I Went to Turkey’s Dreamiest Wellness Resorts to Unplug—And Came Back a New Person

I’ve always been someone who moves fast. My calendar is packed, my inbox hits inbox zero often, and my brain is always loud, which means I cherish the moments when I'm able to disconnect. So, when the opportunity came to travel to Turkey on a loosely organized group wellness trip, I said yes before I even knew the itinerary.

And somehow, this trip—split between two stunning destinations, Istanbul and Bodrum—did exactly that. It helped me unplug, heal from months of chaos, and remember what it feels like to actually be present. Here's a full recap of my trip.

A quick trip exploring Istanbul’s palace life

The trip kicked off with two nights in Istanbul, where I stayed at the breathtaking Çırağan Palace Kempinski, a former Ottoman palace turned five-star hotel perched on the Bosphorus River. From the second I stepped into the marble lobby, I felt like I’d stepped into another era—everything from the sweet-smelling rose aroma to the decorative finishes was perfection.

My room was bright, spacious, and dreamy. I had a balcony that looked right out over the water, a bed I basically melted into after my red-eye, and the sweetest welcome setup: fresh flowers, Turkish wine, and a whole tray of local treats. For a moment, I considered just staying in the room and calling it a trip.

But I rallied, and in just two days, I managed to squeeze in a little bit of everything—I wandered through the Grand Bazaar (and walked out with some very sparkly, very unnecessary jewelry), visited the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, and even carved out time to lay by the pool with a book.

The standout, though, was dinner at Tuğra, the hotel’s Michelin Guide-approved restaurant. I had a full-on tasting menu with wine pairings, and every course somehow outdid the last—easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The next day, I went full Turkish and booked a traditional hammam treatment at the spa, where they scrubbed off what I’m pretty sure were layers of stress—and self-tanner—I’ve been carrying since 2020. It was the perfect way to kick off the trip.

Arriving in Bodrum—where the real reset began

When I arrived in Bodrum, a little coastal town on the Aegean, that’s when the trip really shifted from a fun vacation to something that felt genuinely transformative. I checked into the Maxx Royal Bodrum, and immediately got that pinch-me-is-this-real feeling. The place was built for full-on indulgence, in the best possible way.

Think: seven restaurants (yes, seven), serving everything from fresh Mediterranean seafood to sushi and steak, a massive spa, an infinity pool that looks like it spills right into the sea, and a private beach lined with daybeds so dreamy I contemplated living there permanently. It had everything, but never felt over-the-top or chaotic. Somehow, it was all just… calm. Peaceful. Like the resort had mastered the art of doing the absolute most, without doing too much.

Finding Stillness

What surprised me most about Maxx Royal was how easy it made doing nothing. And I mean that in the best way possible. I spent full afternoons stretched out on a daybed by the sea, occasionally falling asleep while listening to the water. I journaled. I read. I went to bed early. I only checked my email once a day (I'm still human).

One day, we spent hours on a private boat, cruising along the Aegean, stopping to swim in the turquoise water, sipping champagne, and snacking on fresh fruit like it was our full-time job. It was one of those surreal, dreamy days when I truly couldn't believe my life.

The Wellbeing Center was just as dreamy, boasting more than 60,000 square feet of space and offering everything from classic facials and Turkish-style hammams to group fitness classes, microcurrent therapy, and acupuncture. I went with a deeply restorative massage, followed by an herbal tea in the relaxation lounge, where I struggled to keep my sleepy eyes open.

But don’t worry—I had plenty of fun, too. On our first night, we went to The MAINE, where we sipped and nibbled on delicious food and drinks while a singer, band, and burlesque show took place among the tables. Another night, we did a cocktail tasting with the resort’s beverage director, and every single drink was a work of art (and, more importantly, delicious). We also ate dinner at ORO by Alfredo Russo, the resort’s Italian restaurant helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, which quickly became my favorite meal of the trip. We started with canapés and cocktails on the balcony at sunset and ended with an over-the-top dessert course, including a slow-roasted lemon (roasted for 50 hours!) that basically melted on my tongue. Truly, I’ll be talking about that lemon until the end of time.

We also got a behind-the-scenes tour of Scorpios, a new beach club and hotel on the same property that’s already turning into a hot spot for summer. Think: stunning interiors, open-air lounges, and major Ibiza-meets-Mykonos energy.

And because Maxx Royal thinks of everything, we also each had our own personal assistants via the hotel’s app—someone we could message for literally anything. Booking a last-minute massage? Easy. Changing dinner plans? Done. Calling a buggy to drive me across the (very hilly) resort so I didn’t sweat through my dress on the way to dinner? Already en route. (Oh, did I not mention the buggies? I basically didn’t walk farther than from my room to the path where the buggy met me the entire trip.)

The Burnout Cure I Didn’t Know I Needed

Before this trip, I was tapped out—fully running on fumes. Work had been nonstop, my brain felt like it was in a million places at once, and I was starting to feel pretty disconnected from, well, me. But something about the rhythm of this trip—especially those days in Bodrum—gave me the space I didn’t even realize I was craving.

It wasn’t just the setting (though, yes, the sea and the sun and the food absolutely helped). It was the permission to slow down and the reminder that rest isn’t indulgent—it’s necessary.

I left Turkey with a little more clarity, a lot less tension, and an actual desire to open my laptop again. I wouldn’t say I’m fully cured (are any of us?), but I felt like I got a small piece of myself back. And now? I'm figuring out how I can get back to Bodrum ASAP.

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