"The Mavruka Hotel is one of those places that does exactly what it needs to do. If you want somewhere clean and comfortable to sleep, close to the main strip, with a decent pool and reasonably priced food and drinks, it is a solid choice.
To set expectations, however, this is definitely not a four-star hotel. I would describe it as a good, top-end three-star. That is not necessarily a criticism—it is simply better to arrive knowing what you have booked.
The staff were excellent: friendly, welcoming and hardworking. The entire hotel was incredibly clean, including the rooms, pool area and toilets. The pool is a decent size, with plenty of room to spread out, and the air conditioning in our rooms worked brilliantly—which, in the Turkish heat, is arguably more valuable than a complimentary bathrobe.
The rooms were also a reasonable size and provided everything we needed for our stay.
As for the food, unless Marcus Wareing suddenly appears in the kitchen to personally prepare your omelette, it is best to keep expectations modest. We occasionally had lunch after several strenuous hours of lying beside the pool, but ate our main evening meals at restaurants along the strip.
I usually research hotels thoroughly before booking, and we were fortunate to have friends who had stayed here previously. We therefore knew roughly what to expect and were perfectly happy with our choice.
**The less positive bits:**
* There is an additional charge to use the fridge and safe.
* You are not permitted to bring food or drinks into the hotel if they were purchased elsewhere.
* The manager can occasionally be a little prickly, so it is probably best not to start designing the matching friendship bracelets just yet.
**The good bits:**
* The main strip is only around a two-minute walk away.
* There is a supermarket literally next door—not that I am, of course, suggesting you purchase water there and somehow smuggle it past hotel security.
* The pool is a good size.
* The air conditioning was excellent, at least in the rooms we stayed in.
* The rooms are spacious enough and comfortable.
* The entire hotel is extremely clean.
* The staff are genuinely friendly and helpful.
Overall, the Mavruka is not a luxury resort, but it is a clean, friendly and conveniently located base for enjoying Ölüdeniz. Provided you arrive with realistic expectations, it offers good value and everything most people will need for a relaxing holiday.
**A few completely unsolicited local recommendations**
* Jimmy’s Steakhouse:** Personally, I would give this one a miss. The prices were high, while the steaks were bland and tough. The staff were friendly, but unfortunately they could not perform CPR on the meat.
* The Hangout:** Our favourite restaurant for both the food and the views, with reasonable prices considering the location.
* Buzz Bar:** A very close second. Good food, a relaxed atmosphere and excellent seating overlooking the sea.
* 1700 Babadağ Cafe:** Highly recommended. Book well in advance and aim for sunset—the views are genuinely spectacular. The food was excellent and, although prices are at the higher end, we felt it was worth it. A taxi was approximately 400TL each way during our visit. Take something warm, as it becomes surprisingly cold once the sun goes down."
