The Marmara Bodrum — Hotel in Bodrum

The strong point of Marmara Bodrum Hotel are the views but many hotels in Bodrum also have nice views. My quick summary before I give details below is that the bathroom was outdated and the room was not very spacious like some of Marmara’s competitors. One advantage is that Marmara stays open 12 months per year whereas most hotels in Bodrum close in the winter but if visiting in the summer I would choose other places.

I stayed in a corner sea suite and one could argue that it is a suite in name only, first of all at 40 square meters it was not particularly spacious in fact the size was similar to the entry level room at some other hotels. There was no separation between the living room and the bedroom other than a single step. However the main issue was that the hardware was aging, perhaps for the living room it was fine because it gave some character to the room and I liked the stone and wood floor combo, but the bathroom was in need for renovations. The shower was in a dreaded bathtub with a partial wall glass panel. The bed was comfortable but some nights we could not sleep well because there was no air conditioning. I guess it was deactivated for the winter but our room was too hot. Opening our patio door somewhat helped but we could not have cool nights like we had at the more modern Swissotel before moving to Marmara.

Soundproofing was quite bad and we could hear loud banging of doors outside. Fortunately the hotel was very low occupancy so it was not a major issue during our stay but would most likely be a problem in the busy summer.

The free breakfast amenity as SLH Indulged tier member was not available as room service – it was in the restaurant only, which was disappointing given covid circumstances; just a few days prior Swissotel Bodrum did not enforce this restriction. The restaurant itself was visually attractive like other common spaces of the hotel and some guests did not mind the cool weather and had breakfast on the terrace in order to enjoy the beautiful views overlooking Bodrum. The buffet was not self-serve and there was a daily rotation of hot dishes which was appreciated. So overall the breakfast was decent but it would have been more luxurious if they had an a la carte menu to go along the buffet.

Service was a mixed bag, sometimes for breakfast service was good and they remembered our choice of drinks and our desired fruits were brought straight to our table, other times for orders from the kitchen they forgot (even twice the same morning). On New Year’s Day they brought a few goodies to our room which was a nice touch, including a bottle of wine which was in addition to the bottle we had in the room at check-in as a welcome amenity.

Wifi was a problem during our stay. Speed was not great however the main problem was the fact that wifi kept disconnecting. After I complained a technician finally brought a portable router to our room which helped matters but I could not connect to a VPN from that network so it was only partially useful. After discussing the problem again with staff they ended up giving me the password for a non-public network and it helped at first, but it did not take long that speed and connectivity issues resurfaced.

Overall when a hotel has subpar hardware if they want to live up to luxury standards, they need to make up for it with a superior soft product which was not the case here. Breakfast was ok but not unusually good due to the lack of a la carte menu and not being available as room service, and wifi made it for a frustrating stay. In the summer when there are lots of choices of hotels in Bodrum I would probably book elsewhere next time. In the winter it’s usually slim pickings but I had a strong preference for Swissotel where I stayed a few days before Marmara. In non-covid times there should be a few more choices such as DoubleTree and Le Meridien which I would probably try in the winter before...

We had a fantastic start at this hotel, thanks to its superb location. It's only a 10-minute ride from the city center, and we only paid 100 Turkish Liras for the journey. When we informed the receptionist that we would be arriving late at 12 am, he surprised us by addressing us by our names and warmly welcoming us, as if they were expecting our arrival. Check-in was a breeze, taking less than 10 minutes, and they handed us a special oversized key as part of the hotel's unique concept. The key was so large that we had the option to leave it at the reception when heading out.

The room was not only spacious but also offered a magnificent view. The hotel's design and concept exuded coziness, and the bathroom amenities were both comprehensive and environmentally friendly. They provided non-sulfate shampoo, body lotion, hair conditioner, and body gel. They even included toothbrushes and toothpaste. It was evident that the hotel was dedicated to sustainability, with a note next to the towels kindly requesting guests not to have them washed unnecessarily to conserve water and protect the planet.

The lobby was exceptionally inviting, featuring a fireplace at its center and a section where you could watch TV on a large screen while lounging on small couches on the floor. We were pleasantly surprised by the delicious food at the hotel's restaurant, to the point that we preferred dining in rather than going outside. The staff were incredibly friendly and proficient in English. This experience was so exceptional that I felt compelled to write this review without any prompting. The room cleaning service was also top-notch.

Additionally, the hotel boasts an incredible terrace with panoramic views of Bodrum. We haven't checked out yet because the hotel has a special New Year's program in store, including a renowned chef preparing meals. For all three days of our stay, there's an entertainment program in the evenings. So far, I'm thoroughly impressed and have enjoyed every single detail of our stay. Thank you so much for this...

This must be the 100th time I rate a hotel I've stayed in, but this is the first time I am giving a well deserved 10/10! We spent a very pleasant week with the family at the Marmara Bodrum and I will definitely come back if I am in town again. First, I would like to start by congratulating and thanking all the hotel staff, without exception, at least the people we had the chance to meet, for their friendliness and professionalism. A special nod to Ginsu for her availability, valuable advice and assistance. A big thank you to all ! Note that almost all of the staff speak English, which is not common in Turkey… Otherwise, the hotel is located high up with a splendid view of the city and the port of Bodrum. We hesitated to take a hotel by the sea, but we’ve definitely made the right choice. To get to the center it is 15 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi (50 TL). It is necessary to be a little sporty however to return on foot. The slope is steep :) At Marmara Bodrum, it's not a question of luxury, but of cachet. The decoration is done in an old style, with taste, making the spaces very pleasant. Thes rooms we had (with sea view) were spacious and the bedding very comfortable. The breakfast is rich and varied with fresh products of very good quality. We also dined twice at the hotel and used room service (which serves until 5am!). No false note. The hotel has free access to a private beach which is 18km away, so on another coast. A shuttle is available twice a day (11 a.m. and 6 p.m.), otherwise count 300TL to get there by taxi. It's worth it. To do at least once. We also rented the hotel boat for a day tour. Very good service and no risk of having any surprises… I recommend going to the very beautiful and luxurious Yalikavak Marina which is located in the north of the peninsula. Renting a car, even for a day, can be a bit expensive depending on the season, but it's worth it and driving in the peninsula is not that complicated or dangerous (due to some drivers, especially taxis’) that...