We made a last-minute booking for our holiday and despite the global pandemic, it turned out to be a great experience. When we arrived at 11:30 pm on Saturday, we were warmly greeted by a friendly receptionist who checked our temperature and had us fill out the necessary Covid and sign-in forms. Our room was absolutely amazing, the best we've had in Turkey considering our previous visits. It had a very elegant and French vibe. To top it off, we were pleasantly surprised to find some food (chips and a baguette with ham) delivered to our room, which was perfect after our long journey.
The hotel was located on the Marmaris strip, which offered plenty of bars and nightlife, all of which were open. They had two pools, both of which were great and had an abundance of sun loungers, although this may have been due to the current situation. The front pool, situated on the strip, had a bar, while the second pool, which was quieter and didn't have music, had a waterfall and a bar as well. This pool area also served lunch, which was a nice option to have on a few days (burgers, chips, pasta, etc.).
The bars were nice, although the cocktail options were limited to Sex on the Beach and Pina Colada. The beer was good, and the mixers were very generous, but they only had Gin, Vodka, and Brandy. Other hotels we've stayed at in the past had a wider selection available.
The food was okay, but the selection was not extensive, which could be attributed to the current circumstances, as there were empty stalls at the buffet.
There was a nearby McDonald's and shops that we could have visited, but we rarely went to the supermarkets because the hotel had its own shop. The gym was well-equipped and had good air conditioning, which was a relief considering how hot it was during our stay.
The activities guy was also polite and offered his assistance by giving us his WhatsApp number and suggesting some great activities. We decided to go scuba diving, and it turned out to be one of the best experiences we've had while visiting Turkey. We would definitely do it again.
Overall, I would rate this experience a 4 out of 5, mainly due to the lackluster food. It's worth noting that in Turkey, a 5-star hotel doesn't always meet the standard of a true 5-star establishment. However, it was a fun and relaxing 7-day holiday.