Dust off your most dramatic sunglasses and prepare to get aggressively relaxed—there’s a new luxury leviathan on Turkey’s glittering coast, and it’s not here to blend in. Say hello (or rather, a slow-motion air kiss) to XO Cape Arnna, the shimmering debutante of the XO Collection, which sashayed onto the scene this April with the subtlety of a champagne cannon. Perched just outside the postcard-pretty town of Fethiye (Bodrum’s chill cousin who reads poetry and doesn’t care for crowds), XO Cape Arnna isn’t just a resort—it’s an entire lifestyle complex disguised as a vacation. Think: 100,000 square meters of curated hedonism where your only job is to float, feast, and occasionally feign interest in pilates. But this isn’t just one resort—it’s two. Because why settle? There’s The Resort, where families and inflatable unicorns reign supreme, and The Club, a velvet-roped adults-only sanctuary where tranquility and top-shelf tequila go hand in hand.
Let’s dive in (preferably into one of the 37 temperature-controlled pools). Whether you fancy a lap, a lazy float, or just sitting on a submerged barstool mulling the day’s impossible decisions (rosé or daiquiri?), you’re never more than a few stylish steps from your next aquatic adventure. For the kids: a private water park with slides named like rejected Marvel villains (looking at you, “Black Hole”). For the grown-ups: cabanas, candlelit massages, and sunken loungers that practically whisper, “You’ve made it.” And oh, the accommodations. With 530 rooms, from sprawling Grand Family Suites to penthouses so well-appointed they might actually cause relationship tension (“Why doesn’t our actual home have a private sauna?”), everything is swathed in sun-washed neutrals and smugly photogenic textures.
Hungry? Hope you’re sitting down—preferably at one of the 17 (yes, 17) dining spots. Whether you’re vibing with pan-Asian fusion at Sun Tzu, lingering over modern Ottoman decadence at Seasons by XO, or simply mainlining gelato between meals, one thing’s clear: here, the food is less about sustenance and more about a spiritual awakening via truffle oil.
And just in case you tire of eating, drinking, lounging, and spa-ing (yes, it’s a verb now), there’s a frankly bewildering menu of activities. From aerial yoga and sailing lessons to Padel Tennis and martial arts classes that let you channel your inner vacationing warrior monk, boredom is simply not on offer.
Wellness aficionados will be thrilled to discover a spa complex that’s less “day at the spa” and more “intergalactic temple of glow.” Think hammams, snow rooms, salt caves, and massages that may or may not involve chanting and goat’s milk (we didn’t ask). Come nightfall, the party is just getting started. Beach raves, live acts, fire dancers, probably a guy with a saxophone—it’s all very “Ibiza, but with better mezze.”
In conclusion? XO Cape Arnna doesn’t dip its toes into luxury. It cannonballs in, sunglasses on, Aperol in hand. Whether you’re chasing romance, rest, or simply trying to keep your children entertained until September, this seaside spectacle has your name embroidered into a terrycloth robe.
The vibe: unapologetically opulent.
The reality: more pools than problems.
The warning: You might never want to leave—and honestly, why should you?
Visit www.XOcollection.com to discover more!
By: Lucas Raven
