Hermes Hotel

Most guests at the Hermes are British couples, small groups of friends, and families who have individually booked their vacations. The large lobby is a mishmash of decorative styles, with painted columns and moldings, chandeliers, a faux-brick accent wall, and brightly colored couches. Though there are some seating areas here, the poolside is a more appealing place to linger. It's relaxed and quiet during the day, and gets livelier (some guests say too loud) when the evening entertainment kicks in. The upstairs halls leading to the simple guest rooms are dimly lit, though each is served by an elevator. Like many other hotels in Marmaris, the Hermes is open May through October only.

The four-story Hermes Hotel is located on a small street in a mostly residential neighborhood, with just a few small shops and restaurants nearby. It’s some distance inland from Marmaris’ main attractions, though it is close to public transportation. Minibuses regularly run along the main road at the end of the block, heading to the seaside and to the city center. It’s less than a 10-minute drive to the public beach and bars, restaurants, and cafes on the Marmaris shorefront. The Marmaris Castle and the town’s marina, the departure point for excursion boats, are about 15 minutes by car, as is the main bus station. The neighboring resort area İçmeler is a 15-minute drive in the opposite direction and also served by minibus. The nearest airport is about 90 minutes away by car in the town of Dalaman.

Guest rooms are basic but tidy, with carpeting and double or two twin beds; 10 come with a extra single bed, and the five family rooms have two extra single beds for kids. All units have a balcony; 25 of them face the pool area while the rest look out at the surrounding neighborhood. Though some of the units have oddly angled walls, they’re mostly of decent size, but strictly no-frills: there are a couple of chairs, small vanities, and old-style telephones by the bedsides. Some floral designs stenciled on the walls liven up the otherwise drab decor, though furniture shows some wear and tear. A major drawback is that using in-room safes, air-conditioning, and mini-fridges cost extra. The bathroom fixtures also need updating, and there are no toiletries other than a bar of soap, but all have bathtubs. 

The highlight among features at this property is the large rectangular pool with a waterslide and a tiny fenced-off wading area for small children. Seating options poolside include both tables and chairs and sunbeds, while a partially covered “living room” with couches and a small library off to one side serves as a quieter place to read and relax out of the sun. The indoor-outdoor bar spanning the lobby and the pool area stay open late, and serve a hub for the organized nightly entertainment: pool parties, karaoke, breakdancing performances, and Turkish nights, among other offerings.

The full-service restaurant serves a buffet breakfast in a dining area at one end of the large lobby, and half- and full-board options are available. Lunch and dinner includes Turkish specialties and an international menu. 

Aside from the pool, there isn't much on-site in the way of activities, but there's a kids’ play area with video games and a ping-pong table in the lobby, and a pool table and seating area with a TV. There's also a small hair salon and a tattoo parlor on-site. 

Car service to the airport and local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public spaces downstairs; some of the guest rooms may be able to pick up the signal as well.