Luxury Hotels - Amanruya Visit

I am currently at the resort. My initial impressions are VERY favorable. I will post a trip report upon my return, but in the meantime I will try to post some pictures.

http://i.minus.com/in0RrnTsJ237K.jpg

http://i.minus.com/iUUCtel17Soc7.jpg

http://i.minus.com/iJ15F9SwPq1fg.jpg
Hmmm... I seem to be having some problems posting pics. I've never done this before, so maybe I'd better check on how to post these...

OK, problem solved! Thanks Kage!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/album.php?do=addalbum

http://imageshack.us/?no_flash=y
after upload, url changes to this >
http://imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&l=img267/9443/x.jpg
this is the working direct link >
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9443/x.jpg
(copy format, there is no x.jpg in this case)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/album.php?do=addalbum

http://imageshack.us/?no_flash=y
after upload, url changes to this >
http://imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&l=img267/9443/x.jpg
this is the working direct link >
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9443/x.jpg
(copy format, there is no x.jpg in this case)

Thanks Kage. Unfortunately, I am trying to do this with an iPad and it will not allow me to upload photos. I was trying to use the 'Minus' app, but that doesn't seem to work either. This may have to wait until I am home and have access to a 'real' computer.

sigh @ mobile operating systems

i assume this wont work, but maybe
http://tinypic.com/
gives you direct link, but requires "captcha" before upload

wait, it is working...

large pool with view! not infinity, but are infinity ones (pic on aman site) smaller?
i wonder how heated (20) / not heated (16) varies as well

http://minus.com/ln0RrnTsJ237K
click it OR right click open link in new tab OR right click open image in new tab
to get direct link http://i.minus.com/in0RrnTsJ237K.jpg

wow! lots of great pics! ^

ah you can also say view original

or simply look at the "lbgvQQ1radM8tG" part and change first "l" to "i"
insert that here - http://i.minus.com/ x .jpg

enjoy your stay :cool: dont post too much :D

http://i.minus.com/ibq4bypDBd86jB.jpg

http://i.minus.com/iqCjCue5xaPGk.jpg

More tomorrow...

:-)))) I know what I will dream about tonight. Enjoy!

Will be here in a few weeks!

I am looking at the pictures again and again. Thank you so much. Looking very much forward to seeing more before our stay. Would love to see pictures of the restaurants and the beach/sea area as well. And if you go on excursions and use the spa suites, it would be great to hear about that, too. Plus of course food reports. But as Kage said: First enjoy, and then report.

Thank you from me as well. We will be going in mid July and would love to get your opinion on which rooms for views and privacy! Also the food and excursions! Have a great holiday! It looks beautiful.

Yep, backs up my experience of Amanruya last year. Did you get to the shop yet? They had some really original items. Food was excellent when we stayed, so hope it remains as good - sure it has.

Hope you have a brilliant time!

I am looking at the pictures again and again. Thank you so much. Looking very much forward to seeing more before our stay. Would love to see pictures of the restaurants and the beach/sea area as well. And if you go on excursions and use the spa suites, it would be great to hear about that, too. Plus of course food reports. But as Kage said: First enjoy, and then report.

I'll be posting pictures of restaurants shortly...

We'll be doing several excursions (Ephesus tomorrow) and will be having spa treatments as well, so I will report on both when I return.

Thank you from me as well. We will be going in mid July and would love to get your opinion on which rooms for views and privacy! Also the food and excursions! Have a great holiday! It looks beautiful.

So, far food has been wonderful. I'll report on excursions in my report when I return.

Yep, backs up my experience of Amanruya last year. Did you get to the shop yet? They had some really original items. Food was excellent when we stayed, so hope it remains as good - sure it has.

Hope you have a brilliant time!

Yes, I agree with your conclusion that this place is not only fantastic, but also very special. We've not visited the shop yet, but will...

The resort has four dining pavilions which offer indoor seating as well as numerous places to eat outside. There also a number of relaxation areas, both inside and out.

Interior relaxation area...
http://i.minus.com/ibdw6M5Y64wkhl.jpg

Another...
http://i.minus.com/iw0JFgQN4UQqp.jpg

Another...
http://i.minus.com/iknrT0w6q2NSo.jpg

Even another...
http://i.minus.com/ibgYgyXqArop1K.jpg

Dining pavilion...
http://i.minus.com/i2C7qbOFNXTQp.jpg

Another...
http://i.minus.com/iucrGlyrduxb7.jpg

A lovely place to eat outside...
http://i.minus.com/ifp2jzL7tucEG.jpg

A couple of views from where had some drinks this afternoon...
http://i.minus.com/iBdPlfaEM0Ure.jpg
http://i.minus.com/ibdRgVzElE55Yj.jpg

And a view of Bodrum from the castle...
http://i.minus.com/iGT7FDbhuyEtb.jpg

Amazing photos! Many thanks for taking the time to do this. It really does look stunning. Absolutely on my list now.

I'll echo as well: these posts are going a long way toward filling my hunger for info about Amanruya. I had some work plans change this summer, so I'm now booked in for the first week of July. One month and counting, so I'll devour your fuller report upon your return. Enjoy!

Looks great. Thanks for sharing real-time.

I have been in touch with the team at Amanruya the last couple of days to further plan our visit. A couple of things that I heard from them, were new to me, therefore I share with you:

- Gym
There is a little gym at Amanruya which comprises of free weights, treadmills, stationary bicycle, and an elliptical trainer.

- Yoga
Complimentary sessions in the week-ends, private or group sessions can be booked as well

- Spa
Two standby treatment rooms (do not know if these are spa cottages like Aman Sveti Stefan, maybe someone else knows) or in-villa treatments. Different massages are currently offered, no other treatments.

- Food
Three different private dining options (shish kebab BBQ, Thai Seafood dinner, Ottoman feast) are offered in addition to dining in the restaurants

- Excursions/acitivites
A wide range is on offer, really a lot of things to do while being there. As with all Amans, there is an activities guide you can get from the hotel if you contact them

I have been in touch with the team at Amanruya the last couple of days to further plan our visit. A couple of things that I heard from them, were new to me, therefore I share with you:

- Gym
There is a little gym at Amanruya which comprises of free weights, treadmills, stationary bicycle, and an elliptical trainer.

It's very little, but adequate if you want to do cardio.

- Yoga
Complimentary sessions in the week-ends, private or group sessions can be booked as well

I have heard this too, but have not tried it yet.

