The Amara Club Marine offers three categories of residence: standard (with 280 square feet, maximum 3 guests), family (485 square feet, four guests in two separate bedrooms) and suite (590 square feet, the same sleeping arrangements as the family category and an additional lounge area). None of the 400-or-so residences overlook the sea, but all are very nicely decorated. Pastel hues, a tasteful flowery bedspread, and a bouquet of flowers, fruit basket and bottle of wine quietly await your arrival. Standard facilities are provided (a plasma-screen television set, a fee-paying safe, a bath and hospitality products in the bathroom, mini-bar re-stocked with water every day). The gardens abound with trees, which helps muffle outdoor noises and makes your nights even more peaceful.

The hotel's surroundings and the rough road leading to it are not very attractive, but on entering the lobby you will soon forget that. All around you on the 148-acre site is dense, soothing vegetation. The Amara Club Marine is a green village. Green because of the trees that abound, green because of the colour of the single-storey residences scattered here and there. Small paths lined with flowerbeds lead you through this maze of vegetation. It is a real pleasure to wander around and suddenly come across a small fountain or a giant chess board. The fitness room and, on the ground floor, the spa, are well equipped and, of course, look out over the gardens.
Your children will love the mini-club, whose little amphitheatre, painted like a multicoloured piano keyboard, holds disco evenings for the younger guests. There are also painting and decoration workshops open to all. It is, however, a shame that some of the residences are far from the communal areas such as the swimming pool, restaurants and the beach.

The hotel offers local cuisine prepared with an international flavour. So if you fancy something more refined, you will need to book in advance at one of the three "a la carte" restaurants, but remember they only open in the evenings. Here, you can choose between Turkish cuisine (in a big tent decorated in the Ottoman style), a fresh fish dinner (overlooking the sea, lit by lanterns and in a decor of lifebelts, ropes, etc.) and Italian cuisine (in a slightly more stereotypical decor). Note that with the all-inclusive package, you can eat what you want, whenever you want (and make the most of the free local drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Unlike most offers of this kind, fresh fruit juices are free. In addition to this offer, there is a 24-hour "a la carte" bistro, and a snack bar open for nibbles outside the usual mealtimes.

The beach is rather far from the rooms at the front of the hotel, and it must get quite busy in the summer. However, this does not make it any less pleasant, and it has two jetties furnished with deckchairs and parasols. A floating diving platform, reached by swimming, will certainly bring back a few childhood memories. All the facilities are provided as expected - recliner chairs with cushions (unfortunately not in the cleanest condition), parasols, canopies, tables and bars - and a lifeguard is present throughout the day. Pebbles are the only problem, both on the beach and in the water, which is very clean.

Check your dates carefully when making your reservation, as the hotel closes for winter between October and April. Most of the guests are foreign, with Russians making up 60% of visitors.