Tried & Tested: Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort


It's an exciting new opening with a lot of buzz in the market. Can the new Maxx Royal resort in Bodrum defy skepticism and finally convince discerning travelers that Turkey is actually a luxury destination? It's a sophisticated alternative in a beautiful region that is poised to win their hearts and minds. LuxuryWise has been tracking this property for a while, and was one of its first guests to enjoy a chic, luxurious stay.

As experienced by LuxuryWise's Director of Business Development, Melanie Haass

The Resort

It's sooo green! After about a 45min transfer from the airport I stroll into the spacious lobby, which is when the view of the resort opens up and makes my heart skip a beat. Once your clients take their eyes off the huge, stylish video screen and its water projection, they can gaze upon the hilly resort. It was already lush and verdant when it opened in mid-May, since the landscaping of the five-star all-suite grand boutique resort already began during the construction phase. Clients probably won't bother too much with the video wall anyway if, like me, they've drunk a lot of water in the fancy van... But they can also treat themselves to a transfer by yacht for 750 euros, or by helicopter for 2,500 euros.

Plainly put, the property is huge. As a European I like to walk, except in tropical temperatures, and the groundkeepers are so attentive I can barely go 60 seconds without a passing buggy driver asking where I want to go. The attention is nice, and if I wanted I could also simply call for a buggy ride via the Maxx Assistant.

A quick rundown of the numbers: the resort has 282 units, 15 F&B outlets plus in-room dining, six pools (most with skin-friendly seawater), various beach and deck areas with service, an enormous spa including an indoor pool and gym spread out over 5,000 square meters (53,820sq. ft.), and the cutest Maxxi Land I've ever seen. Contrasting with the usual Maxx Royal concept, the resort is not all-inclusive, but comes exclusively with breakfast.

The Suites

With the entry-level category we're already talking about a 72-square-meter (775sq. ft.) suite, facing either land or sea. Not to mention a dressing area, double vanity, menus for pillows and room fragrances, a special bathroom set for children, products from Diptyque, a media hub with an iPad, and a lounger or chairs on the terrace.

My refuge for this stay is a Royal Suite (pictured). I have it all to myself, but I could've brought a whole entourage in these 146 square meters (1,572sq. ft.), as the couch corner invites you to lounge and chill with friends. The official capacity is three adults plus one child and a baby. Not that I would have been able to watch TV during my three-night stay, but if I had I could have done it using the cool setup in the bedroom – what looks like a large rotating mirror actually hides the second TV in the Royal Suite. Incidentally, it also comes with a second shower room and guest bathroom. If you book a suite as a duplex, your clients can stay here with four people.

Personally, I really like the style: high-quality materials and no unnecessary frills – clean and simple. Some clients may find the suite a bit dark (and admittedly, the lighting design could be improved), but I don't like things so bright anyway, and I love the subdued, dark stone floor with anti-slippery coating.

The Lagunas

The varied Laguna category is the most popular accommodation, as they all have direct access to the numerous lagoon pools. The studio option (pictured) comes in at 125 square meters (1,345sq. ft.) and is intended for two adults plus a child and a baby, complete with a bedroom, a sitting area, a bathroom, a sunbed, and seating on the terrace. The 1BR option is 171 square meters (1,841sq. ft.) and has two bathrooms. The Lagunas are also available as a duplex: the two bedroom option is 212 square meters (2,282sq. ft.) for four adults, and the three bedroom option is 240 square meters (2,583sq. ft.) for six adults. Party time, I'd say! And they all come with the choice of having breakfast in the rooms.

Thanks to the already beautifully grown greenery and architecture, very few of the lagunas are visible. However, a few of them just below the reception area do have terraces where perhaps the party shouldn't get too carried away...

The Villas

Let's get the nitty gritty outta the way: starting at 303 square meters (3,261sq. ft.) the Hill Villa category (pictured) ranges from two to four bedrooms. The Presidential Villa is 1,069 square meters (11,507sq. ft.) and has five bedrooms for ten adults or more. Imagine it like this: flooded with light, bright, perfectly laid out, and with fantastic attention to detail. Between the pink mini-fridge for the bottle(s) of sparkling rosé and the rocking horse in the children's bedroom, there are many tasteful touches that would make any guest feel right at home. The bright color concept is distinctly different from the suites and Lagunas, and each bedroom has its own terrace with lounge furniture. The heart of this villa, however, is the living and dining area with its large table and expansive, open marble bar. It's easy to see how families and friends will gravitate around this space.