- Spa
Two standby treatment rooms (do not know if these are spa cottages like Aman Sveti Stefan, maybe someone else knows) or in-villa treatments. Different massages are currently offered, no other treatments.

This is a tough one. We had some treatments today and while the massages were good, the facility is poor and quite cramped. More on this in my trip report...

- Food
Three different private dining options (shish kebab BBQ, Thai Seafood dinner, Ottoman feast) are offered in addition to dining in the restaurants

We had the Ottoman feast tonight, but with seafood, since we only eat veggies and seafood / fish. It was excellent. Boris, the FB manager is excellent and a gracious host.

- Excursions/acitivites
A wide range is on offer, really a lot of things to do while being there. As with all Amans, there is an activities guide you can get from the hotel if you contact them

We have done the Ephesus and Bodrum Castle / market tour and both were excellent. Tomorrow, we spend half a day on the Amanruya I yacht and will do the horseback riding the day after. Oh, we also went to a place where carpets were made, which was interesting.

I will give more details on all of this when I return and write the trip report. So far, all is wonderful. I feel like I am getting my first real Aman experience even though it is not my first Aman.

Usually, walking around a resort is an exercise in function: I have to get from point A to point B, so I walk. But at Amanruya, walking is part of the experience. The resort was designed to mimic an old Turkish village, and boy does it ever! The resort paths twist and turn around the cottages. No two cottage entrances look the same and everywhere you look is an interesting architectural detail or lovely plant or flower. Each time i walk around, I see a path or alley and wonder 'where does that go?'. I keep getting lost, but in a good way. Here area some pictures of the winding walkways...

http://i.minus.com/ibwn8B3ILsYIuP.jpg

http://i.minus.com/ibsZa4HN6QLL07.jpg

http://i.minus.com/iSoI3EnxMLRyJ.jpg

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In the two photos below, note how the villa was built around the existing olive trees. As a result, the villa looks like it has been there for years. This is indicative of the care that was taken in building the place.

http://i.minus.com/idUJ1KbmvCEeN.jpg

http://i.minus.com/imoApRdco80OI.jpg

Finally, another shot of the view from cottage 24. I love how pastoral it feels...

http://i.minus.com/i7yRzQ9GokwOr.jpg

I was just so happy to hear that there are gym facilities at all since there is nothing written about that at their internet site. I am personally happy if this is for cardio "only" as it will be very hard - I guess - to go jogging etc. outside in the summer when we are there. Obviously a full gym would be better, but a small gym like this (maybe until a larger one is being built at a later stage?? do not know about the plans) is just so much better than the alternative offered at Aman Sveti Stefan last year (no gym facilities at all at the resort, guests could go to an outside hotel and pay to use the gym there).

Looking forward to reading about your spa experiences. Happy to hear that the massages were good, but I might need to rather take an in-villa massage instead of going to the spa facilities if I understand you correctly. (I have plenty to time to wait for your report, so no need to further comment now).

Thanks again and enjoy!

tons of incredible stuff ^

upcoming ruya spa http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16945757-post190.html

sveti stefan upcoming building = main pool, gym, restaurant, bar, 2 suites

Love it! Thanks so much for sharing all this.

Thanks xracer - :-: photos too.. Looking forward to your trip report & Groombridge, Musken's later ;)

How warm does it really feel now?

xracer, these posts and photos are so great! Cannot wait to hear about the Aman I excursion, as we're strongly considering it, and also the ambience/location/details of the Ottoman feast (unless it was just in the restaurant there). But when you're back, of course! Thank you, thank you.

Will be there in a couple of days. Thanks for the report.

This looks really nice. Thanks for sharing.

A friend of mine owns a place about 5km away from this property. He's long told me how wonderful this part of the world is. It really looks delightful.

Did you take pictures of the sea/beachclub as well? Would be very nice to see.

Can anyone contrast Amanruya and Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro? Which one is better?

Thank you

xracer and Groombridge for example are waiting until sveti stefan is done

theyre pretty different, same with amanzoe

i love the scale of ruya (just one example is the pictures of main pool, for 36 rooms) but 12m pools at amanzoe are also nice

Can anyone contrast Amanruya and Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro? Which one is better?

Thank you

I was at Sveti Stefan last summer (trip report is here if you do a search) and will go to ruya this summer. I am sure there will be some comparison in my trip report when I am back. For now, I think only vuittons in this forum has been to both.

I'm seeing loads of new photos now on the Amanruya website -- of the public areas of the resort, the pool, and first photos of the pool terrace cottages -- as well as new photos of the regular cottages.

We are visiting each for a week in July. Will be happy to wrote up and share thoughts and comparisons. From everything I have read they both seem terrific, but very different! Will share when return!

I'm seeing loads of new photos now on the Amanruya website -- of the public areas of the resort, the pool, and first photos of the pool terrace cottages -- as well as new photos of the regular cottages.

Oh, thanks. I thought I was stalking the Amanruya site, but I had missed these new pictures. It really looks great.

We were at the resort for seven nights. Normally, this would be a bit long for us, since our normal vacations consist of pretty much doing nothing. For this trip, however, we took part in a number of activities. Given this, seven nights ‘felt right’.

Pre Arrival:
I spoke to the reservations team extensively prior to arrival. Communications were always prompt and clear. Given that the resort was so new, that we were planning a number of excursions and that the package we booked had a number of inclusions, there was quite a bit of communication back and forth prior to arrival. Everything was handled perfectly. The resort did ask for a pre-pay (one night up front and the remaining a few days prior to arrival). I did this by credit card and the appropriate documentation (i.e. receipts) was always emailed right back to me.

Arrival:
We were met at the airport, after baggage claim and transported to the resort via one of the resort’s Mercedes cars. Getting from the Bodrum airport to the resort took less than 30 minutes. On arrival at the resort, we were met by seemingly everyone (most of the management staff, including the GM as well as a good number of employees). We were presented with cool towels and a welcome drink and then taken on a short tour of the resort with Gabriel, the GM. Check in was done in the cottage. We were then given a short tour of the room. There was a welcome note in the room, but no other welcome amenity. However, there was always a never-ending supply of various dried fruits and baked cookies (both sweet and savory) and water in the room.

