GREECE or Turkey – which adults-only hotel will you pick?
Choose between romance and partying with our top picks for your child-free summer escape.
The Romantic One
Casa Cook, Samos
Writer Molly Reynolds and boyfriend James found spa bliss and fab hikes on this picture-perfect Greek isle.
The Pad
Inspired by traditional Greek houses, the swim-up suites at Casa Cook are our faves – each has a rainfall shower, Olive Era toiletries (made with Greek olive oil), his-and-hers stone sinks, plus sleek double loungers with direct access to one of the five (yes, five!) pools.
Hit the beachside eatery for lots of brekky options, including local treats such as baklava and bougatsa (custard-filled pastries). Later, try Greek-fusion dishes like kopanisti – a rich tomato and feta dip served with deep-fried flatbread, £5.20, and lamb with aubergine, garlic and sumak, £21.
Have an Aegean Rose on the side – a mix of Greek gin, cucumber juice, lemon and elderflower, £12. For extra-chill vibes, the spa has a hammam steam bath, multi-shower experience and hot tub.
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Book the amber healing head, scalp and back massage, £104 for 1 hour, for added bliss. There are Theragun sports massagers and Pilates reformer machines in the gym, plus free alfresco yoga, too.
Explore
Idyllic Pythagoreio town (birthplace of philosopher Pythagoras) is 20 minutes’ walk away. His huge harbour statue is worth a selfie with, before wandering the cobbled streets to The Blue Street, where bright murals by local artists cover the white stone.
Hire bikes from the hotel (£9 for 3 hours) for the 20-minute cycle to the ruins of Heraion temple – dating back to the 8th century BC, it was a shrine to Greek goddess Hera.
Entry costs from £2.60 per person. The island is also known for its incredible hikes.
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Put tranquil Potami Waterfalls top of your list and hire a car from the hotel (from £70 per day) to drive 40 minutes to the footpaths that lead you 4km through an enchanting plane-tree forest.
A short wade through a crystal-clear river brings you to the breathtaking waterfall, where you can cool off before trekking back.
ReFuel
Grab an iced latte at cute Two Spoons cafe, nestled beneath olive trees and with views of Pythagoreio’s pretty harbour (Twospoons.gr).
At Storia Dolce, you’ll find freshly made gelato – the huge selection of flavours includes strawberry cheesecake and Kinder Bueno (Facebook.com/storia dolcepythagoreio).
Come evening, soak up classy beach-bar vibes at Asterias, where you can tuck into diavola pizza with pepperoni, mozzarella and chilli oil, £10, teamed with a glass of crisp Greek Agiorgitiko Moschofilero Rosé for less than £5 (Doryssa.gr/restaurants/asterias-seaside-experience).
Don’t MISS
For a truly epic day, try sea kayaking through story-book-like caves and visiting two secluded beaches that are unreachable by car, all with views of the island’s stunning mountains.
Four-hour tours cost £48 per person, including a picnic lunch (Seakayaksamos.com).
Book it
Double rooms at Casa Cook cost from £156 B&B (Casacook.com/casa-cook-samos). Return flights from the UK to Samos cost from £275.
The Party One
Cooks Club Adakoy, Turkey
Stylist Jess Evans and husband Jack found DJ heaven and souvenirs galore in Marmaris.
The Pad
Nestled on the shores of the Adakoy peninsula, with a pine-tree nature reserve backdrop and party town Marmaris just a 20-minute boat ride away, Cooks Club has stripped-back interiors, a sleek pool where DJs spin their tunes and its own private stretch of beach to chill on.
Beachfront yoga and paddleboard Pilates at sunrise and sunset are included, plus there are alfresco movie nights, too.
Explore
Hikes and ancient caves are right on your doorstep in Marmaris National Park.
Or jump in the hotel’s water taxi, £3 each way, and get snap-happy from the watchtowers at medieval Marmaris Castle with its pretty harbour views and quaint museum, £3 entry.
Later, get your haggle on for Marmaris’ traditional Grand Bazaar, which is open until late and bursting with stalls of spices, the town’s famous pine honey, mosaics and fab leather bargains.
ReFuel
The hotel’s seaside Cantina restaurant serves up everything from Thai noodles to quesadillas at live cooking stations, plus fresh sushi made right in front of you.
But forget queuing, as the waiters bring the dishes to you – result! Breakfast is a spread of local breads and menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes), plus brunch faves like eggs benedict.
In Marmaris, find pasta dishes for under a fiver and great DJ sets at Bono Good Times Beach (Bonogoodtimes.com).
Or order a burger, £5, and a Moscow mule, £10, at Felix Marina, while enjoying live gigs and super-yacht views from its sunny terrace.
Don’t Miss
The hotel’s romantic sunset boat trip is dreamy, with unlimited bubbles, wine or beer, plus fresh fruit and cheeses. Trips cost £39 per person.
Book it
Double rooms at Cooks Club cost from £117 per night on the Feel Free package, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus selected alcoholic and soft drinks (Cooksclub.com/en/cooks-club-adakoy-marmaris-turkey).
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- Photography: Getty Images, Instagram/Asterias, Instagram/Two Spoons, Shutterstock
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