hillside beach club turkey

Checking in at Hillside Beach Club: a kid-friendly paradise on earth in Fethiye

Going on holiday with the whole family? Then you'll want to know this tip! Imagine: a magically beautiful bay in Turkey where you watch the sun set over the sea every day and where it's just as much fun for parents as it is for the kids. I had Hillside Beach Club I've often seen it mentioned in beautiful Fethiye, and it's been on my bucket list for a relaxing family vacation for a few years. It has the feel of a boutique-style hotel, yet it's secretly nestled within a large resort where everyone will want for nothing. A stay at Hillside Beach Club is full board. And believe me, this is truly something different than the standard all-inclusive hotel you might immediately, but wrongly, think of when you think of Turkey.

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Ice cream date, anyone? One of the newest openings at Amstel1 is De Boule De Boule, an ice cream and pastry parlor just behind Waterlooplein. After trying it, I can confirm: the ice cream is really, really good. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 After seeing their Instagram, you might think of places like Folderol in Paris, the spot that became famous for pairing ice cream with wine. But De Boule De Boule feels different. Less destination wine bar, more day-time neighborhood café where you can stop by for homemade ice cream, a pastry, coffee and, yes, a glass of wine. Inside you'll find shelves filled with vinyl records, a display of freshly made ice cream and homemade pastries crafted by two in-house pastry chefs. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗗 Amstel1 is still being discovered by Amsterdam and it was a little quiet during our visit. I expect the vibe to only get better as more shops open and people find their way here. I'm especially curious to see how it feels this weekend with the market taking over the area for the first full weekend. This covered location with a courtyard feel is incredibly promising. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 • Olive oil & basil ice cream with sea salt • Chocolate ice cream with hazelnut topping • Paired with a glass of Chardonnay and an orange wine. All of the ice cream is made in-house and completely vegan. If nobody had told me, I honestly wouldn't have guessed. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 The ice cream is excellent, but what makes De Boule De Boule interesting is that it's more than an ice cream shop. It's a place for coffee, pastries, a glass of wine or drinks after a performance at the Stopera. And yes, I'm already planning to go back to try more flavors, but next time in the evening for a dessert after dinner elsewhere. Just to see how the space changes throughout the day. What would I order then? Very curious about the White Coffee ice cream! 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 📍 De Boule De Boule @debouledeboule Amstel1, Waterlooplein Would you go for olive oil & basil or keep it classic? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Today marks 43 ☺️🎈 But when I look in the mirror, I still see that 28-year-old girl who, 15 years ago, had no idea she would turn her hobby into her job. Thanks for being there (perhaps for so long) to follow this adventure 🫶🏼❤️. ✖️✖️✖️ @anne_de_buck
Come with me to get breakfast in Taipei 🥢 Straight from the airport to this little spot to taste soup dumplings and so much more! That's what I call a soft landing 😉

swimming pool

Family-proof dream vacation at Hillside Beach Club

Hillside Beach Club in beautiful Fethiye leaves nothing to the imagination. Beautiful rooms (suitable for families with up to three young children), a wonderful Balinese spa, the most fantastic kids' club (Kids Side) imaginable, an adults-only beach, and tons of fun activities nearby. Trust me, Hillside Beach Club has all the ingredients for a relaxing family vacation. If you'd like a sneak peek at this gem in Turkey, read on.