Cottage:
Honestly, prior to arriving I was not overwhelmed with the look of the cottages based on what I’d seen in pictures and in the youtube video, but we really, really liked our cottage (24). The design of the cottages makes more sense when you look at it in the context of the design of the rest of the resort (and up until recently, pictures of the resort itself were hard to come by so we had no way of knowing this). I’m not going to describe the cottage since the video on youtube gives a pretty good idea of what it looks like, but here are some things that I wanted to mention: All of the cottages have different outdoor configurations. The basics are all the same (pool, bale, lounge chairs, dining table, outdoor shower), but the layout (and pool size) is different. Cottage 24 is a ‘first row’ cottage (important to me since I HATE looking at rooftops) with a 12X4 meter heated pool (which I think is one of the largest private pools in the resort). The only drawback is that while it is ocean view, the view of the ocean was somewhat far away. This didn’t bother me at all, and I actually like the ‘pastoral’ feel of the view from our cottage. Our cottage was very private and although we had neighbors on both sides, we never heard them. I found the living space (both inside and out) both very comfortable and well designed. Clearly, the intent was to make the cottage feel like a little home, and I think they succeeded. The flashiest part of the internal space is the bathroom, with its large freestanding tub, double sinks and skylights. The outside space was very well designed, spacious and comfortable. If I had to complain about some minor things, I would say: the outside shower never got hot, so it was more for rinsing than showering; the a/c was very good and cleverly concealed in the top of the bed canopy, but there was no unit in the bathroom, so that could get warm; the floors are marble, which looks lovely, but could be slippery when wet, so be careful; and finally, the bed was comfortable, but VERY firm and the resort could not provide a mattress topper to make it more plush.

Resort Design:
I think I’ve made this pretty clear in the pictures, but the resort is designed as to mimic a small village, and the design really works. I loved just walking around the place (even though I kept getting lost, which was actually part of the fun). I am glad that while the owners actually own all of the land around the resort, they decided not to overbuild. The result is that you have a feeling of both intimacy and also space, which I think is a very difficult thing to get right.

Dining:
The resort has one dining ‘room’, which is made up of four separate indoor dining pavilions as well as several outdoor areas for dining. Again, the same design theme seems to be in play here in that since each dining area is made up of no more than 5 tables, they all feel intimate, but since they are all separate, there is a feeling of space as well. In addition, there are numerous areas set aside for relaxation. Actually, I was amazed at how many (some indoor and some outdoor) there were. I cannot imagine that the resort would ever feel crowded, even if it was full up. The only drawback I can see to this design is that there is no ‘reception area’ to go when you want to eat, so one just ends up wandering around until a staff member sees you and escorts you to a table. This wasn’t really an issue with us since the resort was relatively empty when we were there and someone always greeted us within a minute of our arrival, but I can see how they will have to be very diligent to make certain that people do not feel ignored when it gets more crowded. All of the pavilions order off of one menu, which contains Turkish, Western, Thai and Indonesian food. We often have to order off menu since we don’t eat meat, but with the Asian items on offer, it was easy for us to order from the menu (I could pretty much eat Pad Thai or Nasi Goreng every day). I did try a couple of Turkish offerings and they were all excellent. Overall, I would say the food was good to excellent, so no complaints there. Breakfast was a la carte and was fine – the selection on the menu was not large, but what was there was very well done. Boris, the F&B manger was also very hands on and really worked with us to make sure we were treated well (and ate well).

Main Pool:
I may be in disagreement with some on this board, but I have to say that the main pool really did not work for us. Yes, it was a large (50 meter) pool with a nice infinity edge, but in my opinion, it was too large for the space that it was in and frankly, just felt cramped. There was not a lot of space for lounge chairs and certainly not enough space for any relaxation bales or beds. I think that the designers should have scaled the pool down by 20 meters or so to allow for more relaxation space around it. I did not find the view from the pool to be very compelling – nearly 1/3 of that view is actually of the back of one of the buildings. Plus, the pool is located right in the middle of all of the dining and relaxation pavilions and I felt ‘on display’ every time I was there. I really prefer a pool that is located in its own area and not so crammed into the rest of the resort. Plus, it is not heated, so for the first half of our stay (when it was cooler outside), the water was too cool to lounge in. I think that, outside of the core summer months this is going to be just a large water feature. Having said this, we enjoyed spending time in the heated private pool so much and it was so spacious, that I didn’t even miss lying out by the main pool.

Beach Club:
This surprised me in how nice it was. The beach is very small and rocky, but the water is crystal clear and lovely (if a bit cool while we were there). The entire area is designed wonderfully, with several private areas that contain lounge chairs, a central ‘relaxation area’ with large cushions and a nice, small restaurant with outdoor seating. I also like how the whole area was integrated into the existing environment – instead of just removing all of the trees and putting in a generic ‘beach’, Aman maintained the character of the area and also made it very comfortable.

Spa and Gym:
This was the most disappointing part of the resort. To put it frankly, the ‘spa’ is just not acceptable at this level. The two ‘spa pavilions’ are actually housed in a roughly 50sq meter building. There is a hall that leads from the entrance and at the end of the hall is a small reception desk. To either side are the two spa rooms – which are both very small and have no facilities to speak of (no bathroom, no showers and no changing area). I do have to say that our actual massages were both excellent. Having said this, the whole process of getting the massage was anything but relaxing in that it was not made clear where we were supposed to change (we thought they wanted us to change in the hall), we were not told what to expect from the treatment and we were really not greeted in any acceptable fashion. The whole thing was very ‘get in, get naked, lie down’, which I found very unnerving. Gabriel told us that there are plans to build an extensive spa, and that this would possibly be done by next summer. The gym was small, but perfectly acceptable for a basic cardio workout. It consisted of two treadmills, a bike and an elliptical machine, as well as a set of free weights. Nothing fancy, but perfectly fine. I assume that when the real spa is built, a larger gym will also be built.

Library:
I love (well done) resort libraries and this is among the (if not the) nicest one around. It is housed in a three storey building, with the first two containing many, many books (and some DVDs). The third storey is what I would call an ‘observation’ room, with a seating around the perimeter of the room and four walls of windows. The views up there are so wonderful that it’s hard to concentrate on your book. Other than our private pool, this was probably my favorite space in the resort: fantastic.

