ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE | SUITCASE + Hillside Beach
Club

Tucked

Tucked
into the southern reaches of a broad bay scattered with
pretty islands is Hillside Beach Club. A
prosperous hub of the western Mediterranean, Fethiye’s natural
harbour is perhaps the region’s finest.

The luxe hillside hideaway, chiselled into pine-covered hills
and settled on the private cove of Kalemya Bay, has all the
workings of a small town. Consisting of several blocks of chalets
cut into the hillsides and sloping towards the bay, the resort
spans some 300 acres, but despite its size manages to feel intimate
and not obstruct its natural surroundings. ​

With its own blue-flagged beach, watersports should sit high on
every holiday agenda. Alternatively, you can go for a hike, take a
shame-inducing hip-hop class (we’re willing to venture that you
won’t be a natural), or for those who think a holiday should
consist of little else than lounging and lunching, there are three
restaurants and five bars ready to help you realise that
ambition.

Rooms

Comprising of only bay-facing rooms, the chic snugs are fitted
with modern conveniences (from vitals like coffee machines and
Wi-Fi to frivolous fancies including organic lip balms and
turquoise string friendship bracelets). Dominated by neutral tones,
the vibe is very much cool and comfortable. If available, book in
to one of the superior double rooms which have plenty of space, a
large private terrace, walk-in wardrobe and views of the Aegean
Sea.

What’s for breakfast?

The “Pasha late breakfast” is a godsend. Dispelling the myth
that anyone is actually seated for a 7am sitting, instead Pasha
Restaurant serves up breakfast everyday until 12pm. For those who
consider caffeine a sufficient morning meal, the Coffee Bar serves
up one of the best flat whites around.

How about lunch and dinner?

The hotel’s main restaurant is a food-court-style setup, serving
buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. After a day of poolside
snacking, the main restaurant’s wellness menu offering light and
healthy dishes is much appreciated. Other dining options include
the beach bar and restaurant which offers à la carte Italian dishes
such as rock salt-crusted smoked beef tenderloin, fresh pastas and
homemade tiramisu. Alternatively, Pasha plates up
Turkish-Mediterranean cuisine that is second to none.

Is there a bar?

There are multiple; choose from the jazz-pumping Blue Bar or
DJ-spinning Pasha. At the Pool Bar music pulses all day and come
evening, the Abacco bar is our favoured spot for a slurp of sangria
or fine whisky.

Amenities?

Within the resort you’ll find standard amenities including a
leisure centre, pool and spa, plus a long list of watersports and
other activities available free of charge – try your hand at
wakeboarding or surfing any day of the week. After a cardio-heavy
morning, relish the day away at the Sanda Nature Spa (we recommend
one of their special Balinese treatments.)

Movie nights reach new heights in the summer when a screen is
suspended over the water and guests gather beachside to watch new
blockbusters and Hollywood classics from their sun lounger – bucket
of popcorn and star-filled sky in tow. For classical music fans,
every August there’s the added bonus of catching a one-night-only
performance of the Ankara Chamber Orchestra for “Classical Music on
the Sea”; time to brush up on your Vivaldi.

Things you should know

The Silent Beach is child-free (read: peace guaranteed). It’s
also phone-free meaning the sound of the sea is your only incessant
caller. For something marginally livelier, stretch out on a hammock
on Serenity Beach (also adult-only) while sipping on something
sweet. When your drink runs dry order another via an app; with
bar-to-beach service, there’s no need to move until sundown.
Hillside Beach Club is big on wellness – their Feel Good Weeks
(held twice a year, in May and October) have a cultish following
with a programme that includes fitness training, yoga, hiking and
spa treatments. Add to the mix healthy menu of
Mediterranean-inspired dishes, plus the occasional creative
workshops, and you’re likely to leave with a positive outlook and a
terrarium in tow.

Within a short walk you can find…

Fethiye makes a good base for visiting Ölüdeniz, one of Turkey’s
seaside hotspots. Head further afield into the surrounding
countryside an aim for the ghost town of Kayaköy. For the less
active, opt for a sunset boat tour to the islands in the Bay of
Fethiye (including Şövalye Adası as seen in the James Bond film
Skyfall) or change course and head for the coves of Göcek.