Hotel Marbella

The Marbella’s light and airy lobby, with its cheery lime-green walls and floral displays, sets a tranquil tone at this small beachfront hotel, where European couples make up the majority of the guests. Hailing from England, as well as Germany, Holland, and the Scandinavian countries, many are repeat visitors, who book with a half-dozen different tour operators. The lack of organized activities keeps things quiet and relaxed, though some guests have complained about noise from music at neighboring hotels spoiling the laid-back vibe. Like many other hotels in Marmaris, the Marbella is open from May to mid-October.

Right on the shoreline, the Marbella offers a convenient location with good views of the sea. The waterfront promenade that runs in front of the hotel stretches for blocks in either direction, and is full of restaurants, bars, and cafes, most of them catering to tourists. It’s a 15-minute drive to the Marmaris Castle, old town, and harbor, where excursion boats and the ferry to Rhodes, Greece, dock. The main road behind the hotel has more places to eat and drink, as well as some shops. Minibuses stop along here and run to the bus station (a 15-minute drive) and to the neighboring resort of İçmeler (about 10 minutes by car). The nearest airport is about 90 minutes away by car in the town of Dalaman.

Guest rooms at the Marbella are compact, but the crisp, white walls and light-wood furniture give them a pleasant and airy feel, and decor is streamlined and modern. Tropical flowers accenting walls behind beds and etched in semi-opaque glass panels between bedrooms and bathrooms add a splash of color, as do the silver throw pillows and bed runners. The 34 Family Rooms are slightly large than the 50 Standard Rooms, with space for a double and a single bed. Almost all units feature spacious furnished balconies, three-fourths of which offer full or partial sea views. All units are well-equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, generously stocked minibars, electric kettles with free coffee and tea, and safes, but there's no in-room Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are sleek, with walk-in rainfall showers and removable showerheads, tube-style hairdryers, and basic toiletries.

Features here are focused on food and the outdoors. The Marbella has a small semicircular pool, but the private beach just across the waterfront pedestrian path is a much more appealing place to catch some rays. Both the pool and beach have sunbeds and umbrellas, and additional sunbeds are set on the hotel's dock, which extends from one end of the beach. 

At night, the sunbeds on the pier are swapped for dining tables, and the space is converted to the hotel’s well-regarded restaurant, which serves a mix of Turkish, British, Indian, Chinese, and other world cuisine. Most guests at the Marbella opt for room rates that include breakfast, which is set up as a continental buffet in a dining room overlooking the pool. Half-board and flexible dining options (e.g. half-board for four days out of a one-week stay) are also available, with dinner served in the waterfront restaurant. Room service isn't available. There's also a circular pool bar with a marble countertop and wicker chairs. 

A piano player often adds a musical backdrop to mealtimes, and there are occasional live bands in the evenings, which is the only on-site entertainment. There aren't any organized activities, but tour operators on-site can book excursions for boat trips, Jeep safaris, scuba diving, and the like (extra charge).

For wellness, if guests want to use a spa or gym, hotel staff will walk them next door to Hotel Sunrise, under the same ownership but currently closed. Having to go into an empty hotel is a bit off-putting, but the pleasant, small spa area has a mini Turkish bath with colorful traditional tiles adorning its water basins and main marble slab. There are two massage rooms (extra charge) with their own showers, one for a single person and one for a couple, and a basic fitness area with a few cardio machines and weights.

Wi-Fi is free in public areas, and there’s a small library and a computer in the lobby for guests to use. Laundry service is available (extra charge), as is a no-commission currency exchange. Though the hotel has one elevator leading up to the guest rooms, stairs between the street and the main floor mean the property isn't disabled-accessible.