Don’t look too quickly, or you may actually miss this latest luxe resort in Turkey.
That’s because the 282 villas and suites at Maxx Royal Bodrum, set on a private peninsula in Göltürkbükü, blend right into the hotel’s stunning surroundings, which include landscaped gardens, pine forests, and the Aegean Sea’s sparkling waters. Turkish architect Mahmut Anlar penned 11.4-hectare property’s inspired design, though it’s not the only lust-worthy thing about the accommodations; the hotly anticipated locale will also be home to the country’s first outpost of the famous beach club Scorpios.
Opening its doors this spring, the hillside Maxx Royal Bodrum features minimalistic exteriors that feel almost brutalist with a touch of warmth, pairing wood paneling with smooth gray walls. Its extensive landscaping brings the tiered facades to life, factoring in indigenous plants and trees from all over Turkey and other vegetation, such as mushroom oaks, ironwood, stone pines, and Chinese wisteria.
Interior designers at Geo_ID took inspiration from Bodrum’s vibrant identity to create eye-catching yet serene environments. A natural color palette plays a key role in the appeal of the spaces, ranging from plush olive-green seating to ocean-blue curtains in places such as the Royal Suite Sea. Elsewhere, burnt -orange coaches and moody gray walls crafted from wood are featured in the site’s Duplex Suite Sea and its Suite Land rooms, as well as three additional suite styles under that umbrella.
Meanwhile, Maxx Royal Bodrum’s swim-up accommodations, in what it calls the Laguna series, span studio to three-bedroom offerings with equally stylish digs. But for the most lavish experience, look no further than the Hill Villas. Ranging from two bedrooms to an about 11,440-square-foot Presidential Hill Villa, each offers unfettered views of the Aegean, plus heated seawater pools, separate bedrooms, and exclusive privileges. That expansive Presidential Hill Villa, for example, can hold 10 people in five bedrooms and lets you enjoy unique services such as room fragrance and pillow menus, a yacht tour, and VIP transfers by land and helicopter.
And if you manage to leave your villa oasis, the resort’s seven restaurants will be waiting. Each has a farm-to-table approach and menus that offer the finest local and seasonal produce. Caviar Kaspia, renowned for its high-quality fish eggs, is just one option available to you. An Italian concept restaurant overseen by chef Alfredo Russo is another, along with the Twenty 4 restaurant that serves up Turkish specialties and a restaurant dubbed Latino.
As for entertainment, that’s when Scorpios enters the scene. Launched in Mykonos in 2014, the beach club has partnered with the resort to bring music and art into the fold. Its Bodrum edition will become the brand’s first 24-hour offering, with exclusive accommodations for more fun in the sun. Other amenities available to you include the nearly 5,000-square-foot Maxx WellBeing Spa, home to 20 treatment rooms for holistic and science-based treatments—including an infrared sauna, a hammam, and balneotherapy (aka bathing in thermal and/or mineral waters), to name a few.
For those searching for more physical activity, a state-of-the-art fitness studio offering aerial yoga, Pilates, and an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool should do the trick. The space will also help you work up an appetite for a trip to the Maxx Wellbeing restaurant, where healthy dishes designed to give your immunity a boost are served.
Your little ones will have plenty of space to hang out, too. The Maxxi Land children’s club has dedicated, age-appropriate areas for kids, from 1-year-olds to teenagers. And for off-site exploring, the resort offers a number of experiences that shine light on Turkey’s heritage, including visits to Ephesus Ancient City (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Pamukkale Travertines, and Hierapolis Ancient City.
Maxx Royal Bodrum will be the brand’s third outpost, alongside the Max Royal Belek Golf Resort and Maxx Royal Kemer Resort in Antalya. The company also has plans to launch the Maxx Royal Maldives in 2025. We bet that property will have a nature-centric design, too.
