What is it like to stay at the Maxx Royal Bodrum in Türkiye?

Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best new (and revamped) luxury hotels based on a rigorous and sometimes tongue-in-cheek 10-point system: Every question answered “yes” gets one . indicate. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.

Maxx Royal Bodrum

In three words: Glamorous happiness by the beach

What’s the problem?

Didn’t it feel like everyone on your Instagram was in Bodrum this summer? You wouldn’t imagine it: the alluring peninsula of Turkey’s famous Turquoise Coast is certainly buzzing, with a host of global hotel heavyweights – Mandarin Oriental, Aman, Scorpios and Edition, with others like Bulgari and St. Regis coming soon – brilliant. along the coast in recent years, and international jet-setters have descended there in droves. When Maxx Royal opened in May near Cennet Bay (“paradise”), one of Bodrum’s most picturesque areas, it stood out from the fray as one of the few Turkish brands to play on the luxury circuit, joining the ranks of the emblematic Macakizi, a few minutes of navigation. This is the third resort offering from a local group with properties in Antalya and comes with a partnership with Mykonos icon Scorpios, here located on a promontory adjoining the property.

The best room: While the villas, which range from two to five bedrooms, are hard to beat with their contemporary design and gardens with private pools, the Lagunas stand out in their own right. Whether you prefer a two- or three-bedroom duplex or spacious one-bedroom studios, each flanks an undulating saltwater lagoon overlooking the water.

The summary

Did they greet you by name when checking in?

Not just at check-in: if you book a private car transfer from the hotel (from €190), the resort will arrange a free airport meet-and-greet service, with someone waiting for you at the time of your disembarkation.

Is a welcome drink ready and waiting for you upon your arrival? Bonus point if it wasn’t just fruit juice.
From strong Turkish coffee that relieves you of the weariness of the long journey to glasses of champagne, everything you desire appears in a flash in the airy reception area. Enjoy it as a gigantic digital art installation by Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol swirls in the background.

Does the resort offer an exceptional benefit?
The hotel has a fleet of boats ranging from Axopars to Mazu 52s that can be chartered for short getaways or full day excursions around the peninsula. But the best way to avoid summer traffic is to book a boat transfer from the airport (from €500).

A private butler for each room?
Only villas benefit from butler service, but all guests are assigned a dedicated team of Maxx Royal assistants. They are available via WhatsApp 24 hours a day to help you make all the necessary arrangements, from restaurant reservations to tours and more.

Is there heated floor in the bathroom? And a bidet?
No heated floors, but you won’t miss them; As this is a seasonal property, the weather is almost always sublime when you are there. Bathrooms have discreet bidets built into the seat: no remote controls or fancy high-tech screens to navigate, but they get the job done.

Are the toiletries large?
The bathrooms are equipped with life-size Diptyque products.

Is there a private pool for the exclusive use of the room? What is the spa and gym like?
Villas have private pools, but the Laguna category has direct access to a shared seawater lagoon. Everyone can go to one of the three heated swimming pools around the property. The spa, spread over 61,000 square feet, has a Turkish hammam, a tranquil indoor pool and treatment rooms dedicated to everything from Ayurvedic massages to skeletal alignment to ozone therapy . The vast gymnasium, meanwhile, could give Equinox a hard time.

Are restaurants worth their salt?
While Maxx Royal, as a brand, is deeply rooted in its Turkish environs (the shopping promenade features notable Istanbul transplants like jewelry store Begüm Khan and leather purveyor Madame Malachite), the dizzying array of restaurants at the resort evokes a cosmopolitan sensibility with many global culinary stars: are outposts of Spago, Caviar Kaspia, Oro from Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo and Maine’s Dubai-London-Ibiza hotspot. Other highlights include casual beach restaurant Casa Sol and museum-like patisserie Le Melange.

Is there caviar on the room service menu? If yes, what kind?
It’s not on the room service menu, but the resort is home to an outpost of the iconic Kaspia Caviar, so you can indulge your every craving there. Choose from Imperial Baeri, White Sturgeon, Oscietra Reserve, Beluga Royal and much more.

Do you want to spend Friday evening at the lobby bar?
The stylish Lounge Bar, located three levels below the dizzying lobby, is stunning, but just a few steps away is the open-air pool bar – either is a great place to spend an evening. If you need something more energetic, Scorpios is just around the corner.

Would you buy the hotel if you could?
Given the size, it may be a little too high maintenance for a vacation home, but I will definitely return.

The verdict
Maxx Royal Bodrum somehow manages to have something for everyone: nightlife revelers will head straight to the Scorpions and families will head straight to the 12,000 Maxxi Land kids club square feet; everyone will spend their days by the swimming pools or at the beach. And despite its vast size, the lush walkways and hidden corners manage to give the expanse a refreshingly intimate feeling.

Prices: Doubles from $957

Score: 8

What our score means:

1-3: Fire your travel agent if he suggests you stay here.

4-6: Solid if you’re in a tough situation, but only if you’re in a tough situation.

7-8: Very good. We would happily return and recommend it without hesitation.

9-10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?