Alice Marmaris - Two visits Alice Cocktails & Coffee stands high amongst all the average bars and clubs in Marmaris, Turkey. The mixologists focus on quality over quantity and are passionate about ensuring you experience some simply great quality cocktails. The team are so warm and friendly that we often stopped by late afternoon to enjoy a sundowner before the crowds came out. They are more than happy to push your boundaries or allow you to taste your classic cocktail (or with their specific twist), We enjoyed all the little touches, like the small free nibbles quickly placed on your table before ordering your favourite cocktail. There is nothing better than drinking a perfectly made cocktail, served in great glassware, made with premium spirits. Most nights, they have a DJ, and Wayne enjoyed dancing with locals and creating new friendships. The bar is not a huge venue, so the team can focus on drinks and spending time with the guests. Very reasonable pricing compared to some of the poor experiences we received from the other traditional club/bar venues. Don't miss out on the fabulous cocktails, tunes and fun at Alice in Marmaris.

Epocafe - Four visits Epocafe is a modern, fresh, quaint coffee shop located in the magical Gocek in Turkey. Epocafe has a chic coastal style reminiscent of Byron Bay, Australia. The best coffee we've tasted in our five-month journey around Turkey. Chill tunes and a team that is so warm and full of positive vibes, you keep on coming back. It's often full of digital nomads enjoying perfectly brewed coffee made by Oktay and his team of talented baristas. The list of coffees and teas is extensive, and you can also enjoy breakfast. My recommendation is the granola with yogurt, and the cheese toastie is delicious too. They have a freshly baked range of cakes for sweet tooths, and the iced teas are very refreshing, perfect for a hot summer's day. Sit outside in the chairs enveloped in the greenery and coolness with a book (the gentleman next to me is reading Hamlet while I type away). They have a selection of books to peruse while you are visiting. Epocasa their beautiful accommodation is located above Epocafe, should you wish to take advantage of the complete package. You also have Epoca Carpet, a traditional Turkish rug store for perusing or shopping.

Bodrum English Walton’s Home - Four nights A stylish Airbnb located in Gumbet with a lovely view on the Aegean coast of Turkey, a short 10-minute drive from the centre of Bodrum. This two-bedroom modern apartment is fully equipped and is perfect for those wishing to self-cater, with plenty of high-quality cooking utensils, pots and pans. Note there is no oven, but sufficient cookware to diversify. The furniture is high quality and very comfortable, and the full-sized windows and sliding doors provide a lovely ambience to enjoy the view whilst staying cool. Lightning quick internet, the apartment is ideal for enjoying the views and sunbaking on provided sunbeds out the front and watching sunsets over the bay. As previous guests have stated, the hot water service is inadequate for the size of the space; two of us were unable to shower immediately after each other. However, again, a simple fix by replacing the full flow shower headers with low flow heads, Our super friendly host, Ali, often dropped in to surprise us with some tasty desserts (truly spoiling us) as he lived in the complex. Ali has his guests as the top priority and was accommodating and helpful. Unfortunately, we didn't use the pool; however, it was large and inviting. Gumbet town is only a short 15-minute walk down a gently sloping hill; unfortunately, the supermarkets lacked dedicated meat areas, and let's say fresh produce was a bit light on. Again, maybe because of being in the shoulder season, it might be ideal for shopping in Bodrum. We also highly recommend Lizaz Restaurant and Chinabloom in the centre of Bodrum. You will not be disappointed. Most restaurants were closed in Gumbet due to early in the season, so self-catering suited us perfectly in the apartment. Gumbet during summer is a popular tourism resort and party region, so if this is your scene it will be perfect.

