Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

On the Turkish Riviera — is there a more delicious phrase than Turkish Riviera? — you’ll find the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum. The sprawling 50-acre hillside resort enjoys privacy along a stretch of the Aegean coast that is tellingly called Cennet Koyu (“Paradise Bay”), surrounded by gorgeous beaches and lush olive groves. Save the occasional passing luxury yacht, guests unwind entirely undisturbed. (And some may rest even easier knowing that civilization, in the form of the peninsula’s namesake city of Bodrum, is a mere 20-minute drive away.)

Granted, there are plenty of reasons to stay put — multiple outdoor pools being four of them. There’s also the matter of two private beaches strewn with extra-soft sand and a three-level spa where you can experience the vigorous scrub-down of a traditional Turkish bath. A full itinerary of scuba diving, water sports, sailing, fishing, and Turkish gulet tours awaits the ambitious guests who prefer not to spend their entire vacation sunning. As do JuJu Beach and JuJu Bar@M2, run by the proprietors of Babylon, one of Turkey's most infamous entertainment companies.

The hotel’s sleek, contemporary rooms, decked out with opulent touches such as Turkish rugs, take full advantage of the striking sea views with floor-to-ceiling windows. But if gazing out on the water from your oversized bathtub doesn’t provide enough square footage to soak it all in, the sundeck, terrace, or balcony certainly will — not to mention many suites' private gardens and infinity pools overlooking the turquoise Aegean.