Royal Asarlik Beach Hotel

Very nice hotel, helpful staff, delicious food and great atmosphere.

The Bed was so uncomfortable to the point we had to put the mattress on the floor, our door didn’t lock from the inside which made me feel very uncomfortable to the point we put a stool at the door every night so our room locked. Bed was made everyday but sheets were never changed, I put a cola bottle under the sheets to check this, the cleanliness of the room I was personally disgusted by as a previous housekeeper that has worked in a five star hotel I can tell you this isn’t a five star hotel, bugs under the sink in the bathroom I had to clean up on day 2, mosquitoes were getting in the room through the AC and eating us alive, we had to buy plug in repellants and spray. We had asked about an upgrade on the first nigh as we were unhappy with the room and were told no so we had to persevere or go home, we decided to persevere as this was a £2500 a week holiday. The balcony was tiny and was level with a staff walkway, they had put a makeshift screen along the walkway that you can see through so we had no privacy, there was also a drainage pipe that came out under our balcony that had a really bad smell, balcony got zero sunlight also. The food was terrible and wouldn’t recommend going all inclusive if you still decide on going here, they have no consideration towards any food allergies or awareness towards allergies. The only good parts of this hotel were the private beach, the concierge boys at the reception and the spa.

We spent six days at Royal Asarlik in Bodrum, and despite a few problems during the first couple of days, we ended up having a wonderful holiday.

The hotel has a lot to offer, with food, drinks and facilities available pretty much around the clock, but what really made the difference for us was the staff. There is a genuinely friendly team here who work hard to make sure you enjoy your stay.

I do think there is one area where the hotel could improve: the general condition and, especially, the cleanliness of some of the rooms. We had a few issues with the rooms we were initially given, and if more attention was paid to this, I honestly think the hotel could receive top marks from many more guests. That said, what matters is how a hotel responds when something goes wrong, and this is where they impressed us. İsmail, the Front Office Manager, was incredibly friendly, professional and solution-focused. He listened to our concerns and resolved everything very quickly, which completely changed the start of our holiday. A big thank you to him.

We also tried the Italian restaurant, one of the hotel’s three à la carte restaurants, and absolutely loved it. The ravioli, risotto and tiramisu were excellent. A special thank you to Muhsin as well for making the experience even more enjoyable.

Another highlight was definitely the entertainment team. Emre, Muhammed, Sevim and the rest of the team kept the atmosphere alive throughout the day. From poolside activities and water sports to the evening shows, there was always something happening, but without feeling like you were forced to take part. They brought a lot of energy and fun to our holiday.

There are also so many small details that you start appreciating after a few days. Cutting fresh honeycomb at breakfast and having it with fresh yoghurt. Seeing dishes that clearly take time and effort to prepare being served every day. Having unlimited drinks and snacks around the pool throughout the day, then finishing the evening with a Turkish coffee at the reception bar.

And then there is the location.

Having dinner while watching an incredible Bodrum sunset is something special. Waking up in the morning and seeing the first red light of the day reflecting across the sea is equally beautiful. The hotel feels surrounded by nature, and there are plenty of places where you can simply sit, slow down and enjoy where you are.

For anyone wanting to relax even more, the Turkish bath, sauna and indoor swimming pool are available free of charge. You can also book a traditional Turkish scrub and massage at the spa, which is definitely worth considering.

Is everything perfect? No. There are areas that could be improved, particularly the rooms and housekeeping standards. But a holiday isn’t only about finding a perfect room or a perfect building. It is also about how you feel while you are there, and the people at Royal Asarlik made a real effort to make sure we were comfortable, happy and enjoying our time.

By the end of our six days, the small problems we had experienced at the beginning felt far less important than all the good memories we were taking home with us.

We can genuinely say that we are already looking forward to coming back.

Leaving was harder than we expected.