Delikli Koy

Hidden along the Aegean coast and adored mostly by locals and Turkish staycationers in the know, Delikli Koy had my heart doing backflips.

Picture turquoise waters so clear they sparkle like glass, hugged by whitestone cliffs so striking they could be Mother Nature’s own art installation.

We arrived in the full blaze of summer, the heat dialled all the way up. Mum, of course, wasted no time claiming a shady little spot beneath a rare cluster of trees, setting up camp like a pro, while Oliver and I braved the sun to dip into that impossibly blue sea. It honestly felt like swimming inside a postcard.

The vibe? Effortlessly chilled. Locals lounged on the rocks, kids splashed about, and dogs (because yes, even they know a good beach when they see one) paddled in the shallows, tails wagging and tongues out.

Take me back now, please — if I could teleport myself anywhere in the world right this second (except South Africa, of course), this would be my number one choice.