P.S. – Butlers and private beach pavilions with service are available for villa guests. As a bonus, for every seven-day stay Maxx Royal Bodrum offers one day on a chic, private yacht (see below).

The Culinary

Lord have mercy – where do I start, and where do I stop?! Let's begin at breakfast, preferably with my feet in the fine white sand at the beach restaurant Casa Sol. I'm admittedly not a breakfast person, but I always try it out for you, dear readers. This time the food and service were so good I even did it twice in three days! That should serve as an accolade for Maxx Royal Bodrum. Once a nice shady spot under the trees and umbrellas is chosen, the tables are, as if by magic, instantaneously decorated with fresh fruit, salad, and yogurt. Clients can also order a wide variety of delicacies. My favorite: the Turkish scrambled eggs menemen (pictured). One can feast all day long at Casa Sol even on the surrounding loungers, just not around the clock like at the Twenty 4 restaurant.

As foreshadowed, the variety of spots for food & drink is abundant. Eight restaurants, five bars, and three snack options including the yummy Ice Cream Parlour and the Chocolatier & Le Melange.

If your clients are star hunters, The Oro by Alfredo Russo is a tribute to Italian cuisine on another level. The world-famous Michelin-starred chef has immortalized himself here with a menu created specifically for the Maxx Royal Bodrum serving up fine dishes such as a butter-tender filet, marinated in red wine for 24 hours.

Caviar Kaspia (pictured), which originated in Paris, is surely an Insta-worthy hotspot. Located directly on the bay, it has the most beautiful view of the shimmering turquoise of the Aegean Sea. The mirror on the ceiling teases the eye and makes it easy to take cool and unusual photos to make the folks back home green with envy.

The Wellbeing

You hear that? BAM! That's the door swinging open to a superlative spa of over 5,000 square meters (53,820sq. ft.)! It's run by the spa manager and Bach flower expert Tulay. In addition to the indoor Olympic pool, the saunas, steam baths, and the numerous treatment rooms, the hammam is a real treat. Or as Tulay puts it: "Close your eyes and open the door to paradise." In contrast to the usual hamam locations, there are also three closed rooms for a private hamam treatment experience.

I hang on Tulay's every word during the hour-and-a-half inspection (of just the spa!) – especially when she talks about the incredibly high-end and comprehensive program. The resident anti-aging doctor, for example, promises ten days of rejuvenation with Ayurveda. Unfortunately I can't try it because I don't have that long here, but I do order the advertised beauty pillow directly from the Maxx Assistant to try it out in my room. Unfortunately, I also don't have time to test the 60-minute Sleep Therapy or the Dorn method. But Dorn is now on my list to try at home. Last but absolutely not least: Maxx Royal Bodrum has the only Scio Quantum in Turkey. The Scientific ConSCIOusness Interface Operating System is a diagnostic and therapy apparatus. It uses bioresonant measurements to interface with the conscious mind, then measures reactions to identify risk factors and stress at an early stage. Super interesting, in my opinion, and well-worth even for the 500 euros for a one-off session...Stay tuned as we do the required follow-up research on this one!

The Kids Club

God it's so cute here! Even the big kids won't want to leave. Maxxi Land has large, bright rooms for every age group, beautifully furnished and with great attention to detail. But it's so much more than what the name let's on. There's a stage room for dance workshops and performances, a craft room and/or laboratory, a room with tiny beds for the little ones, a cinema and, and, and – the list goes on and on! The opening hours will give parents a sigh of relief: from nine in the morning until two in the morning, children from zero to twelve years old can have as much supervised fun as to their hearts' content. It's also great if the grown-ups want to have a romantic candlelit dinner, or a bit of carefree fun at Scorpios Beach Club.

