Our Verdict: Great food, lovely resort, but a bit too loud for a relaxing all-inclusive
We arrived at DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club an all-inclusive resort after our British Airways Club Europe flight from London. We were looking for a comfortable base close to Bodrum but away from the crowds. As the first hotel of our Turkish holiday, it had an important job to do before we moved on later in the trip to a different hotel. This DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club review covers a stay of real contrasts. Our suite was spacious, the food was good and the setting was beautiful. But inconsistent service and relentless entertainment meant relaxing wasn’t always easy. Before you book, it’s worth knowing that this all-inclusive resort won’t suit everyone.
In this review:
Hotel Details
Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club
Location: Torba, Bodrum, Muğla
Hotel Class: ☆☆☆☆☆
Chain: Hilton
Loyalty Programme: Hilton Honors
Room Type: 1 bedroom suite with sea view
Room #: 211
Price bracket: £££
Competing brands: Le Meridien
Good for: Business
Accepts pets?: Yes
Location
DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club sits just outside Torba, around 20 minutes from Bodrum Marina by taxi. That turned out to be a good compromise. We were close enough to head into Bodrum for an evening, yet far enough away to avoid the traffic, nightlife and crowds.
The hotel itself has been around for years and was previously known as Bodrum Işıl Club Milta before joining Hilton. While some areas hint at its earlier life, the gardens are attractive, the sea views are excellent and the overall layout works well.
One thing to bear in mind is that this isn’t an isolated luxury retreat. Candyland theme park sits next door, while the resort itself is built around a lively all-inclusive atmosphere. If you’re looking for complete tranquillity, there are quieter parts of the Bodrum Peninsula. For anyone researching a DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club review before booking, it’s worth knowing the hotel sits outside Bodrum, so you’ll need a taxi if you plan to head into town.
Check-in
Unfortunately, check-in was a little chaotic. Our original Mastercard was declined by the payment terminal, so we paid using American Express instead. The payment was approved, a receipt printed and we started heading towards our room before being called back to reception. Staff insisted the payment hadn’t gone through.
What followed was several minutes comparing payment slips that clearly belonged to another guest. Even the card numbers didn’t remotely match ours. Eventually everyone realised we had paid correctly all along. There was no apology.
The whole experience felt chaotic, with the focus appearing to be on balancing paperwork rather than welcoming arriving guests. Thankfully another member of staff stepped in at exactly the right moment, handing us two warm DoubleTree cookies. It was a small gesture, but a reminder of the hospitality the brand is usually known for.
Our Room
Our room occupied one of the best views within the resort, our One Bedroom Suite overlooked both the main pool and the Aegean Sea. It was large, roughly twice the size of many of the surrounding rooms.
The standout feature was the huge private roof terrace. During the day it offered lovely views across the resort, while in the evenings it became somewhere to escape once the pool activities finished.
Inside, the suite featured a spacious bedroom with a comfortable super king bed, separate living room and two full bathrooms, each with its own shower. Having two bathrooms felt unnecessarily luxurious for two people, but surprisingly useful when getting ready for dinner.
The mattress was comfortable and the bedding good quality. Our only complaint was the pillows. All four were identical and far firmer than we prefer. Reception told us the hotel only stocks one pillow type, so there was no softer alternative available.
Two large televisions offered both Turkish and international channels, although reception occasionally dropped out.
Unfortunately, housekeeping never quite matched the quality of the room itself. Our suite often wasn’t serviced until late afternoon (after 3-4pm), the floor hadn’t been properly mopped before arrival, and toiletries weren’t replenished despite us asking more than once. The minibar also went unfilled on several occasions. It wasn’t disastrous, but for the hotel’s highest room category it felt below the standard we’d expect from Hilton.
The minibar formed part of the all-inclusive package, with water, soft drinks and snacks included. Alcohol wasn’t stocked, which wasn’t really an issue given the number of bars around the resort.
Facilities & Services
The centrepiece of DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club is undoubtedly the main swimming pool. Stretching around 50 metres through the middle of the resort, it’s large enough that it never felt overcrowded, even during busy periods.
Beyond the pool, several wooden jetties extend into the Aegean Sea, each equipped with loungers, ladders into the water and outdoor showers. Swimming here quickly became one of our favourite parts of the holiday. The water was beautifully clear and calm, making snorkelling surprisingly enjoyable.
The fitness centre was another pleasant surprise. It featured a good range of Technogym cardio equipment alongside resistance machines and free weights, making it one of the better hotel gyms we’ve used recently.
The spa includes a traditional Turkish hammam, sauna and steam room, while a small shop sells holiday essentials, although seemingly without displaying many prices. We also spotted a hair salon tucked away near reception.
