Peninsula Gardens

Rooms

The 18 rooms are spread between 2 buildings built up the hillside, and named after precious stones - Aquamarine, Lapiz, Ivory etc. All but the Upper Roof Rooms have private plunge pools of varying shapes and sizes; some are accessed directly through French doors, others snake around flowerbeds.

You get more space inside and out as you go up the price ladder (there are 5 categories), but all rooms are similar in style - contemporary and airy, with white walls, tiled floors and panels of exposed stone. The enormous platform beds are clad in crisp white linen and set over underlit onyx panels; above them are large mirrors suspended from the ceiling - useful for checking the progress of your tan. You also get a low couch or chair, a couple of lanterns, and a few cushions and vibrant seascapes to add colour.

The marble bathrooms are small and dimly lit, but perfectly formed. The large walk-in showers (no tubs) are backed by fabulous onyx wall panels, and there are soft Turkish cotton bathrobes and plenty of lotions and potions.

Even the entry-level Upper Roof Rooms have small sea-facing terraces, but it’s worth splashing out for a room with a pool if you can. We loved Jade, the spacious Signature Suite. With floor-to-ceiling sliding doors leading to a plunge pool and a beautifully scented juniper-wood terrace with squashy loungers and a rattan sofa (perfect for sundowners), it was almost like having our own private villa. Add in a flat-screen TV and room service, and it was difficult to drag ourselves away for the first couple of days.

For families, there's the Villa Peninsula Gardens, with four ensuite bedrooms and its own private terrace, pool and open plan dining area, all with stunning sea views.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served from 7.30 to 10.30am in a whitewashed wooden pavilion overlooking the sea. Under its palm-fringed roof we tucked into freshly baked bread (including sesame-coated simit, a Turkish favourite), a huge selection of homemade jams, honey, plump black olives, cheeses, cold cuts, pastries, fresh fruit, and tempting Turkish delight. Pancakes and eggs are made to order, and it’s all washed down with glasses of fruit juice and sweet çay (Turkish tea).

If you’re not out and about, there’s an all-day lunch menu with fresh salads, club sandwiches and pasta dishes. These can be served poolside or on your terrace, or delivered to your private cabana by the sea.

Come evening, we sipped cocktails around the convivial bar before dining under the stars as the sound of the waves mingled with soft lounge music. The menu is a mix of international and local dishes with a fine-dining twist, all making the most of fresh, locally sourced produce. We loved the delicious meze, with cheese borek, stuffed vine leaves and a smokey aubergine dip, followed by a charcoal-grilled Adana kebab then homemade baklava and ice cream.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants to sample in Kas. We particularly liked The Blue Door, a family affair known for its great meze and pretty terrace (reached by walking through the family home); and Bahce Balik, set in a shady garden with a seafood-focused menu, including freshly caught octopus and calamari.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Book a private seafront cabana and spend a day in blissful indolence, sipping cocktails, gazing at the view and taking an occasional dip in the sea
  
  
• Cruise along the beautiful coastline on a gulet (traditional wooden sailing boat), with a delicious lunch and plenty of swimming stops on route
  
  
• Explore the pretty bougainvillea-lined streets of Kas, with their chic boutiques, tea gardens and weekly food market
  
  
• The stunning Saklikent gorge, the amphitheatre and rock tombs of Myra and the haunting sunken city of Kekova (destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD) are all within easy reach
  
  
• Hop across to the unspoilt Greek island of Kastellorizo (or Meis in Turkish), only 20 minutes away by ferry. Wander around its warren of streets, feast on fresh fish at a waterfront restaurant, visit the pretty church, and explore the museum charting the island’s history
  
  
• Go scuba diving - there are around 30 dive spots within easy reach of Kas, with great visibility, canyons, caves and wrecks
  
  
• Hike part of the Lycian Way, a spectacular route that stretches for 400km across southwest Turkey, following a line of Roman and Ottoman roads and nomad trails
  
  
• Kas is a centre for sea-kayaking, paragliding, canyoning and mountain biking

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Paragliding
• Pilates
• Private guided tours
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Well being
• Yoga

Kids

No children under the age of 14 are accepted in the hotel - this is very much a quiet couples' retreat. A maximum of 2 children up to the age of 12 can stay in the 4-bed villa, and a baby cot can be provided upon request.

Note that children are only allowed on the beachfront, and not in the hotel restaurant or communal areas.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Peninsula Gardens is set on the Mediterranean coast of southwest Turkey, just outside the small harbour town of Kas.

By Air
The closest airport is Dalaman (155km away), which is the main airport for holiday traffic into Turkey’s western Mediterranean coast. There are also frequent flights to Antalya (220km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The journey from Dalaman airport takes around 1.5-2 hours; from Antalya it’s 3+ hours. You can either hire a car, or book a hotel transfer and then stay put (or book day trips through the hotel).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Turkey and getting around