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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.

Dede Restaurant - Two visits Dede Restaurant in Marmaris, Turkey, lets the quality of its food, service and surroundings drive its business instead of the traditional aggressively spruiking nature of the other restaurants hugging the foreshore of the harbour. We ate here twice during our two-night stay in Marmaris, which is a testament to the high service levels and food quality. The team are so positive, with plenty of laughter and smiles that make your dining experience even more rewarding. On our first night, we met a lovely couple, and we fast became friends; it was a night full of laughter and fun. Dede Restaurant is what we class as fine dining so that you can choose from the freshest of fish on display to tasty steaks and much more. The menu is varied enough but not so large that it would compromise the food quality, the chef brings his A-game, and you won't be disappointed. The swordfish was mouthwatering! Dede Restaurant is the place to enjoy a slow lunch or dinner with premium wine more than a sunset cocktails venue. For cocktails, Alice Marmaris is the place to be. The white table clothed tables take this restaurant up a level compared to most other dining establishments along the marina in Marmaris. Perfect location for a lazy afternoon lunch or dinner while gazing at the various charter boats trying to lure another group of tourists into a tour. This is a premium restaurant, so expect to pay for the quality of the food and surroundings; think crisp white linen table cloths and impeccable dressed team members. With an extensive wine list covering both old and new world wines, plenty of hidden gems will make you want to return. We felt like part of the family after only two visits. Thank you to Baran and the incredible team from front to back of the house; you made our stay in Marmaris very enjoyable. Fun facts about Dede restaurant, source Dede website: Dede started business as a cafe in 1973 by Ali Denizelli (1888 – 1992) at the same spot where it is today. Ali Denizelli lived a long life, mostly on the sea serving on his clipper as a postman for many years to and from Marmaris and Rhodes Island. His healthy life of 104 years was credited mainly to his simple diet mostly comprising of seafood and his lifestyle on the sea. Since its foundation, our establishment has remained in the family having been converted to a beautiful restaurant meeting the needs of today. Ali’s grandchildren now run the restaurant. By naming the restaurant Dede (Grandfather) is an attempt to keep alive his name and memory.

Pineapple Restaurant - One visit Pineapple Restaurant is one of the few dining establishments in Marmaris, with white tablecloths while still giving you a view of all the yachts moored within the marina. Good service, and they even handled our request to move as the sun slowly crept over our table. Nothing better than having a cheat day and enjoying a pizza. Yes, we ordered a Hawaiian (sorry to all those purist pizza lovers, Sally could not miss this opportunity). It reminded us of being back home in Australia. There is nothing better than starting your meal with a Mojito, and the bar ensures only the freshest ingredients are used in your cocktail. The yellow and white awnings give you that relaxed seaside vibe and suit this restaurant; ignore the logo (as a designer, I would not be proud of that design!). It doesn't represent the beautiful dining experience you will receive; therefore, don't be put off by casual branding. Pricing is reasonable considering the location, design and ambience. The wine list was large enough to ensure all taste styles were well catered.

Sunset Boutique Hotel - Two nights Sunset Hotel Marmaris is a lovely boutique hotel ideally located in the centre of Marmaris in the heart of the historical Kaleiçi district. You are right in the port, surrounded by restaurants and a stone's throw from the bazaar for shopping. We selected the Superior Double with Balcony, the most significant room, to ensure we could enjoy the balcony, which gives you great views of the harbour and beautiful hills. The place is spotlessly clean; the only issue would be based on the price point. It's time to retire the grandmother style bedding; this would take this to five-star immediately with new crisp fresh white bed linen. Some creative photography made the relatively tiny bathroom look more significant than reality, but stylish, modern, and hot water was aplenty. You could easily sit outside and watch the sunset and the boats bob in the water as the lights dance over the sea. We did have breakfast included, but unfortunately, we didn't eat breakfast simply because Turkish breakfast tends to be too filling for us digital nomads. The hotel has strong wifi throughout, and the rooftop bar and restaurant host amazing views of the harbour and a friendly little bird. We found the location perfect; you could easily explore all the dining and bar scenes, as everything was on your doorstep. Marmaris is a very popular tourist hotspot, being a port city and a high number of all-inclusive resorts. To obtain the authentic nature of Marmaris and shelter ourselves from the hectic tourism, we loved Dede Restaurant for dining and Alice for cocktails. The family who runs the hotel are lovely and friendly, very accommodating and will make sure your stay is as you expect.

Halil's Place - Two visits Sitting alongside a crystal clear stream fed from the surrounding mountains takes your breath away. Halil's Place is a hidden gem of a restaurant. It will provide you with an immediate sense of calmness. Halil's Place is located in Akyaka, the pearl of the Aegean in Mugla province and a short 30 minutes from Marmaris (the hectic tourism town). Akyaka is a true treasure in Turkey on the southern coast. Being the shoulder season, our expectations were low; however, the team at this restaurant again proved us wrong. There are plenty of warm smiles, and when Can the chef comes out for a chat and photo-op, you know you've found the right place. Excellent pricing, especially considering the pristine and peaceful location and delicious food. Take your time and peruse the wines on display; the pricing varies; however, you can find a reasonably priced couple. The chef takes his time to ensure your freshly caught fish is cooked to perfection, while there are plenty of meat dishes to keep Wayne happy. They host an excellent range of fresh fish each day. I was very impressed with my grouper; it was delicious, deboned, thicker in texture, and not strong in taste. There are so many dining choices perched along the river; however, we found this was the only one that allows you to sit directly next to a freshwater stream, with no barriers. You can easily spend an afternoon watching the local friendly eels, ducks and all the birdlife, enjoying the crystal clear water bubble across the rocks and small waterfalls. It was pure joy.

Alp Suites Safran - Two nights Beautiful, modern and stylish accommodation in Akyaya, Mulga, a beautiful coastal town bordered by mountains, the sea and a creek, and Byzantine homes! Akyaka was another new part of Turkey for us, two hours south of Bodrum. Alp Suites delivered and more. This two-bedroom apartment is perched on the side of a hill, and you are surrounded by mountains, with beautiful views across the valley of Gökova Bay and the castle currently being restored. The design is Byzantine, yet the interior is that of a very stylish beach house; think whitewash floors, extensive artwork, and classic interior styling. Very well equipped for cooking at home, as a spacious kitchen with floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the view. We loved the views and the two full showers with plenty of hot water; the only thing was some minor cleaning of the sunbed by the simply stunning large shared pool (10m in length). Sally enjoyed doing some laps while I soaked up the sun. A short stroll away, approximately 15 minutes from the Çay Creek, some beautiful waterside restaurants, and a few supermarkets (however, these markets lack fresh produce and meat, so you need to visit the centre of town, about 25 min walk, or 5 min drive). We walked into the centre of Akyaka. It truly is beautiful, a quaint town full of Byzantine architecture, crystal clear waters and birdlife, engulfed in a forest of pine trees, mountains, and a lovely beach, something for everyone. This apartment is better suited to those with a car; however, we handled it, as we dined out twice at the most magical Halil's Place, approximately 15 minutes walk. The apartment is also more suited for holidaymakers as it lacked a work area for us digital nomads to work comfortably.