Hotel Maritim Grand Azur

Maritim Hotel Grand Azur is located on the waterfront in Marmaris, 1.25 miles from the town centre and 62 miles from Dalaman Airport.

WIFI connection is complimentary in the lobby but charged extra for use in the rooms.
Unlike most other hotels in the region, the Maritim Hotel Grand Azur is open all year round.

The hotel consists of one large five-storey building curved towards the beach, with all of the facilities in a relatively compact area. The enormous, well-lit lobby features marble columns, marble floors, an entire glass front and potted palm trees. An arcade is found just off the lobby which consists of the usual holiday resort boutiques, as well as a hairdresser, newspaper kiosk, and pool table. In the nearby Maritime Bar, guests can chill out with a game of cards, jenga, chess, UNO or scrabble. Below the arcade and on the basement level, guests will find the hotel spa (its condition slightly disappointing for a five-star hotel) with vitamin bar, relaxation area, Turkish bath, steam room, sauna, solarium, beauty salon and simply decorated massage rooms. There is also a well-lit and well-equipped fitness room with appropriate motivational music. On the far side, access is provided to the large indoor heated pool which is heated in winter only.

At the heart of the resort is a large, outdoor, free-form swimming pool with 'lazy river' whirlpool and bridge feature. There is a separate kids' pool as well as two Jacuzzis nestled in the nearby gardens. Moments away is a pool bar with seating provided under a gazebo. The manicured gardens and lawns are dotted with sun loungers, good for relaxing away from the pool crowds. For the younger guests there is a small children's playground located next to the hotel's three tennis courts (equipment must be hired). There is also a mini club with activities for children but this program is only available for three hours per day.

There are 280 rooms at the Maritim Hotel Grand Azur spread across five floors; the majority (260) are standard rooms, while there are also 25 suites and 3 rooms with disabled access. About 60% of rooms have garden views and 40% are lucky enough to have sea views. The long corridors feature aqua walls as well as aqua carpets (aqua overkill?) and this is where the hotel's 1991 construction date really shows.

All rooms are clean, comfortable and spacious but their décor could be updated. The standard rooms feature either a double bed or two single beds, cobalt blue carpets and classic furnishings. The suites meanwhile feature a large master bedroom as well as a spacious separate living area with couch, coffee table, dining setting and large flat screen TV. Bathrooms in both room categories are immaculate and generous.

Maritim Hotel Grand Azur operates a half board concept (beverages consumed are paid for). The main restaurant, the Palmiye, is open for breakfast and dinner and features indoor and outdoor seating, the latter on a two-tiered terrace that overlooks a small stage area (there's live music every evening). Buffet stations can be found both inside and out, the outdoor stations are manned by chefs who cook in front of you. The restaurant isn't your usual holiday resort dining den; it's somewhat chicer, with immaculate white tablecloths, fresh flowers, burning lamps and elegantly dressed diners. Same for the entertainment: you won't find cheesy comedy acts etc, but a string trio, for example. We advise you to sit on the upper part of the terrace if you are to dine outdoors, as the music is a bit loud at the tables placed directly in front of the stage. There is a wide variety of dishes available (and it was good to see a lot of Turkish cuisine) however at peak dinner times there are often long queues for the most popular dishes. Lunch is available (at an extra charge to the guest) at either the beach snack bar or the pool snack bar.

There is a second restaurant, the Gourmet d'Azur which serves a set menu of Mediterranean cuisine but it is only open on Wednesday evenings and requires at least 10 diners to open. Guests must therefore book their spot. Meanwhile, drinking options include the lobby bar - open all day until late with live piano entertainment in the evenings. Opposite is the Maritime Bar with a TV corner and funky sailing theme (blue and white sofas and armchairs, wooden furnishings, ship models etc.), from where guests can enjoy views over the Palmiye restaurant and gardens. The beach bar is open all day until late and there is often live music in the evenings.

The beach is only a few steps from the hotel - a public boardwalk (40 minute walk to the city centre) separates Maritim Hotel Grand Azur's gardens from the waterfront. Guests will find the beach bar and café, a water sports facility (separate from the hotel, at an extra cost to the guest) as well as sun loungers and parasols. The beach itself is 80m long and boasts views of the nearby islands, marina and distant mountains.