Macakizi
With its crystal-blue waters and pine-clad coastline, Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula is an under-the-radar jewel in the eastern Mediterranean. It may not stay a secret for long, however, especially with the likes of Macakizi drawing celebrities and socialites to its calm Aegean waters.
The hotel sits on the northern edge of the peninsula, just outside the pretty village of Türkbükü, with its clutch of high-end beach clubs and on-trend restaurants. The 74 rooms and suites are breezy and minimalist in their décor, with travertine-tiled floors and canvases on the walls by local artists. All have a balcony or terrace and over half of the rooms and all the suites boast stunning views of the Aegean. Bose TVs, remote-controlled blackout curtains and Acqua di Parma toiletries are all welcome touches.
But the wow factor really hits when you leave your room, descend the stone stairs and head through the scented gardens to the shore. Here canopied wooden decking offers acres of sun loungers, some floating above the water, others tucked against magnolia and oleander trees. The hotel’s luxury super yacht could be floating offshore – if not hired by guests for a half-day excursion including drinks and lunch on board – beyond which stretch views to rival any Greek island.
Additional facilities include an open-air restaurant whose dishes could be mistaken for contemporary works of art, a spa and fitness centre hidden neatly in the gardens, and a centrepiece bar with a DJ on duty most nights.