Maçakizi

Style

Deck smitten

Setting

Beside the bougainvillea

A suave yet subtle Bodrum resort, Maçakizi is Turkish for Queen of Spades, which here on the Aegean coast is a symbol of intelligence and beauty – two things this stylish resort has in, well, spades. And it's a very strong hand played by original owner, Bodrum native Ayla Emiroglu. As the resident chef spends his morning diving for dinner (literally), the gentle chatter of pottering guests flows through stone-studded gardens and the aroma of freshly-baked Baklava wafts from the hotel’s restaurant. Slumber beside the shimmering Aegean, or – if you’re feeling a little tense – visit Maçakizi’s masseurs up on the pine-lined deck.

Facilities

Rooms

71, including 26 suites.

Checkout

Noon, but flexible subject to availability (there’s no extra charge). Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

Rates usually include buffet breakfast and return Bodrum airport transfers.

Also

Have a treatment in the open-plan Nuxe spa treatment rooms with bamboo-lined walls, or heat up in the glass-fronted hammam. Decadent facials, massages, body scrubs and wraps, manicures and pedicures, treatments for men, bespoke treatments and personal-fitness sessions will leave you flower-scented and utterly relaxed. You can also unwind with a Pilates class overlooking the bay. A hairdressing and beauty salon is in the works, too. Lovers seeking romance and seclusion should come outside of high season (July and August), when the hotel turns into a magnet for the monied of Istanbul, and the Euro yacht set.

Hotel Closed

Usually, from November until late April.

Pool

Spa

At the Hotel

Spa with treatment rooms, boutique selling cushions, kaftans and other knick-knacks; gardens, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen Bose TV, minibar, bathrooms with rain fall showers and Aqua di Parma bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

We like Villa Suite (room 971) for its sculpted wooden furniture, white-and-black textured canvases, fat white sofa, and deck that spans the width of the room. Sprays of fresh flowers add shots of pink to the cool-coloured interior, and the views outside are dazzling. The Villa Suites are closest to the waterfront, so you’ll get a head start in the race to the tanning decks. For the utmost privacy, request an Upper Deck Room – these are set high on the hillside, away from the buzz. All rooms have French king-size beds as well as an additional single sofa bed, and remote-controlled black-out blinds.

Poolside

There’s a small pool to one side of the breakfast terrace, surrounded by blossoms and shrubs.

Packing Tips

Your very best swimwear, and designer shades to match. Remember wedges or deck shoes, to reduce the risk of sprains on the stone steps or by the waterfront.

Also

Pets aren’t welcome, but animal-lovers can console themselves by seeking out the resident porcupines and kittens in the hotel’s hillside gardens.

Children

This isn't the most toddler-suited hotel: lots of stone steps, and decks on the water. That said, extra beds are free for under-6s, €130 a night for older kids. Hotel staff will babysit for €25 an hour, or €20 an hour for three or more hours.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The higher the deck, the better the views. If you’re lingering over cocktails at the bar, take a perch along the sunken deck, overlooking the fire-pit and the under-lit water.

Dress Code

Boat-club billionaire – or your best imitation.

Hotel Restaurant

Great food is at the heart of this hotel – though rooms close in winter, the restaurant stays open all year, and is seen as a culinary heavyweight. (The owner, a restaurateur by trade, has worked with the same chef for 25 years.) Elegant but comfy white chairs are set out on the decking, overlooking the Aegean; at night, glamorous diners and ankle-high lanterns light up the space. The seafood-celebrating menu includes octopus with black risotto, and grilled grouper with red pepper coulis.

Hotel Bar

Set on the lowest level of decking, and covered by white-sail awnings, the drinking area is a fluid extension of the restaurant. Sip champagne, or tots of sweet almond liqueur.

Last Orders

Deliciously relaxed: you can breakfast until 11am, ‘lunch’ until 4pm, and dine until midnight.

Room Service

Have salads, sandwiches and other snacks brought to your room between 8am and 11pm.

Planes

Bodrum airport (www.bodrum-airport.com) is 45 minutes away by car and the hotel usually provides return airport transfers.

Automobiles

It’s a 30-minute drive from Bodrum city centre, and the hotel has plenty of free guest parking.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Having had a massage or facial in the spa, or a cut and colour in the hotel’s hairdressing salon (set to open soon), explore your surroundings. Wander the length of the Göltürkbükü waterfront in the early evening, pausing only for a round or two of drinks and a bout of celebrity spotting. Embark on a day trip with Blue Cruise (www.bluecruise.org) from Neyzen Tevfik Caddesi: choose from private or cabin charter gulets. Ask the hotel to help put together a historical tour for you: take in Bodrum Castle, the mausoleum and the ancient amphitheatre.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .