Holidays in Bodrum (Turkey) - 2021: my trip and reviews of tourists

Travel dates: September
Duration: 10 nights tour
Company: 2 people

Welcome, welcome, Nastya is with you again. But I will write about another place in Turkey.

The Aegean Sea is something new, I thought. And so in September I decided to sunbathe in Gumbet (Bodrum, Turkey). I returned to rest-u-gone and ready to tell how much I spent, which hotel I chose, what I managed to see.

A little seed: nature in Bodrum is gorgeous! Better than Kemer.

Why choose a vacation in Bodrum?

Our vacation fell on the second half of September. Over the Schengen area, we did not hurry up in time, all that remained was to arrange a vacation in Turkey. But they wanted to go to a more "European" part of it - to a sugar-white resort in the province of Mugla, in the north of the Gokova Bay in the Aegean Sea.

Why Choose Bodrum?

• The resort is referred to as “another” Turkey. So it is, here in Greek white houses with blue windows, entwined with bright pink oleander, and hilly picturesque bays.
• The climate is more comfortable (more on that later).
• Sometimes very inexpensive trips happen to Bodrum.
• The resort is closest to historical sites - Ephesus and Pamukalla.

Weather: when is the best time to relax in Bodrum?

On the way to the mills (18th century) we snapped a piece of the Aegean Sea

The weather in Bodrum is different from the usual Turkey. The climate is moderately Mediterranean, i.e. with hot dry summers and short mild winters. The Aegean Sea and mountains are affecting.

The main feature of Bodrum is that the water always seems cool. This is not a hot Mediterranean Sea that you don't want to leave.

The tourist season and warm weather starts in May and ends in October. The highest rates are in August: the average air temperature is + 30 ° С, the sea is warmed up to + 26 ° С. Nevertheless, the local plus 30 is more easily tolerated than on the coast of Antalya, there is less humidity.

Our vacation in Bodrum took place in early September. It was not hot, but comfortable. We swam a lot. One of the ten days of vacation it rained, and, of course, it was on this day that we planned an excursion to Ephesus :)

Beach season in Bodrum: when can you swim?
(water temperature)

* it is possible that in October the sea looks bathing in terms of temperature, but take into account the strong autumn winds and “frosty” nights.

Districts and villages of Bodrum

Climbed the whole Old Town / Trampled many kilometers in 10 days:
from Gumbet to Bodrum and back

This whole peninsula is called Bodrum, which is marked on the map ↓ And it is divided into at least 9 resorts-cities-villages.

Cost of tours to Bodrum - 2021

This summer, you can fly to Bodrum with a direct flight from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don and Samara!

My tour to Bodrum - Gumbet village, 10 nights, 4-star hotel, 70,000 rubles for two from Moscow - I found and bought on the aggregator:

• Travelata

... but I also monitored two others:

• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

I have been using them for a long time, after all, online services save a lot of time.If you are not familiar with them yet, then in short: aggregators provide a base of vouchers from all leading tour operators (no extra charges, which is important). I know my budget for holidays, and with everything else - up to real hotel reviews - they will help.

So, a vacation in Bodrum in 2021 is worth:

✓ During the season for 7 nights - from 50,000 rubles for two, for 10 nights - from 60,000 rubles.

✓ "Five" with a high rating for all inclusive - from 100,000 rubles for 7 nights.
* here you understand why Bodrum is considered a more expensive resort than Antalya ones.

✓ Family tour for a week: mom + dad + me - from 75,000 rubles.

Prices in Bodrum 2021

We looked into the Migros supermarket closest to the hotel

In everything that does not concern the tour, Turkey is inexpensive, and therefore the prices in Bodrum are not scary. Even with the condition that they are higher than the average for the resorts.

So, point by point.

1 Turkish lira ≈ 10.5 rubles

Food.
* cafe / grocery store / markets

• Kebab - 13 lire
• Bun - 4 lira
• Tea - 3-4 lira
• Juice - 10-15 lire
• 0.5 beer - 10 lire
• 1.5 l of water - 1 lira
• Box with Turkish sweets - 10 liras
• Sweet cherry, kg - 15 lire
• Strawberry, kg - 10 lire

The cost of food and drinks on the beach will be higher. For comparison, we took a picture of the menu of the bar near our hotel.

Where to eat in a cafe?

The same pastry shop. Cocoa bun is delicious! / Menu of our beach cafe

Despite the fact that the hotels provide food 5 times a day (Karl!), We dropped into one pastry cafe - Royal Fırın Pasta Cafe (Bodrum, Atatürk Blv., 32). The sight of some cakes drove me crazy. And ... hello flour.

Our spending:

• heavy bun with cocoa and nuts - 4 lira * 2
• tea - 3 lira * 2
• a kilogram of cookies with walnuts for parents - 50 liras

Based on past experience in Kemer, tasty and inexpensive in cafes Tavuk Dünyası (scattered all over Turkey). And there are also huge portions. It is quite possible to keep within 50 lire for two.

In general, all tourists sit in restaurants on the embankments. These are not cheap, but, apparently, the views are worth it.

By the way, in this article I calculate how much money (and what) should be taken to Turkey.

Attractions in Bodrum: what to see?

The sun burned out all the grass in Bodrum over the summer! But agree,
what a beauty on the Aegean Sea :)

What to see on your own? For those who do not like to lie on the beach for the whole vacation, I recommend walking around the city of Bodrum and its environs. We did just that.

The main attractions of Bodrum:

• Famous mills of the 18th century... The view here is magical, and at once on two bays. You can walk from Gumbet and Bodrum itself.
• Castle of St. Peter. We walked nearby, but did not go inside. Now the fortress is partially under reconstruction, about 50 percent of the expositions are available. The Museum of Underwater Archeology is not among them. The ticket costs 48 liras.
• Bodrum Market. If you want to feel the local flavor and bustle - go ahead. True, it would be nice to know Turkish, at least for bargaining ...
• Old citywhich is more Greek (by sight). White houses, bougainvilleas and cacti up to the rooftops are the perfect place for taking pictures.
• Amphitheater 4th century BC. We drove along dolmus on the way to shopping centers :)

We have slipped, and you look: in the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus (have you heard something about 7 wonders of the world?) And the Mindos gate.

Where to go from the city? Excursion prices

Ancient Ephesus. Now imagine that people once lived here
and it was a real city!

Want to shop? Suggest shopping malls Oasis AVM or Midtown (both Turkish brands and European). Minibus from Bodrum for 4 lira - and you are in shopping paradise.

Tours.

If you want to diversify your vacation, then you will have to postpone not a modest amount on the excursion. Especially through a tour operator. It will be cheaper at street vendors, but on the way you will be taken to ceramic or fur factories. It will take a lot of time (tested on myself).

Of the excursions demanded by tourists, we noticed the following:

• A ride on a pirate ship (with fun and meals on board and with stops for swimming) - from the tour operator $ 45 per person, on the street $ 15-20.
• Boat trip to the islands - Orak island with clear water and sandy shore is especially popular. Our hotel neighbors decided not to give the tour operator $ 50 each and booked online - it came out for $ 23 (the link leads just to their option).
• Hilt - in my opinion, you cannot come to Bodrum and not see this insanely beautiful city-museum. Here and the library of Celsius, the Temple of Artemis, an amphitheater for more than twenty-five thousand people, Roman baths, a brothel and much, much more. Excavations are still underway in the city - it is not known what else it may be hiding.
  Good value: $ 40 per adult and $ 20 per child, plus extra. entrance fee to the house of St. Virgin Mary - $ 12.

Ephesus is a huge museum city. But the most interesting thing here is the number of cats.
per square meter. And tourists. Very. A lot of.

• Pamukkale - Bodrum is the closest of all resorts to the thermal springs of snow-white Pamukkale. The program usually includes an introduction to the fragile rock of calcium minerals, swimming in the Cleopatra basin and a visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis (2nd millennium BC). Next time we will definitely get there!Good value: $ 40-45 per adult, $ 20-25 per child. You can take a combined excursion Ephesus + Pamukkale (about $ 90). But better without a "gallop".
• Dalyan - a walk to a natural spring with sulphurous water and healing mud, Lycian tombs near the coastal cliffs (4th century BC) and the island of endangered species of turtles Caretta Caretta. Fishing for blue crabs is usually included in the price. But they will cook them for you for an extra charge. The program includes time to bask in the sun on Iztuzu Beach. Two seas meet here: the Mediterranean with the Aegean.
  Good value: $ 40 per adult and $ 20 per child + crabs (≈ $ 6).

Once upon a time I read a review about Bodrum, where it was said about a walk along the Turkey-Greece route. Then it seemed very tempting - 2 countries in 1 vacation! - but hands and feet in practice did not reach. The details, however, I found out.

In Rhodes, the blog editor was a separate tour - and it's great there :)
Make a visa, it's cool to visit 2 countries in one trip!

• You can sail to Greece from Bodrum in one day:
  - to the island of Kos (20 euros round trip; 45 minutes on the way)
  - to the island of Rhodes (40 euros round trip; 2.5 hours on the way)
• In addition to Bodrum, you can get from Turgutreis, but only to Kos (also 20 euros round trip).

