Experience the best of both worlds staying in these private Turkish villas set within a resort packed with facilities

By Ben West

On Antalya’s main square, three huge dogs are lounging by the Ataturk statue, sleepy from the rays beating down from the surprisingly strong February sun. An old man is looking out to the sea, fiddling with his ‘worry beads’, which are used in many cultures and religions around the world to either help with meditation and prayer, or simply as a distraction during stressful times.

There doesn’t seem to be much evidence of stress here, as local men lazily play board games outside little cafes, and a smattering of tourists sample kebabs and delicious spreads of mezes in the nearby restaurants.

Walking through Antalya’s old town is delightful, through cobbled streets past ruins of fortified walls, whitewashed houses and striking mosques, including Tekeli Mehmet Pasha mosque, built under the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th century.

Antalya is one of the most popular destinations on the Mediterranean coast, boasting more than 300 sunny days a year and a hot climate from March to October. Indeed, on a visit in February this year it was very sunny and comfortably warm. In contrast, Bodrum has considerably less hot days, a much shorter holiday season of four months, and fewer flights available.

Sitting at the foot of the Taurus mountains, Antalya offers glorious beaches, fabulous boat tours and a host of activities, including rafting, zip-lining and quad biking.

Culturally fascinating, you can explore the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis in southern Antalya, an ancient holy city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on hot springs. Remnants of Antalya’s time as a Roman port include 2nd-century Hidirlik Tower, and Hadrian’s Gate, built to honour the Roman emperor’s visit in 130 A.D.

Turkey currently represents great value for the British visitor, after ongoing economic woes including high inflation, the pandemic and earthquakes. On top of that, fallout from the Ukraine War triggered significant devaluation of the Turkish lira. Whether you want a taxi, restaurant meal or simply a beer, your pound will currently go significantly further than many destinations around the world.

However, if luxury is a greater priority to you than counting the pennies, the brand new Bayou Villas from Barut Hotels in the Kundu district of the city won’t disappoint.

Located with easy access to Antalya’s airport, which is just 10 kilometres away, the development comprises 24 private one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas ranging from 246 to 983 square metres.

Each villa comes with a large terrace and a garden with swaying palms, a heated seawater pool and a swim-up lagoon pool. They have a variety of impressive facilities, such as a fully-equipped kitchen, gym equipment (Technogym weights, an exercise bike, treadmill and yoga mats), a spa treatment room, hot tub, pool table, Turkish bath and sauna.

Having a massage in your own private spa room, or a gym, sauna or steam room session in your own villa really makes you reflect that you are living in the height of luxury. The four-bedroom villas have even more, including a piano, study and lift. You also get 24-hour room service and butler/personal assistant service in the three- and four-bed villas.

The very spacious properties boast modern, elegant and slick decor, with dark woods, blues, greys, and metals, and sculptural chandeliers. They have en-suite bathrooms, and there’s a further guest bathroom too. In the bedrooms there’s a choice of pillows, dressing table areas and loads of storage space.

Their large terraces have garden furniture, a dining table for six, and sunbeds. Although the villas are situated next to each other, high walls and plenty of foliage means that you feel there’s plenty of privacy. They are a popular VIP and celebrity choice due to the privacy offered – and you can arrive by helicopter or yacht if you wish – and have the funds…

“We want our guests to experience a privileged lifestyle while feeling completely at home,” say Onur Cankaya, assistant general manager at Barut Villas.

The team have attempted to implement every new trend in guest accommodation and there is a host of tech features including smart TVs with Chromecast, motorised curtains and blackout curtains, and a Bluetooth sound system. On arrival you’re greeted with a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne on ice, a bouquet of fresh flowers, premium spirits, fresh Turkish delights, baklavas, macaroons, nuts and fruit. There are several minibars, and the fridge in the kitchen is full of drinks and snacks.

A family business forming in 1971, Barut Hotels implements as many eco-friendly initiatives as possible, such as much use of green and renewable energy, and retaining as many trees and as much land as possible rather than simply adding more rooms and villas to the resort.

The business supports numerous local endeavours, such as animal shelters and ongoing local Roman excavations. With so many stray cats in the area, it established a cat sanctuary too.

The villas are located on a bigger resort, the Lara Barut Collection resort, which is a short walk away. It has nine al-a-carte restaurants, between them serving excellent food from around the world. It makes you wonder why the villas have their own kitchens. One restaurant, Zestful Bazaar, has a very extensive, high quality buffet, and there’s also two cafes, a patisserie, seven bars, an ampitheatre and a nightclub.

“It’s a huge undertaking, employing 600 people in the low season and up to 1000 in high season,” says Onur Cankaya.

The resort organises daily events and activities, and the resort’s private beach with cabanas and a children’s playground is a four-minute buggy ride away. There’s a spa, gym, tennis, squash and volleyball and basketball courts, an aquapark, archery, air rifle range and mini golf.

One memorable activity Bayou Villas can organise and that is certainly worth opting for is a Turkish olive oil tasting. Presided over by olive oil expert Professor Dr. Mücahit Taha Özkaya, member of the Faculty of Horticulture at Ankara University, the evening is full of fascinating facts – for example we learned that olive trees can live 4000 years and that there are around 200 varieties of olive tree around the world. Tastings of a variety of oils were surprising in both their very different tastes and their diversity.

Turkey produces around 200,000 tonnes of olive oil annually, but so much of it is lapped up domestically, and very little ends up in UK shops. We learned about surprising health benefits of olive oil, and how to taste it correctly and release the aromas. Some rarities that Professor Özkaya gave us were so potent they had an incredible kick – a sign of the very best oils.

Bayou Villas also offers fascinating wine tastings, where you learn about Turkish regions, grape varieties and viticulture, and taste some wonderful examples alongside a delicious tasting menu.

With the sheer number of things to do on the resort, and the gorgeous surroundings of the villas, few guests will find it easy to leave the grounds and explore the region!

Further information: https://bayouvillas.com/en