Kervansaray Resort

Scenically set on a hillside overlooking the sea, the Kervansaray Resort features modern architecture and lovely, green grounds that spill into the bay below. The elevated setting affords lovely views of the blue waters and green hills hugging the coast, and there are plenty of spaces to relax in both indoors and out to enjoy the view. A haze of greenery fills the sprawling grounds, with palms, lush bougainvillea, and other plants flanking paths meandering throughout. A cable car elevator ferries guests down to the water level. 

Inside, guests are greeted in a massive lobby, a bright and airy space with walls of windows filling it with light. Decor is contemporary, but rather bland and almost institutional; the white walls, white tile floors, and teal-colored armchairs and sofas resemble a waiting room. Potted plants provide a touch of freshness. Other common areas, like the hotel's restaurants, feature pleasant contemporary decor and are filled with light, plus most offer outdoor seating and lovely views. 

Overall, the resort offers a good value -- prices are on the more affordable end for this category -- and draws many families with kids seeking a sunny beach vacation and enough amenities to keep children entertained. (Couples should be prepared for lots of kids running around and noise.) Most guests are from Turkey and the U.K., and the resort also sees a fair number of French-speakers (mostly from France and Belgium). Those who would prefer a resort with restaurants and nightlife within walking distance should consider the similarly priced Diamond of Bodrum -- though its rooms are more dated and lack Wi-Fi. Unlike the Kervansaray, the Diamond of Bodrum also has a sandy beach area. 

This beachfront hotel occupies a scenic setting that's about a five-minute drive east of the picturesque village of Torba. It's situated along a main road that leads to Bodrum City, but there's not much in the area besides a handful of other hotels. Bodrum can be reached in about 15 minutes by car, where guests will find restaurants, bars, shops, and ancient attractions like the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and Bodrum Castle. The nearest international airport is Milas–Bodrum Airport, which is about a half-hour away by car. 

Rooms are bright and pleasant, with colorful contemporary decor and lots of natural light from large windows and doors that open onto  balconies. All but some of the Club Rooms have private balconies, which are furnished with tables and chairs, and offer lovely views of the sea or surroundings. Decor varies, but includes colorful accent walls or patterned wallpaper that matches the curtains and bed runners -- though some rooms are more dated than others and decor can be dull. Some rooms have dark wooden furniture while in others it is white, and all include work desks, closets, and armchairs that match the bed runners. Junior Suites add sitting areas with sofa beds separated from the bedroom area by partitions.

Standard Rooms range in size from 247 to 355 square feet (23 to 33 square meters), while Junior Suites are between 301 to 441 square feet (28 to 41 square meters). Amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and electronic safes. Bathrooms feature attractive beige tiling and have shower/tub combos. Toiletries and wall-mounted hairdryers are provided.

Many guests recommend requesting a room in the main hotel over the bungalows dotted around the ground, as the latter can be a bit of a walk away from the action. In addition, the best sea views are found from the top floors of the main building (upgrading to a room with a sea view is worthwhile). On the flip side, some of the bungalows might be quieter at night. Because the rooms vary in quality and level of refurbishment, guests shouldn't be shy about requesting to be moved if they aren't satisfied. 

One of the highlights here is the hotel's waterfront area, which features comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas on a wooden jetty and deck on the water. A cable car elevator gives access to this level. Guests can also relax around two outdoor pools. The main pool has a swim-up bar, gorgeous ocean views, and adjacent kiddy pool, while the second pool (about a 10-minute walk away) has two waterslides. There are fewer umbrellas around the pools than at the waterfront deck, however. There is also an indoor pool situated in a bright and airy space. Various water sports are available, including free canoes and paddle boats, as well as catamarans, windsurfing, water-skiing, and jet-skis (for a fee). The hotel also has a diving school. 

The hotel's wellness features include a spa, sauna, steam room, hot tub, and Turkish bath. A variety of massages are available, plus there's a hairdresser. The resort also has a bright fitness center equipped with a handful of modern machines, as well as outdoor sports facilities, including an outdoor gym, two tennis courts, and a basketball court. Guests can join in on a variety of sports activities, including aerobics, water volleyball, basketball, water gymnastics, water polo, and mini-golf. The entertainment team is energetic and gets mostly positive reviews from guests, though when the hotel is lower occupancy entertainment can be lacking and some activities may not be available.

On-site dining options include a main buffet-style restaurant serving international fare, and four a la carte eateries serving Turkish, Italian, and Chinese fare, as well as seafood -- but that there have been complaints from past guests about poor quality food and lack of variety. The resort also has eight bars, including ones by the beach and pool, as well as lobby bar, snack bar, swim-up pool bar, and an open air disco bar. Room service is available.

Families with kids are well catered for -- besides the children's pools and waterslides, the hotel offers a kids' club, indoor and outdoor play areas, a mini disco, and a buffet for kids at the main restaurant. Evening entertainment is provided, including live music, dance shows, cabarets, and musicals, and the hotel has a large outdoor theater with lovely sea views. (Though again, the offerings can be more limited during off-peak times or when the hotel is lower occupancy.) Other amenities include a TV lounge and an internet room. Wi-Fi incurs a charge and some guests complain that the signal is poor.