This is if you yourself come to the port ticket office and prioritize tickets. Local businessmen arrange "excursions" - they bring them from the hotel to the pier and present them with a ticket, no guide is provided. It can cost $ 50-75 per person!

BUT. Not everything is so simple - of course, you NEED A VISA to Greece. And there are two options:

1. Or you have a valid Schengen area.
2. Or an island visa (at the port) is issued at least 3 days before the trip. The following documents are required: a completed application form, a copy of the passport, 2 photos, ferry tickets, a bank statement. The price is 35 euros. An island visa does not apply to mainland Greece.

Who has been to Greece from Turkey - tell us in the comments how it is? :)

Transport in Bodrum

Bus stop and taxi in resort Turkey

Minibuses (dolmushi) move between villages and districts. In Bodrum, they start their journey from the bus station at the intersection of Cevat Şakir Caddesi, Nafız Özsoy Caddesi and Turgut Reis Caddesi streets. You can find out exactly where one or another is going by a luminous board somewhere on the windshield (usually from above) or simply by asking the driver.

If you get from ... (any resort) to Bodrum, then, as a rule, you must first get to the nearest bus station (4-5 liras), and from there to Bodrum (6-8 liras).

We ourselves drove from 1) Gumbet to Bodrum station, 2) from the station to the large shopping center Midtown, 3) back, 4) from the same station to another shopping center Oasis ... Our verdict: the cost of any distance along the route is fixed - 4 lira for one.

In the summer season, you can go from the bus station to various cities in Turkey:

• to Izmir ($ 6-8 one way),
• Istanbul ($ 25 one way),
• Antalya ($ 15 one way) and others.

In addition, a taxi runs around the resort - 4.5 lira per landing, each subsequent kilometer is 5 lira. The official taxi of the resort is yellow and it is impossible not to notice them.

How to get from the airport?

The plane Moscow-Bodrum (Turkey), as a rule, lands at Milas airport, which is 36 kilometers from the city. But you can "get lucky" and the flight will arrive at Dalaman airport - and from there it is already 3 hours by bus. In any case, a group transfer is always waiting for tourists with vouchers.

If you are a supporter of more comfortable conditions, a taxi will help out. Catching a car on the spot can be unprofitable, it is better to book a transfer with KiwiTaxi in advance. A trip for two from the airport to a hotel in Bodrum will cost about $ 40. We have personally used it in Montenegro and Greece.

Best hotels in Bodrum (all inclusive)

This view opened from the balcony of our hotel 4 * Ayaz Aqua Beach

Attention! Be prepared that Bodrum ≠ Turkey, that in Kemer or Antalya. All inclusive is different here, and stardom does not always decide.

Here are good hotels in Bodrum - 4 and 5 stars. I made a list of the reviews of tourists, whom I read a bunch of during the selection of the hotel for myself:

• 5 * Crystal Green Bay Resort & Spa (Guverdzhinlik) is a compact green hotel, families with children like to relax here. The sea is calm, since in fact it is a closed bay, but the sunset is sharp; beach - sand mixed with small pebbles. The hotel should work on animation, from entertainment: children and adults water slides, swimming pools. The food is good and varied. Around - nothing, a hotel in a bay, surrounded by a pine forest.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 100,000 rubles
• 4 * Golden Age (Yalikavak) is a large hotel on a compact territory. Consists of a main building and several buildings. The sea is clean, shallow. There are diving platforms and piers. The beach strip is made of pebbles, but the bottom is sandy in the water. On the territory: a water park, two swimming pools for adults and one for kids, a playground. Choose it if your priority is to rest with children in Bodrum.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 77,000 rubles
• 5 * Diamond of Bodrum Hotel (Bodrum) - first line, pebble beach across the road. The sea is clean with clear water. A five-minute walk is the main street, and then the fortress of St. Peter. The hotel has a spa, 2 swimming pools, table tennis, billiards, a gym. In the evenings, interesting animation with dance groups. The menu is different every day, sometimes even themed (Mexican, American).
  Tour for 7 nights: from 90,000 rubles
• 5 * Green Beach Resort (Gundogan) - the sa-a-most popular hotel in Bodrum; the territory is huge, green, with ups and downs. Overall average. Beach in the form of a pier or pontoon bridge.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 70,000 rubles
• 5 * Labranda TMT Bodrum Resort (Bodrum) - the same classic hotel with snow-white houses, blue frames and entwined with pink flowers. Quiet utterly, no parties and entertainment. Nice rooms, small sandy beach and entry into the water from the pier. You can walk to the city.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 95,000 rubles

About our hotel.

