SALMAKIS RESORT & SPA

Just got back from our 12th Visit. So lovely to be greeted by staff that have been there for years big shout out to Sala ( not his full name but surname begins with a C ) . He is without doubt the best waiter there. He could not work for a few days ( all the guests who were there at the time knew why, not his fault at all ) , he was noticeably missed. The service was not the same when he isn't there. Also big shout out to all the Bar Team Billiao and I'm sorry I don't know everyone's name. Hussain and the animation team also great . This year they had a foam party in the pool twice a week which was great fun even just to watch. The Brazilian dances were also great. All the food and drinks were great. You cannot beat the views from this hotel and the top reception bar is open all night , you can even get a burger and chips or a toasted sandwich at 3 am if you want to. Yes, some parts of the Hotel need updating, however over the years they have made so many improvements . They have completely re tiled the pool and restaurant areas and rooms 200 up ( lower ground near the pool) have been refurnished with new bathrooms and walk in showers. However we like to stay at the top on the same level as reception and the all night bar ( so not too far to get to our room at the end of the evening) . The rooms on these levels ( 800 ) are still really big and clean and are still fine as they are with the most amazing views. Salmakis, i am missing you already and so looking forward to our 13th Visit !!!!

We stayed here from 21st to 28th June on a Jet2 All Inclusive Plus holiday. Overall, we had a really lovely stay and felt it offered good value for money. The location of the hotel is beautiful. Set across multiple levels on a hillside, you get fantastic sea views from almost everywhere in the hotel. It’s around a 40-minute drive from the airport (we took a private transfer) and only about a 10-minute taxi ride into Bodrum town, costing roughly 300 TL (Turkish lira). Although we were all inclusive, we spent one evening in Bodrum which was lovely. The marina, boats, and sunset views were definitely worth it. The hotel itself is nice. Some areas are a little dated, but there’s clearly ongoing work to improve it, and it still has plenty of charm with its classic blue and white walkways and buildings. The flowers and plants scattered throughout the hotel look idyllic against the blue and white buildings and make it feel really picturesque. Both me and my partner agreed the photos on the website don’t do justice to how pretty the hotel is! The hotel feels like it has that classic Turkish charm! We booked a garden view room, and while ours was located down a fairly dark corridor which felt a little gloomy, the room itself was pleasant and the garden view was nice. It had everything we needed: a TV, minibar (restocked daily with water, Coke, Fanta etc.) and it was cleaned every day. While the décor is a little old-fashioned, you’re only really sleeping there, so it wasn’t a big issue. The air conditioning was excellent and kept the room really cool, which we were especially grateful for at night. The hotel has a buffet restaurant, snack bar, pool bar, lobby bar and an à la carte restaurant. Unfortunately, we couldn’t use the à la carte restaurant as it only serves fish and my partner is vegetarian. That said, the buffet had a great range of food and enough variety that we never struggled to find something to eat. My partner, who is vegetarian, said the selection at buffet and snack bar was decent, especially if you like salads, breads, chips, soups, pasta, grilled vegetables, Turkish pitas and the Turkish spinach and feta pastries. As a meat eater myself, there was always a great range of options for me too. The restaurant staff were amazing, you will probably read a lot of reviews of people mentioning Mr Tarık and this is because he is the one the makes your trip feel special. During breakfast and dinner he made everyone feel so welcome, always remembered our drinks, and made us feel really looked after. Thank you Tarık! ☺️ My only complaint food-wise would be the snack bar staff, who weren’t always the friendliest, and service could sometimes be slow. One lunch my partner asked for a veggie pizza from the menu and was told they couldn’t make it because they had “run out of veg,” which at 2pm in a hotel this size felt a little odd. It was small things like this where the snack bar seemed to lack the initiative and helpfulness that the buffet staff had. The hotel also has an ice cream and fresh fruit stand during the day, which was a lovely touch. The food overall was good, with plenty of options. The cocktails were a bit hit or miss depending on who made them. Sometimes they were great, other times not so much and there are clearly some bar staff who do not know how to make some drinks. There was always bottled water available at all the bars too, which was really convenient. The pool area was great. It was large, clean, and there were always plenty of sunbeds available. We’d usually get there around 10am and still have plenty of choice. Fresh clean towels were provided by the pool every day, which was really handy. There’s also a lovely grass and garden area between the pool and the sea with extra sunbeds, which was perfect for a bit of shade or a change of scenery in the afternoon. The beach was another highlight. It was clean, well-maintained, and always had sunbeds available. The sea was beautiful for swimming, was lovely once you got in. The pool staff were also lovely always saying hi and welcoming everyone. They run yoga sessions and pool activities every day. Me and my partner didn’t join in, but if that’s your sort of thing it’s a great option to have. Most evenings there was some form of entertainment. I’ll be honest, I didn’t personally enjoy Baby Shark blasting loudly at 9pm while I was trying to eat dinner, and we did have to leave the pool bar a few nights because it was so loud we couldn’t talk. That said, if you have little ones I’m sure it’s great for them. Around 9:30pm the more adult-friendly entertainment starts and the kids’ music stops. We’d usually head up to the lobby bar at that point for cocktails and drinks, which was much more our vibe. There were a few areas that could definitely be improved. One issue for me was housekeeping leaving empty plates and glasses outside rooms for days at a time. My partner didn’t really mind, so maybe I’m just picky, but I personally didn’t love walking past my three-day-old mojito every time I left the room. The same went for the dust and debris left outside our corridor while construction work was being carried out. Again, my partner wasn’t bothered, but I would have preferred it to be cleaned up quicker. The poolside bathrooms were also a bit worn down and weren’t the nicest. Sometimes they smelled, and on a few occasions we actually went back to our room instead of using them. The hotel seemed to cater to everyone, couples, families, and groups of friends, so I’d say it’s a good option for all types of travellers. There’s also a small mini market on-site, which is really handy if you forget any holiday essentials. Another nice touch was that if you run out of books to read, there are a few in reception that you can swap and borrow. And as a bonus for me as a cat lover, there were lots of hotel cats and kittens roaming around, which I loved! Overall, I’d say you get exactly what you pay for. It’s not luxury. The sunbeds are a little hard, parts of the hotel are dated, and some facilities could use updating. It’s not the five-star luxury experience you might expect elsewhere but your not paying a luxury price, but it is a good hotel in a stunning location where you can have a really enjoyable holiday. If you go in with realistic expectations, you’ll likely have a great time. ☀️

