Bodrum Beach Resort

The entrance to the Bodrum Beach Resort is found in a distinctive circular building, where a red carpet ushers guests to a set of automatic glass doors. Inside, the reception is unfussy yet cheerful, awash with blues and reds, and check-in is at a sweeping wood and stone front desk. Spread over four-and-a-half acres, this all-inclusive complex includes a dozen three-story, whitewashed buildings. Most of the structures are accommodation blocks, with some located across the road from the main buildings (accessible via a short tunnel). Note that there are steps down from the reception area to the pools and most rooms, and no elevator. The grounds are made up of a series of footpaths, lined with lawns or natural rock and dotted with various exotic flora such as palm trees and banana plants. The focus of the hotel is the lively main pool area which includes waterslides, making it particularly popular with families with young kids. The entertainment team sometimes organizes poolside games, and Turkish club music sometimes plays during the day, though entertainment is not a high point here. The resort caters to many Turkish and Russian guests, as well as some Brits.  In contrast, the nearby Parkim Ayaz Hotel, a beachfront all-inclusive, tends to draw mostly young couples and friend groups, with fewer families. 

The hotel is located is a largely quiet residential neighborhood in the Gumbet Bay tourist resort. While the immediate surrounds aren't particularly attractive, it's just a few minutes' walk to the start of Gumbet's lovely, long shingle-and-sand beach. Bars and restaurants line the beach -- and offer plenty of loungers and parasols -- and more can be found on the main road within a short (five- to 10-minute) stroll. Hopping Bar Street is a 10-minute walk. This area is about a 10-minute drive west of Bodrum, one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations on the Aegean coast. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassusm is a five-minute cab journey. Bodrum castle and the bustling, pedestrianized old town center are around 12 minutes from the resort. The nearest international airport is Milas–Bodrum Airport located about 40 minutes' drive away.

The 220 rooms have wood floors, some contemporary furnishings, and splashes of turquoise. But despite the modern veneer, the rooms feel older, with popcorn stucco walls and mold in the bathroom. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges (with free bottled water on arrival), kettles (though no tea or coffee), and flat-screen TVs (with few English-speaking channels). Safes and Wi-Fi are both available for a fee. All rooms open to small furnished terraces or balconies, some with lovely bay views, others overlooking the road. Bathrooms are functional, with walk-in showers and wall-mounted soap dispensers and hairdryers; though shower tiling is modern, we spotted stained grout and mold near the shower door (other guests report similar issues). Larger rooms are available that include bunk beds for kids and space for up to two adults and two children. Standard Rooms fit up to three guests. 

The best features here are the three outdoor swimming pools. Two are more lively -- the square main pool, and adjacent pool with waterslides -- though poolside activities are not always offered. The third is the Relax Pool which is just for that, and has a spacious sun terrace, though is also long enough for laps. Peace and quiet can also be found in the hotel's marble-lined Turkish bath offering traditional body scrub treatments (for a fee). There is a kids' club as well, though it's not typically staffed. The hotel's main restaurant is open for breakfast (including a late sitting), lunch, and dinner. Breakfast service includes cooked-to-order eggs and pancakes while other meals are buffet and include mostly Mediterranean/Turkish dishes with a few international favorites. Reports on food quality vary from fairly decent to awful. As well as all meals, most drinks (local spirits, wine, and beer) are included in the all-inclusive plan. Branded drinks incur an extra charge, and drinks are typically not offered after 11 p.m. The resort features two bars, one of which is poolside, and the other a bright and spacious area off the lobby. Evening entertainment is provided, though shows are short and most agree they're pretty cheesy.