• 4 * Ayaz Aqua Beach (Gumbet) - a hotel with a beautiful large area, on the first line. The beach is imported golden sand, shines in the sun. The entrance to the sea is shallow, to walk and walk to the depth: convenient for parents with children. There are slides in the pool of the main building. Served 5 times a day: breakfast, lunch, hamburger and fries snack, coffee break and dinner. A lot of all kinds of desserts and cakes, they give delicious ice cream. But the fruit is modest: watermelon, oranges, apples, grapes.
  We rested here in September. Basically the hotel is nice but old. Needs little renovation, especially the showers.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 65,000 rubles

Only a few people know the Russian language both in hotels and at the resort. You will have to communicate with the reception either in English or in Turkish (if you speak). The resort is more focused on Europeans and the Turks themselves. As for me, quite an interesting experience and the opportunity to pump your English.

Where is the best place to relax with children?

Waterpark The Land Of Legends - were there on our trip to Side

Before Bodrum, I rested in Kemer and I will say this - there are many times more children on the Antalya coast. It is understandable why, there (on the Mediterranean Sea) and the choice of hotels is wider, and charters fly from a large number of cities, and the sea is warmer.

Family resorts in Bodrum are Turgutreis, Bitez, Ortakent, Torba. But in autumn - in September-October - it is better to stop in Bodrum, Gumbet or Bitez itself, they are not so open to the winds.

What hotels do tourists choose if they are traveling with a child?

• 5 * TUI Magic Life Bodrum (Bodrum) - the very concept of "Magic Life" from the tour operator TUI already confirms that the hotel is 100% for children
  Tour for 7 nights: from 140,000 rubles for three
• 4 * Cactus Fleur Beach Club (Yalikavak) - its price includes a visit to the popular Pirates Inn The Cactus water park.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 100,000 rubles for three

Bodrum beaches

A little about a beach holiday in Bodrum. A typical sunbathing spot looks like either a narrow strip of sand and pebbles or a narrow wooden / concrete platform. There are sun loungers on it, and you go down the ladder into the water, like in a pool. Well, or you dive from the pier.

But here's the sea ... it's beautiful! Azure, transparent, clean - whatever you call it, that's right. And with fish, whole flocks!

I will list the most interesting beaches and bays of Bodrum, in my opinion.

For comparison: Which is better - Bodrum or Marmaris?

Reviews of tourists about the rest in Bodrum - 2019

Gumbet, view of the black island

Bodrum (like Turkey in general) is not popular with Russians. Therefore, I had to look carefully for reviews of tourists for 2019. After all, besides your experience, you need to understand the attitude of other vacationers? :)

The resort is aimed more at the European tourist and local population. Therefore, there are responses in the spirit that "in this Turkey - everything is not the same as in that one!" The reason for this, I think, is this: everything is included in Turkey for a Russian is a sacred concept, but specifically in Bodrum it suffers (if we are talking not only about food). The service is lame, the decoration of the hotels cannot be compared with the huge Antalya "titanics", and there are almost none of them here. And the sea, "the sea is cold !!!"

But there is nothing wrong with that.We liked the rest, and the area seemed like a budget replacement for the Greek Schengen. We did not regret that the second year and on Turkish lands (about the last vacation, in Kemer, here). But vacation in Kemer is not equal to vacation in Bodrum. Even close.

Pros of Bodrum:

+ rest with a European touch

+ insanely picturesque views of and from the bays

+ wonderful nature

+ The Aegean Sea is beautiful and lively

+ the ability to take a ferry to Greece

+ excellent English practice

+ mild climate

Minuses:

- the choice of hotels is smaller and the prices for good options are high

- Russian is not a priority here

- in budget resorts, beaches and water are dirty

Which sea is better? In my opinion, the Mediterranean is van love. Warmer.

Trip budget

During the trip, we did not go beyond the planned budget - $ 200 per person with YOURSELF for 10 days. This, of course, does not include the cost of the tour itself. That is, pocket money.

Our spending:

• excursion to Ephesus - $ 70 for two
• public transport - $ 16
• clothing - $ 250
• souvenirs - $ 27
• tea with buns - $ 2.5
• sweets for parents - $ 8.5

For the most part, they paid with liras, so it is more profitable. Dollars were changed not even at the change office, but at the Bodrum post office at the address: Çarşı, Cevat Şakir Cad. No: 3, 48400. For the rest of the districts just type "Ptt" into maps.me maps.

Have a great trip!