Adults-only hotels in beautiful destinations that mix culture with party vibes
SWAP tantrums for tunes at these gorge adults-only hotels.
Both Greece and Turkey offer visitors the opportunity to mix culture with party vibes.
TURKEY – Hyde, Bodrum
Lean into the beach-party vibes and glorious mezze at this all-inclusive hotel, says Food Editor Kirsty Spence.
THE PAD
Say hello to the newest of the festival-inspired Hyde resorts, which opened this summer and lies just half an hour’s drive from Bodrum airport.
Interiors are contemporary boho and cocktails flow day and night, as do the beats – the music here begins early and finishes late.
Surrounded by lush Bodrum Peninsula national park, this all-inclusive resort also offers views across the Aegean from some balconies, plus swim-up rooms.
Spend your days hopping between the chic pool and the small, private sandy beach.
EXPLORE
A daily activity programme at the hotel will lure you off your sunlounger: think everything from beer pong and mandala drawing to my favourite – morning yoga on the lawn.
Or you can book an alfresco hour-long myotherapy massage, £117, and fall asleep to the song of cicadas.
The neighbouring bay boasts Torba Beach, with its clear waters and perfect sand, plus romantic fairy-lit waterside restaurants.
I recommend stopping by pretty Gonca Balik, where the waves lap at your feet as you feast on dishes such as octopus salad and fresh catch of the day smothered in Aegean herbs (Facebook.com/admingoncabalik).
Or channel your inner celeb with Hyde’s sunset boat cruise, £105 per person, and hop on a private speedboat to whizz past super-yachts and catch the sky turn pink.
You’re also just 15 minutes away from the town of Bodrum, with its ancient castle and hot springs.
REFUEL
Each of Hyde’s five eateries has its own vibe and often a DJ on the decks, too.
Plus, the cocktails are brilliantly imaginative.
Be sure to try the Super Green Sour – an asparagus-infused- tequila twist on a spicy margarita – at the chilled Bungalow bar and pair with Turkish pide piled high with lor cheese and salad-stuffed falafel wraps.
Feeling bougie? Book a spot on the Parisian- bistro-style blush banquettes at La Rebelle for succulent steak tartare and seafood vongole, followed by a cracking crème brûlée, all washed down with moreish local wine.
If you’re after a snack mid-sunbathe, hit the beach club for a mezze platter featuring the most delicious roasted aubergine dip, beef carpaccio and fried squid.
BOOK IT
Double rooms cost from £195 a night all-inclusive (Hydehotels.com).
GREECE – Cook’s Club Ialysos, Rhodes
Mix culture with cool on this Greek isle, says Deputy Editor Ellie O’Mahoney.
THE PAD
This gorgeous find, just 10 minutes from the airport, is made for Instagram.
Straw parasols and palm and pine trees line the stunning pool area, which is particularly perfect for those who love dance music when swimming their lengths.
Super-comfy beds, rain showers and luxurious local toiletries come as standard in rooms, while some even have cute little terraces and Jacuzzis.
Breakfast is a real treat, too, with fresh honeycomb, yoghurt and chia seeds, as well as the usual eggs and bacon on offer.
EXPLORE
Well worth the hour’s drive, Lindos is a magical Greek village made up of stacked white houses and scores of alleyways, all below the incredible ruins of the ancient acropolis.
Wend your way through the winding, cobbled streets up steep steps to a stunning view across the shimmering sea in the shadow of the majestic pillars.
Entry to the acropolis costs £8 per adult (Lindos-rhodes.gr).
Pop into Timi’s Place, set in the 16th-century Old Captain’s residence, for an espresso, £1.20, and an amazing view across the rooftops (Timisplace.com), then be sure to pick up homemade avocado and banana soap, £7.60, from Kori, and swoon over their soft, Greek linen kaftans (Korilindos.com).
On your way back to the hotel, stop at the Valley of Butterflies, a gorgeous forest in a quiet, dappled nature reserve with calming waterfalls and swarms of the beautiful insects.
Entry costs £4.30 per adult (Valleyofbutterflies.com).
Back at the hotel, Rhodes’ medieval old town is 20 minutes’ drive away.
Walk along the ancient battlements and search out Oh Deer Me, a super-creative, contemporary gift shop with beautiful bracelets for less than a fiver (Ohdeer.me).
REFUEL
Philosophia Beach Restaurant in Pefkos is a 10-minute drive from Lindos.
Fill up on fresh Greek salads, £10, then head to the beach below for a dreamy swim (Philosophiarestaurant.gr).
In Rhodes Old Town, book ahead for a table at Marco Polo Restaurant.
The beautiful garden is a fantastic spot for dinner, and the gilt-head bream with panko and lemongrass, £21, tastes as if it has just jumped out of the sea.
Finish with pistachio baklava, £5.90 (Marcopolomansion.gr).
Back at Cook’s Club, the rib-eye steak, £25, comes perfectly cooked – and a glass of white wine from Greek winery Muses, £5, slips down very easily.
BOOK IT
Double rooms cost from £79 B&B (Cooksclub.com).