T+L Hotel Review: Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort

As a soft Aegean wind blew through the open-air lounge at Maxx Royal BodrumI was mesmerized when I saw a digital art piece by American-Turkish Refik Anodal that covered an entire wall in neon hues of greens, blues, and oranges. This installation, which is just one of many high-quality artworks at the resort, demonstrates how committed the hotel is to creativity. It also highlights the Bodrum peninsula with its lush landscape, water and foliage.

Mahmut Alar, architect at the hotel, says: “It starts with the lobby.” “Simple minimal sophisticated like a glass vase with all nature in view. The 28-acre resort was designed and conceived by his Istanbul-based studio GEOMIM. Interiors were created by GEO_ID, a sister company. The resort’s expanse cascades from the elevated perch down the side of a shallow gorge to a shimmering bay with a curving beach.

The stunning space was a preview of many more masterstrokes to come. The meticulously considered details will reveal themselves in small increments, until guests are able to discover them by the time of checkout. “When guests leave, I want them to say, ‘I have to come back,” says Anlar. The pattern in the cream marble of the Lounge Bar’s sides is the same as the intricate iroko ceiling. The greenish diabase stones used around the pool were chosen to match the exact shade of the ocean when lit by sunlight.

You can also find out more about the following:n a destination that has become synonymous The sun-seeking globe-trotters beau mondeMaxx Royal Resorts is Turkey’s leading hospitality innovator. The resort, which opened in late 2013, is the latest and most luxurious. The international hotel brands Edition, Aman Mandarin Oriental and Six Senses have all established roots in Bodrum over the past few years (Bulgari, currently under construction), as well as other notables.

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort is a cosmopolitan resort despite its Aegean coast and pedigree. It opened on the north side of the peninsula in May 2024. The many partnerships it has with world-renowned gastronomy and hoteliers, such as Caviar Kaspia and Spago by Wolfgang Puck are boldly evoking this.

It was an authentic gesture when Erhan Ozdemir at Twenty4 introduced me to the breakfast of his country: a warm croissant and a cup of tea. simit, Turkish pretzel slathered in butter kaymak, Honey scooped directly from the local honeycomb is then poured over a thick clotted crème. On my balcony, I devoured a bowl of green satsumas from the local area, which is one of Bodrum’s sweetest delights.

Although there is nothing low-key about the arrestingly beautiful Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, it was designed with the intention of eventually merging with—or even disappearing behind—the cover of nature. The hotel is covered with greenery including pomegranate trees, Nile Lilies, Spanish Olive Trees, and oleander.

Buggies—there are 67 of them available to guests—ferried me up and down the gentle hills, which added a sense of adventure to this green and sprawling place. I didn’t ever feel overwhelmed by the vastness of this place. With so many places to read, sip on a mocktail or dive into the ocean, the hotel actually felt cozy.

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, a luxury hotel with warm-hearted service, is more than just a showpiece of design. In flip-flops I could wander from one pool to the next, each more spectacular than the other. I always ended up on the beach, where I drank an iced coffee and swam in the bay.

Here is my review on the Maxx Royal Bodrum resort in Turkey.

The Rooms

The 282 guestrooms and suites have large Aegean windows and doors opening onto spacious patios and balconies. Each is designed to harmonize both with the gardens and greenery surrounding the hotel, as well the the beautiful backdrop of the sky and sea.

Villas come in two- to five-bedroom configurations and include private seawater pools and lush gardens. They also offer breathtaking views of the cobalt beach. Laguna suites and rooms are the most sought-after. The rooms and suites are all located next to a saltwater pool that is cleverly undulating, adding to the feeling of floating over the property.

The rooms are sophisticated because of the simple and smartly placed materials. The entry-level room was an elegant and comfortable study, with sea-green Turkish marble striated on the vanity. Organic linen curtains, beautiful wooden coffee tables (which I wished I could take home) and a comfortable couch upholstered in a bronze-hued earthy fabric completed the look. The floor had a neutral grey color and a step leading down to the sitting room. It was hard to see because of the Mediterranean sunshine. The pillow menu, Diptyque products, and spacious closet were all great. I also loved the mint-green bag that I used throughout the day.

Food and Drink

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort offers a culinary experience to die for. Seven restaurants, a French Patisserie, four bars and a ice cream parlor offer a variety of culinary options. Casa Sol, a beachy Latin-inspired restaurant, serves guacamole and crispy flatbreads made from woodfired ovens. It also offers grilled fish and meat. After a swim I walked barefoot to the restaurant for lunch and enjoyed short-rib empanadas, beets, and yogurt in the shade of Monterey pines.

