Sadly, we had not realised that the hotel would have only just re-opened for the summer season. We were supposedly given one of the upgraded rooms at the top of the main hotel but it was at the end of the hotel and had a claustrophobic feel to it because of the dark blue & green colours. When we spoke to our Rep, having failed to get another room, he managed to get the hotel to change us to a brighter room in the middle of the hotel in the '800' nos. We had booked the Olympic Gold upgrades and should have had fresh fruit and wine in our room. Twice we advised that we had not received this and finally a bowl of very bruised fruit arrived but no wine. The next day we did get new fruit and half a bottle of wine. Worth taking this extra since you get private transfers to and from the airport as well.
Having booked a reasonable upgrade to Half Board we had our 1st evening meal. As we normally do on holiday we decided to have a bottle of wine - wrong move - the wine ranged from 50 to 85 Turkish Lira (TLY) ours came to almost £26! As a one off we thought ok particularly since the food was meant to be so good here.The food consisted of 2 x soups, 2 counters dedicated entirely to salads in all different guises (none featured any sort of meat or fish accompaniment). 3 non descript casseroles (no label to advise contents) with rice or chips. Outside chicken pieces were being cooked on the barbecue and there was a pasta dish. Desserts consisted of the normal Turkish Delights and some eye catching gateaux and specialist desserts.
All very basic so we gave the evening meal a miss for several nights and ate at some very good local restaurants (made easier since we hired a car for a few days).
Thought we would try the evening meal again - dinner is meant to be served from 7.30 to 9.30pm, we went down at 8.30. The containers for the fresh cooked meat were now empty, the chips had not been replenished and as was the norm, all the speciality desserts/gateaux had all gone leaving only the normal Turkish desserts which people obviously felt inclined to avoid. There was not evidence of replacements being brought out. We walked out but were then told that we could have something from the A la Carte menu, this appeared to be Chicken Kebabs, Pasta etc but would all be charged for in addition to having paid for Half Board. We declined and left to find a restaurant elsewhere. We did not bother with the evening meal again.
On the 4th day, the entertainment appeared to be finally starting at the hotel. There was not information displayed to advise what would be happening each night until the final night of our stay. Due to the fact we had now decided to eat out each night, we normally missed the entertainment. (Wine at most restaurants half price of that at the hotel, the same applied to beer, water etc).
Renovations & maintenance was very much in evidence during our stay - hotel appeared totally uprepared for the arrive of guests from the beginning of May.
Recommend the water taxis that leave from the end of the wooden walkway, turn right from the bottom of the hotel steps & walk to the end. There is also a good bar there with sensible priced drinks. We paid 2 Euros each to get across to Bodrum and normally the same coming back, depending on the boat you get coming back you might be asked for TLY, then it should be 4TLY each (8TLY). Boats go about every 10 mins up to about 10pm. Didn't use the local bus from top of hotel but did walk into Bodrum, once up the top of the hill from hotel, the walk was all downhill to Bodrum Harbour. Got the boat back.
A word of warning - Ephesus - we drove there and back ourselves - visit Kusadasi on the way back if you have a car - found great restaurant call the Blue Fish - highly recommend it! At Ephesus you get charge 4TYL to park your car. We were then pounced on by a Turkish gentleman supposedly representing trade for the Turkish Government offering us a free escort to the correct entrance to the Ephesus sights. We accepted and then were told that because of the initiative, we had to spend 10 minutes visiting either a leather making, carpet making or jewellry making establishment. Then we could be taken to the correct entrance where we could walk through the sights to the bottom. It's a CON, when we got to the bottom of the site and walked out of the exit, we HAD parked in the correct place but all it would have meant was the we would have walked up to the top of the sights and then back down again without being given this rediculous run around!
Be cautious about the complimentary drinks offered after your meals, their reference is normally only to tea or coffee so if you have a Rake or Brandy you will often find they have been added to your bill, non priced Meze as starters can also really push the bill up. We had 2 totally different experience at Gumusluk (do visit if you can, it's lovely). Our 1st experience of eating here was wonderful, food, wine, service excellent and competitively priced. Genuine hand of friendship extended to us and finished of with wonderful chocolate fondue and fresh fruit and a drink on the house! Our 2nd experience was very different being the 1st one mentioned.
If paying by credit card (Important - we had phoned the bank before we left to advise we would be in Turkey for a week), generally accepted anywhere with not problems but if you really need to pay this way and maybe do not have enough cash to back up the bill, carefully check that they can take UK credit cards, on our last night, having confirmed that they accepted credit cards, we tried twice to get their machine to accept our card and were told that it had been declined and we had to contact our bank. Luckily we just had enough cash to cover the 80TLY bill. Rather unnerved, we returned to our hotel and asked to settle our hotel bill to check that our card would indeed be accepted - hey presto - it went through with no problem!
Car hire - no problem with car hire but diesel/petrol is about double that of the price in the UK (3.21TL per litre about £1.44 per litre). So made travelling any distance expensive. So would say Tours at about £20 - £20 per head are actually good value.
Book to see 'The Dream Girls' show if you can - highlight of our holiday!
Finally, the nightclubs on the other side of the water, in Bodrum. When we first arrived they weren't but then the famous Halikarnas Disco opened again! They go on until 4 in the morning and the level of decibels they are allowed to generate boom across the water to what used to be the quiet haven of Bordakci. This loud music could be clearly heard each night even with the double glazed doors shut. Would suggest that anyone booking a hotel in Bodrum would check its proximity to the nightclubs. Apologies to all the younger visitors, who will not be bothered by the discos continuing well past 4am, as they will spend the day catching up on much needed sleep.

