"Elite World Marmaris – Excellent Food, Fantastic Staff and Great Value (8/10)
We recently spent 9 nights at Elite World Marmaris in İçmeler and had a really enjoyable stay. Overall, we'd rate the hotel 8/10 and would happily return. We felt it represented excellent value for money, and we would recommend it on the food and staff service alone.
Food and Drink – A Real Highlight
We were really impressed with the variety of food and drink available for an all-inclusive hotel.
Breakfast was consistent throughout our stay, but there was always plenty of choice, including fresh fruit, freshly made omelettes, a large selection of breads, sausages, yoghurts, hash browns, mushrooms, pastries and more. Having drinks served to the table during buffet hours was also a lovely touch.
Lunch and dinner were equally good, with dishes changing daily. The meatballs were excellent, as were the pasta dishes. There was always a good selection of vegetables, different types of potatoes, fish, kebabs and other dishes to try. We never felt bored with dinner, as there was always something different to sample.
The drinks selection was good, and the pool bar staying open until midnight was a real bonus. We also appreciated being able to take drinks from the pool bar down to the beach.
Another highlight was the coffee bar, which opened from very early in the morning until the early hours. It offered a good selection of hot drinks and sweet treats, making it a great place to stop for a coffee throughout the day or evening.
Staff and Service – Outstanding
The staff were consistently attentive, polite and helpful. They were a pleasure to be around and contributed significantly to making our stay so enjoyable.
Whenever we needed assistance, the response was good. For example, we had an issue with the room safe when we first arrived, but this was resolved very quickly. We also found the staff accommodating when we requested a change to the blankets in our room.
For us, the food and the quality of service alone make this hotel worth recommending.
Room and Housekeeping
Our room was comfortable and clean, with just about enough space for our needs. There were plenty of power points, which was useful.
Housekeeping operated using a green/red light system, allowing guests to indicate when they wanted their room cleaned. We found this a practical arrangement.
The bed was reasonably comfortable, although we found the blankets a little scratchy. However, when we asked, the staff changed them for fleece alternatives, which we appreciated.
One area that could be improved was the television. There were very few English-language channels, with most of those available being news channels.
We also had an issue with the room safe on arrival, but, as mentioned, this was fixed quickly.
Beach and Sunbeds
The hotel's beachfront location was a real highlight. We spent our time on the beach and swimming in the sea rather than using the swimming pool.
There were plenty of sun loungers available, so we didn't have to worry about struggling to find somewhere to relax. Being able to take drinks from the pool bar down to the beach was another advantage.
Having the beach and sea right on the doorstep made the location particularly appealing.
Location and Evening Entertainment
The location is excellent, right on the beach and within easy reach of the surrounding resort. However, there is one important point worth mentioning.
The hotel is next to some louder hotels and bars, and the noise made it difficult to sleep before around 12:30 am on some nights. Although the hotel itself is relatively quiet, the surrounding entertainment venues mean that the immediate area can be noisy in the evenings.
The hotel has limited entertainment of its own, with only occasional entertainment on a few evenings during dinner. We would have liked more substantial evening entertainment, particularly after spending the day on the beach.
On the other hand, the lack of entertainment encouraged us to venture out and explore İçmeler, which was a positive in its own way. However, we found drinks quite expensive when going out, something worth bearing in mind if you're planning to spend a lot of time in the local bars.
Overall Verdict – Excellent Value for Money
We had a very enjoyable 9-night stay at Elite World Marmaris and felt it represented excellent value for money.
The excellent food variety, good drinks selection, outstanding staff service and fantastic beachfront location were the main highlights for us. The food was varied enough that we never became bored with the choices, and the staff were consistently polite, attentive and helpful.
The main drawbacks were the noise from neighbouring hotels and bars, the limited evening entertainment and the lack of English-language television channels.
Despite these points, we would happily return and would recommend this hotel to others. If you're looking for a beachfront all-inclusive hotel with excellent food, great service and good value for money, Elite World Marmaris is well worth considering.
Our rating: 8/10. We would return!"