Koyunbaba mah. Kazim Karabekir Pasa cad. No:77, Gumusluk, Turkey | (888) 551-4925
Dramatic hillside setting with spectacular sunsets
Many rooms open to balconies with sea views
Two outdoor swimming pools, one with a waterslide
All-inclusive plan covering meals and local drinks
Free shuttle service to small private beach with jetty
Spa with massage treatments, sauna, and Turkish bath
Poolside activities and evening entertainment
Small gym and tennis court
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Lots of steps around the complex
Dated interiors
Food quality can be inconsistent
Not on the beach
Location can feel remote
The Crystal Hotel Bodrum is a mid-range, all-inclusive property set into a steep hillside overlooking the Gumusluk fishing village and sea beyond. While featuring some truly spectacular sunset views, its position also means lots of steps as well as there being little within walking distance. Some of the 167 rooms also feature stunning sea views from balconies, though many are dated and in need of a makeover. Highlights are the two swimming pools, which include splash pools and a waterslide, and the hotel also provides shuttle service to its small and pebbly private beach. Rates are competitive, especially as meals and drinks are included, though for a similar setup with fewer stairs and a closer beach, take a look at sister property Golden Age Hotel up the coast.
Scene
Steep hillside all-inclusive hotel brimming with flora and featuring stunning sunsets
A sign spelling out the Crystal Hotel in large red letters marks the guarded, wrought-iron gated entrance to this hillside property. The hotel is very much defined by its position, with the steep driveway into the property just the first of many ramps, stairways, and elevators that characterize the complex. The property's foundation is on a hillside rock, with walls in rough-cut stone and sections of exposed mountain, combining with numerous cascading plants, palms trees, and colorful bougainvillea to create a natural-feeling environment. Interiors, however, while clean and well-maintained, are dated, outfitted with terra-cotta tiling, plastic roses, and faux-leather furnishings. Still, it's the views from the various terraces that steal the show -- considered one of the finest spots to watch the sunset in Turkey. Clientele are a mix of mostly British, Turkish, and Polish families and couples, though the layout means it's not ideal for very young kids or those with mobility issues.
Location
Lofty, hillside setting overlooking charming Gumusluk fishing village and bay
The hotel is imbedded in the dramatic hills that overlook the quaint fishing village and bay of Gumusluk, on the west coast of the Bodrum peninsula. Besides a couple of restaurants, there's little within easy walking distance, and the location can feel remote. However, the hotel's shuttle ferries guests to and from the coast every hour to the hotel's small private beach, where there are also numerous seafood restaurants and a weekly market. The city of Bodrum -- with its ancient ruins and pretty Old Town -- is about a 40-minute drive away, while Milas-Bodrum Airport takes around an hour.
Rooms
Mix of dated and more contemporary rooms, many with sea-view balconies
The hotel has 167 air-conditioned rooms, many of which are decorated in a dated style with plenty of wood paneling, parquet-effect tile floors, and busy, mismatched patterned fabrics and wallpaper. Some rooms, however, feature a fresher, more contemporary vibe, with wood floors and crisp white walls and furnishings. Amenities include mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs (with one English-language channel); coffee- and tea-making facilities are available on request. Most rooms open to furnished balconies, many with stunning sea and sunset views. Tiled bathrooms feel old-fashioned and could use a makeover; all come with walk-in showers, wall-mounted hairdryers, and simple toiletries.
Features
Two swimming pools and a small private beach with jetty
All meals plus snacks and local drinks are covered in the hotel's all-inclusive plan and served buffet-style in the main restaurant, but past guest reports suggest food quality can be inconsistent and lacking variety. There's also a poolside snack bar and outdoor terraces provide superb views of the bay. The hotel has two outdoor pools, both with separate splash pools and shaded lounge chair areas. One has a waterslide and poolside entertainment, while the other is quieter and enjoys sea views. The hotel's small private beach (accessible by shuttle bus) is mostly pebbles, but there's also a beachfront snack bar, a jetty, and a lawn terrace with loungers. A spa offers a traditional Turkish bath, sauna, and massage treatments, plus there's a small gym with limited equipment but pleasant floor-to-ceiling windows. Additionally, there's a stage for evening entertainment. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.