Kulube Hotel

There are four places to swim at Kulube Hotel, and three of them are salt. Two of the pools are seawater, one is fresh, and the fourth is the Mediterranean, at the bottom of the hill. The hotel is white buildings under terracotta roofs on the slope of Kalamar Bay, a short way from Kalkan's old town, with pine and bougainvillea on the terraces between. The main pool sits at the cliff edge beside the restaurant, behind wrought-iron railings, with islands on the horizon. Then the steps begin, and there are a great many of them. Kalkan does without sand and so does Kulube: at the bottom, timber platforms stand out over the rock under thatched parasols, with steps off them into water clear to the seabed. The room to book is the Special Suite, where glass doors open onto a balcony with a pool at its edge and the bay below, between green hills.

Recommended for swimmers who would sooner go in off a platform than wade in from a beach, and who will climb back up for lunch. Families have the Grand Deluxe Suite, 80 square metres with a double bed and two singles. Breakfast is a buffet and included; cocktails are poured at the pool and down on the shore, which saves a climb. Kalkan's harbour is about ten minutes by taxi, and Patara's long beach half an hour by car. Every room takes pets, so the dog can come too, provided it manages the steps like everyone else.