We tried the most luxurious resort in Turkey: a personal assistant, Michelin-starred menu and service even on the sun lounger, all this awaits you at Bijal
Bijal: a premium resort with premium services
Many Czechs go on holiday to Turkey every year. And although the resorts there often offer a higher level of service than those in Egypt, it is still not a destination associated with luxury or exclusivity, so to speak, "not quite for everyone", as is the case with the Seychelles or the Maldives. But this is exactly what Esin Güral Argat, a well-known Turkish entrepreneur, has decided to change, as she already owns and operates two premium hotel resorts in the latter archipelago. She was inspired by their concept and transferred it to the environment of the Turkish Riviera, which is generally more accessible to Europeans. And it is an indisputable fact that after a stay in Bijal, as she named her villas-only resort, everyone must necessarily conclude that she has succeeded in fulfilling her plan to the letter. Because the phrase "going to the Turkish Riviera" takes on a whole new dimension in the case of Bijal.
Of course, everyone's idea of luxury is different - and it also depends on their own experiences. But a stay in Bijal is a luxury that not only few people have experienced, but can even imagine. Have you ever liked the movie scenes in which a driver waits at the airport with a sign with the names of passengers, only to load them into a shiny vehicle and take them to their destination? That's exactly how our stay in Turkey began. We were picked up at Antalya airport by a hotel driver whose job it was to take us to our hotel. The journey, which takes less than an hour, goes by quickly - especially if you are in a luxury Mercedes equipped with a TV and a minibar (wifi is a must). The personal welcome at the hotel reception and the introduction to the so-called "movie star" also add to the feeling of being at least a movie star. During your stay, you will be welcomed by the butler, a hotel employee who will make sure that the feeling of stardom does not leave you (it did not leave us for a second during our stay).
What makes the resort unique?
First and foremost, comfort, convenience and privacy are truly a priority here. That's why there are only individual villas (19 in total) in the entire complex surrounded by flower gardens and scented with pine trees. Their size varies according to the number of bedrooms, ours had two and each had its own bathroom. Unnecessary, you might say. But once you've had the luxury of a separate bathroom (albeit as a couple), you'll find you wouldn't change...
All the villas also have a sophisticated lighting system, whereby you can use an orientation floor light as part of the night mode, or opt for 'total darkness', where the rooflights are closed off (the morning sun doesn't stand a chance!). And although the control of the whole system is quite intuitive, most of the work in this case is also done by the staff, who do the cleaning in the morning, but also in the evening - when they prepare the villa "for sleep" at dinner time. Yes, for the first time in my life, when I got to my bedroom, I had not only my pajamas ready by the bed, but also slippers and a bottle of water...
The individual villas also have their own heated swimming pool (we are still exploring how the builders achieved the optical illusion of a broken bottom, which gives the impression that the depth of the pool is not the same in all places - and the person who stands in the middle looks like a leprechaun...), which is especially useful in the off-season. But perhaps also for "night swimming", which is otherwise classically forbidden in hotel resorts.
The feeling of uniqueness will simply be waiting for you at every turn in Bijal. Indeed, as soon as we arrived, we were greeted by small refreshments in our villa, as well as a bottle of premium champagne. However, we don't recommend drinking it on a hot summer afternoon, at least not if you plan to go to the beach afterwards. There is a relatively long paved road leading to the beach, which Bijal guests can use bicycles to get to. During the day, riding them is quite fun (and in the evening, in dresses, in a sense, actually too...).
And the beach?
When we went to Bijal, we watched the weather with a bit of skepticism and didn't have much faith that there would be a classic "beach". However, the turn of May and June turned out to be an absolutely ideal time. The air temperature just below 30 and the sea, which was pleasantly refreshing. And above all: peace and quiet. The beach, which is reserved for the guests of Bijal, is strictly private, equipped with comfortable sunbeds with towels and umbrellas (everything, however, corresponds to the intimate atmosphere of the whole complex), not missing a wooden walkway (even at the end of May, the sand really burns through midday). And of course the "beach service". Personally, I've already experienced some forms of it, but I've never received a cool towel to refresh myself after sitting on a sunbed, or even sunscreen (let's take water for granted in this case). At the same time, the staff that provides this service continuously checks if something is missing while watching the sea waves - and they obligingly fulfill practically any request (and often even surpass them, bringing chocolate-covered strawberries, fruit fresh...).
Food: a chapter in itself
If we keep building on the concept of luxury, it's clear that classic all-inclusive buffet dining is not waiting for guests here. With the exception of breakfast, where you can choose fruit, cheese, nuts, local specialities or honey straight from the honeycomb (and top it all up with a breakfast special from the menu), all meals are à la carte. And because Bijal takes unprecedented pride in its gastronomy, they have approached Michelin-starred chefs to create the menu, one of whom, Theodor Falser, is a permanent fixture at Bijal. And it's not only visible - it's also on the tip of your tongue. Since Falser is known for his love of nature, this permeates not only the menu of the individual specialties, but also the plating. The dishes, which in many ways rely on combinations of simple flavours (would you think you'd taste the best borscht of your life in Turkey?), look like little works of art on the plate (to the point where you'd be sorry to disturb them with your cutlery) - and it doesn't matter whether you just order spaghetti, lobster or a "mere" scoop of ice cream. And by the way, if you're a coffee lover, the espresso here will - to thematically modify one of Premek Forejt's favourite catchphrases - "shoot you out of your swimsuit".
While you will undoubtedly feel stellar at Bijal, there is no need to worry about being too starchy. On the contrary. All the staff surprised us very pleasantly with their friendliness and immediacy. It is also worth highlighting the attention that is paid to all guests - on arrival, my fellow traveller mentioned in connection with the welcome drink that he does not drink alcohol. Without discussing this further with anyone, the information was passed on to both restaurants and we were, for example, alerted if alcohol was used during the preparation of the meal. There was also no problem with the preparation of the dishes in gluten-free version - simply put, at Bijal they really care about individual approach, wishes, but also possible limitations of the clients.
Genius loci
Although Bijal itself is a place where one loses track of the passage of time and the world around, it is still worth leaving it at least for a while. The resort is located about 30 minutes' brisk walk from the small town, or rather archaeological site, Side. On a hot day, we certainly don't recommend a trip along the road, but in the evening? That's different! And why go to the "excavation site" at night? Because it's open, accessible for free, and even lit up. In fact, you can see some parts of it, including the preserved colonnade or the really large amphitheater, from the hotel beach with a little attention. It's just that on a sun-drenched day, you'll hardly know exactly what you're looking at. But if you're at least minimally interested in history, a night tour of Side (we left the grounds at 1am) is something you won't forget, much like your stay in Bijal.
In the end, though, one thing is true. Even the best description of any experience doesn't do justice to the experience itself. It has to be actually experienced. And for Bijal this is doubly true.
We've tried it for you: the fitness centre in Bijal is worth a visit even if you don't want to exercise at all. The equipment is modern and top-notch - and if you don't want to walk to Side, you can take a run through Rome or Athens, for example, thanks to the treadmill projection.
We've tried it for you - the 'adult version': unlike Dubai, both Grindr and Tinder work here without any problems or the use of a VPN. And you can also catch free wi-fi in selected places in the centre of the Old Town in Side. You're welcome! ;-)
