We were lucky enough to jump out of the car at the top of the hotel entrance to snap some photos of the dramatic views…
We checked in at the reception and then a golf buggy took us to our rooms with our luggage. As I entered my room I walked straight into a gorgeous terrace with a comfy sofa from which to watch the sunset, and there were separate double doors leading to the bedroom.
The bathroom was open-air – there was a beaded curtain giving some privacy from the enclosed terrace, and then frosted glass doors to the toilet and shower on either side of the sink area. I actually really loved this and it felt very tropical and holiday-y!
The bedroom itself was well appointed and absolutely stunning in all white, with soft beige and blue accents. There was a large bed which faced the double glass doors overlooking the terrace, a dressing table with stool and large mirror, and a huge walk-in wardrobe with plenty of hanging space, shelves, a safe, and a full-length mirror.
Serenity Beach
Serenity Beach is the other adults-only beach at Hillside Beach Club. This one is a little further than Silent, and you either need to walk the 15-minute walk round the edge of the mountain (sounds much scarier and harder work than it actually is), or get the 5-minute boat ride which goes from the main jetty every half hour.
I went to Serenity a few times, a couple of times taking the boat, and a couple of times walking. The walk is really lovely and well-worth doing at least once! Serenity Beach is incredibly quiet and it has its own bar from which to order drinks.
Bar Service From Your Sunbed
Another thing I LOVED about Hillside Beach Club was their bar service! Every single sunbed has a buzzer next to it with a letter and number. You press the buzzer and a waiter comes and takes your order so you never have to move from your sunbed. Even better? THERE IS AN APP. Yes, an app.
I got so excited about this and ordered so many drinks with it! It’s so quick and easy and means you get your drink faster than if a waiter has to come and take your order first. You simply choose what drink you want from the menu, click order, type in the code of your sunbed, and ta-da – it arrives!
The Spas at Hillside Beach Club
You guys. The resort has two spas and omg they are literally incredible. I indulged massively and had two massages and a body scrub while I was at Hillside, but they’re so cheap compared to London – and so much better – that I just had to do it!
Hillside Beach Club have a Nature Spa, which is located right by Silent Beach and is nestled amongst the trees on the mountain-side, and then there’s also the Day Spa which is in the main resort area and more of a traditional hotel spa with a Hammam,
Sauna, Jacuzzi, and treatment rooms.
At the start of my stay I visited the Nature Spa and had a one-hour body scrub and then a one-hour massage immediately after, and oh my goodness I was so relaxed I literally woke up at the end of the massage drooling (so awks) from the state of relaxation I was in! My skin was also baby soft after the body scrub.
Day Spa
At the Day Spa I had a Hot Stone Massage which is my favourite type of massage (it’s especially good when *ahem* ladies it’s that time of the month – which I wasn’t this time, but I often have them when I am as they make me feel so much better). It was dreamy, and I loved being able to use the Jacuzzi and Sauna afterwards.
Food at Hillside Beach Club
Technically Hillside Beach Club is full-board rather than
all-inclusive, as you do have to pay extra for drinks at the beach, and food at certain food places, but it’s very well-priced for the quality (the ice-cream is ah-mazing). All main meals are included though and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of all of the food!
I will say though, that if you’re after a more a la carte style of food you’re better off dining at the Beach Bar and Pasha restaurant. They’re more relaxed and stylish, and less intense with the amount of food on offer. I found all of the food to be really fresh and delicious, especially at the Beach Bar which was my favourite place to get lunch! We also had a really beautiful group dinner at Pasha restaurant one evening, which ended with a ‘White Night’ party.
The main restaurant is very big, and the amount of food can be quite overwhelming. Everything was of a good quality though and I enjoyed a lot of what they had on offer. They do everything from fresh pasta, fresh fish, grilled meats, salads, etc, to the biggest dessert station I have ever seen in my life! I love how they make most things right in-front of you so you know it’s fresh.
I’ve honestly never seen anything like it, and on our first night I tried a little bit of lots of different things because I just couldn’t decide what to have! I found the best desserts though were the traditional Baklava’s, and the tarts etc. The cheesecakes and cakes tasted a little meh, and I left a few as I figured they weren’t worth the calories, but hey, I’m fussy when it comes to dessert!
Breakfast was a similar affair with stations for fruit, salads, hot breakfast items,
pancakes etc. At Pasha I loved the omelettes, fresh crepes, and the relaxed style of the restaurant!
Activities & Nightlife at Hillside Beach Club
There are so many things to do at Hillside Beach Club! Kids can do everything from learning how to DJ to learning to sail, while adults can get involved with various workshops, watersports activities, and diving.
Sunset Cruise
We went on a Sunset Cruise one evening and it was so magical. My soul felt so at-peace being out on the ocean again (I’m SUCH a waterbaby), and the meditation workshop we did on the boat was incredibly peaceful and relaxing.
Excursion to Kayakoy Village
One morning we also drove out to Kayakoy village which is another thing that all guests are able to do. We walked around the village for about half an hour, and it felt so eerie. Apparently the Greeks used to live there but a lot of them were killed during the massacres of Greeks and other Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
This meant the majority of Kayakoy’s 6,500 inhabitants either died or became propertyless refugees and were sent back to Greece. The history of the village is hauntingly sad, and the entire town turned to rubble when a huge earthquake struck in the 1950s.
After Kayakoy we had tea and a delicious lunch at a beautiful cafe called Senit Ekmek!
Parties, shows, and silent movie nights
As well as excursions and activities, Hillside Beach Club also puts on a number of shows, parties, and silent movie nights on the beach. It’s such a great place for all ages as there really is something for everyone!
I loved the Pasha White Party on the Saturday night, but I will say that if you’re hoping to catch up on sleep whilst at Hillside you might want to take some earplugs as the parties don’t stop until 11pm, and you can hear the music *very* clearly whilst trying to sleep as we all discovered on a couple of other nights when we weren’t actually at the party.
Overall Thoughts
I spent five days at Hillside Beach Club and I honestly absolutely loved it! I’ve had a really intense 12-months and I hadn’t had a relaxing trip where I just chill-out and sit on a beach for almost a year! All of my trips have been really intense and full-on lately, especially with my exhausting recent Roadtrip in the USA.
Hillside was the perfect place to unwind and relax, and I loved it so much I’m actually looking to go back and pay for a holiday there myself because I enjoyed it so much and think it’s such a magical place! I just loved how you don’t feel as though you *have* to leave the resort to go and do things, everything is right there and it was honestly heaven.
It’s so picturesque and pretty, the weather was glorious, the beach was perfect in every way, and I miss my lazy days of just eating, swimming, sunbathing, reading, repeat.
If you’re looking for a relaxing week in the sunshine doing absolutely nothing, with beautiful surroundings and a short
flight from the UK, I can’t recommend
Hillside Beach Club enough!
*I was part of a press trip to Hillside, and as such my trip was complimentary. However all views are my own, and I loved it so much I’m genuinely planning to go back and pay to stay there again.
