What the city is best for
Bodrum should be planned by area, travel time and what you actually want to do. It works especially well for beach, evenings, food, resort and road trip. The main anchors are Bodrum Castle, marina, Bitez, Yalıkavak Marina, boat trips and old town streets, but the value of the trip depends heavily on where you stay and how you structure the days.
The most useful bases are Bodrum centre for castle and nightlife, Gümbet for beach and nightlife, Bitez for calmer beach and Yalıkavak/Türkbükü for upscale marina/resort feel. Choose short access to what you will do most, not just the lowest hotel price. For short stays, a better location often saves both time and transport.