A question mark hangs over travel to Turkey at the moment with tensions on the eastern border: warnings to avoid travel extends some six miles from where the country meets Syria. Turkey is, however, three times the size of the UK and it’s a vast place of culture and beauty.  Over in the southwestern province of Muğla – the ‘Turquoise Coast’ or Turkish Riviera – a case in point is Bodrum. Once the ancient city of Halicarnassus, it’s a melting pot of history – home to the ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – but also home to a lap of five-star luxury: The Bodrum EDITION.

One of two European locations (the other being Barcelona) for EDITION Hotels, who position themselves as an ‘anti-hotel chain’ with all destinations idiosyncratic and responsive to their landscapes, The Bodrum EDITION is known first and foremost as a party destination. Aspects of the design felt right at home for its location – native olive trees and decor that favours gargantuan locally-made vases as plants pots would, for example, look out of place in Miami Beach), while the universal language of bottle poppin’ prevailed; subtle hints of after hours antics, left all around the resort. There was the four-to-the-floor house beat that covered every square foot of the beach; the wide screen LCD TV’s fit with Youtube and surround sound systems in the rooms (our morning coffees were soundtracked with reggae as we looked out to the Aegean Sea); a breakfast rich in bread and cured, grilled meats stretching until 4pm; and multiple bars, including a sleek station on arrival fit in the pristine white and marble lobby. 


 
But it was a bit of a different story heading to the hotel out of season. While Friday night rung in party people for a long weekend, we checked in mid-week to a peaceful hotel of what felt like 30 or so people. To put it into perspective, the boutique hotel boasts 108 guest rooms, suites and villas: it felt incredibly secluded in the best way possible. While we would’ve welcomed a party, respite was just as welcomed. 

In tow with the wide screen TV and coffee machine in our ‘home away from home’ – the sea view loft suite – came stacks of Thames & Hudson architecture, design, fashion tomes for tucking into, an oversized bathtub and monsoon rain shower outfitted with the most delicious custom-made Le Labo amenities, and two sizeable discreet wardrobes. Meanwhile, it was a nice touch to see the hotel offer up the option of not changing bed sheets every single day unless requested; a decision they’ve made to help them set a new sustainable standard. Elsewhere, all complimentary water bottles arrived in glass – refreshing in every sense of the meaning.

On the topic of refreshing, their cuisine never failed in hitting the spot. For the full Turkish experience at aforementioned breakfast-cum-lunch, we sidestepped continental for cheese galore, breads, fried eggs, sucuk (a spicy sausage we likened to chorizo, but better), with plenty of Turkish coffee and pressed juice. Supper saw us dine at the ‘come-as-you-are' Morena to the sound of waves; fresh fish and locally-sourced meats charred in the open fire grill piqued our interests and tastebuds



Then, aside from the infinity pool overlooking the private beach and the white sand formed with crushed-up marble on said beach, there was my real highlight: the spa. Having recently clocked up an accolade for its facilities, it was a big pull for making the trip to Yalikavak Bay. A spa aficionado in the making, "it's beautiful!" my boyfriend exclaimed as we stepped into the slice of serenity with billowing sheer curtains dancing in the breeze. True to the stripped back nothing-out-of-place look and feel of the hotel, it felt both calming and 
clean – the main credentials for a spa. Stocked this time with tomes from Assouline, the chill out room was really a space you could spend hours in. But the pièce de résistance arrived in the form of the Turkish Hammam that lent the accompanying sauna, steam and salt rooms native tradition to further the Turkish experience that began at breakfast time. Without fail, a trip was paid to the space every evening; each visit as glorious as the last.

And when we weren't frolicking around in water – be it in the spa or sea – the hotel's complimentary car was on call to take us to neighbouring villages like Gumuluk and Golturkbuku. About a ten minutes drive, we stopped over at Yalikavak to eat like a local, by way of advice from Ali, the Guest Relations Manager. A brief teaser for what we might expect in high-summer, I look forward to returning and learning whether my imagination was right... 



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