Wake up on your private terrace with a sea view at Hillside Beach Club

Whether you prefer a practical room or want to go all out in luxury, Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye offers a variety of options. Don't be put off by the price, because let's be honest: Hillside Beach Club isn't for everyone during peak season. That's why I recommend visiting in the early season, like during the May holidays, or in the autumn, as we did. The weather was still fantastic! Hillside Beach Club is a wonderful hotel to stay in, not only for couples but also for families. There are family rooms that can accommodate up to two adults and three young children. With two separate bedrooms, parents can still enjoy some quality time together!

hillside beach club

private terrace of the suite

Hillside Beach Club Turkey rooms

Left: master bedroom // right: children's room

Book a room near the Kids Side at Hillside Beach Club

Every room overlooks the beautiful bay, but the rooms near the Kids Side (the Kids Club) have the best views in my opinion. I especially recommend the rooms in that area for parents with young children, as they make it so easy to drop off and pick up. It's quite a walk from the rooms near the reception or spa. I loved waking up every day at Hillside Beach Club. Sitting on your private balcony in the morning, a pleasant sea breeze wafts in and you can smell all the nature around you. And that view... even when the kids are in bed and you're still enjoying a bottle of wine on your terrace, the view is magical. I still think about it often!

hillside beach club Turkey

day view from the room

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night view from the room

Nature and culture in Fethiye at Hillside Beach Club

It's no lie that Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye isn't your typical Turkish hotel. The name speaks for itself: this beautiful accommodation is built on a hillside. Hillside Beach Club is the perfect place to truly experience Turkish culture and nature. The hotel is located about 4 kilometers from the town of Fethiye, where you'll find several delicious restaurants (the fish market is highly recommended!), and for a dose of culture, the Amyntas Rock Tombs, located on the edge of town, are also ideal. Hillside Beach Club's location is perfect in that respect. Completely secluded and peaceful in its private bay, yet close to the action if you want to seek it out. For example, rent a car for a day to explore the area; it's also fun to visit the Blue Lagoon on the other side of the hills. And if you don't feel like going there because Hillside Beach Club is so lovely, I don't blame you!

Amyntas Rock Tombs

Amyntas Rock Tombs

Play in the sea or at the kids' side at Hillside Beach Club

Although Hillside Beach Club has a lovely pool, the real treat is the pebble beach overlooking the azure sea. There was certainly no shortage of sunbeds when we visited in the late season. The sea slopes gently, making it perfect for kids to play. But chances are they'll prefer the Kids Side pool over the beach. There, the kids have their own pool with slides! Good to know: children under 4 can use Kids Side if one of their parents is present. From 4 years old, children can participate in the activities on their own. Every day there's a fantastic program that you can view in the app, from crafts to theater and dancing! Nannies are also available for a fee, and there's a Baby Side for the little ones and their parents.

| TIP: bring water shoes for the pebble beach!

hillside beach club

Off to Kids Side (there's a lift too!)

hillside beach club

Best kids club ever!

hillside beach club

kid-friendly beach

Discover the adults-only beaches of Hillside Beach Club

Are you staying at Hillside Beach Club without kids? Or are the kids already settled in? Then that's the perfect time to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy nature. I'd recommend heading to one of the adults-only beaches, located at the far end of the bay, where you can truly escape the resort. If you can't de-stress here, I don't know what will. I literally felt all the hustle and bustle melt away at Serenity Beach. You can get there by a ten-minute walk through the hills or by taking the hotel's shuttle boat.

hillside beach club

Serenity Beach – Adults Only

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Boat to Serenity Beach

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Walking path to the spa and silent beach

Silent Beach – no phones! ;-)

Canoeing and SUPing, followed by a relaxing day at Sanda Day Spa // hillside beach club

Situated in a tranquil bay yet bordering open water, Hillside Beach Club in Turkey is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Enjoy not only water sports like kneeboarding, sky-sailing, and diving, but also canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Prefer to unwind completely? Take Vinyasa or Yin yoga classes or pamper yourself in the Balinese spa, surrounded by greenery and beautiful scenery. I hear you thinking... where do I leave the kids? Kids Side, of course, or for older kids, there's the Activity Center.

hillside beach club

canoeing in the bay

hillside beach club

Kids Side = You Time

Sanda Day Spa

Taste the flavours of Turkey with delicious mezze // hillside beach club

At Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye, you stay on a full board basis. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and any drinks you consume) are included in the buffet restaurant. All other drinks outside of these meals are not included. It's not a small resort, so I recommend dining early or a bit later to avoid the crowds. We preferred the poolside tables in the restaurant. There's a nice breeze, and you can sit comfortably with the kids on the long benches. I found the staff incredibly friendly. They really went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable.

