one of the best hotels i have ever stayed in. complete value for money!! reception open 24hr so any queries you can go day or night. all staff spoke very good english and were freindly and helpful. the kids entertainers were top class and got everyone involved no matter how old/young they were. good entertainment on a night, turkish night is worth the 20 lira. drinks and food in hotel restaurant also good value for money, chicken supreme is delicious and so are the pizza's! but definately go into town and try some other restaurants out. watches are an excellent idea as it saves you carrying money around with you. pool area is spotless and there's plenty of sun loungers etc. apartment was very clean and spacious, balcony very large and lovely views lookin over pool. hotel located in gorgeous area at bottom of mountains, about 15 mins walk from town but if you get the bus its only 1 lira which is about 40p and they run every ten mins up until about 1am. all in all, top class holiday and we are looking to go back next year!!

This is my 2nd time of coming to Turkey and i really enjoyed, the entertainment staff were really lovely and i want to come back and visit them in the future as they were nice to have as friends.
The hotel was really clean and the maids brought us clean towels daily.
The entertainment was very goog shame it only lasted 15 minutes tho.
The pool was good for all ages and the entertainment team were good all day through until all night don't know where they got their energy from.

had a brilliant time during my 2 weeks stay with my family.the kids really had an excellent time.swimming,specially the water slide.shame it is only on for 30mins.went to the barbers to have a haircut..the maid fatima was so kind and friendly with us...loved her patterns with towels different each day.we all miss you faitma and your patterns.
the view is so beautiful outside with the palm trees.

here are the downsides:
shame there do not provide any toilet rolls.or have any cleaners coming to clean the bathroom.the entire
floor in the apartment is so full of dust.
the music from the bar is a turn off starts each day at 9pm runs until about 3am it is so loud had problem sleeping for the first few days.then i just put my ipod on...for my remiander of time there when there music starts..it it a big miss for a family with children.even the children had problem going to sleep.with the music that loud during the night.
atif the barber you really got on my nerves.asking me each day during my entire 2 weeks for a shave..if i need a shave i will tell you myself..i do not want you telling me to have a shave

First visit to Turkey in 18 years - although more commercial the people were still fantastic.

We stayed in the Grand Aquarium and our friends stayed at the Club Aquarium. This is by far the cleanest holiday apartments we have ever stayed at. Despite our teenage sons refusal to get up before lunch, the maids still cleaned our apartment daily and to a very high standard - the patterns with the towels were a daily surprise. Before leaving it is a good idea to seek the maids out and tip them personally for all their efforts as we had heard that sometimes they don't get tips left in the rooms.

The entertainment staff were always on the go and did their job well during the day (though on the occasions where i witnessed the nigh time entertainment i cringed!) My one criticism would be that during our first few days holiday we were ignored and all their efforts were concentrated on the guests who had holidayed there before or had been there for a week or so.

A special mention must go to Akif who worked in the on site barber shop - as well as keeping all the men well shaven and with great haircuts, he organised late night football matches at a nearby pitch for guests and staff alike. I don't think there was ever a winning team but a great time was had by all.

The reception staff are very helpful and provide an exchange rate better then in town and this makes it easier to top up the watches that you use to pay for food and drinks. We found the watches a great idea as we were able to have one for each of our sons and this gave them some independence.

The restaurant staff are very friendly and the food is of a good quality and variety - the Turkish night is a real bargain.

The hotel owner was very interesting to chat to but i would recommend that they fire his obnoxious grandson who was "assisting" the entertainment crew but seemed to forget that he was not there to pick on the paying guests children.

We would certainly visit this hotel again and i would recommend this as an ideal base for anyone's holiday.

Airtours rep was terrible - too friendly with hotel staff to be objective - tried to scare people into paying

This apart/hotel is immaculate.

The food is of a good standard and the menu has a wide choice suitable for all. It is situated in the old village of icmeler just a short walking distance from the centre about 15/20 min walk, or you can take a dolmus at the cost of 1 lira about 40 pence.


The hotel staff are very friendly and help you to make the most of your time spent there. Hi to Gemal, Akif, Nigel and everyone who remembers us. The entertainment staff try their best to get you involved with whatever is going on during the day, water polo, darts, killer pool and the likes, the kids loved it.

We would love to visit here again what an awesome place to holiday. Hello to all the people we met Lee, Val, Alison, Chris,Darren, Heidi, Stan , Lavinia and all the kids, we had a fantastic holiday.

Thank you all for helping to make it the best holiday yet.

