Dreaming of... Susona Bodrum, Turkey
AJETTY Susona
resort seen from
the air mong the small villages along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, life moves at a slow pace. Sunrise sees swimmers lured like Ulysses into the still waters, and the muezzin (call to prayer) reverberates across the rooftops.
Welcome to Bodrum, a stunning coastal hotspot where the Med meets the Aegean, as do two very distinct cultures. It’s a collision of east and west, from food to religion to history.
Traditions are honoured here, including the name of Bodrum’s new sophisticated hotel, the Susona Bodrum resort – named after a mermaid from Turkish mythology.
It’s no wonder Hilton chose Torba Bay to open its first luxurious LXR hotel in Turkey. The evergreen coastline is out of this world and so too is the architecture.
The two circular buildings resemble alien spaceships that have just landed on the edge of a fragrant pine forest. The clean lines and generous dimensions provide a calming atmosphere. Communal spaces feature smooth circular walls, internal planting and natural woods. Many
SUITE LIFE Susona’s rooms are beautifully elegant guests gravitate towards the laid-back Frankie Beach Club with its huge kidney-shaped pool, double daybeds and swim-up bar.
Just offshore are four over-water platforms with sun beds and parasols offering the sensation of being on a boat.
If you want to feel sand between your toes, there’s a family beach that’s reached via a stroll through gardens of olive and pine trees.
The resort’s rooms range from King Deluxe with a sea-facing terrace up to one-bedroom suites with private pools, and villas complete with multiple bedrooms and kitchens. All 76 are located in elegant, white cube buildings.
Living and sleeping areas are combined into one huge room. Sweeping shelves along one wall conceal a mini bar, espresso machine and TV. Beds are positioned just so, framing the mesmerising sea views, while balconies are the best spot from which to watch the sunset. Bathrooms are five-star with wall-to-wall marble.
By night, Susona takes on a beautiful, ethereal air. Pools glow, trees are lit up from the ground, and gleaming lights from nearby villages cast long reflections across the sea.
Start the evening at Malva Bar on high stools overlooking the bright turquoise waters of the rooftop infinity pool. Make the most of the balmy evenings and dine alfresco under a pergola with swinging rattan lampshades. Breakfast is a feast in itself. Go Turkish and order small taster plates of olives, cheeses and vegetables with fresh bread. Hammams have been part of Turkish cleansing rituals since the seventh century, so don’t leave without having one in Susona’s glorious tranquil spa.
Lay back on the
RELAX The sea around Bodrum is calm
hammam’s heated marble slab and let the therapists scrub and rinse your body to within an inch of its life.
There’s a vast gym, indoor plunge pool, sauna and steam rooms too.
Bodrum is the jewel in Turkey’s crown with glitzy restaurants, a marina rammed with superyachts and sleek hotels giving Europe’s more traditional resorts a run for their money. Susona is a worthy addition.
By night Susona has an ethereal air, with long reflections in the sea