Hotel Hillside Beach Club

The resort is tucked away in verdant pine forests only a few miles from Fethiye town centre, and about an hour's drive from Dalaman International Airport.

Hillside Beach Club is open between the end of April and the end of October.

Hillside is not your typical beach resort - at first glance it is, but look closer and you'll find excellent standards everywhere; from accommodation and facilities, to food and drink and service in general. It is also quite compact, main facilities are easily accessible at the centre of the resort and from most areas of the resort there are lovely views of the surrounding mountains, cliffs and pine forests.

There are plenty of entertainment options at Hillside, whether you want an active holiday, or prefer to chill out at the spa or on the beach. There are four tennis courts overlooked by a well-equipped gym, plus an all-day program of various sports and fitness activities, some hosted in Studio One (dance classes etc.), others outdoors. Next to the studio, the amphitheatre features nightly entertainment from the in-house animation team. A large pool is found near the water's edge, and is where most daytime animation takes place. Other activities include arts and crafts workshops (for all ages), Turkish language lessons and post-evening entertainment beach parties. However, we were surprised that for such a large resort there was only one swimming pool (excluding the wading pools at the kids' club). Hillside compensates with three private beaches.

For the children, the kids' club facility is excellent, with spacious play areas, numerous kids' pools, waterslides and activity areas. On top of that, there are several animators and lifeguards on duty at any one time, plus a security door at the kids' club entrance. Unlike some other resorts, the kids' club is open all day; the kids are taken to lunch so that parents don't have to collect their little ones until the end of the day should they choose. The weekly jumping castle is especially popular.

For those who need to relax, there are not one but two spas on-site; the Sandaspa day spa located near the pool (with the usual amenities for classic therapies and treatments) plus the fantastic Sandaspa Nature, promoting a range of Eastern therapies. The best thing is its setting; hidden away in the forest, the spa is like a secret, beautifully decorated tree house offering the most indulgent of treatments...

There are 330 rooms at Hillside, housed in 8 blocks found on either side of the main areas. Built into the hillside, the higher up the accommodation the better the view, even if the resort assures guests that 90% of rooms boast sea views. Two outdoor elevators provide access to the upper level rooms (thankfully as the climb to rooms at the top is steep and high) however, with over 330 rooms, two elevators are probably not enough. There are five room categories, known simply as A, B, C, D and E type.

A and B type rooms are the standard room and standard family room respectively. The difference is that B-type rooms consist of a second bedroom and open-air patio. Rooms are modern thanks to their simple but tasteful decor. Comfortable, spacious and clean, they also benefit from lots of light. B-type rooms feature sliding glass doors which open on to the terrace, which doubles as a living room (and from where the bathroom and second bedroom are accessed). A-type rooms do not feature an additional bedroom, or an open-air patio. C-type rooms are those located on the ground floor and do not come with a balcony.

The quality of food and beverage at Hillside Beach Club is well above average. The resort operates a 'full board plus' meal plan which includes all meals and some drinks (e.g.: soft drinks, bottled water, beer and table wine at lunch and dinner). Besides the main buffet restaurant, there are two à la carte restaurants on-site. Like the rest of the resort, the main restaurant boasts contemporary decor but also features large buffet areas, high ceilings and indoor and outdoor seating, the latter with sea views. At peak times however, guests could experience long waits at the buffet but take comfort in the fact that the food is fresh and delicious. From the salads to the desserts, we certainly appreciated the mountains of choice.

Meanwhile, the Pasha on the Bay restaurant serves a late, light breakfast and à la carte dinner daily. Its all-white décor, chill-out music and lounge ambiance evoke an Ibiza vibe. The beach bar serves snacks throughout the day but in the evenings becomes an à la carte Italian restaurant. Several bars are scattered throughout the resort but drinks are not included at any of them.

Beach-lovers will love it here. The resort's secluded location means it can claim not one but three private beaches, two of which are 'quiet' beaches. The main beach is situated at the heart of the resort and is where a lot of activity takes place. Here the beach is gravelly and pebbly rather than sandy however it boasts 'blue flag' status (awarded for cleanliness and water quality). You'll find all the usual facilities at each beach. Beach-goers can also head to the diving pontoon, play a game of beach volleyball nearby, or swim laps in the sea (there is a roped off section of 315m).

The remaining two beaches, 'Silent' and 'Serenity' are reached by boardwalk after 3 and 10 minutes, respectively. A boat service is provided to Serenity Beach for those who can't be bothered with the stroll. On the way to Silent Beach, guests also have use of two pontoons set up with beach mattresses, etc. Silent Beach is an adults-only beach situated a few steps away from the Sandaspa Nature (no mobile phones allowed). There are some rocks dotted below the surface so bathers should exercise caution or think about wearing protective footwear. Sun beds are arranged on elevated deck areas, as well as at the water's edge.

There is a wide range of water sports available; all non-motorised sports are included (and with licence, if applicable). Lifeguard supervision is provided at the main beach only.