Hotel Aqua

In the heart of Icmeler, the Hotel Aqua is 4.35 miles to the centre of Marmaris and 68 miles to Dalaman Airport.

The hotel is open between May and the beginning of November.

At first glance, Hotel Aqua's lobby appears slightly dated yet there's something utterly charming about it; we loved the eclectic kitsch seen from the British red telephone box at the front desk, to the golden Art Deco style panoramic elevators, or even the antique Opel and Citroën cars at the entrance. Outdoors, guests will find lush gardens intertwined with rock pools, streams and other water features. At the heart of the hotel is a large swimming pool with separate children's pool, plus plenty of sun loungers and parasols on various sunbathing decks. (There's also a heated indoor pool for when the weather gets a bit chilly).

Other leisure facilities include a large Turkish bath, steam bath, two saunas, well-equipped fitness centre and relaxation lounge. Sporty types can use the tennis/basketball court found at the front of the hotel, or the small outdoor games area (darts, table tennis, table football etc.) near the beach. For the younger guests, there's a small kids' club with outdoor play area. There's also live music six nights a week on the small stage next to the snack bar.

The Hotel Aqua comprises a U-shaped five-storey building with 4 floors of accommodation. Of the 240 rooms, about 75% are blessed with sea views. Room categories begin with standards (20m²), then go to junior suites (26m²), corner suites (30m²) and grand suites (35m²). Rooms are clean and comfortable with smart and simple furnishings, plus tea and coffee and even the mini bar included. They also feature a small furnished balcony, while bathrooms contain both a bathtub and shower. Some of the rooms such as the corner suites have a more dated, old-fashioned look to them (a bit too much salmon velour) but they are bright and spacious.

There are three restaurants at Hotel Aqua, one of which is à la carte. The latter is found down by the beach under the palm trees, with lovely tables set with flowers and gingham tablecloths. During the day it serves a snack menu while in the evenings it serves more consistent fare. Friday night is Turkish Night. The main restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel, with most seating found outside on a sunny terrace. While there isn't enormous variety, the food is good and a mix of local and international dishes. An outdoor snack bar nestled in the gardens serves as an alternative to the buffet lunch; open between 12:30pm and 4:30pm it serves burgers, sandwiches, kebabs and pasta etc for those who are after a quick bite. Meanwhile, The River Grille is a snack corner that serves up something different everyday.

The hotel is beachfront. Boasting 'blue flag' status (high standards of water quality, etc), the beach is about 85m long and is supervised by lifeguards. Rows of sun loungers and parasols lead down to the water's edge. There are lovely views of the bay and nearby islands. Water sports are available at an extra charge.