Club Aida

All the main attractions at this family-friendly hotel can be found outside, with a large pool area serving as the center of the action. The restaurant can be found here, which has a retractable roof and tables that get direct sun. It's also where daily and nightly activities and entertainment is organized by an animation team, who keep things lively for kids and adults alike. British families and couples make up the vast majority of the guests, with most stays booked by Thomson and Tui. The atmosphere is causal yet lively, and during our visit we noticed that several visitors were on a first-name basis with the staff. Like many other hotels in Marmaris, Club Aida is open May through October only.

The six-story Aida is situated on a slight rise next to an empty lot, and it looms over the surrounding hotels and apartments located in this inland section of Marmaris. There’s a small supermarket and a few other shops and amenities within a two-block radius of the hotel. It’s a 10- to 15-minute walk to the shorefront, where there’s a decent public beach (20 minutes on foot or five minutes by car) and a long line of bars, restaurants, and cafes, most with their own small patches of sand. There’s a taxi stand opposite the hotel, and minibuses run along the road that can ferry travelers to Marmaris’ castle, old town, bus station, and marina in about 15 minutes. The neighboring beach resort of İçmeler is a 10- to 15-minute drive in the opposite direction, and is also served by minibus. Dalaman Airport, the closest arrival point for flights from Istanbul and some international destinations, is about 90 minutes away by car.

Long, tiled hallways lead to Club Aida’s 128 guest rooms, all spacious self-catering apartments with separate living rooms, full kitchens, and furnished balconies. Most are one-bedroom units, and there are five two-bedroom, two bathroom units available. All are well-kept and done in neutral tones, with mostly wood furniture, though decor lacks warming elements. Still, they're functional, tidy, and nicely equipped. Kitchens have marble counters, cooktops with two electric burners, mini-fridges, sinks, kettles, small dining tables with two plastic chairs, and come stocked with an array of cookware, dishes, and utensils. Living areas have good lighting, small flat-screen TVs, and big, comfortable upholstered couches and armchairs, though electric plugs could be better dispersed around the room. Bathrooms are basic, with small shower/tub combos and hairdryers, but no toiletries.

Slightly more than half of units' balconies face the pool area, while those in the back of the hotel face the surrounding mountains and tend to be quieter. Guest rooms don’t have blackout curtains, so sun and heat can come streaming through in the afternoon, and windows are poorly soundproofed and don't block noise from the pool and street. Use of air-conditioning, safes, and premium TV channels all incur an extra charge, and there's no in-room Wi-Fi. 

Music plays throughout the day at the large central pool area, which is filled (some might say cluttered) with sunbeds and umbrellas. In addition to the main pool, there's a kids’ pool with two waterslides, a separate wading pool for small children, and more sunbeds and umbrellas.

Meals are offered poolside at a large open-air restaurant with a retractable roof that serves a standard mix of international and Turkish fare, including steaks, curries, and pasta. Guests can choose to purchase single meals from the reasonably priced menu or opt for flexible half-board plans for some or all of their stay (there's no all-inclusive option), and food and drink specials are advertised daily. The main bar is also by the pool, and there’s La Traviata, an indoor bar that looks like a traditional English pub, which isn't as popular. 

Purchases of food, drink, and other extras must be made using an Aida Card that guests can acquire and load up with money at check-in -- the hotel has a strict no-cash policy. Cards can be replaced at no charge if lost, and guests get back money they don't spend. 

The entertainment program may be a little thinner in the early part of the season if there aren’t many guests, but when the hotel is full, the schedule is too, with darts competitions, pool games, billiards, card games, bingo, and raffles throughout the day. Evening shows are held on a stage by the restaurant and include salsa and break dancing performances, bubble shows, barman shows, and a weekly Turkish night with belly dancers and folk dancers. Children can do arts and crafts in a small kids’ club; play ping-ping, pool, or air hockey in a game room (extra charge); or join nightly kids’ disco events and play in a bouncy-castle. 

For wellness, the attractive Diamond spa on the ground floor is decorated with flowers, paintings, and bamboo, and it contains a small Turkish bath, whirlpool tub, dry sauna, and steam room. Massage treatments can be booked for an extra charge in one of three massage rooms, or in a very pleasant open-air section with two massage tables underneath gauzy linens hanging from wood frames. There are lounge chairs for resting both inside and outside, plus a small fitness room with four cardio machines and a weight bench.

On-site representatives from Thomson and Tui can organize excursions for an extra charge, including boat trips and jeep tours. Room service is offered for free until midnight. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby area only, though guests can also use a computer station in the game room to access the internet. Other on-site features include a mini-market, photo studio, hair salon, tattoo parlor, jewelry shop, and handbag shop.