving plant-based options closed at 7.30pm. There was still something on the menu for my vegan daughter, but not as much choice, sadly.

The 251 Soul club, tucked away on the ground floor of the hotel, behind a soundproof door, was the coolest place in the house. We loved the speakeasy vibe of this bar, where live jazz and blues is played by accomplished musicians, and we grabbed front row seats and applauded enthusiastically, in between sips of cocktails.

What is there to do at Hotel Akra?

In between dental appointments, you’d mostly find me poolside, where you can press a button and someone appears to take your food or drink order from the Pool Bar. There are three main pools, a kids’ pool and an indoor one, I believe. That’s what I was able to deduce from where I lay! I particularly enjoyed getting my lengths in pre-breakfast, when I was the only one in the pool.

It’s the kind of place that has those partly-submerged sun loungers in the pool, which were often occupied by influencers in big, floppy hats, trying to capture the perfect content for their grids. You know the sort.

There are people of all nationalities around the pool, which I loved. What was evident, particularly on my first stay, is that there are lots of people who are there for dental or other treatments. There are swollen lips, dashingly white smiles and men sheltering from the sun under brollies, having just had hair transplants. It did feel a bit like the bar in the first Star Wars movie, to me at times.

Instead of chatting by the pool and asking where someone is from, it’s quite normal to swim up to someone and ask what they’ve had done.

Down from the stunningly-kept, immaculate gardens is the beach, or bathing platform (you’ll need to use your room key card to get through a gate and there is a security guard on duty), overlooking the crystal clear sea, where you can also learn to dive. There is a bar here, where you can get drinks or lunchtime snacks. They also have a mobile phone charging station down here. Everything is thought of.

Aside from the pools, there is a vast, well-equipped gym, yoga on the lawn, pilates classes, exercise studios, tennis, ping pong, basketball and much more. The spa is another oasis of calm and we had great massages there.

What is Antalya itself like?

Antalya is the fifth most densly-populated city in Turkey, on Anatolia’s south-west coast, bordered by the towering, snow-capped Taurus Mountains. It’s the largest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast outside the Aegean region, with over 2.6 million people in its metropolitan area.

That’s the reason why I wouldn’t have normally picked it for a holiday, other than dental tourism, but that’s not to say it isn’t someone else’s cup of tea. You can, however, use it as a base to explore lots of historical sites, which can be organised via the hotel. I prefer a sun lounger.

We had one night in the old town and, mostly due to the people hassling us to eat in their restaurants and the stray cats for my partner (all of which I loved), we decided it wasn’t for us and spent more time in the hotel itself. We met several people who loved it, but I prefer to holiday somewhere smaller and ‘cuter’.

On our second stay, we got a cab to turn right, instead of left, away from the old town and city itself, and headed along Lara Cadessi in Muratpasa (where Sevil Smiles is situated), which we liked more. It is a seemingly-endless, busy road and there is lots going on, with tonnes of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Best restaurants in Antalya?

If wondering where to eat in Antalya, other than the sublime offering at Akra, you couldn’t go far wrong if you started at one end of Lara Cadessi and worked your way along. We enjoyed Big Chefs where the international menu was really impressive, the service great and cocktails marvellous.

The name of a beautiful middle-eastern restaurant we went to and loved escapes me, but I will add it, when it comes to me.

One place we’ve visited on both stays and loved is Lucky Monkey, just a short walk from the Hotel Akra. Across the coastal path from the hotel of the same name, this is the trendiest of little places, with tiki-style floating platforms and wooden teepees bedecked in fairy lights. Their website doesn’t do them justice, so have a look at their Instagram.

When is the best time to visit Antalya?

We visited in April and both times, the temperature was high 20s, early 30s, celsius which was very welcome after a damp and drizzly British winter. One of our drivers said August is too hot in Antalya (I would love it, to be fair), as it often hits 40 degrees. The coldest it gets is about 14 C in January, we were told.

Are there lots of stray cats and dogs in Antalya?

Yes, there are, and we wanted to bring lots of them home. Personally speaking, we didn’t see any that looked malnourished or that were aggressive. We never felt scared. However, it is a real issue and there are charities which look after the street animals and also enable you to adopt them. It can be quite heartbreaking if you’re an animal lover, like we are.

I hasten to add that all of the creatures tended to give humans a wide berth, unless you invited them for a cuddle.

A few shops and restaurants we saw had food and water outside them for the dogs and one or two even had kennels. There were no stray dogs at all in the hotel grounds, although one or two wandered into the garden at Sevil Smiles, just to have a nap in the sunshine, and didn’t bother anyone.

What to look for in a Turkish dentist?

My advice is not to do it on a whim. I recommend:

1. Do your research: just like UK dental surgeries, there will be some good ones and there will be some not-so-good ones;
2. Get recommendations: two people I know have also been to Sevil, based on my experiences/recommendation;
3. Read reviews: not everyone will sing their praises, but look out for red flags;
4. Be sure of all the costs before you go: get prices in writing;
5. Check out if there are any guarantees or aftercare: my work has a 10 year minimu guarantee;
6. Don’t be pressured into anything!

As for my smile; I couldn’t be happier, plus I got a tan and came back feeling totally relaxed. I love going to my dentist. Do you?