gorgeous Kalkan and Kas with Discerning Collection

Travelled to Kalkan on 8th April 2011- what a lovely place for a holiday! Beautiful village, in parts really old, with steep cobbled streets, little houses with wooden balconies covered in flowers, fantastic views over the ocean and an amazing selection of restaurants and small boutiques to browse around. Pure heaven! This is defnitely upmarket Turkey! There is a small town beach, but better to catch a Dolmus from the top of the village to Patara Beach - a beautiful long stretch of sand and turquoise water awaits! There are a variety of excursions available- maybe to Kas for shopping , Fethiye for the weekly market, or why not take a boat trip out for the day on a traditional Turkish Gulet- just a small selection of what is available. Lykia Residence and Spa is the only officially recognised 'Boutique' hotel on the Mediterranean coastline of Turkey, as well as being, arguably, the best hotel in the area, for adults only.It has full Spa facilities, including Turkish baths, overlooks the sea with fantastic views, the cuisine is 'to die for' as is the terrace setting of the a la carte restaurant.Two outdoor pools, and one indoor, owners suite with private access to one of these is just gorgeous, again with beautiful sea views, and all the rooms ( 31 in total) are beautifully presented with those little touches which make all the difference.There is also a studio type 'retreat'' seperate from the main hotel, but with use of all the facilities, as well as the Lykia Residence , which is a villa on it,s own.Also, down steps through the grounds you can access a small cove for swimming or sunbathing. The property is approximately 15 mins stroll to the harbourside and the village. Next, and my particular favourite is The Asfiya- beautiful grounds and swimming pool, with five different room types and choice of suites- including master deluxe suites , the 500 type which are entered via a bridge over the swimming pool and have their own jacuzzi are absolutely stunning! This hotel is particularly good for families. There are also 2 penthouse suites, again with fantastic views and your own private swimming pool- WOW! Again around 15 minutes walk to the village. If you,re on a tighter budget The Yali, right on the waters edge with it,s own beach club and small pool is an excellent choice- approx 15 mins walk from the centre, or there is a shortcut via steps up to the Lykia. Just 7 rooms, again with great views! The Oasis, where I stayed, is just down the road from The Asfiya, adults only outside of school holidays, with a small pool and sunbathing terrace. Beautiful small property with a lovely ambience really close to the village.A choice of rooms and suites , as well as 2 penthouse suites with own jacuzzi. If you wish for a larger pool just stroll up the road to the Asfiya- they,re under the same ownership so no problem! There are also a great choice of fantastic villas in Kalkan itself. I loved the Villa Saray- super luxury throughout , with indoor pool and Turkish bath, sauna , steam room and jacuzzi, 5 gorgeous bedrooms, huge living area and own pool- absolutely stunning throughout. Another option really close to the centre with beautiful decor and own pool would be the Villa Doruk, with 5 ensuite bedrooms it would be great for a large family or group of friends.There is also a selection of countryside villas in the Kaya valley, including one overlooked by one of the famous 'ghost villages'- atmospheric to say the least! All have modern facilities , including pool, and all include car hire. Moving on to Kas, just a short journey away there is a stunning brand new hotel , the Kas Peninsula Gardens- sister hotel to the Lykia Village, and with the same high standards of service and decor. All but 5 of the luxury suites boast their own private pool, private beach platforms extend out into the turquoise waters beyond, own Spa, own Gulet for cruises around the area, and taxi service into Kas - all part of the service!Perfect for couples, and luxurious adults only property. The service provided by Discerning Collection is truly excellent, from the bottle of ice cold water distributed on the transfer vehicle, the knowledge and helpfulness of the staff in resort, to the actual booking process itself- you can even have your room number prior to travel! Highly recommended.