Caresse, Bodrum review: Timeless luxury on Turkey’s coastline

Harriet Wolstenholme checks-in to Turkey’s exclusive resort and spa
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Harriet Wolstenholme19 October 2019

Gazing out at the Aegean Sea at one of the smartest hotels I’ve ever stayed at, I couldn’t help but feel I was late to the party. Why had I not visited Bodrum before?

With 28-degree weather and ocean swimming in October, Turkey’s answer to Saint-Tropez is the perfect place for some autumn sunshine.

It would seem a lot of people agree with me: according to the Turkey Tourism Investors Association, the number of tourists to Bodrum last year rose by 34 percent.

Dubbed ‘Turkey’s Riviera’, travellers with a penchant for luxury are catching on to the fact that Bodrum’s forty-something five-star hotels offer rates at a fraction of the cost of their European counterparts.

The lowdown

Caresse

On a hillside on Bodrum’s peninsula in southwestern Turkey, you’ll find the Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa. Since it opened in 2015, it has twice been named the Top Resort in Europe by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.

And for good reason - with 67 rooms, nine suites, and a decadent King Villa, its aesthetic fuses contemporary luxury with nods to the Mediterranean. Romantic interiors with taupe marble surfaces and low-lighting are delicately balanced with an open-plan architectural design showcasing the resort’s grand spaces by day.

Luxury comforts aside, the Caresse’s location is the resort’s Ace card. With 180-degree views of the Aegean Sea and a focal point in Black Island (it’s also the resort logo), the eye rarely wanders from the stunning landscape.

The rooms

Caresse 

All guest rooms have a private balcony or terrace with panoramic sea views, marble bathrooms, and Luxury Collection beds. In tune with the hotel’s neutral colour palette, our room was dressed in taupe marble and plush beige furnishings.

Our Deluxe Twin Room comfortably fit two queen-sized beds, but the private terrace was the highlight. Our grassy terrace had lounge chairs, an outdoor shower and beach access - the perfect setting for sundowners in our bathrobes.

Food and drink

Caresse

Anyone with a penchant for a kebab or two is no stranger to the Turkish cuisine. To experience the locals' Bodrum, a dinner at the Marina is a must. Brimming with alfresco-dining, if it’s authentic Turkish food you’re after, Bistro Marina is the place. Their schtick is all-you-can-eat Turkish tapas until you can't eat another bite.

At Caresse, you have two options for dining depending on your preferred vibe.

This year, the resort opened Bodrum’s first Buddha Bar. It’s perfect for day-to-night beach-to-bar dining. Order the deep-fried jumbo prawns for a delicious beachside bite.

For the breakfast buffet and evening dining, the Glass Restaurant is where you’ll be, complete with an outdoor terrace perfectly positioned for watching the moon rise over the ocean.

Seafood is Bodrum’s USP in Turkey and features heavily on the menu, with a mix of surf and turf dishes of International cuisine.

Things to do

Caresse 

Those prone to cabin fever will be pleased to know the rules don’t apply at Caresse - it's one of those resorts you can home for your entire stay.

For the best seat in the house, bag yourself a lounge bed on the Buddha Bar’s ocean deck for the day. From there you can spot fish in the ocean, swim, and take full advantage of the bar-to-bed service. There’s also an ice-cream kiosk if you’re partial to a coconut sorbet.

A trip to Turkey isn’t complete without a spa experience. My Aromatherapy Massage was the perfect choice for a deeply relaxing full-body massage utilising essential oils and hand techniques. There’s also an ultra-modern gym for those who like to break a sweat on vacation… I opted for the sauna.

Rates at the Caresse start from 259 euros per night in low-season. Book here.

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