After much indecision about whether to stay at the Dionysos Estate, or Serendip Select, Kumlubuk we chose Serendip as it was right on the beach. I have to say - it was fabulous. I could see from their web site that it looked lovely, but I think it was even better in reality. It is situated on a lovely small quiet bay. So - where to start?

This small boutique hotel is beautifully and quietly located looking out across the sea to mountains, amidst the most lovely scenery. You can't see a 'sea horizon' from the hotel, it's more like staying on a very large lake. Apparently the hotel has very recently undergone a major renovation and refurbishment, everywhere is pristine and cleanliness is obviously high on the agenda. Rooms - we had a standard - are not luxurious but are nice, a reasonable size, very clean, and comfortable, with just about as much furniture (all new) as one needs e.g. a large wardrobe with plenty of shelving and hanging space, a minibar with TV on top and 2 bedside tables. The bed was comfortable although quite a firm mattress. The bathroom was brand new, with a good shower and nicely tiled, in fact new floor tiles throughout the hotel, frequently mopped! We had a small balcony with seating for 2, (suites have 2 rooms and 2 balconies), but the trees between the hotel and the beach obstructed views of the sea. We were on the 1st floor, upper rooms would have more of a sea view. We spent so little time during the day in our room that it didn't matter. The air conditioning was good. There are not many rooms and suites at this hotel and no lift.

Outside there is a large and very pretty shaded area, lots of trees and casual seating, and next to this a shingly beach with widely spaced sunbeds and umbrellas. The sea was warm and crystal clear. There is a jetty with steps down into deep water if you don't fancy going in the sea off the stony beach, although the stones are very small. Almost next to the beach is a super large freeform pool which was almost always empty. There is a small bar in the shady area.

Breakfasts were, unusually, not buffet but brought to the table. Fair variety, often something different. One morning we had spicy scrambled eggs, a Turkish dish, delicious. Evening meals were very good, there was a fairly extensive menu, but the chef told us he would cook anything we fancied as long as he had enough notice. This was because we had made the comment that we would like to try more typically Turkish food. He was so obliging - everyone was. We were only there for 6 days so stuck to the menu but if we had stayed longer we would most certainly have taken him up on his offer and sampled more typically Turkish food.
The wine was expensive, about 90 Turkish lira a bottle (about £30) much cheaper in the restaurant next door. Having said that, wine is expensive in Turkey. The meals were comparable in price to an average nice British restaurant. We ate at the hotel every night, we were going to try the restaurant next door, which was certainly cheaper, but never got round to it.

If you want to travel around a bit, a car is essential. We didn't bother, just chilled most of the time. We went to Turunc one evening, about 4 or 5 kilometres away - 25 euros round trip by taxi, no dolmuses here. This was quite expensive compared to the taxi charges in the Kas and Kalkan area. You can also take one of the boats to Turunc late afternoon, which comes over during the day, and then return by taxi. Incidentally, Turunc isn't particularly appealing, not like Kas and Kalkan in the south.

On one side of the hotel is a cafe/restaurant, on the other the rather swish Kumlubuk Yacht Club, with their own restaurant, loungers and parasols. There were never more than about a dozen boats moored there, mainly yachts and motor cruisers.

If you want to chill out this is a super place to stay, so quiet. However, there is a daily boat trip from Marmaris, which at first seems noisy when everyone is told by microphone to be back on board by whatever time and music playing. It soon quietens down. They are deposited further down the beach where there is another restaurant/cafe and lots of loungers, and usually everyone stays there! Sometimes there is more than 1 day tripper boat, they moor about 150 or so metres away. I think they are there until about 3 ish.

We booked this hotel independently but apparently a company called Cachet Holidays has this hotel in their programme. We met some nice people who had used this company. Everyone we spoke to at this hotel loved it. It was also nice that there were different nationalities staying here.

I must mention a lovely lad called Ahmet who was particularly attentive whether at the bar, breakfast time or dining in the evening - forgot to mention the attractive dining area beside the beach. He spoke good English, most of the staff spoke some English and there was never a language problem. All the staff here were very pleasant. I booked the hotel directly and spoke to Dilek who was charming. She arranged the taxi transfers with an excellent small company - safe drivers!

I would mention again that this is a very quiet spot so anyone looking for a lively holiday - don't come to Kumlubuk, although it may be more lively way up on the Dionysos Estate (Exclusive Escapes). My husband and I loved it here and definitely hope to return. We paid about 140 euros a night B & B, more than we usually pay in Turkey, but for a hotel of this quality in such lovely surroundings beside the sea, it is not expensive when compared with some of the other Mediterranean countries.