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Türkiye, Bodram
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“What do you want? Dance lobster for lunch?”
Sahir Erozan, owner of the legendary Masakza Resort in the Bodrum Peninsula of Turkey, introduces us to the latest products of his portfolio, Ultra Premium Villa Masak Jez.
Here, your dreams come true with this sparkling white 10-bedroom real estate bougainvillea-containing tier, wrapped in an aromatic herb garden that flows through the sea.
Locally known as “Mr. Bodrum,” Erozan took over the Masakukiz brand from his mother, Eira Emilogul, who made high-end hospitality the job of his life and helped transform this scenic Aegean spire from the 1960s into a Bohemian escape.
Under Erozan, the customer has Ritzier. Maçakızı has not revealed the client list, but it is reported that guests here include Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Bill Gates.
The villa has an eclectic mix of artwork from the pool, gym, spa and Erozan’s private collection, but the bespoke food that famous chef Carlo Bernardini jumped into joining us is a real star.
If this property is a Wonka factory for adults, Bernardini is a glittering maestro, creating a fantastic blend of joy and wonder.
“Whatever people want, whatever their wildest imagination is, Carlo and his team can really put it together and make it happen,” says Andrew Jacobs, Masakuji’s general manager.
This villa costs $50,000 per night. This is what you get for money
The villa is very private and there is no real access by road. The boat is a way for guests to arrive here at Cennet Koyu (“Paradise Bay”) and there is no shortage of neighbours with a high net nearby.
The northern shore of the peninsula is where Turkish elites come to visit for summer adventures.
A stunning entrance just east of Göltürkbükü, Paradise Bay has emerged as the biggest choice of 1 percent, from local glitterti to international A-listers.
“Carlo is very good at partying here,” says Jacobs, showing us around the waterfront dining area. “It’s very early on the 1st of July, 30 people have now reached 200, and we’re ready to do that.”
A wine cellar filled with rare vintages is an essential addition to these spectacular celebrations. “You can’t really value what’s here,” says Jacobs.
The villa costs $50,000 per night in high season, but it can be much more expensive depending on the guest’s choice of bespoke extras.
Mandarin Oriental Bodrum
Villa Masakis opened in 2019, but is just one of the new high-end hotel brands opening around the bay.
The luxury hotel chain Bvlgari, with several front post bases in world-class cities such as London, Tokyo and Milan, is giving Bodrum a seal of approval by building a massive resort across the water from Villa Massac Ziz in the eastern part of Bodrum.
The property is set to open in 2027 and occupies a 10 hectares of terraced gardens. All of these are landscaping from scratch.
Heading westward from Villa Masakukiz around the bay, the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum spreads over the hillside of a very huge estate where you can visit individual rooms in Google Street views.
Golf carts take guests from rooms, apartments, villas to restaurants, bars, or beach clubs.
“Every villa has a private pool and a private garden,” says Cem Akchahin, hotel manager, who can run up to tens of thousands of dollars per night. They are all facing Paradise Bay, he points out.
“We attract high-end customers from all over the world. They come with private megayahats, they come with private chefs, Butlers, and enhance their experience during the holidays,” he says.
The resort has its own designer shopping village, with 40 international brands represented by its untouched green laying streets.
A variety of well-known premium brands are also represented by restaurant offerings. High-end Japanese restaurant chain Roca opened its branch this summer at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum. Here you can enjoy Roca’s signature dishes and custom-made new creations in an outdoor restaurant overlooking Paradise Bay.
Around the bay to the west, Max’s Royal Bodrum and Scorpios Bodrum sit on a hillside facing each other across the water.
Enter Maxx Royal’s large, airy reception and a delightful fragrance will hit you before all the senses are enchanted as you drink a welcoming tea.
The grassy covered pale timber apartment with a private pool is slotted on the hillside just as perfectly as architectural models, including choosing an off-plan slice of the plan.
Like Mandarin Oriental’s products, the four-bedroom hill villa, which costs tens of thousands of dollars per night, is the most spectacular thing at the resort, says Dina Serebi, Guest Experience Operations Manager.
Healer’s Land Spa
Paradise Bay has seen competition intensify to attract high-end customers, and the outstanding offering at Maxx Royal is a two-storey 5,750-square-meter spa.
There are 20 treatment rooms and offerings include everything from hammams to Himalayan salt rooms to state-of-the-art longevity centres.
“Our customers are travelling very well. They are very well known,” says Banu Alagöz Najemeddin, spa manager. “Wellbeing is currently a big sector as part of our travels, but we really want to provide a personalized connection.”
She believes that Bodrum location adds to the uniqueness of the spa offering. “This is the land of all healers,” she says. “The Aegean part of Turkey is very special. It is flora and fauna, and the oceans are different.”
Adult beach club brand Scorpios has built a cult following on the Greek party island of Mykonos, and expanded to Bodrum in 2024, starting the summer season only.
Bodrum and Mykonos “match very well in terms of nature, sun and ocean,” says General Manager Can Erikan. “At the same time, it’s also a good crossbridge between the east and west. Both provide an international crowd.”
Scorpios serves high-end customers. High-end customers balance good times on restaurant terraces, bars and outdoor dance floors with crisp linens and flowing beach robes, with good times in restaurant terraces, bars and outdoor dance floors, with daily life focused on happiness and personal development.
“We’re not just about the Bodrum nightlife concept,” Erikan says. They showed us around the gorgeous rooms and “ritual space:”. “It’s a 24-hour experience for guests to enjoy their time here.”
The season closing ceremony at Scorpios will take place on the weekend of September 19th-21st, with guests dancing the sunset for the last time in 2025. Yachts that have hit summer are less as summer is heading towards autumn, but quiet people in the offseason want their visitors to want a slice of paradise for themselves.
