Club Amaris Apartments

Tour operators Cosmos and Travel Republic bring in many guests from the U.K., a mix of families, couples, and friends traveling together. The July/August high season sometimes sees large groups of young Dutch guests as well. Outside those months, the music played during the day around the central pool area tends to be a bit quieter and more mellow (think ‘80s pop rather than the latest club hits) than at comparable Marmaris hotels. At night, though, the pool bar can get loud, and since the hotel is small, sound travels to most rooms. Other hotels also share the same block, so noise can carry over even if the Amaris itself is quiet. Like many other Marmaris hotels, the Armaris is open May through October only. 

The four-story Club Amaris is conveniently located 10 minutes by foot from the restaurants, bars, and cafes that line the Marmaris waterfront, and 15 minutes from the town’s public beach a bit farther down the shore. It’s a 10-minute drive to the castle and harbor area, and a 15-minute drive to the bus station. Local minibuses to these destinations run down the main road at the end of the hotel’s block as well, and there are some small markets in the vicinity, as well as storefronts where visitors can book excursions. The resorts of neighboring İçmeler are a 10-minute drive and also served by minibus. The nearest airport is about 90 minutes away by car in the town of Dalaman.

Units at Club Amaris -- 50 apartments and 15 studios -- are priced based not only on size but on which building they’re located in, and for good reason: there’s a significant difference in quality, though all have decor that's a bit dated. Guest rooms in “A block” above reception have elevator access and all face the pool area. The traditional, dark-wood furniture is sturdy and new-looking, and apartments have fold-out couches in their separate living rooms. 

Furniture in “B block” units is noticeably cheaper (light laminate with blocks of color) and show wear; apartments have two small daybeds with lumpy-looking bolsters. Though most rooms in B block also overlook the pool, those facing the back of the hotel have a close view of neighboring buildings. There is no elevator in this apartment block, and food smells from the kitchen on the ground floor waft up through the building.

All units are of decent size and equipped with wardrobes and small tables and chairs that can be used either inside or out on the balcony. Both apartments and studios have kitchenettes, with mini-fridges, sinks, kettles, two electric burners, and basic kitchen supplies, as well as laundry buckets and drying racks. But there are no TVs, and fees are attached to air-conditioning, plus use of in-room safes and Wi-Fi. 

Bathrooms in "B block" rooms have showers with curtains rather than glass panels, and some "A block" bathrooms have bathtubs. There are hairdryers, but guests must supply their own toiletries. 

Each of the hotel's two blocks has its own medium-sized swimming pool, with sunbeds and a kiddy pool in the corner. Pools have full sun at midday, but they're partly shaded early and late in the day.

Since the hotel is self-catering, few guests opt-in for room rates that include breakfast, and those who do are served a continental breakfast plate. The restaurant's menu features steaks, pastas, and Indian dishes, typically served at the pool bar rather than in the small corner restaurant.

There’s no regular schedule of poolside shows, but if there are enough guests interested, outside entertainment -- like breakdancing shows, belly dancers, magicians, and fire dancers -- are brought in a few times a week. The hotel doesn't have a kids' club, but there's an activity room with soft mats, a playhouse, and toys, though no staff dedicated to watching or entertaining children. There's also an outdoor pool table, ping-pong table, and air-hockey, as well as a small library of books in the lobby. Public Wi-Fi is free at the poolside and bar only.