Just over an hour outside Istanbul lies the idyllic Turkish vacation town of Bodrum on the Aegean Sea. An easy, 75-minute non-stop flight on Turkish Airlines, Bodrum is the perfect place to escape the craze and haze of the country’s capital. And escape we did, right to Amanruya, the luxe, four-year-old resort on the North Shore of the peninsula (a 30-minute drive from the airport—included in the room rate).
The property’s 36 contemporary stone bungalows were inspired by traditional Ottoman architecture and seamlessly blend into the surrounding pine tree forest. Each freestanding 75-square-meter cottage features dark acajou wooden furniture and four-posted beds, traditional charcoal fireplaces, a sitting area, large white marble bathrooms (with soaking tubs and giant his and her sinks) and extensive outdoor space. There, you’ll find a sunning area, landscaped gardens, a covered pavilion and a private heated swimming pool. Essentially, you’ll never have to leave the room. But you’ll want to.
Amanruya Beach Club
The Beach Club waterfront facilities, accessible via a four-minute golf cart ride or a pleasant 15-minute walk, overlooks the crystal clear water. The staff sets you up on a lounge chair of your choosing in one of several private nooks around the jetty (they also offer kayaks, paddle boards and snorkeling gear). Compared to the surrounding marinas, Amanruya’s location is serene and uncluttered with yachts.
A Mediterranean-style lunch of fresh calamari, mezze and homemade bread with a glass of their crisp house rosé is the perfect respite from the sun. If the pool is more your thing, the picturesque 51-meter main infinity pool is ideal as it’s close to the spa, library and various dining pavilions (where most hotel guests congregate for dinner outdoors).
The resort’s swimming pool
The hotel can also set up personalized outings to ancient cities like Ephesus. A private visit to the carpet-weaving village of Etrim is also on offer to experience the daily life in this part of Turkey with a farm lunch hosted by a village family. In other words, there are so many reasons to visit over and over again.
The peaceful resort (its name literally means “peaceful dream” in Turkish) was the perfect weekend getaway: unparalleled service, gorgeous rooms and tranquil surroundings.
Here, Amanruya’s General Manager Monty Brown gives us the buzz.
The most requested room:
Suite #37.
Inside the resort
What makes it so special:
It is a Deluxe Ocean View suite with a private location at the upper north end of the property. It offers great views and is quiet and spacious.
The rate:
The starting rate is 1,018 euros (including taxes) per night and goes up to 1,797 euros per night in peak season (July 15th-September 15th).
Your personal favorite:
Suite #33.
Because…
The suite features a great outdoor dining table set up with an ocean view. The same is true of the views from the covered outdoor day bed pavilion. This cottage is also close to the main facilities of the property yet still private.
Fun fact:
There are over 1,000 mature olive trees on the property with some dating back 300 years. We harvest up to 800 liters of olive oil each year for use in our kitchens.
