Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay

Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay is a luxury resort on the shore at Yalıçiftlik, on the quieter northern side of the Bodrum peninsula, facing a sheltered bay. The hotel is built around its beach and gardens, and it is the kind of property where guests settle in for several days and treat the resort itself as the destination. Expect a full range of resort facilities: a private stretch of beach with loungers and a swimming area, outdoor pools, a spa and wellness centre with treatment rooms and a Turkish bath, a fitness area, a children's programme in season and a selection of restaurants and bars that range from relaxed beach dining to more formal evening menus. Rooms and suites are spread through the main building and garden wings, and many have balconies or terraces with views of the bay or the gardens. As with most luxury resorts, the exact room categories and facilities depend on the season and the rate you choose, so read the details on the booking page for your dates.

Location is the main trade-off. Yalıçiftlik sits well away from Bodrum town, so the castle, the Mausoleum site, the ancient theatre and the old town are excursions by taxi, transfer or hire car rather than short walks. The airport is closer than the town in some directions, and the resort suits guests who arrive by air and want to reach their room quickly, but plan your transfers in advance and compare the time with other parts of the peninsula.

The reward for the distance is space and calm. The bay is quiet, the beach is not crowded the way the town beaches can be, and evenings are about dinner under the stars rather than nightlife. Travellers who want a lively social scene may prefer Yalıkavak or Bodrum town, while those who want to read, swim and rest will feel at home here.

The resort works well for families and for couples. Children's pools, a kids' programme in the busy months and family room options make it easy to travel with younger guests, while the spa, the quiet corners of the garden and the restaurants suit couples who want a slower break. Ask about half-board and full-board options when you reserve, since eating out beyond the resort requires a drive, and check which restaurants are open on your dates because some outlets run only in the high season.

Pets, cribs, early check-in and other extras vary by room type and rate, so confirm anything important before you travel.

Season matters. Like most beach resorts on the peninsula, the property is built for the warm months, and its facilities, beach services and restaurants are at their fullest from late spring to early autumn. The best value is often in May, June and September, when the sea is warm, the crowds are thinner and rates ease from the July and August peak.

Outside the season some facilities close or run on reduced hours, and the water is too cold for most swimmers, so check opening dates if you are travelling in the cooler months and consider a town hotel if you want to be close to the museums and restaurants.

For a stay that mixes resort days with sightseeing, plan two or three excursions, perhaps a boat day, a village lunch and a visit to the castle, and keep the remaining days for the beach and the spa.