Halikarnas Pansiyon

The room was simple, but it did everything we needed. We found the price very good and would stay here again. The staff were super friendly and helpful, and the location is undeniably convenient for beaches, bars, restaurants, and boat tours. We really enjoyed our stay.

I ended up staying elsewhere in Bodrum, and after seeing this place in person, I was glad I did. It's on Üçkuyular caddesi, which I can only call “Motorcycle Alley.” Both times I went there, the constant roar of motorcycles made it hard to hear myself think. I'd been in Bodrum nearly three months and still didn't understand the owner's “you will understand what we mean.” The noise alone made me wonder how a family could stay there. I might have spent three months wearing earplugs if I had booked it. The trouble started with my emails about an extended winter stay. His first reply, sent a few months before I was due to arrive, was quite positive. As the date got closer, I asked him to confirm the details. It took at least two emails to get an answer, and the tone was much less friendly. One line struck me as odd: “We do not accept guests. This is our only condition. It is a clean family place.” I assumed he meant guests of guests, since otherwise he wouldn't have a business. Several travel sites showed the place as closed for the December, January, and February period we'd discussed, while a couple suggested contacting the owner. I emailed again to check whether it would actually be open. The responses were long, angry rants that didn't answer my question. He said their English was bad and that they didn't care about English, repeated that it was a clean family hotel in central Bodrum, and claimed they'd written this 50 times and would write again. He said I'd understand when I came to Bodrum. The repeated “clean family hotel” line started to seem strange. At first, as a single retired woman, I found it amusing, but after more emails I stopped seeing the funny side and wondered whether he was trying to convince me or himself. I realized I'd have to find somewhere else, at considerable inconvenience. In my view, communication between a potential guest and an owner is an important part of travel, and I'm glad things worked out this way.

The hotel is very clean, and breakfast was generous and high quality. The eggs were especially delicious, since they use organic ones. I stayed four days and found it one of the better budget options in Bodrum Center. Its location is a big plus: just a four-minute walk from the Bodrum bus station. Mr Özkan, the manager, was kind and went out of his way to help with all my requests. I'll definitely visit again. Thanks for everything, Özkan.

Great location and nice rooms, but the staff stood out most. They were friendly, helpful, and even had a sense of humor.