From a talc-soft cala in Ibiza to a sparkling cove off the Bodrum Peninsula, the OKU hotel group‘s restful hideaways are recognisable by earthy modernist architecture and local design touches. All four stays bear the group’s signature style, but have experiences tailored to their locale and suited to an array of travel tribes, from party-seeking couples to families on a school break. Mr & Mrs Smith have an exclusive sale with up to 30% off all OKU hotels (for stays from early May to the end of October, terms and conditions apply), so, now’s the time to find one that fits you.
The one for wellness: OKU Kos
If wellness is what you’re seeking, the island where ‘father of medicine’ Hippocrates was born is what we prescribe. OKU Kos is an adults-only haven with its own private beach where sundowner bonfires are held each evening, and days pass in leisurely fashion, with trips to Asclepieion (the Ancient Greek take on a wellness retreat); horseback rides to Alikes Salt Lake, where flamboyances of flamingos gather; and treatments using millennia-old healing methods in the spa.
Tastings of local wines and pineapple Palomas by the pool are a curative of a different kind, and summer nights up the feelgood factor with stargazing sessions, alfresco film screenings and barefoot beach parties.
The new experience: OKU Bodrum
Perched as proudly as the abundant palm trees by a deeply blue cove on the Bodrum Peninsula, OKU’s Turkish offering does indeed have myriad delights: Nikkei-style dining with freshly caught seafood; visits to Aegean farms for feasting on local cheeses; and cocktail workshops where you pick botanicals from the hotel garden to muddle with raki for a fragrant sundowner. And food plays a role in something even more divine during fortune-telling sessions, where your fate is cast in coffee grounds.
What lies in your future? Languid cruises on traditional gulet boats, breathwork and sound-healing sessions, and the chance to try your hand at carpet-weaving with local artisans.
The party pad: OKU Ibiza
OKU Ibiza is where ‘going large’ softens into living large. Trade club shots for sake tastings, beach sessions for champagne picnics on the sand, and relive your club days through an all-hands-on-decks DJ lesson. Design here deviates a little from OKU’s calming cocoa and latte hues at the Missoni Beach Club (opened to celebrate the launch of the first Missoni store in Sant Jordi de ses Salines), where a medley of sea blues and island greens in the brand’s signature zigzags adorn pool loungers and towels.
You can tap into Ibiza’s spiritual side — boat trips head out to the mystical Es Vedrà islet (or more glamorous Formentera if more beach-club time is what your soul seeks); and there are daily free yoga and meditation sessions, while astrology readings and Egyptian tarot offer more inner exploration.
The all-ages retreat: OKU Andalusia
Other OKU outposts might be tailored to adults, but OKU Andalusia on the Costa del Sol is all set for school holidays, too. In two kids’ clubs, there are action-packed days themed around ‘nature’, ‘mind and health’, ‘poetry and theatre’ and more for two-to-12-year-olds. The restaurant has a dedicated menu, which is free for under-12s; there’s a babysitting service for under-2s; and the 2,000-square-metre spa has paired-up parent-and-child treatments. That’s when you’re not having animal encounters at horse ranches or goat farms, kayaking and paddleboarding together, or watching for whales breaching off the coast.
Adults, you’re no afterthought: while they’re crafting, learning about Spanish traditions and playing in teams, you’ll be propping up the Andalusian wine bar or tasting Almadrava delicacy red tuna (when in season) before yet more fine fish in the Nikkei-style restaurant. Take a few rounds of tennis and padel, or spin round the spa’s thermal circuit — later, the beach club’s adults-only area is your domain for DJ-spun chill-out sessions.
Found a favourite? Get up to 30% off your OKU break now