Bodrum Castle - One visit During our stay in Bodrum centre with a magical view of the Bodrum Castle and after recommendations from our local friends, we had to visit the Bodrum Castle. We were impressed and fortunate to enjoy it without the crowds. An insider's tip is to check how many cruise ships are docked, as this castle experiences large crowds and queues. We visited during the shoulder season and had the castle to ourselves and a few other people. It is a beautiful castle; I loved all the wildlife wandering around, peacocks (and white peacocks), and tortoises who were brave enough to say hello! Stunning views over Bodrum, very well maintained and goes without saying full of history lessons. The artefacts of the shipwrecks and discovery journeys were quite remarkable. The natural history lesson from Wikipedia: Bodrum Castle is a historical fortification located in Bodrum, built from 1402 onwards by the Knights of St John as the Castle of St. Peter or Petroleum. A transnational effort, it has four towers known as the English, French, German, and Italian towers, bearing the names of the nations responsible for their construction. The castle was completed in the late 15th century, only to be taken over by the Islamic Ottoman Empire in 1523. The chapel was converted to a mosque, and a minaret was added. The castle remained under the empire for almost 400 years. After remaining empty following World War I, in the early 1960s, the castle became the home of the award-winning Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Visit the significant shipwreck in the museum and reflect on the divers, many of whom had more than 5,000 individual dives to recover the displayed artifacts.

Oxygen 12 - Two nights An Airbnb located in the magical Gocek, Turkey, a place where you arrive and never want to leave, the perfect location to rest and rejuvenate. This three-bedroom Airbnb is huge, spread over three levels, and even includes a lift (a rarity in Turkey) to go to the entry level, great for luggage. It is even better than the pictures. Incredible value for the location, quality of apartment and size. Perfect for a family of six or two couples with a child each. You could easily self-cater with the massive kitchen, which includes everything you need to cook a fantastic meal. Spotlessly clean, with the master bedroom giving you a balcony to gaze out across the town to the majestic mountains surrounding the charming Göcek village, and you are spoilt with sunsets too. The showers are the largest we've experienced, and happy days, no water leaks out (which is also a rarity) and plenty of hot water! The windows are covered with flywire, so you can open them all and let the calm, gentle sea winds create a breeze through the apartment. This place has a giant LCD screen, the biggest I've ever seen for those who love chilling after a night out. Next door, the restaurant does have live music; however, this finishes nicely before midnight, which didn't disturb us and created a positive and fun ambience. Strong high-speed wifi with modems throughout the apartment, so ideal for digital nomads. The host is super friendly, and we could not have asked for anything more; a great find in Göcek. Villa Safiya hosts an excellent range of holiday accommodation in Gocek and surrounding Fethiye. Gocek is a hidden coastal gem; large developments are banned, nothing over two-story-high, calm, relaxed community vibe, super-yachts, and catamarans dot the harbour and marina. Peaceful views and spoilt for choice for dining.

Surfer Caravan Gastro Pub & Suites - Two nights An Airbnb perfectly located on the waterfront in the centre of Bodrum amongst the beautiful cobblestone alleyways and magnificent views of the Bodrum Castle. The suite was modern, spacious living and bedroom, with a beautiful balcony to enjoy the views; the bathroom was a little crowded. We stayed in the Rhino Suite, which was the smaller of the two, but due to the separate bedroom and beautiful morning view, we felt it was more suitable. The kitchen had all the appliances to cook, but with limited cooking utensils and pots and pans, it was not suitable to cook and prepare meals. But based on the location, you have an abundance of restaurants and bars on your doorstep, including the gastropub downstairs, The team to check you in was friendly and helpful; make sure you ask about the hot water switch. This will take the pain away in the morning when you are hoping for a hot shower, the host company is slow to respond, but the boys downstairs are awesome. The views speak for themselves; the Bodrum castle was magical during the evening, and being on the water's edge was lovely. The noise levels were acceptable over the weekend, and the suite is double-glazed. Note the music is beyond their control, as it comes from nearby venues and not downstairs, but it wasn't enough to concern you while sleeping. You can't beat the location, it is a pedestrian zone, and you are in the heart of the shopping strip and a short walk to all the fabulous restaurants in the marina. Our favourites were Chinabloom for incredible Asian food and Lizaz for a tranquil setting, views, and divine Lebanese food. You are also only a short walk from the most pristine Bodrum castle, which is worth visiting.

