Hillside Beach Club
Hillside Beach Club is a highly acclaimed beach resort located on the Aegean coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Fethiye, Turkey. The resort is quite popular with European tourists looking for an all-inclusive stay, but we never encountered another American during our stay. In fact, most of the Club’s employees were both surprised and impressed when we shared that we’d come all the way from the United States. Could it be that post-pandemic tourism had yet to increase from the States? Possibly. But it may also be that Americans are missing out on one of the world’s most stylish and impressive resorts located on a pristine stretch of one of the globe’s most beautiful coasts.
This post is largely a comprehensive review of the Hillside Beach Club rather than a recap of how we spent our time there. The goal was simple and easily accomplished: relaxation at its finest. So for three days at the beginning of our two week trip around the country of Turkey, we lounged in magnificent, early-summer Turkish sun, splashed in the chilly, nearly transparent Mediterranean water, and ate to our hearts’ content at one of the finest resort buffets on the planet.
The Location
Hillside Beach Club is located near the coastal city of Fethiye, Turkey. The nearest airport is Dalaman which is about an hour away by car transport. During the resort’s open season, there are numerous flights into Dalaman every day, many of them direct from Istanbul. For our trip, we flew into Istanbul from the United States and, without even leaving the airport, caught a flight down to Dalaman several hours after arriving in Turkey. The resort will arrange transport from the airport, or, if you’re planning on an extensive trip through Turkey, you can do as we did: rent a vehicle and drive to the Club yourself. Parking onsite at the resort is by valet and included in the price of the stay.
Fethiye is a very cute port city on the Mediterranean with many things to do and places to explore, including an old town, bazaar, and marina. We had entirely too much already on our Turkish itinerary, so spending any amount of time in Fethiye was not possible during our stay. The best we could do is drive through the city on our way out, and, by the looks of it, Fethiye has a lot to offer!
The Resort
Each of the rooms at Hillside Beach Club presents a stunning sea view, so there is not a bad room at the resort. As its name implies, the resort is literally built into the hillside, so all of the rooms face the water to the North west, allowing visitors to escape early morning sunrise wake-ups and enjoy the beautiful Western sunsets. The rooms are simple and comfortable, with private terraces and semi-outdoor restrooms. It did seem that many of the resort’s highest rooms with the best views are booked well in advance by returning Club visitors, so first timers, like ourselves, are given the lower rooms with less-stellar views. Still, was only a small complaint that did not impact our overall stay.
There are three restaurants at which to eat at Hillside. The Main Restaurant is where we enjoyed almost every meal during our time there, as the buffet-style meals are included in the price of your stay. Pasha on the Bay and the Beach Bar are other options that offer a-la-carte dining and require a reservation. During our stay, there were no available reservations at Pasha, the fanciest dining option at Hillside. We did eat at the Beach Bar for one lunch but found it to have a limited menu compared the expansive buffets that were offered at the Main Restaurant. So, for us, there was no reason to deviate from the Main Restaurant.
The buffet meals were spectacular. I cannot proclaim enough how impressed we were at the quality, variety, and overall beauty of the buffets in the Main Restaurant at Hillside Beach Club. For each meal, we chose from seemingly limitless options of fresh breads and salads, hot options including red meat, fresh fish, and pasta, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and more desserts than we had the opportunity to taste. Beer and wine were included with the meal at the Main Restaurant but not elsewhere at the resort, an important detail to remember.
The Beaches
Everyone comes to Hillside Beach Club for the same reason, the beautiful Turkish Riveria beaches. These beaches of the Aegean coast are pebbled beaches, so they are lined with comfortable sun loungers aplenty. There are three different beaches at the resort. The Main Beach is at the center of the resort and is the biggest of the three. It is open to all and where most of the activity takes place. The resort’s large pool is only steps away from the Main Beach. Serenity Beach is an adult-only beach that is located around the bend from the Main Beach. Accessed by a short hike through the pines or a ride on the resort’s adorable little motor boat, Serenity Beach makes one feel like they are isolated in Turkish Paradise. There is a bar at Serenity Beach, and the number of lounge chairs is limited to keep the serene atmosphere constant. Finally, Silent Beach is the other adult-only beach where guests are encouraged to maintain a quiet and tranquil presence. It is a short walk along the boardwalks from the Main Beach.
In addition to the three beaches, there is a large pool where guests can spend time if the Aegean is too chilly. There are also several floating sun decks available for lounging. This is actually where we spent the majority of our time in the sun because we loved feeling like we were floating in the ocean while relaxing and reading in the Turkish sun.
Overall, I was impressed by the ratio of guests to sun spaces. At some resorts, there are hardly enough spots to accommodate all of the resort’s patrons. But at Hillside Beach Club, there was always a place to lounge, and we never felt crowded or bothered. Do be warned, though: the best spots still require an early wake-up and belongings drop.
The Activities
Hillside Beach Club does an outstanding job offering guests plenty of things to keep them entertained without making them feel pressured to take part in any of them. One of my least favorite things about most resorts is the incessant poking by resort employees to make sure guests are enjoying themselves. At Hillside, you’re given all the details you need to enjoy your time as you see fit.
There are water sports available from the Main Beach during daytime hours that seemed pretty popular with guests. We tried the elliptical paddle boarding for a short time with questionable success. There are organized volleyball matches, yoga sessions, and children’s activities. Hiking and biking opportunities are plenty in the pines surrounding the coastal resort and can be organized by resort staff. Plus, there are opportunities for bigger unique excursions by boat. We booked a sunset sailing experience that we loved so much. There is also a spa on the resort that we didn’t have a chance to try out during this stay.
Nightlife is available for those wanting it on the resort as well. One of various shows is performed at the resort’s amphitheater each evening, and there are also beach or pool parties that are thrown. During our stay, we enjoyed the Full Moon party with dancing and drinks one evening and spent time at the Pool Bar listening to live music on the other.
The Overall Experience
Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye, Turkey is the perfect resort for non-resort people. At Hillside, the impeccable beauty of the Turkish Aegean coast is ever-present, making relaxation and rejuvenation obtainable for each and every guest. You won’t be bothered or annoyed by resort employees. Rather, you’ll be welcomed, appreciated, and left to enjoy your getaway in whatever way is perfect for you. The reasons for why we loved this resort are endless, and we’ve already discussed returning in the future. Kudos to Hillside Beach Club for giving two anti-resort travelers the most enjoyable resort stay!
