Located in an old olive grove and surrounded by Mediterranean pines on the northeastern corner of the Bodrum peninsula, Amanruya’s architecture hearkens back to an original Anatolian village. The 36 salmon-hued stone cottages are set into the natural landscape, with hand-laid pebble pathways that wind and weave around cypress trees and hidden corners.

Each cottage is impeccably constructed – the interiors are white marble floors, pane glass windows, four-poster beds with curtains, dark wood accents and a Turkish mangal charcoal fireplace. The bathroom is decadent with a rain shower and a stand-alone tub that looks out onto the garden beyond. Each cottage has its own private, green marble-inlaid pool and a garden that features a pergola with large day beds, a wooden table for an intimate meal, and an outdoor shower with a view of the bay below.

The resort is separated into multiple pavilions for dining and relaxing, and supports the local arts scene with a three-story library tower with books by Turkish authors, and a domed art gallery and carpet gallery that highlight local textiles, jewelry, and artifacts. In its four separate dining pavilions, Amanruya takes advantage of the variety of microclimates in Turkey to deliver a fresh, seasonal menu of Turkish, Indonesian, and Thai cuisines. Although the resort is not set directly on the bay, the property offers a private beach club less than five minutes by golf cart with a fantastic restaurant, kayaks, catamarans, sailboats and a 40-foot speedboat available for daily excursions.

The Kempinski Barbaros Bay is perfect for families. While adults take advantage of the extensive 5,500-square-foot Six Senses spa, golf course, and outdoor exercise classes, the children can stay busy at the resort’s private beach with kayaks, boats and jet-skis, a marina, six separate indoor and outdoor pools, a kids’ club and a game room. The property also has five restaurants offering a variety of cuisines that can cater to the pickiest eaters.

With 173 rooms and suites, many connecting, Kempinski Barbaros Bay is one of the larger properties in Bodrum. It has a spectacular location with luxurious rooms and service to return to after a day of relaxing by the pool or windsurfing out in the bay. Other outdoor activities include golf, mountain biking, wakeboarding, gulet cruises, sailing classes and a diving school. The property also offers private visits to the nearby Sevilen winery or a family-owned farm to experience Bodrum’s local community. Those who would prefer not to drive 40 minutes to reach GölTürkbüku and the rest of the northern peninsula, or to lounge by a large pool with lots of children should stay elsewhere. The property is only 20 minutes from Bodrum proper, however, which is a quick trip to take advantage of the history, marina, and night market in town.

The Macakizi moved between several locations in Bodrum before finding its permanent home on the northern coast of the Peninsula in 2000. Originally a 1970s bohemian enclave for Turkish socialite Ayla Emiroglu’s friends, the hotel is run now by Ayla’s son Sahir Erozan. Nestled amongst the shrub-covered hillside (a problem for those with mobility issues), Macakizi’s 74 rooms and suites peek out from behind rampant bougainvillea to the spectacular views of the bay below. The entire property recently underwent a full renovation, so every room has flat-screen TVs, mirrored walls, heated travertine floors, huge rain showers, and cushions and fabrics custom designed by Turkish artist Suat Akdemir. While not high luxury, the rooms offer a very comfortable retreat after a day on the beach. Book one of the sea view rooms higher up the hillside for a clearer view of the expansive bay and the beach club action below.

Macakizi has become the “it hotel,” a place to see and be seen. Guests aren’t lounging in their room all day at Macakizi, but rather sipping cocktails by the water, meeting new friends on the decks of the beach club, or hobnobbing at the lauded restaurant run by famous Turkish chef Avet Sahakyan. Guests also receive a credit card to use at the restaurant and beach bar, so there is never a need to sign receipts.

The property is sleek, fun, and a sight to behold in the summer months. Come here to get a taste of the glamorous scene in Bodrum – flashy (this is where Saudi wives come for a girl’s weekend on their yachts to let their hair down) but not garish. The music tones down by the evening, and all of the tipsy rabble-rousers head off to the clubs in nearby Türkbüku or Bodrum.

Overlooking Paradise Bay, east of Türkbüku, the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is the Turkish Riviera’s most polished, family-friendly luxury resort.

All of the Marmara’s 96 rooms and 7 suites feature a mix of modern décor and traditional pieces as well as separate sitting areas – be sure to request one with a view. The specialty suites, Dolce Vita or Party Animal, are the newest accommodations (others are a bit tired) and offer private terraces with direct views of the town and waterfront below. For active guests, the hotel has a small gym area, two pools, two squash courts, a basketball court, and a spa. The Tuti restaurant serves Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine on the rooftop with spectacular views of the city below, and the property has a private beach just a ten-minute shuttle ride away. For those who want to be located right in Bodrum proper, the property’s biggest asset is without a doubt the location.

The Bodrum EDITION is a youthful and hip property with a stunning beachfront on the Turkish Riviera that's giving other properties some competition.