Adayali Ocakbasi - One visit Adayalı Ocakbaşı is an authentic family-owned Turkish grill restaurant specialising in melt in your mouth kebabs, just a few minutes from the heart of Yalikavak on the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey. The location is idyllic, with views over Yalikavak. It is beautiful and a popular destination for magical sunsets. The team was an absolute delight, friendly and energetic, English was limited, but it didn't stop us all from having fun during our long slow lunch. The chef prepares the meals to perfection, and the pides are a must! They are divine. The kebabs were delicious and incredibly tender, and a great range of different varieties of meat, all served with the freshest of salads. The wine list was limited, but you will find something in their local wine collection to keep you satisfied and at a very reasonable price. Adayali Ocakbasi is a hotspot for the locals, so be sure to arrive early if you want to enjoy the sunset on a waterside table. Overall a genuinely magical Turkish restaurant, it delivers on the Turkish atmosphere, spectacular service, food, sunsets and views,

Stylish Suite in Gocek Center - Epocasa 1 - One night From the moment you arrive at Epocasa to the moment you leave this magical Airbnb, you truly feel at peace. So much love and thought have gone into the building of this beautiful boutique accommodation. You can feel the passion, and the team have such incredible energy. We wished we could have stayed longer, however, this place is so popular, you'll need to book in advance. The build quality and finishings are in a different league compared to other Airbnbs we've stayed in around Turkey. There is no wood veneer in sight; think solid wood, not one piece of Ikea furniture to be seen, and very high-quality finishings for your comfort. This place is also perfect for those that want to self-cater. It is fully equipped to do so or take advantage of the abundance of dining establishments on the doorstep. You will find a washing machine, a dishwasher, a lovely balcony to watch the sunrise over the mountains, or simply people-watch. It has everything you need. There was plenty of hot water and lightning-fast wifi, perfect for digital nomads, especially with the cafe below, a popular digital nomad spot we noticed over the weekend. We often sat downstairs in Epocafe and felt it had a chic coastal style reminiscent of Byron Bay or Noosa in Australia. Epocasa is located above Epocafe, a beautiful, modern sunfilled coffee shop brews the best coffee we've tasted in our five-month journey around Turkey. You also have Epoca Carpet, a traditional Turkish rug store for perusing or shopping. Think more relaxing furnishings, chill out on the green grass outside, chilled tunes, and Oktay, and the team exude warm energy and full of positive vibes. Gocek is a hidden coastal gem; large developments are banned, nothing over two-story-high, calm, relaxed community vibe, super-yachts, and catamarans dot the harbour and marina. Peaceful views and spoilt for choice for dining. You'll want to stay for a week to ensure you leave refreshed, and you will make many newfound friendships.