I can only say that the food in the buffet restaurants was truly excellent. Especially if you, like me, love Turkish cuisine, you'll be thrilled here! The most delicious mezzes, cheeses, and Turkish charcuterie. And daily changing dishes prepared right in front of you. And if you don't feel like eating the buffet for lunch, go to the Beach Bar where you can eat à la carte. We often did that for lunch, and it was wonderfully relaxing. Good to know: between restaurant opening hours, you can't order à la carte dishes on the beach, for example. You can, however, always get snacks at the bars, like simit with melted cheese.

hillside beach club

Main Restaurant

Main Restaurant

Beach Bar & Restaurant for lunch

Romantic dining in the à la carte restaurants // hillside beach club

During your stay, you can also make evening reservations at the à la carte restaurants. If you'd like to do this, make sure to do so immediately after check-in, as seating is limited. Because we were at Hillside Beach Club with Manuel, we didn't eat at the adults-only restaurant, Pasha on the Bay. But it did look absolutely beautiful from our balcony in the evening! We did, however, eat at The Beach Bar & Restaurant in the evening. It has a beautiful waterfront setting on the edge of the bay. If you can't make reservations for multiple evenings at the à la carte restaurants, I thought the buffet in the Main Restaurant was just as good, and it was incredibly relaxing with kids! If you have small children, I would definitely make sure they've eaten something before heading to The Beach Bar & Restaurant around 20 pm. They can make delicious dishes for the kids, but I always feel more relaxed knowing my little friend won't get hangry.

The Beach Bar & Restaurant

Beach Bar & Restaurant a la carte

After dinner entertainment // hillside beach club

After dinner, you can have a drink at the restaurant bar. Although, chances are the kids will want to go to the show or movie night. There's a different show in the theater every day. I'll be honest: this isn't something we'd normally do on vacation. But after seeing the joy in Manuel's eyes and how much he loved being on stage, we ended up going there every night, haha. There are also fun things to do every evening at Kids Side, like a mini disco. So cute! After the show, we often took a bottle of wine back to our room to relax a bit before Manuel had to go to bed. Good to know, because I hadn't actually read this in other reviews of Hillside Beach Club, but in the evening there's (loud) live music until quite late. Personally, that's the only downside I can think of to this wonderful resort.

hillside beach club

Bar at the pool area

End your holiday with a sunset cruise // hillside beach club

One of the highlights of our Hillside Beach Club vacation was a fantastic sunset cruise. You can book this through the hotel for a small group or privately. To surprise my husband, I booked the boat for a private sunset cruise, and WOW! It was truly a special experience to have the entire boat to ourselves, and to our great surprise, the package included bubbles and delicious snacks.

Would we return to Fethiye and this side of Turkey? Absolutely! I already knew the Bodrum area pretty well, but I definitely want to see much more of this side. And Manuel? He's still talking about Kids Side! In short: if you're looking for a fantastic, almost all-inclusive holiday at a family-friendly resort, you'll want to check out Hillside Beach Club. Enjoy!

Feeling inspired to book? View the rates for a holiday to Hillside Beach Club with Corendon here >>

Hillside Beach Club

Sunset Cruise

Can be booked as a private cruise or with other guests.

More photos of Hillside Beach Club in Turkey

pool area

bar area by the pool

View of the Main Restaurant

Serenity Beach – Adults Only

View over the bay

Walking path to Silent Beach and the spa

Adults only – 100% relaxation

hillside beach club turkey

Relaxing by the pool

room view

rooms near the kids club

eating ice cream!

playing at kids side

crafting at kids side

kids pool at kids side

hillside beach club

Family room, possibly with an extra baby bed

View from the hike to Serenity Beach

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