Activities:
We did quite a few (for us). All were quite enjoyable and very well designed. The Bodrum Castle and town tour was excellent. We enjoyed seeing the castle and walking around the town. I advise that you go early to avoid the crowds (the castle opens at 8:30am) and see the town ‘waking up’. The Ephesus tour was fantastic. Be aware that it is a longish (2.5 hours) drive to the site and some of the roads can be a bit rough. The Aman appointed guide was wonderful: very knowledgeable and quite a lot of fun to hang around with. On the way back, we also stopped at place where carpets are made, which was interesting. The horseback riding was also very fun – it was quite interesting to ride horses through a small village. Of course, the highlight of this was being able to eat breakfast on top of one of the hills, with an amazing view of the countryside. Finally, the afternoon on Amanruya I was our favorite activity. The captain and his assistant were gracious hosts. Aman prepared for us a nice cold lunch to enjoy on the boat. And we got to see the most amazing sunset and travel with a school of dolphins for a bit. Although time on the boat is a bit pricey, it was well worth every penny.

Departure:
Again, this handled perfectly. We were sent off by several managers and staff members. Aman allocated the perfect amount of time to get to the airport and check in. It was nice that both a driver and another employee went with us in the car and the second employee offered to go into the airport with us to show us around and help with luggage and check in.

Service:
This is where the resort really shined. Although having only been open roughly six months, I can honestly say that the service we experienced was some of the best ever, anywhere. Although we have been to several Amans, I feel like I’ve had my first ‘Aman Experience’. We were always greeted by name; never asked for a room number; we’d step out of the cottage to always find it refreshed; management was always around and clearly very concerned that we were enjoying ourselves; the staff was warm and seemed genuinely caring. There were a few instances where we just mentioned that something ‘would be nice’, and it was done (for example, one evening we mentioned to Gabriel that the private pool was tiny bit cool, but still perfectly fine – and of course, the next day the temperature was adjusted up a couple of degrees). After having stayed here and experienced what we did, I can see why so many on this board are so loyal to Aman. In the past, I’ve had experiences at Aman resorts that range from really poor to good but not great, but if I continue to have experiences similar to that at Amanruya, count me as an Amanjunkie. The only area of improvement with service is that some of the staff members are still a bit shy. I believe that, with time (and some more experience), even this minor issue will go away. I am certainly no stranger to luxury resorts but I still cannot believe how excellent the service was and how much all of the employees at the resort made us feel welcome.

Bug(s):
One thing that warrants mentioning is that there is some kind of flying beetle in the area that is everywhere. They do not bite or sting, but just kind of swarm, hover and land. So, this was more of an irritant than anything. But I did find that the prevalence of the bugs was such that it made us less likely to enjoy the outdoor space and outdoor dining (and no amount of repellent or coils would seem to repel them). I hope the resort finds some way to resolve this. I do admit that I have a low tolerance for insects (and for having a dozen of them crawling on me at one time), but I was clearly not the only guest bothered by them and when I mentioned it to the staff, it was clear that I was not the first to do so.

Overall:
We had a fantastic stay and would definitely return once they have a real spa (and assuming the bug issue is resolved). I hate to use this term, but I think the resort (and the employees who work there) really are ‘special’. From the GM, Gabriel all the way down the line, everyone is wonderful and are well on their way to creating what I think will be one of the best resorts in the world.

This report has gone on far too long and I still feel like I’ve had to skip many important details. So, to sum it up in one simple word, what I will say is: GO!

As always, I’ll try to answer any questions.

Thanks for a great report and help with which cottage to book, which will be number 24. What was the rate for the boat per hour, if you recall please?

I have been so eager for this report, and it was certainly worth the wait. Thank you. The absence of mattress toppers for the very firm mattresses makes me nervous, as does what you report about the bugs and the main pool, but I have learned to trust in Aman, and your praise for the service, food, excursions, and overall experience generates a lot of confidence. Thanks again!

Thank you so much for this report, it sounds like you had a great time and I am sure we will as well.

Totally agree with you that the communication with the team pre arrial has been excellent. I remember my frustrations from earlier years about this, also at Amanresorts, and it really makes a difference to plan the stay with excellent people instead of lots of miscommunication, unanswered questions etc.

The resort confirmed to me some time ago that they will put a mattress topper on the bed. Did you request this in advance as well? (hoping the reason you got one was that they only have a limited number of them...)

Last year at Sveti Stefan non alcoholic beverages from the minibar and also laundry was complimentary. Was this the case here?

Very happy to hear about the excellent service. Since you say it was better than other Amans that you have been to, would you please remind me which other Amans you have stayed in earlier?

first live pics, now extremely informative ^

whats "behind" the main pool, in terms of not having extended the ("depth" of) pool deck?
i see this http://i.minus.com/iucrGlyrduxb7.jpg
i wonder if they could have done this by pool http://i.minus.com/ifp2jzL7tucEG.jpg

outside shower never got hot
a/c...no unit in the bathroom
bed...VERY firm and the resort could not provide a mattress topper

main pool...not heated

Beach Club:
This surprised me in how nice it was. The beach is very small and rocky, but the water is crystal clear and lovely (if a bit cool while we were there). The entire area is designed wonderfully, with several private areas that contain lounge chairs, a central ‘relaxation area’ with large cushions and a nice, small restaurant with outdoor seating. I also like how the whole area was integrated into the existing environment – instead of just removing all of the trees and putting in a generic ‘beach’, Aman maintained the character of the area and also made it very comfortable.

Library:
I love (well done) resort libraries and this is among the (if not the) nicest one around. It is housed in a three storey building, with the first two containing many, many books (and some DVDs). The third storey is what I would call an ‘observation’ room, with a seating around the perimeter of the room and four walls of windows. The views up there are so wonderful that it’s hard to concentrate on your book. Other than our private pool, this was probably my favorite space in the resort: fantastic.

Ephesus...2.5 hours) drive

The resort confirmed to me some time ago that they will put a mattress topper on the bed. Did you request this in advance as well? (hoping the reason you got one was that they only have a limited number of them...)

would you please remind me which other Amans you have stayed in earlier?

amangiri report http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1011955-amangiri-reviews-please-post16437653.html#post16437653
I have previously been to two Amans and both times left less than 24 hours into the stay because of horrible service issues
My experience at Amanpuri (in a villa) was so bad that I left early
The two resorts were Amanjena and Amanpuri. I have also been to Amangani (jeez, I actually forgot about that one). While the stay at Amangani was not great, I would return there to try it again. Amanjena and Amanpuri: never, never again
tried another couple of nights at Amangani
...

