This Turkish Hotel Has Five Exclusive Beaches for Every Type of Traveler

Expect big rooms with lots of natural light

There are 196 rooms and suites at D Maris Bay, plus a presidential suite and “exclusive villa.” I stayed in a “deluxe sea view room,” which is a few steps up from the most basic room type, but still on the less-expensive end. Nightly room rates range from $295 in the low season to more than $1,680 in the high season. Rates on the Presidential Suite go up to well over $10,000 a night. The hotel is only open from April to October, with peak season spanning from June to September.

My room was spacious and flooded with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was tastefully decorated, but the best part of the room was the balcony. Not only did it have amazing views, but it also had an outdoor bathtub with glass walls facing the bay (and offering plenty of privacy).

Regardless of what room type you choose, all rooms come with luxurious amenities like a mini-bar, an in-room pillow menu, and high-end toiletries – no combined-shampoo-and-conditioner here.

The resort has private boats to carry you between remote beaches

Most activities at D Maris Bay revolve around the beach, but there’s no need to tax yourself before getting there: there’s a funicular to carry guests from the lobby and rooms to the beach area, and the ride from the treetops to the crystal-clear bay below is almost as pretty as the beaches themselves.

Once you’re at sea level, you have plenty of options for catching some sun. There are five beaches at D Maris Bay (two secluded and tucked away from the rest of the property), plus three pools. And if walking between beaches sounds like too much work, don’t worry: the resort has boats to ferry guests between each of the private bays and beaches.

The Bay Beach is best for families, with a gentle slope and turtle-filled waters ideal for easy snorkeling. La Guérite Beach is more of a party vibe, akin to what you’d find in Ibiza. Expect afternoon DJs and late-night beach parties. Manos Beach is casual and, as the name suggests, similar to the relaxed, natural beaches you’d find on some Greek islands. Silence Beach doesn’t demand quiet, but it is for adults only, with lots of pairs of lounges and umbrellas that offer a little extra space. Maris Beach is where you’ll find the beachside spa, as well as floating daybed.

If the beaches aren’t relaxing enough for you, guests can visit the property’s Mytha Spa, with a Turkish bath, sauna, and swimming pool. There’s a rather extensive spa menu, but unfortunately, the current version isn’t posted online – but just know that most services you’d expect (and many you wouldn’t) are available on site.

Cruising on the Aegean Sea

 

 

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Embarking on the beautiful waters of Aegean Sea on the Turkish coastline was the highlight of my stay at D Maris Bay, and the hotel makes it easy to explore surrounding islands and towns by offering various trips on its private yacht, the Alia Open Sea. Day trips aren’t included in the cost of a stay but are a great way to get a sense of the destination.

As we cruised on the waves, the captain shared insights and stories about the various coastal towns, as well as the history of the region. Onboard, we snacked on fresh fruit and Turkish wines, and even got a chance to jump into the water. Despite being October, the water remained surprisingly warm, and after a few hours of activity, we headed back to the harbor to get ready for dinner.

D Maris Bay has its own yacht club, and private bespoke charters are available, for guests with extra-deep pockets.

Drinking and dining at D Maris Bay

The luxurious Turkish resort has a whopping seven restaurants, plus 10 bars and lounges (some of which are associated with the restaurants).

The most casual options are DD Scoop & DD Ice Cream (a coffee bar and ice cream shop), D Maris Kitchen (for casual lunchtime fare like burgers and salads), and The Terrace, which serves breakfast each morning (included with the room rate). The more formal restaurants are Nusr-Et (a steakhouse), Manos (Greek), La Guérite (the seafood-heavy beach club restaurant), and Zuma, the hotel’s waterfront Japanese restaurant.

Manos offered an exciting blend of delicious food, live music, and dancing – and plate breaking. Meals are served family style, set to the backdrop of a lively (and live) Greek band. My favorites were the zucchini paired with tzatziki, and, undoubtedly, the colossal bowl of seafood pasta, filled with clams, mussels, and shrimp. But the most unique part of the meal was getting to participate in a Greek tradition: plate breaking. It’s thought to bring good luck, and symbolizes breaking old habits, keeping away bad spirits, and getting a fresh start.

I also ate at Zuma, set just below the lobby overlooking the Datça Peninsula. Right away, I noticed two things: the gorgeous backdrop of the vibrant orange-and-pink sunset hues, and the irresistible scent of truffles drifting from the sushi counter. While listening to the resident DJ, I ordered a chili-passion fruit margarita, which was expertly balanced. All the seafood was delightful, but the standout was probably the gindara no dailyo yaki – miso black cod wrapped in hoba (magnolia) leaves. It was tender and buttery with a perfect umami finish.

La Guérite, set on one of the resort’s beaches and reachable by the hotel ferry, was a great spot for lunch. It has a beachy-cabana vibe, akin to a St. Barth beach club, with a secluded atmosphere. The menu is Mediterranean, with lots of fresh seafood and light bites such as tomato salad, sea bass ceviche with citrus broth, or garlic mussels.

Even if you’re not a dessert-at-lunch type of person, consider getting the La Guérite profiterole regardless. The heavenly treat was a perfect take on the classic profiterole, with a fluffy pastry, velvety cream, and a generous pour of chocolate sauce, added at the table.

Getting to D Maris Bay

To reach D Maris Bay, you’ll first need to fly to Istanbul. It’s a major airport, so you’ll find direct flights from cities in the US, but they’re long. From NYC, it’s a 10-hour flight, and flying from LA will take you just over 13 hours. From Istanbul, it’s a one-hour flight to the Dalaman Airport, then a 1.5 hour drive to the resort. You can arrange a shuttle from the hotel in advance.

That makes the travel to D Maris Bay a bit lengthy, so most guests will want to stay for at least three or four days, especially to leave enough time to experience the various beaches. However, you can speed up the travel process a bit by reserving the hotel’s helicopter. If you take to the skies, it’s just a quick 25-minute journey from Dalaman Airport directly to the hotel’s helicopter landing pad.