I visit this hotel regularly and have to say the recent renovations have been done very well to good effect. What is not to love about the whole Salmakis experience? From the speedy check in, to the perfect room (211), as a solo traveller I was made to feel most welcome. All areas were clean and well maintained. The staff are all very friendly and looked after me so well. From reception staff, to housekeeping, pool bar and restaurant, everyone is respectful and welcoming. Nothing is too much trouble! The restaurant is excellent with a great choice of food both in the main restaurant and in the snack bar. Chef Ismail personally made me a lovely watermelon and feta salad and Tarık and the team were attentive and friendly and went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. The hotel entertainment is varied with a good selection of pool based activities, yoga and darts etc., and evening music ranges from live bands to a dj and karaoke. The pool bar is a good place to relax, and Bilal, Taner and Eyup can make any drink you fancy. I highly recommend the ultra all inclusive package. This was not my first visit and it will definitely not be my last! 5 stars all round.

Had a fantastic stay, wonderful amenities and a lovely view from the pool side. Tarik was particularly helpful, as were all the staff.

Our 5th time at our favourite hotel in the world, the Salmakis team have been amazing already. Special thanks to Tarik, Salah, Bilal, Eyup, Kadem,, Taner, Husain, Yagmur (animation team) fun activities every day ...... great food as always and the rooms all refurbished to a good standard but the location has to be seen to be believed…...absolutely stunning. You will not find a better view over Bodrum bay or location! Thank you Salmakis for making our 5th truly wonderful x