Amanjena (this is a sensitive one because a couple of the employees were clearly, vocally rude to us because we are a same sex couple and management's response was basically "you're in Morocco, what do you expect" - we left right after that).
Amanpuri (in a villa which was overrun with insects and management refused to move us claiming that the resort was full when it clearly was not - we left right after that).
:eek:

What was the rate for the boat per hour, if you recall please?

The total price of the boat was roughly $700 USD. This included lunch and drinks, but not VAT or tip. We were on the boat from before 3:30pm until after 8:30pm, but for the sake of argument lets say five hours.

So, roughly $140USD per hour. That sounded a little expensive to me until I started comparing it to what we've paid for boat transfers in the Maldives.

The resort confirmed to me some time ago that they will put a mattress topper on the bed. Did you request this in advance as well? (hoping the reason you got one was that they only have a limited number of them...)

I did not think to ask ahead of time. I just called one day and asked them to put one on if they had it. They replied that they didn't have any. I don't know if that means 'we have none' or 'we are out of them', because I didn't ask. Honestly, the bed was just fine, if a bit firm, so it's not like it was a huge deal for us. But I will know to ask ahead of time next time we are at an Aman!

whats "behind" the main pool, in terms of not having extended the ("depth" of) pool deck?
i see this http://i.minus.com/iucrGlyrduxb7.jpg
i wonder if they could have done this by pool http://i.minus.com/ifp2jzL7tucEG.jpg

Kage, you are correct in that the dining area in the picture is above and to the back of the pool. The others are as well (and at least one other is a lot closer to the pool than that one). To the front and one side of the pool are a couple of the 'relaxation areas'. The only area that is really clear of a building is the area to the side of where they have the lounge chairs.

Unfortunately, building the pool so close to restaurants is a trend I see across many new resorts. I don't mind so much when the restaurant is a 'lunch only' place, because that makes sense to me. But these are the only dining areas for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so there is the potential for guests to always be there.

OT, but just to be clear (and to not be 'that guy' who says bad things about Amans without backing up the statements):

I have been to Amangiri (nice, with good service, but I have issues with the resort design and I think it's way overpriced).
I have been to Amangani twice (the first time the service was really careless, the second the service was much better but still not great).
I have been to Amanjena (this is a sensitive one because a couple of the employees were clearly, vocally rude to us because we are a same sex couple and management's response was basically "you're in Morocco, what do you expect" - we left right after that).
I have been to Amanpuri (in a villa which was overrun with insects and management refused to move us claiming that the resort was full when it clearly was not - we left right after that).

Oh, and one final OT post. Since we all like to gossip about new resorts, here is some info about the Mandarin Bodrum.

One of the things that we did while on Amanruya I was to go by the building site of the upcoming Mandarin Oriental. It is...big (and with 200+ residences and 100+ rooms, I guess that's no big surprise). As the boat goes, it is not that far from the Aman (just two bays away), but it could not be more different.

As you can see from the picture below, they have totally stripped the hillside to build the resort. What you are seeing in the picture is only part of the residence section - the other part of the resort curves around the hill for quite some distance. They've also brought in a load of sand to build a large fake beach.

I think the boat captain said it best when he was describing the resort: 'I do not think Aman guests will like this place'.

http://i.minus.com/iI2X7T2trVlNu.JPG

Oh, and one final OT post. Since we all like to gossip about new resorts, here is some info about the Mandarin Bodrum.

One of the things that we did while on Amanruya I was to go by the building site of the upcoming Mandarin Oriental. It is...big (and with 200+ residences and 100+ rooms, I guess that's no big surprise). As the boat goes, it is not that far from the Aman (just two bays away), but it could not be more different.

As you can see from the picture below, they have totally stripped the hillside to build the resort. What you are seeing in the picture is only part of the residence section - the other part of the resort curves around the hill for quite some distance. They've also brought in a load of sand to build a large fake beach.

I think the boat captain said it best when he was describing the resort: 'I do not think Aman guests will like this place'.

http://i.minus.com/iI2X7T2trVlNu.JPG

Thanks for all the detail. Lots of constructive criticism which is very useful in terms of setting expectations.

The MO looks TERRIBLE. What were they thinking?

I guess it's official then. Amanruya is on our "list"!

Does anyone know if they are extending the 3 night package? I noticed it was due to expire at the end of May and I haven't seen it since. It looked like a great value and wonderful intro to the area.

I guess it's official then. Amanruya is on our "list"!

Does anyone know if they are extending the 3 night package? I noticed it was due to expire at the end of May and I haven't seen it since. It looked like a great value and wonderful intro to the area.

This is what we booked into and we really felt it was a good deal. My hunch is that it will NOT be extended into summer (since bookings seem to be better than they anticipated), but will return again in the fall/spring.

I think that fall or spring would be a nice time to visit. The summer 'high season' months can be hot, hot, hot. The weather was lovely when we were there (warm days, cool nights).

I recall that I was asked if I could share some pictures of the beach club. Here goes:

http://i.minus.com/iL4PSJB20nJTF.JPG

http://i.minus.com/i9RdhaoGr7KDt.JPG

http://i.minus.com/id7RJ32ujD6It.JPG

thanks for taking requests ^

another bodrum http://www.viceroybodrumresidences.com/page/masterplan
future MO residence webpage http://www.astasbodrum.com/
video from MO site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZjEjYX75Zc
36 on 50 acres - aman
102+214 on 148 acres - MO
84+166 on 32 acres - viceroy
173+36 on ? acres - kempinski

http://www.amanresorts.com/exclusivesfullview.aspx?id=15231
amanruya cultural sojourn - until may 31
3 nt >
full-day excursion to Ephesus
one Ottoman Feast dinner for two (excluding beverages)
one 60-minute spa treatment for two
transfers can be to izmir (aer lingus and lufthansa)
guaranteed heated pool
4 nt >
tour of Bodrum Castle or a guided hike around Labranda
early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)

Ephesus...2.5 hours) drive

i wonder about taking aman boat to (north of) kusadasi then car to ephesus..

another bodrum [url]http://www.viceroybodrumresidences.com/page/masterplan

I think FS is building there as well.

I guess it's official then. Amanruya is on our "list"!

Does anyone know if they are extending the 3 night package? I noticed it was due to expire at the end of May and I haven't seen it since. It looked like a great value and wonderful intro to the area. I tried hard to get this package for this summer, but answer was no. Maybe next year out of season?

