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Bodrum, Turkey
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“What would you like? Dancing lobsters for the lunch?”
Sahir Erozan, proprietor of the legendary Maçakızı resort on Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula, is exhibiting us across the newest providing in his portfolio, the ultra-premium Villa Maçakızı.
Here, within the bougainvillea-laden tiers of this gleaming white 10-bedroom property, wrapped by fragrant herb gardens that movement right down to the ocean, desires can come true — for a value.
Erozan, recognized regionally as “Mr Bodrum,” has made high-end hospitality his life’s work, having taken over the Maçakızı model from his mom Ayla Emiroglu, who within the Nineteen Sixties was instrumental in remodeling this scenic Aegean headland from a quiet fishing group to a bohemian getaway.
Under Erozan, the clientele has bought ritzier. While Maçakızı doesn’t reveal its shopper listing, company listed here are reported to have included Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Bill Gates.
The villa has a pool, a health club, a spa, plus an eclectic mixture of artworks from Erozan’s personal assortment, however the bespoke eating – masterminded by celeb chef Carlo Bernardini, who has flown in to affix us – is the actual star.
If this property is a Wonka’s manufacturing facility for grown-ups, then Bernardini is the twinkle-eyed maestro creating fantastical concoctions of enjoyment and marvel, whereas the waterfall pours out Dom Perignon 2015, not chocolate.
”Whatever folks need, no matter their wildest creativeness, Carlo and his staff right here can actually put that collectively and make it occur,” says Maçakızı’s common supervisor, Andrew Jacobs.
This villa prices $50,000 an evening. Here’s what you get for the cash
The villa may be very personal, he says, with no actual entry by street. Boats are the best way company arrive right here in Cennet Koyu (“Paradise Bay”) and so they don’t have any scarcity of high-net-worth neighbors close by.
The peninsula’s northern shores are the place the Turkish elite come for summer time journey, forsaking the noise and grit of Istanbul or Ankara for sandy seashores and glowing sea.
Paradise Bay, a surprising inlet simply east of Göltürkbükü, is rising as a best choice for the one-percenters, from native glitterati to worldwide A-listers.
“Carlo is very good at doing parties down here,” says Jacobs, exhibiting us across the waterside eating areas. “Very quickly on a day in July, 30 people can turn into 200 and we’re ready for that.”
The wine cellar, crammed with uncommon vintages, is an important addition to those spectacular celebrations. “I can’t really put a value on what’s in here,” says Jacobs, “but it’s a lot.”
The villa prices $50,000 an evening in excessive season, though that may rise a lot increased, relying on the company’ selection of bespoke extras.
Mandarin Oriental Bodrum
Villa Maçakızı opened in 2019, but it surely’s simply considered one of a number of new high-end lodge manufacturers to open across the bay.
The luxurious lodge chain Bulgari, which has a handful of outposts in world-class cities together with London, Tokyo and Milan, is giving Bodrum its seal of approval by constructing an monumental resort throughout the water from Villa Maçakızı, to the east.
The property is ready to open in 2027 and can occupy ten hectares of terraced gardens, all of that are being landscaped from scratch.
Round the bay to the west from Villa Maçakızı, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum spreads over a hillside on an property so enormous you possibly can go to particular person rooms on Google Street View.
Golf carts zip across the slopes bringing company from their rooms, residences or villas to the restaurant, bar, or seaside membership.
“All our villas have a private pool and private garden,” says lodge supervisor Cem Akşahin as he reveals us round one of many villas which might run to tens of 1000’s of {dollars} an evening. They all, he factors out, face Paradise Bay.
“We are attracting high-end clientele from all over the world. They come with the private megayachts and also they come with their private chef, the butlers, and we are elevating their experiences during their vacation,” he says.
The resort has its personal designer purchasing village, with 40 worldwide manufacturers represented in its pristine greenery-lined streets.
A variety of big-name premium manufacturers is represented within the restaurant choices too. High-end Japanese restaurant chain ROKA opened a department on the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum this summer time, the place company can get pleasure from ROKA’s signature dishes, and a few bespoke new creations, at an outside restaurant overlooking Paradise Bay.
Around the bay to the west, Maxx Royal Bodrum and Scorpios Bodrum sit on reverse hillsides going through one another throughout the water.
Entering by way of Maxx Royal’s giant and ethereal reception, pleasant fragrances hit you earlier than you stroll out to the sea-facing solar deck, all senses engaged as you drink a welcome tea.
Grass-roofed, pale-wood residences, all with personal swimming pools, are slotted into the hillside as completely as an architectural mannequin – like selecting a slice of Utopia off-plan.
The four-bedroom Hill Villas, which, just like the Mandarin Oriental choices, can price tens of 1000’s of {dollars} an evening, are probably the most beautiful within the resort, says visitor expertise operations supervisor Dina Çelebi.
The spa within the land of the healers
In Paradise Bay, competitors is fierce to draw high-end clientele and the standout providing at Maxx Royal is its two-story, 5,750-square-meter spa.
There are 20 remedy rooms and choices embody every little thing from a hammam to a Himalayan salt room to a state-of-the-art longevity middle.
“Our clientele is very well traveled, they’re very well informed,” says spa supervisor Banu Alagöz Najemeddin. “Wellbeing is a big sector right now as part of travel, but we really want to deliver a personalized connection.”
She believes its Bodrum location provides to the individuality of the spa’s providing. “This is the land of all the healers,” she says. “The Aegean part of Turkey is very special. It’s the flora and fauna, the sea is different.”
Grown-up seaside membership model Scorpios constructed up a cult following on the Greek celebration island of Mykonos, and it expanded to Bodrum in 2024, opening for the summer time season solely.
Bodrum and Mykonos “match very well in terms of nature, the sun, the sea,” says common supervisor Can Erikan. “It’s also at the same time a good cross-bridge between the east and the west; both offer an international crowd.”
Scorpios caters to a high-end clientele, who, in crisp linens or flowing seaside robes, stability out the nice instances on the restaurant terrace, bar and open-air dance ground with days centered on wellbeing and private growth.
“We’re not only a nightlife concept here in Bodrum,” says Erikan, exhibiting us across the luxurious visitor rooms and “ritual spaces:” centered on longevity and biohacking. “It’s a 24-hours experience for guests to enjoy their time here.”
The Season Closing Ceremony at Scorpios takes place the weekend of September 19 to 21, with company dancing by way of the sundown for the final time in 2025. The yachts which have thronged the bay are fewer as summer time offers strategy to fall, however the low season quiet has its personal attraction for guests wanting a slice of paradise to themselves.