Summer Garden Apart Hotel

The Summer Garden Apart Hotel is surrounded by a tangerine grove, and the grounds are lush and green, with pretty flowering vines that climb up the sides of the buildings. The lobby is bright and roomy, done in Mediterranean whites and blues and furnished with sea-blue upholstered chairs. Like all aspects of the property, the setting is simple and sunny. 

The resort accommodates children, but is more of a spot for a quiet holiday as there's little for families to do besides swim in one of the two pools and play on the brightly painted waterslide. Plus, the poolside bar can be lively until midnight. The Summer Garden is typically quiet, though it gets busy with vacationing Turks for the annual celebration of Eid. Overall, it's an average option that lacks attention to detail -- air-conditioning incurs a fee and many complain that it's inefficient, while rooms could use a revamp or at least some decor. The plain, dated decor in rooms, coupled with a spotty maintenance and cleanliness record keep the hotel from standing out among area resorts.

The Summer Garden Apart Hotel is located on a fairly busy road, next door to a supermarket. The immediate area is green and lush, and the hotel is by the coast; the nearest beach is a few minutes' walk away, but guests who want to swim should bring water shoes, as the Mediterranean sand and sea bottom are rough on bare feet. There are plenty of well-reviewed restaurants and bars near the hotel for guests to explore, while Bodrum City can be reached in about 15 to 20 minutes by car. In addition to nightlife, there guests can visit Bodrum Castle, Myndos Gate, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Another area attraction are the Bodrum Windmills, which are about a 10-minute drive from here. Milas Airport is about a 45-minute drive, and the hotel offers airport transfers for a fee.

There are 171 rooms -- ranging from Standard Rooms to apartments -- that all have an extremely plain appearance and are outfitted in dated furnishings. The furniture has a neutral-tone palette of mostly whites, tans, and browns, and decor is nonexistent, aside from the occasional red or fuchsia armchair or burnt-orange curtains adding a dose of much-needed color. All of the rooms are small, and the apartments are narrow and not extensively furnished. For example, while the kitchenettes consist of sinks, mini-fridges, two-burner hot plates, and electric kettles, there is no kitchen table provided. Some dishware, glassware, and cooking implements are provided, but space for preparing meals is limited. 

All guest rooms are air-conditioned, but guests must pay a daily fee to use the AC and many units are inefficient. Most rooms have small furnished balconies overlooking the pool or garden -- though space is tight -- while others are located at the basement level and lack views, plus are dark. Light sleepers should request rooms near the smaller back pool, as the bar can stay noisy until late. Bathrooms are tiny, with narrow shower stalls and single sinks with little to no counter space. The hotel does not provide free toiletries, although there is a commercial hand soap dispenser on the bathroom wall. Units have small, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, but they lack safes and the safety deposit boxes in the lobby require a fee. Connecting rooms are available upon request. Some guests have complained of mediocre maintenance and housekeeping.

Summer Garden has two outdoor pools: a large pool with a shallow children's area and waterslide, and a smaller, quieter pool at the back of the property. Each pool is surrounded by plenty of comfortable cushioned sunbeds shaded by blue palapas. A poolside bar has modern wicker seating and a menu of cocktails and snacks. Also available are a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and a stone bar with a TV that's open late. The hotel's restaurant serves a free continental breakfast, but omelets and other cooked dishes cost extra. Dinner is also served buffet-style, while lunch has an a la carte menu. Guests can opt for full-board or half-board plans, but the food is unexceptional. There is a well-stocked convenience and grocery store on-site for guests that want to cook in their apartments. 

The spa is simple and utilitarian, though it does have a beautiful marble Turkish bath and a spacious sauna. The spa offers a variety of massages and bodywork, and the beauty salon also offers a full menu of services, including manicures and pedicures. Other amenities include two pool tables, as well as free Wi-Fi in the public areas.