MO looks absolutely horrible!!!

Thank you so much for the beach club pictures (I was the one to ask). Looks really lovely. Much better than I imagined as well. Is it Amanruya I that can be seen at the picture of the beach club restaurant?

* * *

If any of you would like pictures of other things, I would of course help as well. Seeing these pictures here make me realise more than ever before how extremely helpful this forum is.

xracer, can you tell us a but more about your Ottoman Feast? Location? Decor? Anything special about the experience itself, other than just good food?

Is it Amanruya I that can be seen at the picture of the beach club restaurant?

Yes.

xracer, can you tell us a but more about your Ottoman Feast? Location? Decor? Anything special about the experience itself, other than just good food?

There were a few outside areas that were presented to us for the Feast, but because of the 'bug issue', we just decided to have it in one of the indoor dining areas. We had the indoor space to ourselves and they set it up with a bunch of rose petals and some nice candles, but that was about it (which was actually fine for us).

I was at Sveti Stefan last summer (trip report is here if you do a search) and will go to ruya this summer. I am sure there will be some comparison in my trip report when I am back. For now, I think only vuittons in this forum has been to both.

You simply cannot make any comparisons with Sveti Stefan and Amanruya - totally different experiences, apart of course from the glorious Aman service and attitude. I am going to Amanzo'e in August, and expect that will be entirely different, too, which is what you come to expect from Aman!

I know we here mostly do not put much faith in tripadvisor, but I happen to know this review is pretty honest (since it's by my partner):

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298658-d2489764-r131379878-Amanruya-Bodrum_Bodrum_Peninsula_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aeg ean_Coast.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

I assure you that we wrote our reviews separately, so there was no collusion here (other than the fact that we were both at the same place, together and have similar likes and dislikes).

I happen to know this review is pretty honest (since it's by my partner)
:D
library. The top floor has a 360’ sectional sofa and floor to ceiling windows which offer guests a commanding vista of the resort, sea, hills and distant mountains

horseback riding at a family owned farm a few miles from the resort. The owner was a nice gentleman with good English who guided us up into the hills through a quaint village. When we reached the destination, the view was spectacular of the mountains and the ocean. In true Aman style, we were met at the top of the mountain by a smiling Aman staff member in a white uniform. He had prepared a table in a clearing and served us a full breakfast!

looks like a little slice of heaven :)

We are here now. Pretty amazing place with great mix of nature, culture, cuisine all in one. Highly recommended. Will write more upon our return.

What a wonderful way to prepare and long for holidays: reports from happy ft-ers. :-)))

My impression of Amanruya after a five night stay two weeks ago:

The good:
We stayed at unit #37 which was at the edge of the resort with demanding views. The units are just gorgeous in design inside out as mentioned before. Private pool was very nice size and heated to your desired temperature. Main pool is enormous and fun to swim in but not really great to lounge around. Beach club, library and architecture were nicely done as mentioned previously by OP.

Excursions and Bodrum- We did Ephesus, Bodrum castle as well as Aman Yacht. They were all highly recommended and memorable adventures. Bodrum is very safe and great for shopping and dining.

The not so good:
Service- Majority of Turkish staff either speak very broken English or do not speak it at all. This caused several issues with either ordering food or other matters. The first two days, our room was not serviced until 2PM after calling the front desk.

Food- Except an exceptional lunch on our last day at the beach club, food was just average resort type.

Bugs- As OP mentioned, they were everywhere. We had just done 10 days of safari in Zambia and Botswana and did not encounter as many exotic bugs that we did in this resort. They made usage of outdoor spaces for dining and lounging close to impossible, except for the beach club. Mangement claimed that these bugs are only around late spring.

Transportation- Due issues notes above, and the loveliness of Bodrum, we decided to have our dinners 3 our of 5 nights in the city. Each time this 15 minute trip would cost 120 USD with resort cars and Taxis back to resort were not possible since non of them knew about the location of Aman. Also, the check out time given to us to transport us back to airport was way late and we almost missed our flight. My son who's 8 had to sit by himself as all other seats were already taken!

Despite the issues mentioned, this is a great resort but will need more time to develop into true Aman quality.

My impression of Amanruya after a five night stay two weeks ago:

The good:
We stayed at unit #37 which was at the edge of the resort with demanding views. The units are just gorgeous in design inside out as mentioned before. Private pool was very nice size and heated to your desired temperature. Main pool is enormous and fun to swim in but not really great to lounge around. Beach club, library and architecture were nicely done as mentioned previously by OP.

Excursions and Bodrum- We did Ephesus, Bodrum castle as well as Aman Yacht. They were all highly recommended and memorable adventures. Bodrum is very safe and great for shopping and dining.

The not so good:
Service- Majority of Turkish staff either speak very broken English or do not speak it at all. This caused several issues with either ordering food or other matters. The first two days, our room was not serviced until 2PM after calling the front desk.

Food- Except an exceptional lunch on our last day at the beach club, food was just average resort type.

Bugs- As OP mentioned, they were everywhere. We had just done 10 days of safari in Zambia and Botswana and did not encounter as many exotic bugs that we did in this resort. They made usage of outdoor spaces for dining and lounging close to impossible, except for the beach club. Mangement claimed that these bugs are only around late spring.

Transportation- Due issues notes above, and the loveliness of Bodrum, we decided to have our dinners 3 our of 5 nights in the city. Each time this 15 minute trip would cost 120 USD with resort cars and Taxis back to resort were not possible since non of them knew about the location of Aman. Also, the check out time given to us to transport us back to airport was way late and we almost missed our flight. My son who's 8 had to sit by himself as all other seats were already taken!

Despite the issues mentioned, this is a great resort but will need more time to develop into true Aman quality.

Many thanks for this. The insects do sound a pain - Vuittons - were they there during your stay, or is this really just something to worry about at this time of year?

Many thanks for this. The insects do sound a pain - Vuittons - were they there during your stay, or is this really just something to worry about at this time of year?

I gave the resort a 'pass' on this because it was the first year that they were open at the time we were there. But really, whether it is a situation that only happens for a short period of time in spring or one that happens year-round, the result needs to be the same: the resort needs to address it so that it does not happen - ever.

In one regard, I am glad another poster indicated that they were bothered by this, since I now no longer feel that I was being overly sensitive to the issue: because it really was bad enough to make me not go back if it isn’t resolved.

I gave the resort a 'pass' on this because it was the first year that they were open at the time we were there. But really, whether it is a situation that only happens for a short period of time in spring or one that happens year-round, the result needs to be the same: the resort needs to address it so that it does not happen - ever.

In one regard, I am glad another poster indicated that they were bothered by this, since I now no longer feel that I was being overly sensitive to the issue: because it really was bad enough to make me not go back if it isn’t resolved.

I totally agree with you that it shouldn't happen ever. I didn't get a single mosquito bite at any of the Amans in tropical Bali, for example.

Many thanks for this. The insects do sound a pain - Vuittons - were they there during your stay, or is this really just something to worry about at this time of year?

No, Londonjetsetter, I did not encounter any bugs at all during our stay last year. It must be a seasonal thing. We were there in July, so it sounds as though there is a bit of a plague in the spring.

Fingers crossed. Will be there mid July!

We arrived here at Amanruya today for 6 nights, and I am thrilled to report that the bug swarms reported last month by xracer and Aesla in this thread seem to have entirely disappeared. Too soon to comment on the service or the overall experience. But like many Amans (Amangiri in particular) it looks much better than the pictures show.

We arrived here at Amanruya today for 6 nights, and I am thrilled to report that the bug swarms reported last month by xracer and Aesla in this thread seem to have entirely disappeared. Too soon to comment on the service or the overall experience. But like many Amans (Amangiri in particular) it looks much better than the pictures show.
Great news. Looking forward to hearing more if you find time to report in between the enjoyment.:cool:

We arrived here at Amanruya today for 6 nights, and I am thrilled to report that the bug swarms reported last month by xracer and Aesla in this thread seem to have entirely disappeared. Too soon to comment on the service or the overall experience. But like many Amans (Amangiri in particular) it looks much better than the pictures show.

Excellent - there were no bugs when I went, either - same time of year.

We're back from a week at Amanruya and had a very, very nice stay there. A few points/counter-points to add to the really helpful reviews already posted in this thread:

- The bugs reported in May-June are gone! We spent almost all of our time outdoors and ate most dinners outdoors and never had a problem at all.

- I didn't have a negative reaction to the main pool, or even in any feeling of being on display. The pools at Amanpuri, Amangiri, and Amansara are in even closer proximity to the diners, and it was too hot for guests to dine outside during the day, so I didn't in any way feel uncomfortable when using the pool. But the fact that there was almost never, ever any guests at the main pool might suggest that others feel the same as the OP . . . or could simply attest to how much folks are enjoying their private pools. The resort was fully booked during the week I was there, but in that magical Aman way, it felt almost always as if we were the only ones there.

- The Beach Club was where we saw more guests than elsewhere -- and the service there was superb, truly at Aman standards already, as was the service on the Amanruya 1, expertly managed by Captain Uluc and Ibrahim.

- I felt the beauty of the cottages significantly outweighed the quirks -- the lack of air-conditioning in the huge bathroom, the inability to open/shut doors from the outside (!). The outdoor showers did heat up just fine after about 3 minutes of running water.

- We absolutely loved simply lounging in the "back yard" of our cottage -- between the daybed, the sunbeds, and the pool, it was almost impossible ever to want to leave.

- I was always sort of underwhelmed by the look of the architecture in the photos online -- and I confess that some of the pre-fab concrete stuff never fully resonated with me -- but overall, I was filled with awe by the physical property itself -- the building within and around the existing olive and pine trees, the subtlety with which an Anatolian aesthetic is evoked, the scale and number of public areas that will allow for much privacy even in the public areas of the resort. It is just one further example of the nonpareil Aman vision -- creating all this just for a few dozen keys. It feels exactly right for the location and culture within which it has been created.

- The concerns about the insistent and persistent beat of a night club are valid, but very minor. On some nights, the incessant night-club beat from the resort across the bay can be heard from 10 pm to 2 am. But Amanruya's air conditioners create white noise that mostly covers up that beat, and even when it permeated, it wasn't loud enough truly to bother us. And I do think this sort of thing is simply endemic to the building of resorts -- there is nothing Aman can do about a distant hotel that sometimes doubles as a nightclub given the way the sound travels over the water of the bay.

- The massage treatments we had were very good.

- The food, also, was consistently very good . . . and there were enough different options that we were just able to keep from getting bored during the week.

- But the resort is certainly straining during this, its first, peak season. About half the time, the orders (at the restaurant and room service) were not correctly fulfilled -- items were omitted; two days in a row no spoons were brought with room service orders of oatmeal).

- So I do think it is very important to remember that this is the first time this resort is dealing with a summer peak season -- every room full. And it will take some time for them to address the service shortcomings. Housekeeping was the weakest aspect of Amanruya -- and quite easily the worst housekeeping I have experienced at an Aman -- or any 5-star resort. Half of the days we were there, housekeeping never showed up, despite our leaving the cottage from 10:30-6:30 and never using the "do not disturb" sign. The resort is really very sprawling and our sense was that the resort simply hasn't been able to hire and train a large enough housekeeping staff to get it all done -- or else is not effectively managing and deploying them. Usually at an Aman, the housekeeping is done while one is at a meal -- that almost never happened this past week at Amanruya. I wonder if the OP was able to have the "Aman experience" at this resort because the occupancy levels were lower earlier in the summer?

- But about half the staff have been truly "Amanized" already and are performing at wonderfully high levels. It's inspiring to see their enthusiasm for the new resort, and their desire to provide guests with a really wonderful experience. And I think it's important for us to remember that Aman kept the rates at the "soft opening" rate this summer, which inclines me to patience as they learn how to manage a resort that will always, most likely, have real differences in occupancy from season to season.

- All-in-all, we had a wonderful stay, and once this season is under their belt, I have confidence that this will evolve into one of the very best resorts worldwide.

great as always ^

very informative, might be able to watch how quickly they resolve issues due to 100% occupancy as the reports come in here

one question is whether they could have sound proofed the rooms better, not sure if there are any relatively similarly constructed (and located) resorts that would be able to be compared

Thanks Groombridge. Interesting observations. We forget sometimes how new this hotel is.

Thanks for the report. I'm glad you had a good time.

I am bummed that housekeeping was so poor for you, especially since they were so wonderful while we were there. But come to think of it, the only day that they were less than perfect was our last full day - and that was about the time that the resort was starting to get more crowded. I thought it an anomaly at the time, but perhaps it was a harbinger of things to come.

