The 4 they claim - serenity, design, quality, attitude - all apply, but there's one overriding reason to book here: it's our favourite hotel on the Bodrum peninsula (and we've checked out lots). So overlook the groany name and go for it. You'll find a cluster of bougainvillea-draped houses spilling down to the lush valley of Yalikavak, with the sea glimmering in the distance behind a sparkling pool. Each house has a handful of slick and stylish rooms, combining natural materials with modern comforts in an airy, all-white space.
Down by the pool, you can kick back on low white sofas to the gentle beat of chilled jazz, play pool or darts in the sociable living room, or order a cocktail from the award-winning barman. If you fancy staying in, they do a tasty line in salads, wines and seafood; if not, bustling Bodrum is just a few bays away, with no shortage of boutiques, bars and nightlife. By day, you can hop on a gulet cruise, get a day pass to one of the beach clubs, go horse-riding or watersporting, or explore Bodrum castle.
Highs
- The funky pool with its chillout music and white cushions is a cool place to top up your tan by day
- After dark, with a ring of flickering torches and candlelit tables, it makes a magical spot for evening cocktails, too
- Being so near Bodrum, there's no shortage of things to do, but there's also an abundance of tranquil spots to sit and do nothing…
- Rates are refreshingly reasonable for an area aspiring to be the Turkish St. Tropez
- Great and always friendly staff
Lows
- WiFi can be patchy
- The Bodrum peninsula has come out in a rash of boxy holiday villages, though most are mercifully hidden out of sight from here
- The 'easy listening' music in the dining areas may not be to everyone's taste
- Only children aged 12 and over permitted, to preserve the tranquil atmosphere
- Boutique Hotel
- 20 rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Children 12 and over accepted
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
We loved our airy, all-white sanctuary of a bedroom: it had plenty of space and all the necessary ticks without feeling in the least cluttered. The firm-but-comfy double bed was overlooked by a sun-bleached branch of driftwood – simple, artistic and very fitting. And the whole room was cleverly shaped, with daring diagonals, to avoid being boring and boxy.
In the white-tiled bathroom was a large quadrant shower with a huge head; towels and robes were thick and fluffy, bathware was slick Vitra design.
Our Casual room suited our mood perfectly (lots of space but no frills); other room types have roughly the same spec but one or two distinguishing features. Passionate rooms come with a fireplace for cosying up in winter (not all rooms have central heating); Junior Suites get a sitting area with a Persil-white sofa; while the 2-bedroom Functional rooms are perfect for families with older children. Views vary – some face the olive groves, others overlook the pool, both have their merits, and many have a balcony too.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Our days started brightly, with the sun dappling the walls, Maria Callas soaring from the speakers and a tempting basket of muffins and croissants. This was followed by a crunchy cucumber-tomato salad, some crumbly white cheese, scoops of cold watermelon and a rosette of jams. It's a wonder we ever left the poolside terrace. You can order eggs and cold meats if you want, but you won't finish them.
We were back most days for a quick dip and lunch - warm sea bass salad with pine nuts, raisins and chives, perhaps, or a medley of grilled veg – followed by a siesta on the sofas.
And it's worth staying in at least once for dinner, by which time the poolside tables have gained candles, and the cocktail bar is lit by flickering torches, to create a romantic bistro atmosphere. We can thoroughly recommend the 4reasons salad (tasty strips of chicken with crunchy lettuce) and the succulent sea bream baked with olives, cherry tomatoes and herbs (which comes wrapped in greaseproof paper like a very superior takeaway). Don’t skip cocktail hour either, they’re creative and dangerously delicious..
If you want to head out for dinner, staff will recommend the hot spots, from waterfront taverns in Yalikavak harbour to chichi dining in Bodrum.
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- Don't miss the wooden gulet day cruises from Yalikavak harbour: stop to swim and snorkel in the vividly turquoise waters, tuck into a fabulous lunch and recline on deck-top mattresses amid the sea breeze
- Wander down to one of the beach clubs (15-30 mins walk) for cushioned boardwalks, watersports, sociable sunbathing and mouthwatering grills; Bandana is nearest and often gives 4reasons guests free entry, while Xuma has the best facilities (waterskiing, catamarans, lasers, windsurfers, volley, basket, gym…)
- Or continue to the sandy but crowded beach at Yalikavak , and explore the artist's colony and the waterfront
- Drive (or take a dolmus) round to Gümüslük at the tip of the peninsula: a perfectly enclosed harbour with bobbing boats, pyramidal hills and the scant remains of a classical settlement
- Perhaps the most idyllic beach is at Akyarlar, a bit further round, where limestone cliffs plunge into azure seas besides enclosed strips of white sand
- Hobnob with the jetset at nearby Türkbükü, where all the restaurants are on platforms on the sea (but beware - it's pricey)
- Drive to Milas (50km), the region's carpet capital: you can watch deft hands weaving or haggle for their bright, geometric prayer rugs
- The hotel can book a guided horse-riding safari in the Bodrum hills (best from October-May) and provide maps for hiking through the ghost village of Sandima (home to just one family, who make lovely pottery which you can admire or buy)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Fishing
- Golf
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
Best Time to go
Like all of coastal Turkey, there's a very clear high season from late June to early September. If you can come before (May-early June) or after (late September-October), that's perfect. The hotel sometimes welcomes small groups in mid June and mid September, so you might have to fit around that. April would also be great for hiking and general exploration, but not for sailing or swimming. Winter (November-March) would be an interesting time to explore Bodrum without the crowds, if you don't mind many (but not all) of the restaurants and ancient sites being shut.
Our Top Tips
Head into Bodrum (by car or dolmus) to explore its crusader castle complex, its boutique-lined lanes and its endless yacht harbour; you could even catch a ferry from here to the Greek island of Kos for the day.
Location
The hotel is on Turkey's Aegean coast, 2km outside the village of Yelikavak and 18km from Bodrum town.
By Air
Fly into Bodrum-Milas (50km / 45 minutes' drive).
From the Airport
You will almost certainly want to hire a car for your stay. Otherwise, book an airport transfer through the hotel or take a taxi, then use dolmuses (public minibuses) or hotel vehicles to get around the Bodrum peninsula.
By Ferry from Datça
There is a once-daily sailing ferry (summer only) between Bodrum and Datça, which takes about 2 hours; see bodrumferryboat.com for details. You can take your car on board, allowing you to make a loop Dalaman – Datça – Bodrum – Dalaman. Or, if you're really clever, you could get dropped off here at the end of a gulet cruise.
Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Turkey and getting around
Airports:
- Bodrum-Milas 50.0 km BJV
Other:
- Beach 0.5 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 1.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape