VILLA MAIJA Villa Maija is a three bedroom, two bathroom detached villa with full ocean view and located in a small exclusive development on the hills near the village of Gundogan on the Bodrum Peninsula overlooking the intersection of the Aegean & Mediterranean Seas. The villa was completed in 2006 and can comfortably accommodate up to 6 adults. The villa has 3 bedrooms and 1 bed settee, a separate kitchen, two full bathrooms (upstairs and downstairs), an open fireplace, washing machine, dishwasher, oven and microwave, refrigerator with freezer compartment and a fully equipped kitchen. The communal swimming pool is close to the villa, being at the bottom of the steps which lead to the pool area. Villa Maija offers guests exceptional outdoor space to enjoy the beautiful views and surroundings the area has to offer. Two patio areas are available, one on the ground floor and one on the upper floor and guests will undoubtedly wish to make use of these whilst enjoying the excellent weather in this part of South West Turkey . The outdoor areas are easily accessible by the French doors from both the kitchen and living rooms. The outside patios and paved areas are illuminated at night, giving a very ambient atmosphere for evening dining and entertaining. High quality patio furniture is provided along with a BBQ for outdoor cooking. Sun worshippers can top up their tans using the sun loungers. If you prefer to sit back, relax and loose yourself with your favorite book, then the large Parasol on the patio will provide the shade you may prefer on occasion. The garden area is planted in lawn, with local Begonvilla and Oleander adding to the profusion of color. The interior decor is bright and modern with thought given to soft furnishings and accessories to make the Villa a home from home during your stay. Various artworks from a number of sources are displayed adding to the comfortable feel of the villa. Another unique feature of the villa is the dome shaped roof which is said to have been designed to mimic the shape of the ancient Greek Byzantine church which can be seen a short distance away, across the sea to Rabbit Island. Patio doors lead from the kitchen to a patio area with spectacular sea views making this the ideal location for relaxing or dining in comfortable patio furniture. If you don’t feel like lounging by the pool sun loungers are available for use in the private sun terrace. Villa Maija is one of the closest villas to the swimming pool and childrens park in this development. This summer, the communal pool will be open from May 1 to October 31. Outside facilities for use of all guests at Villa Maija The Herodot complex although small and exclusive has ample outside facilities including its Infinity pool with views of the Aegean which no photograph can really do justice to. The Villa benefits from being only a short 1 minute walk from the pool and the children play area situated adjacent to it. There is also a childrens paddling pool for smaller toddlers. Secluded seaside access is available to our guests, a short walk from the site, with facilities shared by a small number of selected neighboring complexes. These include sundecks, pontoons, loungers and parasols. Excellent snorkeling opportunities exist here with an abundance of sea life present. The water here is deep so the beach in Gundogan village with its gently shelving sandy beach, may be better suited to guests with very small children. What is in the Village of Gundogan? Covered with colorful flowers all year round, Gundogan means `the Sunrise`. Famous for its ancient rock cemeteries and rock formations, it is a small town on the Bodrum Peninsula. Some imaginative people believe that these rock formations are, in fact, the remains of an ancient zoo built of stone. There may be truth in this., as Gundogan is located very near to the ancient Lelegian city of Madnasa. These historians of antiquity say that the Lelegians were skilled in stone work. If you look carefully at these rock formations with a little imagination thrown in then you may see the wild animals of the ancient zoo carved in stone! It is an important town for fishing, sponge diving, olive and tangerine growing. The old and new settlers have protected the character of the place. They have not touched the houses surrounded with trees of olive, mandarins, bananas, pomegranates and oak. The scent of orange trees welcoming visitors along the seaside still remains. Gundogan has 4000 inhabitants. Boat trips leave from here to secluded Bays along the coast. You can catch a ferry to Didim on the other side of the Bay and watch dolphins and seals swim alongside the boat. Situated among tangerine, olive and pine trees, intimate restaurants and cafes built on jetties circle the Bay offering traditional Turkish cuisine. Gundogan is also cheaper than other parts of the peninsula. Relax and take it easy with a chilled glass of wine or the local delicacies. There are large colorful cushions provided to sit on, on the many jetties circulating the Bay where you can chill out, people watch, sip a refreshing drink and watch the waves breaking on the rocks and children playing in the crystal blue waters. This is a great place for snorkeling where you enter the sea from the jetties. Sit at the beach bar and watch the sun go down and witness the spectacular sunsets. There is a small harbor with fishing boats, yachts, gullets and a sailing school offering dingy sailing, windsurfing, jet skis and water skiing. Across the Bay is `Rabbit Island` which has an old Greek church and standing remains of a Byzantine monastic settlement dated to the 9th Century A.D. If you wish to be active during your stay here, you will have plenty to do - archaeological trips in the area, windsurfing, under water photography, diving lessons, horse riding, walking and trekking. History, dramatic landscape and a natural unspoiled Bay and friendly people await you! As they say `Nothing less than history, sun, seaside, nature and friendly people can be found`. Also the Gundogan fisherman sell their catch to the local sea front restaurants, so ask what is available. Simply delicious. Nightlife - While there are some bars dotted along the harbor front, nightlife in Gundogan tends to be quite low key with most evenings spent savoring a satisfying meal or sitting out with a cool beer or a Gin and Tonic in hand watching the sun set on another day. What does the Rental Fee cover? We have NO hidden extra fees! 1. All utilities (electric, water and gas) are included. 2. Initial cleaning and departure cleaning are included. 3. If you are renting for more than 1 week, our weekly cleaning and laundry change are also included in our rates. 4. All taxes are included. 5. Regular check-in time is after 16:00 (4:00pm) and check-out time is before 10:00am. We will accommodate your flight schedule to the best we can based on availability and market conditions. Please contact us for details. 6. Our villas are generally rented on a weekly basis, from Saturday to Saturday. Other days can be considered in low season and changing market conditions. Please contact us for details. 7. Should you choose to bring a pet, a non-refundable charge of $75 per week will be added to cover costs for additional cleaning. 8. A fully refundable breakage / security deposit of $250 is required with the last payment. This will be returned to you within 1-2 weeks after your departure date. 9. We require a Terms and Conditions and Rental agreement, and a copy of your driver license or passport as this is a requirement of our community to comply with the Turkish Local Laws. 10. No additional charges for air conditioning use, gas use for BBQ, etc. You are all covered with our services. We know that you will be very pleased with your stay and we hope that you will come back again. We also offer 10% discount for all return customers and their recommended friends and family. We call this an excellent bargain!