Bodrum
Hotspot of the Aegean
07/25/2024 Reading time: 6 Minutes
The mega yachts in the harbors? The many five-star hotels spread across the peninsula? Or perhaps the beautiful beaches and small villages far away from the hustle and bustle? It's not easy to say what makes Bodrum so special. But we know exactly where the most luxurious places to stay are!
Despite the effects of the pandemic and several hotel closures, Bodrum, the "hotspot on the Turkish Riviera", is still booming. And although new openings in the luxury segment have stagnated somewhat, a considerable number of five-star hotels are still vying for the exquisite guest. Recently, guests have also been opting for attractive, fine boutique and art hotels, which can now increasingly be found in the trendiest locations. Such as the Casa dell'Arte Hotel Of Arts & Leisure in Torba with just twelve rooms and suites in a bright, Mediterranean ambience - and, as the name suggests, with art in all its variations. The Vogue Hotel Supreme with villas and its own "Candyland" and the BE Premium Bodrum, which is unrivaled in terms of opulent luxury, have also opened there as counterparts. What makes Bodrum so unique and desirable? Its many facets! Bodrum is a peninsula between luxury yachts, expensive boutiques and five-star hotels on the one hand and blue and white Greek flair in quaint fishing villages and fantastic beaches on the other. In addition to Türkbükü Beach, the Xuma Beach Club in Yalıkavak is certainly the most popular. This place in the north of the peninsula is also known as "The new face of Bodrum". This is where the jet set lands in summer, partly in the new "Palmarina" with upmarket stores, expensive restaurants - and now also with new hotels such as The Bodrum Edition. Designed by hotel guru Ian Schrager, it boasts a total of 102 rooms, suites and villas, some with private pools, a state-of-the-art spa, kids' club and its own beach club with jetty. With the Hyatt Centric Yalikavak, the group's very first hotel in Turkey, and the artsy Arts Hotel Yalikavak with its private beach, the area is sure to become a hipster stronghold.
Between village idyll and luxury hideaways
Where is Göltürkbükü, please? You should definitely remember this unpronounceable name, because the former fishing village on the Bodrum peninsula has now become a dazzling place with luxury hostels, lounge bars and fine restaurants. Gourmets love the Maçakızı Hotel because of Aret Sahakyan's innovative cuisine, which makes the five-star boutique hotel with its own beach club even more attractive. A perfect counterpart to the MO Bodrum with one of the most beautiful beaches in Paradise Bay is the Amanruya Bodrum right next door. The hideaway lives up to its name "Peaceful Dream" with 36 pool suites and pavilions in an authentic design, which are idyllically spread out in a pine forest. Away from all the hustle and bustle, the six-kilometre-long west coast near Kaplankaya now also has its five-star hotel: the Six Senses Kaplankaya. Elegantly and sensitively furnished with sustainable materials, the 141 rooms and suites as well as the 154 private residences have been harmoniously integrated into the hilly terrain with its picture-book panorama. With its marina and shopping mile, it looks like a Mediterranean village. Near Bodrum town, with the landmark St. Peter's Castle and the well-preserved ruins of the amphitheater of Halicarnassus, you can stay either in suites or apartments at the five-star Caresse Resort hotel or in the adults-only hotel The Maramara Bodrum, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World. Especially in the summer months, an evening stroll through Cumhuriyet caddesi - better known as "Bodrum's bar street" - is a good idea. It runs parallel to the sea for one and a half kilometers and offers a fantastic view of the brightly lit castle.
Golfers Heaven Belek
460 kilometers east of Bodrum, the golfers' paradise of Belek offers further worlds of pleasure for connoisseurs. 18 magnificent 18-hole courses with equally fine five-star hotels, just 30 kilometers east of Antalya - this clearly speaks for a unique selling point among the world's golf destinations and can easily keep up with the USA. Hence the name "Florida of the East", as the region has been able to call itself for more than 25 years. Golfers from all over the world frequent the excellently maintained courses, which despite their diversity are distinguished by interesting layouts such as parkland, heathland and links courses, and enjoy the fascinating landscape between the sea and the Taurus Mountains. You can play between magnificent pine trees and fragrant eucalyptus trees and even come across turtles or rare birds along the way. Sun, beach and sea for relaxing are available on the coast, where a selection of five-star "palaces" with very different architecture - from cool and purist to swanky and overloaded - are lined up, so you really are spoiled for choice. Especially as the all-inclusive offer in terms of food and drink is of a very high quality - not only golfers will appreciate this. Golf & hotel packages are also interesting, as almost every five-star hotel also has its own golf course - or several, like the Gloria Golf Resort. With three 18-hole courses, it is one of the first and largest resorts in Belek and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022. The latest addition to the hotel portfolio is the recently opened Cullinan Belek, also decorated with five stars and equipped with two 18-hole links courses. It's not easy to keep track of everything on offer! That's why we are providing you with a list of our favorite places here:
■ Gloria Golf Club
18-hole Gloria "Old"
Championship
18-hole Gloria "New"
Championship
9-hole Gloria Verde
www.gloria.com.tr
Sueno Golf Club
18-hole Pines Course
18-hole Dunes Course
golfclub.sueno.com.tr
■ Montgomerie Maxx Royal
18-hole The Montgomerie Course
www.montgomeriemaxxroyal.com/de
Cornelia Golf Club
18-hole King Course
18-hole Queen Course
18-hole Prince Course
www.corneliaresort.com
■ Carya Golf Club
18-hole course
www.caryagolf.com/de
Kaya Eagles Golf Club
18-hole Kaya course
www.kayahotels.com
Robinson Nobilis
Golf Club
8-hole championship course
www.robinson.com
■ Antalya Golf Club
18-hole Sultan Course
18-hole Pasha Course
agc.com.tr
National Golf Club
18-hole Championship Course
9-hole Academy Course
nationalturkey.com
Cullinan Links Golf Club
18-hole Aspendos Course
18-hole Olympos Course
gogolfturkiye.com/antalya
■ Lykia LInks Antalya
45 minutes from Belek, accessible by boat, 18-hole championship links course
lykialinks.com/de