I have just returned from the Salmakis after a week there with my husband and toddler. This was a beautiful hotel so our first impressions were great. Unfortunately, there were a few problems along the way.
Being a picky eater myself (i'm pregnant and my nausea has been very particular about what it will allow!), and of course travelling with a toddler, I didn't think much of the selection. My husband enjoyed the food very much and ate like a pig the entire time but my daughter and I were a little more limited. They don't cater to feed picky children and didn't even have chips or something similar to keep us going, it was entirely Turkish food. Which is great if you like Turkish food. The waiters were very friendly but there weren't enough of them so your drinks often arrived as you were almost finished eating.
We were given a 'payment card' to use for any bar purchases within the hotel (the final bill to be paid on check-out), but only issued one card. Likewise with the room key. Prices were never really given for drinks unless requested so we spent more than intended as we didn't realise we were being charged so much. There were signs in our room asking us not to bring in food and drink from outside the hotel as 'the hot weather can cause insect problems' but it was clearly so you would buy within the hotel. The mini bar was extortionate and sat on the floor where our daughter could easily help herself to chocolate and soft drinks as she often did when we weren't looking. The room was basic, but the sheets were scratchy and uncomfortable. I requested extra pillows but had to ask 3 times before they arrived. The sheets seemed to be changed every day except a few days into our stay, my daughter had left a small chocolate (mini-bar chocolate) stain on the bed sheet which managed to move by the time our room was cleaned. I uncovered the stain underneath our pillows - the sheet had been removed, then put back in a different position to make it look like it had been replaced with a clean sheet!
The pool area was well maintained and pleasant to sit in. The pool itself was very cold, but we did come at the start of May so we can't expect too much! There was no entertainment at all during our stay so were bored most evenings, but I suppose they only put on entertainment in the main season. The beach was AWFUL. We never spent any time there, which was dissapointing as we were looking forward to our daughter's first time on a beach. It was very stony and rather dirty. There were pawprints all over from stray dogs so I had to assume it wasn't just their prints being left behind. Also, this hotel is very tricky if you have a buggy with you as there are many sets of stairs. One couple told us they'd counted 72 steps between their room (which wasn't on the higher floors) and the restaurant. Great fun when you're pregnant(!)
All in all, we tried to make the best of our holiday and keep a positive attitude, so it wasn't the worst, but it was far from the best. I wouldn't return and I wouldn't recommend it.

Stayed at Salmakis, Bodrum for 8 days and loved everything about it.
Food was extraordinary, beach was lovely and next to the hotel, staff was just great, every single one of them was a person to rembember. (Ilhan, Nasrin, Yasin and many others, thank you!)

Many thanks to breakfast cook Recep, whom my children still talk about and his great scrambled eggs :)!

The only complaint I would have is the decoration (or lack of) in the rooms, as they are too simple, and furniture has seen better days. I did not appreciate old bathroom either.

Also, it would be nice to provide a drying rack for clothes, since balconies are so spacious.

Overall, this hotel is 10 minutes (by foot) from city center, and features great views, beautiful beach, great pool and really, really good food.

We would return to this hotel tomorrow, if we could :)

This was the first 'beach' holiday i had every been on. We are both in our 40's so not classing ourselves as a mature couple yet.

We arrrive at 0730 after a delay this end of over 2 hours. the staff were wonderful and showed us to our room. which faced the courtyard garden. room was clean and well equiped. we were sleeping in it not spending the whole week in it.
We went for breakfast which was plentiful and fresh - the bread and rolls were second to none. the fresh eggs and ommlettes made to order. i had absolutely no complaints with the staff and the service as it was first class.

we spend the first day just chilling on the beach and by the pool. Both had a bar adjacent to them. there was also a bar in the lobby.

We went for our evening meal which was no different from beaskfast time - meaning that the food was excellent and the service impectible.

There is plenty to do outside the hotel and walking into Bodrum town centre was down hill all the way and only too a good 10 minutes - hard climb up the hill back but a taxi only costs £2.50.

Keep away from Gumbet - drove via it a few times and it looks like blackpool in Turkey and have been advised by a couple that moved from there to our hotel that it was.

The water taxi operates just at the end of the private beach and takes direct into the marina in Bodrum. Went suba diving which was amazing to actually be swiming with fish. the worst experience was going to the market.

All in all - this hotel was first class - unfortunately i cannot get photos to attach to this review - but the photos i have are way better than the ones in the brochure and i would definately have no hesitation on returning next year.