There is, however, one aspect of the resort that deserves its own mention. The entertainment.
From around 9.30 each morning until approximately 6pm, loud music, pool games and regular announcements echo across almost every corner of the property. In the evening, entertainment resumes around the Sunset Terrace before continuing until around midnight.In the day, it’s loud enough that reading by the pool becomes difficult, and even sitting quietly by the sea isn’t really an escape. In the night, this isn’t gentle background music that bellowed and echoed throughout the property. Strange when many parents come here with kids.
Some guests clearly loved the atmosphere, joining in games, dancing around the pool and enjoying the lively vibe. It just wasn’t for us.
After several days it became exhausting, and by the end of our stay we found ourselves actively looking for quiet places to relax, only to realise there really weren’t any. If you enjoy energetic all-inclusive resorts, you’ll probably have a fantastic time here.
If you’re hoping for a peaceful beach holiday, you may find the constant entertainment overwhelming.
There’s also a separate, shaded children’s pool with slides and a dedicated splash area, making the resort a good choice for families. The only caveat is that the evening entertainment often continues well past many children’s bedtimes.
Bars & Dining
The ultra all-inclusive package centres around the Panorama Restaurant, a bright buffet restaurant overlooking both the pool and the Aegean Sea. All three meals are served here, with plenty of indoor seating alongside a terrace that’s particularly pleasant in the evenings.
Drinks were another pleasant surprise. Premium spirits, including Smirnoff and Bacardi, were included as part of the all-inclusive package rather than local alternatives. Efes was available on draft at the Elixir Bites and Atrium bars, while canned beer was served elsewhere around the resort.
Cocktails were clearly popular, with a surprisingly extensive menu ranging from Piña Coladas and Cosmopolitans to Long Island Iced Teas and Mai Tais. In the 30°C heat we mostly stuck to beer and soft drinks, although the Espresso Martini we tried one afternoon was excellent.
The wine was perfectly acceptable rather than memorable. The red paired well with dinner, while the white and rosé were noticeably better once properly chilled.
Breakfast
There were plenty of options if you’re happy with local salads and mezze. An omelette station ran alongside a constant supply of fried eggs. The fresh Greek yogurt was a highlight, light and whipped and not too sweet, which I had with the fresh fruit, orange segments and apple slices. A large spread of dried and candied fruit was less to my taste. Coffee came from self-service machines and was good.
Lunch
Lunch followed a similar buffet format, with a live grill station serving both meat and fish alongside a generous selection of salads, hot dishes and desserts. Ice cream was also available and proved popular throughout the afternoon.
Dinner
Dinner expanded the choice further, often featuring a whole baked fish or roast meat carved on the terrace. Despite being a buffet every evening, we never found the food became overly repetitive during our stay, and the quality was consistently better than we’d expected. The dessert selection was particularly impressive, with plenty of cakes, pastries and Turkish sweets alongside ice cream.
Check-out
Standard check-out was at 11:00. The noise, day and night, eventually got too much for us, so we switched hotels a day earlier than planned. Beyond the payment confusion at arrival, there were no billing issues to report on the way out.
BG1 Verdict
To sum up this DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club review, the hotel ended up being better than we expected if you’re willing to put up with the constant music. Our suite was spacious and comfortable, the food consistently exceeded our expectations for an all-inclusive resort, and swimming in the crystal-clear Aegean Sea quickly became the highlight of our stay.
Unfortunately, the guest experience never quite matched the quality of the setting. Check-in was unnecessarily chaotic, housekeeping lacked the attention to detail we’d expect for the hotel’s top room category, and the relentless entertainment programme dominated the atmosphere from morning until around midnight. It’s not for us.
That’s not to say everyone will feel the same. If you’re looking for a lively all-inclusive with DJs, pool games and plenty happening throughout the day, you’ll probably have a fantastic holiday here. If, however, you’re hoping to relax with a book by the pool or enjoy a peaceful evening overlooking the sea, this probably isn’t the right fit.
The solution feels surprisingly simple. Turn the volume down, swap the nightclub playlist for relaxed beach house music, and let guests hear the waves as often as the speakers. Combine that with a smoother arrival experience and more consistent housekeeping, and DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Işıl Club could be one of the stronger Hilton resorts on the Bodrum Peninsula.
For us, we’d happily return for the room, the food and the setting, but only if someone hid the speakers.
BG1 Tip: Be careful with taxis, as drivers will invent fares for short trips. Always agree the price in advance. If you use Uber to hail a yellow taxi, don’t pay cash, because the driver will most likely take the card payment through Uber as well.
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