This was our first visit to Turkey, and definitely not last. The Grand Aquarium Apartments are located at the back of the town, it took us about 20 mins to walk to the centre, but you can catch a dolmus just across the road for 1 lira and they run until 1am. The apartments and the bar and restaurant areas are very clean. The pool area is lovely, with ample sunbeds, but imagine it would be crowded in peak season. Nice jacuzzi but freezing water.

Our first morning we went for a turkish bath and massage which was lovely and relaxing. I also had the facial and it cost

My wife my daughter and myself have just had our fourth holiday at Grand Aquarium and has the previous times we had a great time.

The entertainment staff are really friendly and keep things moving along all day and night. Sascha who has been there 3 out of the 4 times we have been is a really inetresting character who, as well as being a great entertainer, is very good to listen to about the culture and history of Turkey.

The girls who clean the apartments are very polite and leave different patterns on the blankets every day a nice little touch.

Grand Aquarium is situated about 5 mins walk from the old village which is worth having a look at because thats the way most people in Turkey. In Icemeler there are some great bars and restaurants our Favourite is the 3 bells Korean bar. The food is excellant and lots of it. My daughter will be old enough to go with her friends in future so I dont know whether we will ever visit Grand Aquqrium again but I can honestly say that the 4 times we have been have were excellant.

Going by what Paul Copley said below as I liked his points:

This was our 5th time to Icmeler and our second time at the Grand Aquarium. My wife and I have two children Lauren 9 and Andrew 6, so hello to anyone who remembers us. I have to be honest and say that we will be staying at the hotel again. Positive points for the accomodation were:

1. Very clean and tidy hotel.
2. Excellent swimming pool.
3. Brilliant slide for the kids and in general the place is very safe for the kids so you can take a big sigh.
4. Friendly waiters and waitresses.
5. The watch systems for spending money is a great idea
6. Room location was superb, just a stone's throw from the pool.
7. The wee shop was very good for what it is meant for with all the real essentials.
8. The Turkish night is real Quality!
9. The Hotel Rep was a decent chap.
10. The people that we met who were also on holiday.
11. Far enough away from the new village but close enough to the old village. Taxi was approx 7 YTL but ask first.
12. The Entertainers. The only problem is the guys are very keen to involve the tourists which can sometimes be taken the wrong way. Just be firm but nice and all will go swimmingly. If you don't want to go to the cabarets don't go. Enjoy the bar and the beautiful views instead, or enjoy a short walk to the old village.
13. The rooms were fine, and in fact are being upgraded for 2007. People complained that they were too small. What the hell are people spending their holiday in their rooms for anyway. Daft!

However the negatives for me and my wife were as follows:

1. The Turkish Night Salesman. Pushy and in your face. If I want to go to your Turkish night I'll say so, I don't need to be asked everyday for the duration of my holiday.
2. The day time menu was pretty basic but then I guess it is okay for lying by the pool with a beer.
3. Haircut. See above 1. Although they were nice guys again I will have a haircut when I want to have a haircut. Also be careful when going for a shave cos they will try and con you into a haircut and then other things. Annoying.
4. The Manager of the hotel. Wears his trousers like Simon Cowell and is a real slime ball? Mmmmh, well he was friendly enough but I get Paul's point.
5. The water slide is only on two times a day. A few guests did complain and asked the rep to get it on longer. But I guess timings also depend on usage?
6. The music is far to loud past 12am! In their defense the music was turned down after 12 but with the heat the room doors/windows were left open so....
7. To many of the facilities come at an extra cost. eg Pool, Playstations, gym, air con. I guess that's business.
8. You will find that the staff can be friendly. Very, very friendly. So don't be suprised if your wife, girlfriend or daughter is chatted up/felt up in front of you.

To summarise Icmeler is a dream resort and the GA is one of the best apartments we have stayed at. It certainly could be better but let's face it, if you go to enjoy yourself, you will.

I was totally disappointed with the Grand Aquarium. As a family we were extremely looking forward to staying at this hotel. The PR Manager was rude and I also found the Owner of the hotel to be rude also.

The entertainment in the Grand Aquarium was of a poor standard and to overhear the entertainment staff say that they couldn

Hi, we stayed in the Grand Aquarium, in August 06. It was our first time to Turkey, and we loved Turkey and the Grand Aquarium.

I would recommend a Turkish bath and a Turkish shave at the hotel, and also go to the Turkish night [Amir, Mr I love you] hotel salesman.

The entertainment staff were excellent and kept our daughter amused whilst there [Rosie].

The rooms are small but enough for 2 weeks.

I would also advise taking upset stomach tablets with you, as for the second week was spent in the toilets.

Overall great holiday and would definitley recommend it to all.