When it comes to big holiday resort towns in Turkey, Marmaris still flexes its muscles with the best of them. It was one of the first areas that Brits started visiting in Turkey and over the years it has grown from a small resort on the Turquoise Coast to a massive, extremely popular holiday spot, running the gamut from cheap and cheerful hotels to luxury, upmarket properties.
The resort still works well for clients on a budget or those sore from the bloated euro, not least as the fierce competition among the bars and restaurants helps to keep the prices down. Looking ahead, the challenge now is for the resort to raise the quality of what’s on offer while maintaining its reputation for delivering value-for-money that keeps its loyal customers coming back year after year.
Keep the change
Progress is being made. “The region is working hard to change its image,” says Vanessa Freeman, product manager for Turkey at Thomas Cook. “The whole beachfront was knocked down and rebuilt last year to try to improve the look of the area.”
There are also more five-star hotels in the region now, while a couple of others are being renovated, such as the Ideal Prime. This is helping to raise the overall calibre of accommodation away from the traditional self-catering apartments that were once the mainstay of holidaymakers here.
The season for Marmaris is also lengthening, with resorts now open from April to October, and tour operators offering multiple flying days to Dalaman, giving greater flexibility.
Strength and depth
Gemma Carroll, product manager for Turkey at Cosmos, says the tourism product is now very well developed. “Marmaris is more than just a busy resort full of nightlife,” she says. “It really does have layers and depth that are waiting to be explored.”
The point is echoed by Joe Lavers, sales director at Holidays4U. “There are a lot of people who are drawn to Marmaris because it’s so lively. Families that want a quieter time for most of their holiday, but like visiting the action occasionally, have plenty of options too.”
Hotels offer a wide choice of excursions from mud baths or authentic Turkish nights with belly dancing to gulet cruises – the name for traditional wooden yachts. Attraction World has added 22 new tours in the area this year.
It is also a popular base for sailing holidays and there’s still a touch of Riviera-chic here with luxury yachts moored in the Netsel Marina, which Freeman believes can compete with any of the more famous resorts in Europe. This is the reason why Neilson is adding a new property to its portfolio when it offers up the Beachplus Club Adakoy in May, with packages that include sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing and kayaking.
Pip Tyler, overseas director at Neilson Active Holidays, says: “We ordered 24 yachts this winter. The first are coming out of the French yard as we speak, and a number will sail onto Turkey and Adakoy ready to start work in May.”
Quiet time
As Marmaris’s crescent beach has got busier so people have moved out in to the surrounding area.
There is now increased demand and availability at more peaceful resorts, with tour operators such as Cosmos boosting their offerings on the edge of town.
Nicky Shafe, marketing manager at Prestige Holidays comments: “Our clients are more interested in staying outside of Marmaris as the centre is very busy. For this reason, we opted to include a beautiful property just outside called the D-Hotel Maris.”
Similarly, Photis Lambrianides, commercial director, Olympic Holidays, says: “Quieter properties away from the centre of the resort appeal to older clients, so they are now an important part of our product mix.”
Family friendly
In recent times those visitors wanting a relaxed or more family-friendly atmosphere have been heading to the Armutalen area. There are now a number of hotels and self-catering units with a few shops and restaurants that give this suburb a small village feel – clients won’t feel as if they are staying in a large, lively resort.
Other satellite spots include Siteler along the coast, which also has some quality properties, while the area between Marmaris and Icmeler has a number of hotels that are far enough away from the madding crowds, yet are still close enough to the action via a short minibus or dolmus ride.
Smaller resorts such as Turunc, which is very close to Marmaris as the crow flies, are increasingly popular. Turunc is separated by mountains and therefore offers a totally different experience to the larger Marmaris. This year Thomas Cook has added the Turunc Hotel, which has its own water park.
“Any agent selling Marmaris should certainly add Turunc to their portfolio as it gives consumers a very different alternative but still within the region and still within easy reach of Dalaman airport,” says Anatolian Sky’s managing director Akin Koc.
“Turunc is a fabulous resort that offers a slightly more traditional holiday than those found in nearby Marmaris. Customers can not only get a feel for the real Turkey but also do so in a far more relaxed and tranquil resort.”
Increasingly holidaymakers are also visiting Datca. This unspoilt rugged promontory at the southwest tip offers a real getaway from the hustle and bustle of Marmaris. This is one of the reasons why Exclusive Escapes is now featuring Mehmet Ali Aga Mansion, a museum-hotel, for 2011, located in a working village just outside the peninsula.
A seven-night twin-centre option, combining the property with nights at the Dionysos Estate, costs from £850, including flights. [exclusiveescapes.co.uk; 0208 605 3500]
Other options on the peninsula include a week’s stay at D-Hotel Maris, from £667 in May through Prestige Holidays, including flights from Gatwick. [prestigeholidays.co.uk; 01425 480400]
Local hot spots
Ephesus, for long the second-largest city of the Roman Empire, is Turkey’s most spectacular ancient city and is readily accessible as a day trip from Marmaris. The World Heritage town of Pamukkale, famous for its hot springs, is also easy to visit.
Laid back Calis Beach has two and a half miles of shingle fringed by restaurants and is a beautiful spot to watch the sun set.
Icmeler, lying in a sheltered bay, is ideal for water sports. It’s a cosmopolitan resort with a strong European flavour and lifestyle and its curved beach is framed by stylish hotels.
Dalyan is a small charming town in an environmental conservation area that oozes natural beauty and historical interest. The Dalyan river winds past the ancient Rock tombs to the sea
Sample product
A seven-night self-catering break in early May at the two-star Golden Orange apartments in the Armutalen area costs from £212 with Holidays 4U, including flights from Gatwick. h4u.co.uk, 0844 415 2444
Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Hotel Club Viva with Cosmos Holidays costs from £299 in early May, including flights from Manchester to Dalaman.
cosmos-holidays.co.uk, 0871 423 8401
Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ half-board at the five-star Maritim Hotel Grand Azur in Marmaris in October from £479, including flights from Gatwick.
olympicholidays.com, 0844 499 4449
Thomas Cook MyStyle has seven nights at the five-star Hotel Marti in Icmeler on half-board basis from £489 in May, including flights from Gatwick. thomascookstyle.com, 0844 412 5970