The Scorpios Beach Club

The dazzling new feature of Maxx Royal Bodrum is the first Scorpios Beach Club outside Greece. With Bodrum, Scorpios is offering a round-the-clock experience for the first time, as the club's ownership has now opened its first boutique hotel on the small peninsula at the tip of the resort. Twelve one- and two-story bungalows are available for two people each for between 2,500 and 2,800 euros per night. Anyone who likes the mother of all beach clubs on Mykonos will feel right at home here in luxurious boho style. The holistic "Luxury Ethical Lifestyle" concept extends across the entire Scorpios peninsula from the beach deck to the spa. Overall that makes it less like a resort and more like a spiritual meeting place with sound rituals and a tea sommelier. All facilities are included for Scorpios hotel guests. If clients are coming from the Maxx Royal or from outside there are a few ways to play it. From the "just have a drink" approach, to a sunbed-for-120-euros-a-day angle, to the full-throttle, hedonistic option of having an evening in the luxurious open-air party area. The "damage" on that last one will, at minimum, be between 3,000 and 10,000 euros depending on the size of the group and how close the table is to the DJ's swanky booth.

Perhaps you've heard (or perhaps you haven't, which is why you read us!), but the next Scorpios locations are already planned to open this fall in Tulum and Dubai. "More to come soon" have already been announced. Founders Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel, the clever team behind the brands Soho House and Scorpios, are already working on a charter flight to offer Mykonos and Bodrum as a combo. Stay tuned for that!

Trade Contact: Diana Porim, Head of Reservation & Events, Corporate

The Service

The flow still needs to be fine-tuned, but on the whole things are running quite smoothly. I didn't notice or feel that there is still a lack of staff. There's always someone on hand to offer a buggy ride or to ask about my wishes. The professional finishing touches to the service are perhaps still a little lacking, but we shouldn't forget that we are here during the soft opening phase. In any case, they passed my milk test: after a quick order via the app, I receive my special order – unsweetened almond milk – to accompany my Nespresso machine in the suite.

The resort calls its arrival and departure service "Maxx Protocol." Guests in all room categories with international flights can enjoy special services both on arrival and departure. A "Meet & Greet" welcomes them at the airport directly at the gate and guides them to their luggage with service until they board the transfer. On the return flight, they are greeted at the airport by Prime Class hostesses, accompanied through check-in and have access to the Prime Class Lounge until departure.

The resort has four chic motor yachts (pictured) available for private hire exclusively for Maxx Royal guests. You can book them for a maximum of eight guests – €4,750 for a half day or €8,500 for a full day, crew and refreshments included. Various culinary options from a complete bar setup and cocktail service to snacks and fine dining can be booked for an additional charge.

The Destination

The glamorous town of Bodrum on the Aegean coast has a great mix of historical charm, vibrant nightlife, and wonderful scenery. So it's no mystery why in recent years it's become a hotspot for both the Turkish and international jet set. From the crystal-clear waters to the picturesque city backdrop and the lush green countryside, the destination is sure to captivate its visitors. The culinary scene certainly leaves nothing to be desired, complemented by authentic Turkish specialties, trendy cafés, and spectacular views of the city and bays. In the port town 16 kilometers (10mi.) from the resort, people are clearly enjoying life to its fullest. And: Bodrum is not Antalya, which is a good thing because it means that the destination is not overrun.

In a Nutshell

The hotel itself is a destination in its own right given its incredibly extensive offerings. Once you're inside, you quickly forget the classic objections to Turkey as a luxury travel destination – especially when you see the hip and affluent clientele of young Turks partying on the Scorpio's dance floor. Typical concerns about their government are, to put it plainly, of little interest to the dazzling party crowd. The Bodrum region is fantastic, and there's a reason why the Maxx Royal already has a few famous hotel neighbors, with more big brands eager to get in on the game. Don't worry about the noise though – there's a construction ban here during the summer months. The hardware is amazing and the service is top-notch even if it needs a little refining. Otherwise, the jury's verdict is in, and the Maxx Royal Bodrum is already redefining what it means to have a vacation in Turkey.

Trade Contact: Dee McGuinness, Global Commercial Director

Visit the Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort Website