Allium Bodrum Resort & Spa - Five nights After so many years of endless travel, finding a five-star boutique hotel that delivers on its promise is simply a delight. Allium Bodrum is a boutique resort hotel with only 36 rooms on the Bodrum peninsula, Yalikavak in Turkey. It is exceptionally well maintained, delivers excellent personal service and leverages its aspect to provide the perfect relaxing holiday. The team have amazing energy and vibe. The staff are always happy to talk and share wonderful stories and recommendations of their country. Nothing is too complicated; the whole team work seamlessly together. You can feel the energy and enjoyment they have working at Allium. Cliff Bodrum is the hotel restaurant and bar, and this is where the food doesn't get sidelined by the view. Yes, you'll enjoy simply beautiful blood orange and red sunsets that take your breath away or lunches enjoying the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. We enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner; all standout meals. Firstly, the breakfast is à la carte (very refreshing for a hotel). After so many average buffets, it was a blessing to experience breakfast on a whole new level, your choice instead of a traditional Turkish breakfast (which tends to be quantity over quality). We are talking about every item being cooked to order in an amazing open plan kitchen, freshly prepared by a passionate team of gourmet chefs. Enjoying your lunch with a cool breeze while soaking up that extraordinary view with a glass of wine, what's not to enjoy? Service is excellent and cannot be faulted. Exquisite dinner with a fantastic sunset, yes, please! A very extensive wine list covering all regions of the world, while more premium pricing, you'll find some gems in the list that are very well priced. The wine list is the only area we can fault with pricing exceeding the quality of the wines. However, you can delve into the list and pick a lovely wine to complement your meal. The decor of the resort, think Hamptons style, contemporary furniture that is immaculately maintained. The infinity pool is divine, with plenty of lounges, day beds, cabanas and even areas to sit in the shade while enjoying that stunning view of the turquoise Aegean sea. The service at the pool was again perfect, with chilled water on offer and served by the ever-attentive team. The rooms are very spacious and beautifully designed, with a heavenly bed with the highest quality of linens and uninterrupted views. You are spoilt with Molten Brown amenities and thoughtful touches on arrival with beach wraps and flip flops. We stayed during the shoulder season, and the value proposition is perfect, and it is peaceful and spacious. During the summer season, based on the resort's size, the facilities will cater to all comfortably as well. The location of the resort has a remote and private feel. Still, you are only a short 15-minute walk along the seaside into Yalikavak, where you have a bunch of beach clubs, restaurants and a world-class marina with an abundance of designer brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Valentino and much more. Allium Bodrum is the perfect resort for your relaxing getaway. From the moment you step into this magical resort to the moment you leave, you are in paradise. You are indulged with mouthwatering welcome treats and a farewell gift, a small lavender tree to take with you and plant as a reminder of your magical stay and help the environment. We will be back; this is a getaway that you must enjoy again. (Update, we were back the following weekend and ended up extending our 3 night stay to 5 nights, and were equally impressed).

DEKAMER - One visit We stayed in Dalyan, a small village on the southern coast of Turkey, for a few days. We were only 10 minutes from the Iztuzu beach, previously awarded the best beach in Europe. Iztuzu beach is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches and a turtle nesting beach. It is the season for nesting, so we popped down for a visit. The beach is one of the rare beaches between seawater and freshwater. The beach was called "Turtle Beach" due to the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) laying their eggs. A Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center called DEKAMER is located at the beach where injured turtles are rescued and treated. The centre is set up all year-round to help educate the public about conservation efforts. DEKAMER act as the regular monitoring of the Dalyan beach for nesting activities by accepting volunteers from all universities. Any injured turtles found along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey are also brought to the centre and will take care of their necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation. During the day, visitors are allowed to enjoy the beach and guided to set up behind the logs as the turtles' nest here; obviously, this simple instruction was commonly ignored by the tourists! Fortunately, the rehab centre and volunteers work hard to protect the nests by placing a protective cage over the eggs until they are ready to hatch. The beach closes at 8pm, and the turtles who have come all the way from Mexico each year come to nest at night. DEKAMER, the turtle rehabilitation centre, is doing remarkable work protecting the beach and turtles from all the tourists and educating them on how to respect these lovely animals. They are also busy rescuing and treating injured turtles. It was fascinating to hear the stories about the turtles' nesting; once they nest, they leave their eggs and continue moving; they can lay up to 1000 over 25-30 years. We met lovely Lenad, who was being treated for buoyancy disorder after thinking a plastic bag in the ocean was a jellyfish; she is now unable to dive, and they need to protect her shell. She is floating due to air in her belly, and she will take a few years to heal and be released!! The importance of keeping rubbish where it belongs is paramount to the safety of these beautiful animals in addition to the environment. It was a wonderful experience learning about these precious animals. Congratulations to the lovely and kind DEKAMER volunteers keeping the turtles safe, treating them and protecting their home Iztuzu Beach.