Grand Yazici Club Marmaris Palace

We enjoyed a generally lovely family stay at Yazıcı Grand Palace, with the hotel offering what you’d expect in terms of comfort and atmosphere. Unfortunately, our experience was let down by a serious problem with the air‑conditioning in our room. The unit leaked water from the ceiling, didn’t cool properly, and had black mould inside. Maintenance visited twice and we also spoke with guest relations, but no effective solution was provided.

It didn’t ruin our holiday, but it’s worth noting — and definitely avoid room 214.

This review is based on the first three days of our stay, so if anything changes before we leave, I'll happily update it. Overall, we're having a lovely holiday and there are far more positives than negatives. Most of my suggestions are small improvements that I genuinely think would take an already good resort to an excellent one.

Check-in Check-in was smooth, quick and straightforward. We arrived in the early hours of the morning, so reception wasn't busy and the process was hassle-free. The only minor inconvenience was being given just one room key. For families or couples who don't spend every minute together, two keys as standard would be much more practical. I'm sure another could be requested, but it would be a nice touch if they were automatically provided.

Facilities One thing I really like is that the pool opens at 8am and sunbed reservations before then aren't allowed. It means you don't have to join the usual early-morning race to reserve a lounger, which makes for a much more relaxed start to the day. The biggest area for improvement is the drinks service around the pool. During our first three days, we've rarely been asked if we'd like another drink, despite spending long periods by the pool. A little more proactive service would make a noticeable difference to the overall experience.

Activities There is plenty to keep both adults and children entertained throughout the day. The kids' club runs activities, there is evening entertainment, and sporting events such as the World Cup have been shown, creating a great atmosphere.

A special mention goes to Gaye, who runs the yoga and Pilates sessions. She's enthusiastic, welcoming and makes the classes enjoyable for all abilities. The aqua aerobics sessions are also great fun and well attended.

The entertainment team work hard to involve everyone, creating a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. My only suggestion would be to introduce a few more activities aimed specifically at younger children, as some of the adult games become quite competitive and aren't always suitable for them. There are also plenty of other facilities including mini golf, table tennis, pool and darts.

Rooms We're staying in one of the bungalow rooms, which is spacious, comfortable and exactly what you'd expect from this style of resort. Our room has a shower rather than a bath, although I can't comment on other room types. The air conditioning works extremely well, towels are changed daily, toiletries and slippers are provided, and the housekeeping team have been excellent, keeping the room spotless and regularly restocking the minibar.

Food The food offers a good selection with plenty of choice, although there are a few areas that could be improved. For us personally, one challenge is that we don't eat beef. While it's understandable that pork isn't widely served in a predominantly Muslim country, many dishes such as burgers and kebabs contain beef mixed with lamb, which significantly reduces our options. It would be great to see pure lamb kebabs, beef-free burgers and clearer labelling of mixed meats to cater for different dietary and religious preferences.

Breakfast has been enjoyable, although freshly squeezed juices would be a welcome addition instead of the current sugary fruit juices.

The snack bar is excellent, serving burgers, chips and pizza, but again the kebab options alternate between chicken and mixed beef/lamb. Offering a pure lamb option would make a big difference.

Staff Overall, the staff have been friendly, welcoming and helpful. A special mention goes to Mustafa (Mufasa), who provided excellent service during lunch, regularly checking on us and making sure our drinks were topped up. He really stood out. The main improvement I'd suggest is consistency. At times we've sat through an entire meal and through the evening without anyone asking if we'd like another drink, while nearby tables seemed to receive much more attentive service. A more consistent approach across all guests would really enhance the experience.

Spa The spa has a warm indoor pool, sauna and steam room. A hot tub would be a good addition The only downside was that the steam room smelt damp, which took away from the experience. Adding some relaxing aromas or essential oils would help create more of the luxury spa atmosphere many guests expect. The gentleman selling spa treatments was friendly, knowledgeable and informative without being pushy, which was appreciated. The barber was also very pleasant, although his sales approach felt a little more persistent.

Small Improvements That Would Make a Big Difference

• More proactive drinks service around the pool and in the buffet restaurant.
• Open the gym earlier (around 6am rather than 9am), especially for guests with children or those who prefer morning workouts.
• Install retractable washing lines on balconies or in bathrooms for drying swimwear.
• Add children's mocktails to the drinks menu.
• Expand the cocktail list to include classics such as an Old Fashioned.
• Offer more beef-free meat options and improve labelling of mixed meats.

Overall (After Three Days) So far, we've really enjoyed our stay. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with mature trees providing plenty of natural shade throughout the resort. One thing that particularly impressed me was noticing a few raised tiles around the pool. Within a short time they had been cordoned off and maintenance staff were already repairing them, which showed excellent attention to guest safety. Overall, this is a lovely resort with great facilities, a relaxed atmosphere and many hardworking staff. Most of my suggestions are relatively small improvements that would significantly enhance what is already a very enjoyable holiday experience.