BO038 Bodrum

The beach was my main concern: there weren’t many sunbeds, and they were set quite close together. I’d have liked more room, and the dogs running along the beach made it a little harder to relax. The grounds were spacious, green, and well kept, so they were lovely for a walk. The sea was clean and clear, and swimming was a pleasure. The buffet had plenty of variety and tasted good, so we never went hungry. The staff were friendly, always smiling and ready to help. I was very satisfied with the vacation.

We were happy with the food, and the staff were nice. Luca the animator was especially good, he’s the best. The main problem was finding a sunbed. They were so scarce that you’d probably need to get up at 5am, while people left towels, bags, and other things to hold places. It was almost impossible to find one free. The plates and cups could have been cleaner, too. Around 5 or 6am each morning, an awful smell would show up for about 15 minutes. The sea and pool were both cold. We stayed at Petunya Beach Resort from September 17th to 27th.

The beach was the biggest letdown during our 7-day stay at Petunya Hotel. There was rubbish in the sand, and it wasn’t cleaned at all while we were there. The old sunbeds were too few, and guests claimed them early. Even arriving around 7-7:30 AM, it was hard to find a spot. Some people left towels on beds all day without being there, so others couldn’t use them. The hotel urgently needs to address this, because it spoiled the vacation. We also didn’t find much animation or entertainment, which made the stay feel rather passive. The hotel grounds, by contrast, were full of greenery and flowers and very well maintained. Our recently renovated room had everything we needed. The food was fresh and varied, so there was enough to eat, though the hotel seemed overcrowded for its capacity. Arriving later at the restaurant meant there wasn’t much food left. The main restaurant was joined by a fast-food place with lots of tasty choices, and the pastry shop near the beach had sweets, snacks, ice cream, and fruit. Some downsides were the old, worn tableware, drinks served in unattractive worn plastic cups at the bar, and kitchen dishes that sometimes weren’t washed properly. Overall, it’s a good hotel for families with children. Our stay was okay aside from the beach situation.

The hotel is right by the beach and turquoise water, and there’s a nice beach walk outside where you can run or stroll. Central Bodrum is about 20 minutes away. We stayed for 15 days, from 18th to 31st May, while renovations were underway, so most things will be new, which is a real plus. The staff were accommodating, and guest managers Guler and Erkan came across as professional. Big thanks to the lifeguards and service staff, especially MehmetCan, who helped our children feel comfortable and have fun. Food was the one real negative. It didn’t feel like the highest class, perhaps because we went in low season, although the hotel seemed very full. There weren’t many food choices for children. We also saw many guests take several plates of food at a time. We know it’s all inclusive, but I think the hotel and its manager should address that, for the environment and for the other guests.