The Turkish Riviera has long been a magnet for well-heeled Istanbulites, yachting elites and A-list celebrities like Kate Moss, Mick Jagger and Jeff Bezos. D-Resort Göcek is the hotel to know.
And it’s little wonder, given the crystal clear turquoise waters, rolling pine-clad hills, abundance of ancient sites, and clutch of ultra-luxe hotels skirting the seafront. Among them is D-Resort Göcek, a five-star resort on the edge of Göcek town, known for its glossy marinas and glittering bay with views across an unspoiled stretch of Mediterranean coastline.
Unlike many hotels along the Turquoise Coast, D-Resort is open year-round. If you’re child-free, go in June, September or October to avoid the crowds and heady beach club beats. The weather and water are still warm then and you’ll enjoy a notable sense of peace and privacy. The sense of spaciousness that the hotel offers adds to the overall feeling of exclusivity; this is a place where couples, friends and families can unwind in style. The hotel is only a 20-minute car ride from Dalaman airport, which means early birds can arrive in time for lunch.
The Vibe
Despite its alluring picture-perfect setting and proximity to nearby Bodrum, a well-known hedonist hotspot, Göcek is surprisingly serene. Set at the foot of lush green hills amid peaceful waterways and gently swaying palms, D-Resort is no different. Ideal for couples and families, this is a place to kick back, relax and enjoy the good life.
Arriving at D-Resort is to enter a rarefied world of quiet luxury: expect attentive service, electric buggies instead of cars and sleek, bobbing yachts every which way you look. Thanks to the waterways, reflective pools and palms, D-Resort has a distinctly tropical feel about it. The lobby is bright and breezy (don’t be put off by the somewhat underwhelming entrance), as are the 102 guest rooms and suites dotted around the grounds. The main site is also home to a large spa and gym, three outdoor pools (two of which are exclusive-use for select rooms) and Olives, the hotel’s tranquil à la carte restaurant.
Much of the action takes place at the hotel’s beach club, a short buggy or cycle ride from the main site that takes you through D-Marina, a picturesque port brimming with old-fashioned gullets and swanky yachts of all shapes and sizes. Here, you’ll find the hotel’s private white sandy beach which curves around the bay and is covered with rows of padded sunbeds, all filled with beautiful people sipping on cocktails.
A stone’s throw from the beach is D-Green, a grassy peninsula that’s perfect for spreading out with little ones or unwinding away from clinking glasses. There are also two al fresco restaurants here — one built into the hillside, the other by the sea — offering splendid views across the turquoise bay. On a summer evening, they bustle with hotel guests, glamorous locals and party people who waft in for a night of good food, cocktails and dancing.
The Rooms
The rooms, which are housed in chic dark-slate chalets dotted around the grounds, are cool, comfortable and generous in size. Expect spacious bathrooms with double sinks, rainfall showers and heavenly smelling Malin + Goetz amenities. Décor is nautical inspired, all white-washed wood accented by navy blue furnishings and floaty muslin, which beautifully complements the bobbing yachts outside. All have balconies or outdoor terraces, many with views of the nearby marina, while some on the ground floor have direct access to long, beautiful pools.
The Food + Drink
An extensive buffet breakfast is served in Olives until 11am. You’ll find all the sweet and savoury treats you could ever want, from cereals and pastries to cured meats, fruits and cheeses. The freshly baked almond croissants are standout. Outside is a separate bar serving eggs and pancakes to order. Olives also serves lunch and dinner, but guests tend to enjoy these down by the beach.
Long lazy lunches are de rigeur at D’Breeze, the hotel’s boho-chic beach restaurant serving Turkish classics including pide (pizza-like flatbreads), salads and fresh grilled fish. Sunset cocktails or post-dinner drinks are best enjoyed in the bar or on the pontoon decking built out into the sea. In summer, the vibe shifts up a notch here as the resident DJ keeps people dancing till dawn.
Book Q Lounge for a spoiling feast. Built into the hillside, it has an achingly cool indoor-outdoor design and a private club feel that draws discerning diners from far and wide. Indoor areas with cedarwood interiors flow seamlessly into outdoor spaces peppered with pines. The view across the bay below is spectacular. The restaurant’s contemporary Japanese dishes are all enhanced with Peruvian flavours and served tapas-style. Order the duck spring rolls, popcorn prawn and the beef snack satay before tucking into the white cod with miso glaze. Wash it all down with a Pisco Sour.
For mid-afternoon snacks, beeline for DD Scoop, the beachside patisserie and ice-cream parlour, also serving delicious coffee. As for room service, everything is served as it would be in the restaurant, making it an indulgent treat rather than a last resort.
The Spa and Fitness Centre
Work off decadent feasting in the lovely indoor-outdoor hotel gym, equipped with high-tech treadmills, rowers and cross-trainers. Private and group yoga, fitness and reformer Pilates classes take place in the adjacent studio and can be booked upon request. If you’ve never given aerial yoga a go, now’s your chance. Under the expert guidance of Zehra, the hotel’s resident instructor, you’ll be hanging upside down in no time. As for spa treatments, the full-body massage is highly recommended.
The Little Extras
The delightful and accommodating staff deserve a special mention, for no request was too much for them. Could you boil 200ml of water for the baby’s bottle? Sure. Could we take dessert back to our room? Of course. Their can-do attitude makes settling in easy and stress-free, which is just what you want from a holiday. Other memorable surprises include the in-room pillow menu and welcome platter of fruits, nuts and breads served with the hotel’s own delicious olive oil. On leaving, all guests are gifted lavender-scented pouches and waved off by the hotel reception staff — a classy way to round off a wonderful stay.
The To-Do List
If you want a relaxing break without having to leave the hotel, you’ll find everything you need at D-Resort Göcek. Mornings are for lazing by the pool, afternoons for indulging in long lunches and for swimming in the sea. Beachside yacht spotting is another favoured way to while away the time.
Adventurers looking to explore the region have plenty of activities and day trips to choose from though. Dalyan’s Lycian rock tombs (pictured below) are just a short car ride away, as is the ancient city of Kaunos.
Foodies should beeline for Fethiye’s fish market, while shopping enthusiasts will enjoy pootling around the stalls and boutiques in Göcek town. Though there’s no kids club, there’s plenty of family-friendly fun to be had in the area, from snorkelling and hill walking, to paragliding, white-water rafting and cycling. Complimentary bikes are available from the hotel reception.
And finally, no trip to Göcek is complete without some time at sea. For an extra charge, you can spend half a day on the hotel’s speedboat Sundowner whizzing around the 12 stunning islands, coves and bays around Göcek.
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