Hi dazz

Welcome to HT

Why don't you let people what sort of things you like and dislike - buzzin' nightlife, good beaches, family holiday etc etc

Sure someone will come up with suggestions if they know a bit more about what you are looking for.

John

Welcome to the forums

Have a read through our resort reports which include Marmaris

I have only visited Marmaris for a day when we stayed at nearby Turunc so I can't tell you an awful lot. Marmaris is the most popular tourist resort in Turkey, especially with British people. It is very big, busy and lively and the part we saw had lots of British pubs, karaoke bars and loud music bars, although I am sure there are also quieter areas. If this is the kind of place you are looking for then I am sure Marmaris will be suitable for you. I am sure others will tell you more about Marmaris.

If you are after something different then let us know what kind of holiday you want and we may be able to suggest another resort.

Stayed in Marmaris last year and returning this year. It is a really big resort, very busy with lots of shops and restaurants, bars , a market. Plenty to do. I think the previous poster is referring in particular to Bar Street area, where there are lots of bars, loud music etc to be found but equally there are quieter parts too if you aren't looking for that kind of thing so please do not think that the whole of Marmaris is like that! The marina area is very nice with some lovely restaurants too. Alot of the hotels are in the Armutalan area of Marmaris which is generally a bit quieter than the resort centre but within walking distance of the beach or hop on the frequent dolmus buses to get there. There are two waterparks in Marmaris, The neighbouring resort of Icmeler is only 10 minutes away and is a more picturesque resort than Marmaris, smaller and a bit quieter - this may be an alternative if you feel Marmaris might not what you are looking for.
You asked where to stay in Marmaris, I guess that depends on what you are looking for - if you want near the beach or the nightlife or somewhere a bit quieter but within easy reach of everything. If you can give us some more details of what you like, age group travelling etc then it will be easier to recommend somewhere to stay.

Marmaris is big, bold and brash and people either love or hate it. The up side is there is plenty to do there and in my opinion the down side is you don't see the stunning beauty of the real Turkey. I was recently on a transfer bus which dropped people off at various hotels in Marmaris before travelling on through the mountains to my destination. I had been chatting to a lady who was travelling alone and visiting Turkey for the first time. She asked me what Marmaris was like, telling me she had come for a rest and I truthfully told her it was big with some very nice parts - the marina in particular and lots to do. Anyway as we drove into Marmaris her face fell, it really wasn't what she was hoping for so as we pulled up outside her very smart 5 star hotel I gave her my phone number and said if you are not happy here get on a bus and stay with us in the middle of nowhere!! A couple of days later she arrived at my place saying she hated Marmaris, too big and noisy and no peace at all. Her lovely hotel although luxurious was so noisy she couldn't sleep.
My advice would be if you want lots of lively night life, shops, action and you are not bothered about culture and scenery then Marmaris is for you. If that is too full on go to either Turunc or Icmeler as you can visit Marmaris but get away for some peace. If you want somewhere uncommercialised go somewhere else and see my thread about being adventurous. There are some fantastic places in Turkey.

in my opinion you can go to marmaris and never see bar street. we went 3 yrs running and never new it existed untill we went on the moonlight cruise and some of the people on there were going straight there, so we joined them. i was amazed that this area was there. beach front is also full of bars but its bright and a nice atmosphere. we always saty in the amutalan area where there are plenty of nice family friebdly places to spend an evening. i think marmaris is a great place for everyone give it a go.

I first went to Marmaris in 1996 and have been back in 05,07 and going this year.I have seen a lot of change from that first time i have also stayed in kusadasi,bodrum,gumbet,olu deniz,hisaranou,icmeler and done all the usual trips fom those places some where better than others BUT i have loved every place and trip i have done.Marmaris is getting bigger and busier,it is loud if you want but you can find your own place/thing, it is not the same for everybody i have never been to bar street not my thing but to others it is. I get cross with people who call it Blackpool and others who comment and have never been.It is (like any other resort) what you make of it.Enjoy yourself.

I regularly go on gulet holidays which stop in Marmaris for a night. I also spent a fortnight there in 1996. It was great for what I wanted when I was 25 but too big and bustling for me now.

However, you can go to Marmaris and not see it all. For instance, fellow gulet holidayers with me having only one night would only venture from Marina to bar street and the general 'old' part. One guy even argued with me that there was no beach in marmaris and i explained that there was and that it was lined with bars and clubs. Pointing out on a map just how small the bar street/marina and old area is in relation to the whole of Marmaris really surprised him.

I guess it's like a large town at home - different areas have different vibes and you don't need to venture out of your comfort zone if you don't want.

I don't think comparing Marmaris with Blackpool should be seen as a derogatory remark. There are many similarities. Blackpool is a large holiday resort with lots to do, it has accommodation to suit all budgets and is popular with families, singles and people who want to have a lot of fun. Blackpool probably has a sandier, bigger beach - oh yes and donkeys. As long as you want what is on offer both places are fine. The ones who will be disappointed are those who are not expecting a large concrete town by the sea. When I was under 25, I would have adored Marmaris - one long party! It doesn't suit me now and I prefer to dig deeper and find the pretty quiet small places, mind you we have plenty of fun in those too. So for those who are visiting Marmaris go and enjoy it for what it is. It would be a shame if you never ventured beyond it though. Get a map and a bus timetable and spend a day or two away from it.

jmk where would you reccomend spending a day not to far from mamaris, we stopped off in tununc on a boat trip but wouldnt wand to spend all day there, looking forward to your suggestions.

Try icemeler its a great little place

Well if it was me I would hire a car and drive off through the mountains towards Datca or down the Bozburun peninsula and then I would stop off wherever I fancied. The scenery there is stunning. The roads beyond Marmaris are fine and not at all busy even in peak season. Of course I realise that not everyone is confident about driving there. In that case I would get up early and catch the first bus to Datca. The buses go about every hour and I think they start about 7 or 8 am and take just over an hour. Last one back is I think about 7 pm. I think last year it was about 15 lira return. During that hour you will travel through mountains and see some of the most mind blowing scenery. At one point near the top of a mountain you can see the Mediterranean and the Aegean sea at the same time. The bus will drop you in the town center and you just walk down the road for 5 minutes to find the harbour. Datca is a charming little harbour town where Turkish families take their holidays. There are a few beaches, some shops and on Saturday, a market. The cafes around the harbour are nice and if you swim in the sea or in the thermal pool some of the cafes will let you use their showers. The lady I mentioned earlier was spell bound by it all and so happy we had enticed her there! If you only wanted a nice beach and didn't want to go so far I would still take the Datca bus through the mountains just to see the views but get off at a place called Aktur about 20 minutes before Datca. This is a place where rich Turkish families have their holiday homes. There is a nice sandy beach and some restaurants. As I said the bus fare is around 15 lira return. If there was a group of you it might be worth checking the price of a taxi because then you can ask the driver to stop at the top of the mountain for photographs. You could ask your hotel to get a quote for a mini bus for the day. I think it is around £40 - £50 each way. Last year I hired a mini bus with driver for the day for a group of 10 of us and it cost £100. It might be nice to get the bus there and taxi back and don't forget to haggle the price with the taxi driver (several taxi ranks in Datca).