Le Melange, a pastry shop that feels like a jewelry store. Every sculpted pastry prepared by chef Cédric de Lima e Sousa was tempting, and I opted for a kefir cake with peanuts—both staples in the Turkish diet, turned into a refined delicacy. The artisanal chocolates looked like a beautiful array of gemstones. They were almost too pretty to eat.

Although I am not a fan of caviar (I don’t eat it), the meal at Caviar Kaspia, a teal-hued restaurant, was delightful. It featured perfectly cooked salmon with a spicy, fresh salad. Bernar Venet’s steel sculptures were illuminated across the bay in the darkness. This reminded me what a large piece of land the resort occupies.

Spago’s elegant dining room is cantilevered above the water. As I enjoyed the house-made red pepper and labneh hummus on pillowy bread, I watched as darkness fell. Fortunately, I still had room for the grilled lamb chops with a minty dressing.

Activities and Experiences

Nearby, there are many hiking trails. The resort offers bikes for guests to rent and explore the peninsula. The resort provides scuba lessons, snorkeling tours, and yacht trips.

The resort’s abundance of pools, lounges on the beach, restaurants, boutiques and luxury brands (such as Marni bags or Zimmermann dresses) may make you stay within its walls. 

The Spa

The 62,000-square-foot Maxx Wellbeing Centre It is an enigma of wellness. The floor, which has soft white pebbles set in a Turkish style, is the first step. podima The mosaic provides a warming-up massage to your feet. The rose-scented spa offers an array of treatments, and is equipped with cutting-edge technology.

The spa’s simplicity is revealed by the indoor Olympic pool, which appears to emerge out of the gardens. This is an oasis for fitness and health. There are 20 treatment rooms and a Spin studio. Also, there is a cryotherapy and sleep therapy bed as well as a flotation tank.

Santa Maria Novella’s massage relieved my muscles. However, for a deeper treatment, the Longevity Clinic and the spa can design a multi-day program. The treatments could include detoxification, anti-aging and infrared therapy to manage pain.

Family Friendly Offerings

Maxxi Land is an over 12,000 square foot kids’ club for children aged between one and eleven years. It features a beautiful, beautifully rendered world of undulating wood walls, life size resin giraffes and arts and crafts areas. There’s even a stylish crib in the sleep room. The kids can participate in creative workshops, or even stage a mini-disco while their parents enjoy craft cocktails and dance under the moonlight. 

Accessibility and sustainability

Several 775-square foot guest rooms are ADA compliant. The rooms and villas have elevators. However, moving between the buildings can require alternative pathways without continuous elevator service. The area at the beach level, including the restaurants and pools, has ramps. Wide walkways make it easy for strollers to access.

It can be hard to fold a wheelchair or walker into a buggy.

Location

The resort is only 50 miles from Milas-Bodrum Airport. Transportation can be arranged by the concierge. There are several daily flights to and from Istanbul. This airport also services London and Paris.  

For the curious, and for comfort’s sake, a fleet of five Maseratis—the Italian sports car brand is another partner of Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort—is on hand to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests can explore the historic heart of Bodrum, 30 minutes away. The resort’s proximity to the whitewashed, bougainvillea-covered fishing town and its rowdy portside restaurants allows engagement with the region’s fascinating ancient heritage (a tub of fig ice cream at local favorite Bitez can hold a guest over before dinner at the resort). 

The medieval Bodrum Castle The fortress has been standing rock-solid for over 600 year on a promontory and is one the last fortresses in Turkey built by the Crusaders. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – is also well worth a trip. Both the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ephesus & Hierapolis and the nearby travertine Baths at Pamukkale are day trips that can be arranged through the hotel. 

The billionaire playground of Yalikavak is 25 minutes west from the hotel; here you can pick up an extra pair of Hermès slides or a Louis Vuitton tote, or have a look at some impressive yachts in the marina.

Book Now

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort (one of three Maxx Royal Resorts, with a new resort under construction in Maldives) is part of the multi-tiered hotel chain. Royalty by Maxx Royal Program of loyalty. Leaders Club members can enjoy exclusive upgrades and benefits at the resort because it is also a Leading Hotels of the World member.

Check out the website for more discounts and offers. resort’s website.

Get special rates on nights at Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort start from €1,000 ($1,161 USD) for a luxury suite with a sea view.

Each T+L Hotel Review is written by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotel chosen must also align with our standards. core values.