How Turkey became the new Maldives

Luxurious simplicity has come to a country more famous for its big beach hotels.

I thought Bijal, the latest luxurious resort in Turkey, would offer many things, but I never expected a choral performance in the late evening.

However, on my initial evening, while I walked back from the palm tree-lined terrace at the peaceful Beach House eatery, a mixture of bird sounds filled the air.

Small frogs and insects, birds chirping at night; a lot of natural sounds that made me think I was in a place much warmer than Turkey.

The next morning, the same emotion lingered as I walked towards breakfast, passing by neatly trimmed flower beds. They were bursting with red hibiscus, bright pink bottle brush, and beautiful bougainvillea vines. Three pine trees stood tall like guards above the ClubHouse, a low-rise building with art deco design that serves as the central point of the resort.

The terrace at ClubHouse has spacious rattan sofas and basket chairs, surrounded by tables covered in white cloths. In the background, you can hear the gentle sound of jazz music and the occasional noise of a golf cart carrying guests around. Despite being in a bustling Turkish resort town, the atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and calm, making it feel like a secluded island retreat.

The creators of Bijal wanted to capture the essence of a relaxing island paradise, similar to its luxury counterparts in the Indian Ocean, Joali Maldives and Joali Being, but without the expensive cost. A stay at Joali typically starts at around £1,300, nearly twice the price of a night at Bijal.

Featuring only 19 villas, accompanied by three dining establishments, two bars, and a team of attentive butlers always available to fulfill any request, this place stands out from the large 500-room resorts commonly found in Side. It offers top-notch service comparable to popular luxury resorts in Bodrum such as Aman, Six Senses, and Mandarin Oriental, albeit at a similar price point.

Bijal is not the original hotel in Turkey to capture a Maldivian atmosphere, but typically it has focused on specific features, like the accommodations or beach, rather than the entire overall feel.

The Lujo resort in Bodrum has sandy beaches with sand imported from the Indian Ocean. They also have a stunning Lotus Pier, featuring cabanas over the water on both sides and a bar and lounge located in the center of the pier.

In Belek, a destination known for golf, the Granada Luxury Resort offers a range of Maldivian-inspired villas that sit over a swimming pool rather than the ocean. I have a fondness for the Perdue in Faralya, which features charming thatched-roof suites and a secluded atmosphere, though it does not have a beachfront.

Above all, what makes Bijal unique is its small size, raising the standard for high-end boutique accommodations. Some visitors choose to spend their entire vacation in their villa, allowing me to experience uninterrupted peace and calm from my first morning to the end of my stay.

Whether napping in a cabana on the secluded beach or relaxing in the villa with its glowing, blue pool, outdoor bathtub, and enclosed garden, there was hardly any noise to bother me.

The hotel's distinct yellow color can be seen in everything from the keys to the bikes, beach bags, robes, and even the sheets, creating a cozy and fluffy atmosphere. During my stay, I joined a pottery class, got caught up in a intense table tennis tournament, and enjoyed relaxing on the beach, feeling completely isolated from the outside world.

I also explored beyond Bijal's exclusive setting and decided to take a two-hour guided tour of Side. Side is a mixture of an ancient city and a popular tourist spot by the waterfront, just a short drive away from Bijal (a different experience compared to the Maldives).

I was shocked to find out that there was no fee to enter the ruins. You could freely wander through the triumphal arches, colonnaded streets, and the large amphitheatre. Among the restored Ottoman houses on the headland, you could see the ancient dwellings from thousands of years ago. The stunning Temple of Apollo stood tall above everything else.

The town is now completely centered on attracting tourists; storefronts filled with brightly colored handbags, restaurants bustling with customers, and the main street crowded with visitors who arrived by bus or taxi from nearby vacation spots.

Bijal was within walking distance, so I decided to walk back. It took me about thirty minutes to stroll along the beach as the sun was setting, casting a beautiful golden light on the temple's four white-marble columns.

I told myself I would join for dinner one night, but the allure of evenings at Bijal was too strong to resist. Sipping ice-cold beers at the ClubHouse, indulging in Turkish meze with olive oil and creamy yogurt, and enjoying freshly caught sea bass at the BeachHouse as the sky shifted from blue to lavender to a deep, starry mauve. Palm trees standing as dark shadows in the dim light made the experience even more magical.

I was pleasantly surprised by the most unforgettable meal during my trip: a stunning sushi platter that looked like a work of art, with thin slices of salmon, eel, shrimp, and crab on top of delicate rice. It shouldn't have been a shock, though, considering I was in the newly opened Maldives resort, which felt like a home away from home.

Bijal has one-bedroom villas available for £767 per night, including breakfast. You can also book a flight from Gatwick to Antalya with Easyjet starting at £74.