Zera Bodrum

We spent a week here and I was deeply dissatisfied. The rooms were dirty, and the staff were very unhelpful. You even have to pay extra for air conditioning, which is absurd. On both our arrival and departure days, reception wouldn't help with our luggage. We had to carry everything upstairs ourselves because there was no elevator. We'd asked a day ahead, but the receptionist just said he was busy and didn't seem to care. Basic hygiene and manners should be expected even at a 3-star hotel. This was unacceptable and far from what I'd expect of Turkish hospitality.

The pool is the best feature here, and the place was clean and nice. Staff were friendly and helpful. But the room was very noisy: two air conditioner condenser units were mounted outside our bedroom wall, and the thin walls meant we could hear absolutely everything other guests did. The location isn't family friendly and is full of clubs. The closest beach in Bodrum is the worst one. At least a taxi to the Marina costs only 400 TRL. There's a cooking plate in the room, though I wouldn't use it unless you want the whole place to smell like food.

The staff made the stay feel so welcoming, always smiling, helpful, and up for a little chat. We had a fantastic family holiday. The apartment was tidy and very clean, with daily cleaning and fresh towels every other day. I enjoyed going for early swims, and the children had a great time in the lovely pool. There were lots of comfortable loungers and shaded spots around it. We'd definitely come back.

For a cheap holiday, it wasn't bad. The bar and restaurant were good, with tasty food at reasonable prices. The pool was nice for cooling off, all one depth, with a separate baby pool, though peak season could mean too few sunbeds. Rooms are basic and short on things you'd need for self-catering. Staff are friendly, but only a couple speak English. The hotel is on a big hill, so it's better suited to people who walk well. Most rooms are down five sets of stairs from the pool and bar at the top, with only a few rooms up there. There's no daytime or evening entertainment.