Bodrum is often referred to as the "St. Tropez" of Turkey, and the new Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay gives jetsetters another reason to visit this historical seaside resort.
Nestled in breathtaking Barbaros Bay, the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay is the perfect getaway with its close proximity to Istanbul, only 70 minutes by plane and 30 minutes by boat from the Greek island, Kos. The hotel has 173 luxurious rooms including 25 suites and wheelchair accessible rooms, all with private balconies or terraces overlooking the Aegean Sea. The hotel has its grand opening on May 19, 2006, but Edward F. Nesta and I visited the hotel in late March 2006, to be able to introduce this new gem of a resort to our readers.
We flew Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Bodrum, where Meky, the driver for the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay met us to drive us the short distance to the hotel. Even arriving at night, we could see that the hotel has great curb-appeal with soaring ceilings, walls of windows overlooking a large infinity pool and the Aegean Sea, gleaming wood and polished marble and interesting architectural details. There are intimate seating areas located throughout the hotel, a cozy Library to relax with a book or enjoy a game of backgammon, a large Business Center, and their 5,500 square-meter Six Senses Spa ensures the utmost in privacy, features traditional Turkish hamams and some not so traditional spa treatments, including having the only Watsu chamber in Turkey, a well-equipped Fitness Center and indoor pool with whirlpool, and their new Saigon Club Restaurant is the first Vietnamese restaurant in Turkey. 
In the summer season, they offer enough water sports to try something new every day of your stay, including parasailing, canoeing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, experiencing a catamaran, taking a motor boat excursion or even learning to scuba dive. Although located by the seaside, the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay is much more than a seasonal resort beauty, and would be perfect for an elegant destination wedding, to hold an incentive conference or enjoy a weekend or a week of pampering at their Six Senses Spa.
We stayed in one of the Spa suites, perfect for guests using the spa, as we only had to walk a short distance down the hall and take the elevator to the spa. Entering our suite, we were welcomed with a cheerful colorful bouquet of curly bamboo and mixed flowers in the foyer, there was a large closet with a safe, a gracious green marble bathroom off the foyer featured curly bamboo in a square glass vase on the vanity, and the separate walk-in shower with a rain showerhead, and enclosed toilet, both had etched swirl designs on the glass doors.
The comfortable sitting room had a Philips widescreen LCD television which guests could use as an alarm clock, check the Internet or listen to music, there was a mini-bar, a comfortable beige sofa and rattan chairs with beige and white floral patterned cushions, a rattan coffee table was placed on a deep tobacco and cream patterned carpet, and there were doors leading out to the balcony, which had two lounge chairs.
The bedroom had a king bed with inviting fluffy white duvets and comfy pillows, a ceiling fan, a desk and chair, a Philips widescreen LCD television, and doors which led onto the balcony, where we began each day by sitting at the table and watching the sunrise on Barbaros Bay.
A dressing area with two additional closets, separated the bedroom from the opulent green marble master bathroom, which featured a large corner Jacuzzi with a candle on the ledge for a bit of inspired romance, a large vanity had curly bamboo in a square glass vase, there was a separate walk-in shower with a rain showerhead and an enclosed toilet, both of which had etched swirl designs on the glass doors. Fluffy robes hung near the shower, luxurious Turkish towels were neatly stacked on the towel rack, and there was an assortment of Kempinski branded amenities. Four telephones were located throughout the suite ensured that we did not miss any telephone calls.
Although it was too chilly in March to go for a dip in the infinity pool, we did go down to the beach with the intention of solely looking at the sea, and ended up wading in the water up to our knees. The water was cool, but we loved playing in the waves!
We enjoyed taking ‘spa journeys’ at their incredible Six Senses Spa, which we write about in detail in the Spas section. With their unique spa treatments available, it makes a stay at the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay a ‘must’ when visiting Turkey.
In the evening, we listened to live guitar music as we enjoyed dinner in their restaurant, Olives. Read the article on the restaurant as well as an interview and recipes from Executive Chef Eyüp Yunusoglu in the Restaurants and Chefs’ Recipes sections.
Visiting the hotel in the off-season proved to us that this stunning new beauty is anything but a summer romance only, and really is a destination and hotel for all-seasons.
Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay
Kizilagac Koyu Gerenkuyu mevkii
48400 Bodrum, Turkey
Telephone: +90 252 311 03 03
Fax: +90 252 311 03 00
Email: reservations.barbaros@kempinski.com
www.kempinski-bodrum.com
www.kempinski.com
Please read our articles on the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay and Turkey in the Destinations, Chefs’ Recipes, Restaurants, Spas and Luxury Products sections.
For additional information on Turkey, please contact: Turkish Culture and Tourism Office, www.tourismturkey.org. For Turkish Airlines information, please contact them at Turkish Airlines, www.turkishairlines.com.
© May 2006. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
