Autumn escapes to book now
Introducing my favourite spots along the Turquoise Coast
The Turquoise Coast has long been a favourite with summer holidayers. Well, because, the sea is delicious, the sun nearly always shines and the craggy landscape peppered with olive, citrus and pine trees is picture perfect. But the weather and sea remain warm here well into October, making it a choice spot for a sunny autumn getaway. From luxurious resorts to a boutique yoga retreat, these are my favourite addresses to scope out this season.
Bodrum Loft
Overlooking picturesque Demirbükü Bay on Bodrum peninsula’s north coast, Bodrum Loft is a modern take on a traditional Aegean village of stacked, flat-roofed houses and winding alleys dotted with bougainvillea.
Inspired by the outdoor lifestyle Bodrum locals have enjoyed for centuries, the resort boasts 36 ultra-stylish villas as well as a range of five-star facilities including two à la carte restaurants with outdoor-indoor design and a large outdoor pool, spa and gym that harmoniously blend into the surrounding landscape. Down the hill is a private pontoon deck built out into the sea where you can bask in the sun cocktail in hand.
The hotel is set in six hectares of rocky terrain, only a third of which is covered by buildings, which ensures guests enjoy a great deal of peace and privacy. The result is a supremely peaceful home-from-home with an emphasis on rest and relaxation. Children are welcome but it’s best suited to couples looking for an indulgent, treaty weekend away. You can now read the full review over on Citizen Femme.
Nearest airport: Bodrum
Off-peak: £££
Open until 31 October
The Amanruya
The Amanruya is the jewel along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Set amid olive groves and cypress trees, the hotel features heavenly free-standing pavilions, all with four-poster beds, fireplaces, outdoor terraces and private pools. It also boasts state-of-the-art wellness facilities and a secluded beach club with seaside dining. Arriving at the Amanruya is to enter a rarefied world of quiet luxury: expect attentive service, a serene, tranquil vibe and beautifully curated public spaces.
Until mid October the hotel is staging Dream of the Infinite Space, a new project curated in partnership with Gökşen Buğra of Istanbul’s Galeri Bosfor. Walk around the hotel grounds and exhibition areas to encounter large-scale paintings, sculptures and ceramics by emerging and established Turkish artists, among them Mithat Şen, Erman Özbaşaran and Yasha Butler.
Nearest airport: Bodrum
Off-peak: £££
Open until 31 October
JOIN THE CONVERSATION…I’d love to hear about your favourite places along the Turquoise Coast. Are there any family-friendly hotels you’d recommend?
D-Resort Göcek
Unlike many hotels along the Turquoise Coast, D-Resort Göcek is open year-round. Set at the foot of lush green hills amid peaceful waterways and gently swaying palms, it is a place where couples, friends and families can unwind in style. At the main site you’ll find the rooms and suites, which are housed in chic dark-slate chalets dotted around the grounds, a large spa and gym, a lovely outdoor pool, and the hotel’s tranquil à la carte restaurant. (The breakfest buffet is what dreams are made of.)
Much of the action though takes place at the hotel’s beach club, a short buggy or cycle ride from the main site that takes you through D-Marina, a picturesque port brimming with old-fashioned gullets and swanky yachts of all shapes and sizes.
Here, you’ll find the hotel’s private white sandy beach and boho-chic beach club restaurant. There’s also a grassy peninsula that’s perfect for spreading out with little ones and a hillside restaurant serving Japanese dishes enhanced with Peruvian flavours. Although this is not an all-singing-all-dancing, kid-centred resort, the can-do attitude of the staff makes it a brilliant option for parents with babies and young children. You can now read the full review over on Citizen Femme.
Nearest airport: Dalaman
Off-peak: ££
Open year-round
Maxx Royal Bodrum
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