Julian Club Hotel

Broad steps lead up to the Julian’s massive air-conditioned lobby, a sleek space with marble floors and thick columns that serve as a gateway to the more tumultuous dining and entertainment spaces beyond. Almost all of the action at this resort takes place at the large outdoor pool area, which buzzes with energy all day and late into evening. The hotel draws mostly British families, and some from Russia and Turkey as well, who are brought in by tour companies that include Thomas Cook, ANEX, and Tui. With so many guests, the echoing dining areas can be loud when full, and during peak hours staff can have difficulty keeping up with cleaning. Like many other hotels in Marmaris, the Julian Club Hotel is open May through October only.

More imposing and modern-looking than the other hotel and residential complexes that surround it, the Julian is located in an inland part of Marmaris. It's two blocks off a main road where there are restaurants and small shops catering to tourists, as well as public-transportation options. Marmaris shorefront is a 20-minute walk, where there’s a decent public beach and a long line of bars, restaurants and cafes, most with their own small patches of sand. The Marmaris castle and the town’s marina, the departure point for excursion boats, are 10 minutes by car, as is the main bus station. The beaches of İçmeler, a neighboring resort area, are a 10-minute drive in the opposite direction and also served by local public transport (minibus). Dalaman Airport, the closest arrival point for flights from Istanbul and some international destinations, is about 90 minutes away by car.

The Julian’s guest rooms are spread throughout three buildings and divided into a variety of room categories, all with neutral color schemes and little in the way of decorative flourishes. The Standard Rooms are fairly small, and those equipped with two fold-out sofas and a double bed feel particularly cramped. The Deluxe Rooms, on the other hand, are quite spacious. Some have seating areas with upholstered couches, tables, and chairs; those that don’t feel rather cavernous. Junior Suites and Family Rooms have separate bedrooms and living rooms; Family Suites have two separate bedrooms. 

All units boast balconies (Junior Suite ones are bigger than the rest), with about half facing the pool area and half facing the street; the latter tend to be quieter. From higher-level rooms, you can see the green mountains surrounding Marmaris. Standard amenities include very firm beds, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and safes, but there's a fee for in-room Wi-Fi.

Bathrooms are tidy and somewhat spacious, with wide vanities and shower/tub combos or rainfall showers, but some are missing towel racks and no toiletries are provided, just a soap dispenser in the shower and one by the sink. Guests in Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites get fluffy white robes. Bathroom fixtures in the Junior Suites are more up-to-date than those in the otherwise identical Family Rooms.

This hotel's strongest selling point is its outdoor facilities and nonstop entertainment. Almost all of the action takes place under the sun around the two large pools, where a 14-person animation team keeps things lively all day, with music, dancing, and games. A second pool designated the “relax” area isn’t particularly quiet, but guests laying out there won’t be pulled into the activities. There’s an upper deck for sunbathing as well, but competition can be fierce for poolside sunbeds. For those who want to head to the beach, the hotel runs a free daily shuttle (twice daily in high season) to ferry guests back and forth, and sunbeds and umbrellas are available on the sand for free. 

Many past guests rave about the Julian’s regularly scheduled evening entertainment, which includes drag shows, belly-dancing performances, karaoke, live music, bingo contests, Latin dance lessons, and Turkish nights.

Children are well-served, as the resort has a small water park with two slides, a kiddy pool, and a kids’ club with indoor and outdoor play areas. It's free during the day and offered for an extra charge in the evening, and for some special activities. There are also “mini-disco” nights where kids get on the stage for a dance party before the main evening entertainment begins.

All-inclusive packages are the only ones offered here, and guests won’t hurt for opportunities to eat and drink. The main indoor/outdoor restaurant serves a large buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is a mix of international and Turkish specialties, with more than a dozen cooked dishes at each meal. Dinners feature items such as green curry chicken, grilled sardines, and lasagna. While the variety and flavor is good, the chafing dishes don’t seem to keep hot meals very warm. A large salad bar, dessert bar, and selection of breads and cold cuts are on offer as well. 

Outside regular meal times, guests can get coffee, tea, and cakes in a small lobby cafe, and the pool bar has snacks like ice cream, pancakes, and Turkish pastries, as well as salads for the health-conscious. Other than premium drinks, all food and beverage is included in the room rates.

For wellness, there's a small basement fitness room, with just three cardio machines that are free for guests to use. Those who want to pay for extra services can visit the dimly lit spa area next to the gym, where there’s a Turkish bath, dry sauna, massage rooms, and a tank of small fish that nibble away at the dead skin on your feet (seriously -- it’s called a “fish foot spa” or “fish pedicure”).

There's a game room by the pool bar, which has video games and tables for pool and table tennis, though only the ping-pong is free; there's an extra charge for the rest of the games. Other amenities include a hair salon, photo studio, and shops selling souvenirs, handbags, and jewelry. There's also a 24-hour health center staffed by two nurses with a doctor on call, and tour company representatives maintain a presence at the hotel to schedule (paid) excursions, such as boat trips and jeep tours. Wi-Fi comes at an extra charge.