Serendip's gorgeous beachside setting
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Serendip Select Hotel
Turkey › The Datca and Loryma Peninsulas and Gulf of Gokova › Kumlubuk
Set on an idyllic unspoilt bay, this small but stylish hotel is perfect for both couples and families seeking a sophisticated hide-away right on the beach.
- Boutique Hotel with 16 rooms and suites
- Bed & Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Air-conditioning
- Transfers included, or reduced car hire rates
Couples and families seeking a truly relaxing base right by the sea, far from the hustle and bustle of the busy resorts, yet with a dash of style and sophistication, need look no further than this delightful boutique hotel. Heading south from the busy town of Marmaris, it literally feels like you gradually leave the stresses of modern life behind, passing first the popular resort of Icmeler, then the much more laid back bay of Turunc, before the road takes on a distinctly rural feel, finally reaching the sleepy hamlet of Kumlubuk, scenically set on a sweeping bay backed by rugged, pine-clad hillsides.
We used to visit Kumlubuk years ago, when what is now the Serendip Select was a very well-positioned but rather basic little hotel, so we were stunned to discover its recent transformation. From what was once over 30 rooms, the new owners have created just 16 extremely spacious rooms and suites, which are beautifully appointed with solid-wood furnishings and quality fabrics. All are equipped with LCD TVs with satellite reception and DVD players, air-conditioning, mini-bars, safety deposit boxes and telephones. Hairdryers and bathrobes are provided in the modern en-suite shower rooms. Standard rooms are twin-bedded and have a balcony or open onto a shared terrace. Suites are approximately 50 sqm in size and have queen-size beds in the bedrooms, plus the option to sleep a third person in the living room, as well as boasting two balconies facing the hotel's virtually private beach. The Major Suites are larger still and have king-size beds and a large Jacuzzi tub off the bedroom in addition to the separate shower room.
The service at Serendip Select is personal and informal, with the aim of making guests feel at home and at ease. Rather than having a breakfast buffet with fixed times, breakfast is served on request at whatever time suits you. Dinner, romantically served on the beachside terrace during the summer season, is a highlight to look forward to, thanks to the creations of the hotel's chef, who previously worked in some of Istanbul's finest restaurants. In between, the most pressing decision is whether to bed down for the day on one of the comfortable loungers on the sand-and-shingle beach bordering the hotel's subtropical gardens, or to relax by the large swimming pool. Given the small number of guests catered for by the hotel, and the sheer amount of space available, neither the pool nor the beach ever seems to get crowded.
Serendip Select is the perfect choice for unwinding completely and recharging those batteries, but should you occasionally feel like a change of pace, the pleasant resort of Turunc is a 5 Km taxi ride away, whilst Marmaris can be reached by water-taxi in around 30 minutes, a worthwhile trip for anyone interested in retail therapy, but just as enjoyable for the journey itself. Those who prefer exploring on foot can ramble amidst the fragrant pines, perhaps towards the remnants of the ancient Hellenistic theatre of Amos, just half-an-hour's walk away.