Grand Yazici Turban Thermal

I spent a week at the Grand Yazici Turban Thermal Hotel in Marmaris and let me tell you, it was one of those holidays where you laugh a lot, eat a lot, and almost drown in cocktails. Here is the full breakdown of how it went.

Location

The hotel is around an hour and a half from Dalaman Airport. Long enough to grab a nap but not long enough for the kids to start a full scale riot. You are perfectly placed between Icmeler and Marmaris. Ten minutes one way and you are sipping a quiet drink in Icmeler, ten minutes the other way and you are dodging laser beams and karaoke machines in Marmaris. Best of both worlds.

Check In and Room

We arrived on a private transfer so check in was easy breezy. No queues, no stress. Before I knew it a bellboy was zipping us off in a golf cart like a low budget James Bond chase scene.

We landed in Room 1181 which overlooked the waterslide pool. It had a big double bedroom with balcony, fridge, TV and a safe. The bathroom was actually spacious, which is rare for hotels. Through a little hallway there was another bedroom with a single bed, a fold out couch bed, wardrobe, TV and its own smaller bathroom with shower. Ideal for families. The only negative? The single beds. Imagine sleeping on an ironing board with a thin sheet on it.

Poolside Vibes

The pool was our stomping ground. We never once fought for sunbeds because Sami is the man. Hand him a tip and suddenly you are reclining in poolside VIP seats like you own the place.

Then there was the roller skate drinks service. Deniz deserves his own Netflix documentary. This guy clearly missed his destiny as an X Games gold medalist. Instead he chose a harder life. A life of dodging children and inflatable flamingos to deliver me margaritas every five minutes. True heroism.

The pool itself though is deep. I am five foot nine and it was up to my neck. I am taller than most children and unless you are raising a squad of Olympians, they will be paddling like Labradors all week. No shallow end at all. Music was on point. Chill tunes in the morning then absolute chaos when the pool parties kicked in. Think Ministry of Sound but with more inflatables.

The Beach

The beach here is lovely. The sand is a bit coarse but once you get a few feet into the water it is crystal clear. The piers are brilliant and make it even more enjoyable.

We snorkelled every single day and saw loads of fish of all shapes and sizes. Drinks service works on the beach too. The staff will take your order and occasionally bring out fresh slices of watermelon. Nothing hits like a cold watermelon when you are roasting in the Turkish sun.

Food and Drink

Here is where it gets interesting.

Breakfast was… fine. If you are happy with continental then you are golden. Fresh eggs, omelettes, cereals and breads. Great stuff. But as a Brit, I expect a full English every morning and it just did not happen. No proper sausages, no bacon for obvious reasons, beans that looked tired of life and not a single hash brown to be found. Heartbreaking stuff. Thankfully Musa kept me alive with endless cups of coffee and brilliant service.

Lunch and snacks were far better. The a la carte restaurants were excellent. The Doner House was an absolute winner for an afternoon snack. The kids spent half their time at the ice cream truck and the Lemon Cafe. On our last night we booked the Italian restaurant which was really good. The menu was small but the food was spot on.

Hotel Grounds

The grounds of the hotel are stunning. Instead of everyone crowding around one pool there are little pockets of civilisation dotted around. Coffee shops, a boba truck, small bars hidden here and there. It keeps the resort relaxed and spread out.

There is a mini market onsite selling essentials. Yes the prices are slightly inflated but not ridiculous. Next door you have a row of shops selling “genuine designer gear best price my friend” if you fancy a laugh and a fake Gucci belt.

Entertainment and Nightlife

We checked out a few of the shows and the Filipino Ninja show was incredible. Down at the beach bar there was live music most nights. The acts were mostly foreign but their talent was undeniable and the stage and lighting setup looked better than most music venues back in the UK. Whoever runs production deserves a promotion.

Staff and Service

The staff here were excellent across the board. From Musa who kept us caffeinated at breakfast to Sami who secured us poolside palaces and Deniz who risked life and limb on skates delivering cocktails. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful.

Final Thoughts

The Grand Yazici Turban Thermal Hotel gave us a brilliant week. The location is perfect. The grounds are beautiful. The cocktails flow. The entertainment is better than expected. The staff are fantastic. Breakfast left me heartbroken as a Brit who believes hash browns are a human right, but everything else more than made up for it.

Would we return? Absolutely. And next time I am bringing my own sausages.