Hillside Beach Club — lostwithlina.com

Hillside Beach Club is well named; seamlessly blended into the dense pinewood hills surrounding Kalemya Bay, just outside of Fethiye, it offers guests sweet seclusion, pristine crystal clear waters and goes to great efforts to work harmoniously with its leafy surroundings.

First impressions, as you swoop around the mountains towards Hillside’s entrance, is that pure tranquility awaits you. Due to its remote location, Hillside Beach Club provides guests with a mixture of action and complete peace and solitude - somewhere all of your worries simply fade away. With several blocks of chalet-type accommodations cut into the hillside, sloping down towards the bay, Hillside is a big, joyous resort with all of the workings of a small town and extensive facilities for both families and couples.

LOCATION & HOW TO GET HERE

Hillside Beach Club is located 55km south of Muğla Dalaman Airport. Alternatively, you can choose to fly to either Antalya or Bodrum Airports, which are both approximately 200 km and 3 hours drive away. Hillside is 15 minutes south of the small port city of Fethiye, a place known for its ancient rock tombs. The famous blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz is a 30-minute drive south and the abandoned village of Kayaköy is just 20 minutes away.

If you’re travelling from within Turkey, the best way to get here is by car. We picked up a rental car in Bodrum and spent a very memorable and scenic 3-hours driving from there down to Fethiye. There is also free parking available on-site at Hillside.

THE HILLSIDE EXPERIENCE

You know a resort is at the top of its game when there’s an app which not only provides guests with daily updates of all the happenings around the property, but also lets you order cocktails and snacks directly to your sun lounge. With three stunning Blue Flag status beaches, three restaurants, eight bars, and a nature trail under their belt, it’s no surprise that Hillside is one of the most exquisite destinations on the Turquoise Coast. The main beach is the place to be for families and has all of the amenities to keep you and your little ones satisfied for the day - a temperature maintained pool, an ice-cream store and restaurants nearby. The only problem is, if you fancy a lounge right at the front of the coast line, it’s best to get down there before 9am.

Adult guests seeking true peace and respite can opt to relax at Silent Beach, Serenity Beach or on the two pontoons near Silent Beach, which is where we spent the majority of our time. You can take a stroll through the fragrant pine forest to Serenity Beach, or alternatively, you can hop on the half hourly boat for the five-minute trip where all you need is a book and headphones for company as you sit back and leave behind the hustle and bustle of daily life. The second adults-only beach is Silent Beach, where guests are encouraged to step away from technology and reconnect with nature.

One of the biggest selling points of Hillside Beach Club is that it perfectly merges the cool calmness of nature with the adrenaline-fuelled fun of water sports. Hillside boasts a huge list of activities that would wet any thrill seekers appetite, all guests can enjoy the likes of water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, tennis and much more.

For something a bit more chakra-aligning, attend one of the free yoga, pilates or meditation sessions, held on alternate days. There's entertainment each night (five nights a week in low season): movie nights, cover bands and other live musical treats. You can top the day off with a Sunset Boat Tour on a traditional wooden gulet boat where you’ll be able to appreciate the glorious landscape of the coastline and swim in enchanting the hidden bays.

LUXURY SUITES & ACCOMMODATION

With over 330 rooms facing outwards towards the bay, the accommodations at Hillside have been cleverly designed to meld into the forested and rugged terrain. Despite most guest rooms being a short climb up the hill (there is a funicular for guests staying in the higher rooms), rest assured that the higher you ascend, the more breathtaking the views will be.

The suites and rooms are remarkably spacious, neutrally decorated and feature a large terrace with a sofa overlooking the Aegean sea, a generous walk-in wardrobe, a media docking station, organic his and her lip balms, and a pillow menu (our favourite). The bathrooms are accessed off the terrace rather than an ensuite inside the room.

FOOD, FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

If you’re one of those travellers who determines whether a resort is 5-star purely based on the quality (and quantity) of the culinary options, then you’re in for a real treat. Hillside Beach Club provides guests with three sensational dining options. The main buffet terrace, which serves everything from sizzling meat cuts, grilled fish, wood-fired pizza, pasta galore and basically everything you could think of. This is also where breakfast is served daily.

The Beach Bar & Restaurant is tucked among the lush gardens of Hillside and serves delicious Italian à la carte dishes. Expect rock salt-crusted smoked beef tenderloin with rocket leaves, fresh pastas, the catch of the day, risottos and home-made tiramisu. For diners 12-years and older, there is Hillside’s fine dining restaurant, Pasha on the Bay. Pasha offers guests a romantic, candle-lit beachside setting and serves the freshest Turkish Mediterranean cuisine.

THE SPA

If you fancy treating yourself to something a bit more indulgent, the Sanda Nature Spa is the place to be. Located above Silent Beach on the more adult orientated side of Hillside, the spa and treatment rooms are nestled in the treetops in what can only be described as luxurious tree houses. We were fortunate enough to have our very first couples massage, which left us in a deep state of bliss and complete relaxation. Whether you’re looking to destress your entire body from head to toe, or simply ease one problem area, the expert therapists here will look after you.

Greeted with a ginger tea, you’ll be swept off to a tranquil room where massages are on offer to relieve your tensions and give your body the pampering it deserves. After your luxury treatment, you’ll then be taken to the relaxation area to enjoy an energising drink and healthy food platter. The perfect way to round off your stay.

WHAT TO KNOW

FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Hillside is very much a family-friendly resort. They offer extensive facilities, including family rooms, children’s menus, three children’s clubs, a ‘baby park’, an amphitheatre with daily shows and events, baby strollers and a babysitting service.

WHAT TO BRING: Insect repellent is a must, as the critters and mosquitoes come out at night; and any classics you haven’t had the chance to read yet – this is the perfect place to do it.

DRESS CODE: Bonny, beachy and fabulously chic and floaty.

ALL-INCLUSIVE: All food is included in the overall price you pay for your stay, plus water and soft drinks, but any alcohol purchases will be charged separately.

CHEEKY EXTRAS WE LOVED: There’s a coffee shop where you can take roasting lessons, plus cookery and cocktail-making workshops.

PARKING: There is free parking available on-site.

Visit https://hillsidebeachclub.com/en to check their availability or visit their Instagram page @hillsidebeachclub.

I was hosted as a guest of Hillside Beach Club, however, all the opinions expressed in this article are, as always, my own.