Two spas, a silent beach, and a pebbled bay, Hillside Beach Club is an oasis of calm in Turkey

(18th August 2010)

It may seem a long way to go for some pampering, but with just a four hour flight to negotiate, Turkey may not seem like such an unlikely candidate for a spa holiday. The fly and flop holiday has long begun to lose its allure for most people, and nowadays the modern holidaymakers would rather stay somewhat active while abroad - before enjoying a glass or two of the local vino.

And while opportunities for treatments are few and far between at home, a few days in a five star beach-side hotel with two spas to choose from, can provide ample time to catch up on some much-needed TLC.

Surrounded by pine trees, the Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye is a picturesque resort which has been designed to co-exist with and make the most of the surrounding natural environment. Rooms are spacious, and open onto a terrace overlooking the bay - which also hosts an enclosed shower. While Hillside is a family resort, for those seeking rather more solitude, there are two additional beach areas - one which can be reached by a delightful multi-coloured traditional boat and is child-free - and another completely silent beach. Well, almost silent except for the noise of the cicadas.

With two stunning spas to choose from, a traditional Turkish hamam, and the eastern influenced Sanda Spa, the holiday can provide an opportunity for much -needed pampering.

I enjoyed a fabulous skin-buffing body scrub and massage treatment, and a pampering facial. The treatment rooms of the Sanda Spa are high up in the trees above the silent beach with an open air post-treatment relaxation area on the patio. While there is plenty of scope for luxurious pampering, chilling on the beach and sunbathing all day, there are plenty of activities for guests wishing to stay active. The beach club hosts a variety of activities such as tennis, fitness, aerobic, step, stretching, basketball, beach-volley, archery and all water sports including wakeboard and scuba-diving.