Casa De Maris Spa & Resort Hotel

With its gleaming white exterior and turquoise-tinted glass on the guest-room balconies, the Casa De Maris has a classic Mediterranean look on the outside, and a more contemporary style inside. Guests are primarily couples and small families, from Western European countries (mostly on Tui- or Thompson-operated trips) as well as Turkey and the Middle East. Some business travelers stay here in the spring and fall shoulder seasons, too. Like many other hotels in Marmaris, the Casa De Maris is closed in winter; it’s generally open April through October, though exact dates vary each year.

Two blocks back from the southern (and somewhat quieter) end of the Marmaris waterfront, the Casa De Maris is less than a five-minute walk to the beach and the restaurants and bars along the shore. It’s a 15-minute drive to the Marmaris castle, old town, and harbor, where both excursion boats and the ferry to Rhodes, Greece, dock. The main road behind the hotel has more places to eat and drink, as well as some shops; minibuses that stop along here run to the bus station (a 15-minute ride) and to the neighboring resort of İçmeler (about 10 minutes by car). The closest airport is about 90 minutes away by car in the town of Dalaman.

The 190 guest rooms at Casa De Maris are nearly all Standard Rooms, equipped with either a double bed or two twins. They’re spacious and bright, with contemporary wood-framed mirrors, purple bed runners and curtains, and lounge chairs and ottomans in other warm accent colors. All units have balconies, though less than one-fifth have full sea views. Two Suite Rooms have a similar look, with added vases, statues, carpets, and other decor. They have curved walls, large living rooms with sectional sofas separated from the bedrooms by a sliding door, and larger balconies. Amenities are a plus -- there's air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles with free tea and instant coffee, safes (fee), and slippers. 

Bathrooms have separate toilets and showers, though spaces are a tight squeeze, and en-suite vanities. Some visitors say the sliding frosted-glass doors separating the toilets don't provide enough privacy for those sharing rooms. All bathrooms have rainfall showers with removable showerheads, hairdryers, and an ample selection of nicely packaged toiletries. Suites add double sinks and double mirrors. 

With a mid-sized pool and a generous stretch of beachfront a short walk away, the Casa De Maris offers options for swimming and sunbathing, though some guests say the pool area can run short on sunbeds. Towel service for both is available with a deposit.

The Artemis Spa & Wellness area downstairs is attractively decorated with artwork, tropical flowers, and wooden furniture. It has two marble-covered Turkish baths, one quite good-sized; a dry sauna; four massage rooms (extra charge); a relaxation area with cushioned loungers; and a medium-sized gym with a handful of cardio and weight machines.

An international buffet of hot and cold dishes is served at each meal in the Maris restaurant on the hotel’s ground floor; local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are covered by the all-inclusive rates and are available in the restaurant, indoor lounge, and at the pool bar. Meals can also be ordered off a menu for an extra charge at the Saranda restaurant, a light, airy space with a small garden. A patisserie offers coffee, tea, and sweets after meals and in the late afternoon, with live piano music.

An animation team organizes activities such as water aerobics, pool games, and tournaments of beer pong or darts during the day, and evening entertainment six nights a week includes live music, fire shows, “gala” dinners, and Turkish nights, with the schedule changing every two weeks. Kids can join a mini-disco dance party every night, and hang out in a staffed kids’ club by the pool area during the day. Tui and other tour operators organize paid excursions such as boat trips and jeep tours.

Other on-site facilities include a jewelry shop, hairdresser, mini-mart, handbag shop, doctor’s office, and a medium-size meeting room. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the hotel, though some guests say the signal can be weak. There’s also a small, dark internet corner with a few computers for guests’ use.