Royal Arena Resort & Spa Hotel Bodrum

Topped by an enormous golden crown, like a tinfoil party hat for a hotel that's trying way too hard to appear fancy, the Royal Arena Resort & Spa looks more like a party supply store in an office park than an upscale resort. The five stars attached to the building's exterior may have been hard won in the past, but they're misleading now. Inside, the atmosphere buzzes with a mostly younger crowd coming and going to bars, beaches, or entertainment venues. The large, modern lobby with marble floors houses a crescent-shaped bar with sea views, and offers scattered sitting areas with boxy modern lounge chairs. Low ceilings and dark corridors lend a claustrophobic quality, and the cheesy gardens built around faux rocks don't help to create an authentic ambience. The resort's exterior balconies with wrought-iron railings and purple flowers are inviting, but the pathways are cramped and the public terraces are devoid of character. 

The hotel is on one of the busier streets in Gumbet, overlooking Bitez Bay on the south coast of the Bodrum peninsula. There are a few nice restaurants and several bars within walking distance (around the Bitez seafront), but it's a 20-minute trek to popular Bar Street and the hilly landscape can be an impediment; most guests opt for a taxi for return trips. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to its private beach, which is about four minutes away. Public buses are also nearby, which go to the charming Bodrum Old Town in about 15 minutes. Bodrum is also home to several major attractions, including the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the medieval Bodrum Castle. Milas-Bodrum Airport about a 45-minute drive away. 

The Royal Arena Resort & Spa's 134 rooms are in no way luxurious. The airy blue-and-white decor and small wrought-iron balconies are pleasing, but the rooms show wear -- in the fixtures, cracked tiles, and cigarette burns on some of the furniture. Flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges come standard, but there are no coffeemakers. Free Wi-Fi is included, but it's unreliable. Suites add living rooms with couches and dining tables. More expensive rooms have sea views, and Family Rooms have living rooms with couches. The tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos. King Suites show a gaudy elegance with an '80s color palette highlighted by mauve satin fabrics and glossy furniture, as well as a private sauna. 

Though not on the beach, the resort has its own private section at Bitez Beach, where it also has a snack bar. The resort offers free round-trip shuttle service to the beach. All-inclusive rates cover meals and beverages (some fees may apply). Dining options include the on-site buffet, as well as the a la carte Panorama Restaurant, both of which have seating on outdoor terraces. There's also a lobby bar and a poolside bar, as well as a cafe with views of the sea. The outdoor pool has a kiddy area and sundeck with loungers, but there's no separation between the pool area and the terrace's dining table areas. There's also an indoor pool with a hot tub. Rana Spa has all the expected services along with a sauna and a Turkish bath, but the treatment rooms are looking worse for wear, as is the adjacent fitness center, whose cardio- and weight-training machines are less than state of the art. There's also a game room that has a pool table, ping-pong table, and some children's plays ets. A banquet hall with on-site catering for weddings or events can accommodate up to 300 people. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but the signal is unreliable.