Spread over a tamed slice of steep, pine-forested coast, Hillside Beach Club is one of the best hotels in Turkey for a family-friendly escape, set its own private cove, Kalemya Bay. Rooms are terracotta-roofed casas shrouded by greenery, designed to be in keeping with the natural landscape – but beneath the discreet exterior there’s lots going on: a pool, two spas, three beaches, half a dozen restaurants and bars (some adults-only), all scattered around the estate, indoors and out, tables in dappled light beneath lemon trees or on the beachfront. But perhaps the biggest draw of all is the innovative programme of goings-on for kids and adults, such as BFI screenings, drumming workshops, live music performances on a floating stage, along with activities like scuba diving and sailing lessons, e-biking and sunrise yoga.
Gaia Alacati
Gaia’s three hotels are right at home in the bohemian-chic seaside town of Alacati. They’re all earthy modern simplicity – raw oak and stone interiors softened with natural-toned textiles, woven tapestries and jute rugs, seagrass lanterns hanging all over the place, inside and out. Of the three properties it’s the original, Gaia Alacati, that’s perhaps the loveliest, its restful courtyard at its heart green with potted plants, outdoor cane furniture, and tables for relaxed dining. A bolthole of affordable chic in this ever-groovier destination.
Villa Mahal, Kalkan
Low-key luxury is the secret of this intimate three-star hotel’s appeal, beloved by guests who return time and time again for a romantic escape. It’s stacked on a steep hillside across-bay from Kalkan, built from scratch by its welcoming owner, with stone staircases running between a series of terraces – a double-daybed here, a swimming pool there, a table set for two set right over the water and, at night, lit by candles. Patara beach, that great stretch of wild sand beside ancient ruins, is a 20-minute drive away.