Clearly they will need to get this right, whether the resort is full up or almost empty. I thought that some aspect of the service would slip going into the summer season (since it was the first time the resort was going to be full to capacity), but I didn’t think the area where this would occur would be housekeeping.

Good to know about the shower. I did not let the water run for that long.

Also, when we were there, there was no noise from across the bay, so I don't know if this is a 'high season' only thing.

Excellent report, Groombridge. I suspect that the noise from across the bay is only heard if you stay in a sea-view cottage. When we stayed, these were not yet open, so we stayed in a garden cottage and there was no noise at all.

Getting this kind of specific information about places worldwide is what makes this forum so excellent. Reading this reminds me of my thoughts after going to Amangiri a few months after it opened and having a fine but certainly not awe-inspiring time:p. Now I read from several of you that it's become outstanding. Hopefully Amanruya will do the same

It's great that the bugs are gone. On Saturday night, we did hear the beat from nigh clubs across the bay. But they were nothing compared to other resorts in town and very tolerable. FYI, Amanruya has appropriately addressed our concerns and with time, this place will be one of the best in this region.

We're back from a week at Amanruya and had a very, very nice stay there. A few points/counter-points to add to the really helpful reviews already posted in this thread:

- The bugs reported in May-June are gone! We spent almost all of our time outdoors and ate most dinners outdoors and never had a problem at all.

- I didn't have a negative reaction to the main pool, or even in any feeling of being on display. The pools at Amanpuri, Amangiri, and Amansara are in even closer proximity to the diners, and it was too hot for guests to dine outside during the day, so I didn't in any way feel uncomfortable when using the pool. But the fact that there was almost never, ever any guests at the main pool might suggest that others feel the same as the OP . . . or could simply attest to how much folks are enjoying their private pools. The resort was fully booked during the week I was there, but in that magical Aman way, it felt almost always as if we were the only ones there.

- The Beach Club was where we saw more guests than elsewhere -- and the service there was superb, truly at Aman standards already, as was the service on the Amanruya 1, expertly managed by Captain Uluc and Ibrahim.

- I felt the beauty of the cottages significantly outweighed the quirks -- the lack of air-conditioning in the huge bathroom, the inability to open/shut doors from the outside (!). The outdoor showers did heat up just fine after about 3 minutes of running water.

- We absolutely loved simply lounging in the "back yard" of our cottage -- between the daybed, the sunbeds, and the pool, it was almost impossible ever to want to leave.

- I was always sort of underwhelmed by the look of the architecture in the photos online -- and I confess that some of the pre-fab concrete stuff never fully resonated with me -- but overall, I was filled with awe by the physical property itself -- the building within and around the existing olive and pine trees, the subtlety with which an Anatolian aesthetic is evoked, the scale and number of public areas that will allow for much privacy even in the public areas of the resort. It is just one further example of the nonpareil Aman vision -- creating all this just for a few dozen keys. It feels exactly right for the location and culture within which it has been created.

- The concerns about the insistent and persistent beat of a night club are valid, but very minor. On some nights, the incessant night-club beat from the resort across the bay can be heard from 10 pm to 2 am. But Amanruya's air conditioners create white noise that mostly covers up that beat, and even when it permeated, it wasn't loud enough truly to bother us. And I do think this sort of thing is simply endemic to the building of resorts -- there is nothing Aman can do about a distant hotel that sometimes doubles as a nightclub given the way the sound travels over the water of the bay.

- The massage treatments we had were very good.

- The food, also, was consistently very good . . . and there were enough different options that we were just able to keep from getting bored during the week.

- But the resort is certainly straining during this, its first, peak season. About half the time, the orders (at the restaurant and room service) were not correctly fulfilled -- items were omitted; two days in a row no spoons were brought with room service orders of oatmeal).

- So I do think it is very important to remember that this is the first time this resort is dealing with a summer peak season -- every room full. And it will take some time for them to address the service shortcomings. Housekeeping was the weakest aspect of Amanruya -- and quite easily the worst housekeeping I have experienced at an Aman -- or any 5-star resort. Half of the days we were there, housekeeping never showed up, despite our leaving the cottage from 10:30-6:30 and never using the "do not disturb" sign. The resort is really very sprawling and our sense was that the resort simply hasn't been able to hire and train a large enough housekeeping staff to get it all done -- or else is not effectively managing and deploying them. Usually at an Aman, the housekeeping is done while one is at a meal -- that almost never happened this past week at Amanruya. I wonder if the OP was able to have the "Aman experience" at this resort because the occupancy levels were lower earlier in the summer?

- But about half the staff have been truly "Amanized" already and are performing at wonderfully high levels. It's inspiring to see their enthusiasm for the new resort, and their desire to provide guests with a really wonderful experience. And I think it's important for us to remember that Aman kept the rates at the "soft opening" rate this summer, which inclines me to patience as they learn how to manage a resort that will always, most likely, have real differences in occupancy from season to season.

- All-in-all, we had a wonderful stay, and once this season is under their belt, I have confidence that this will evolve into one of the very best resorts worldwide.

Thank you for taking the time for the detailed review.

I think we'll keep this one on the back burner until 2014....

We are enjoying Amanruya right now and as all other visitors from this forum, we are happy to report a very good first impression. A very warm welcome by GM Gabriel and other senior staff including our friend Boris from Aman Sveti Stefan last year (in charge of F&B) and very helpful Yeshi (previously Amankora) who has handled all our pre arrival requests in an excellent way.

Resort looks just wonderful and is much larger than I imagined and extremely beautiful. Villa just fantastic. We are in number 32 which has a large rectangular pool and a wonderful view in addition to being very private and also close to common areas. Very happy! Bed very comfortable. I got a mattress topper as requested to make it a bit softer. Musken jr. has his bed in the bathroom which works cell even without separate air condition in there.

Beach club a bit further away than I thought. Need buggy to get there especially considering the heat. Very fresh delicious light lunch there yesterday after unpacking. Had an excellent Thai dinner last night. Very authentic. They clearly has a thai chef working there. And perfectly spicy for our taste. We sat outside enjoying the dinner. Some bees around just before sunset but these disappeared by magic when it was getting dark.

Tried the little gym yesterday afternoon. Perfectly ok for cardio. And also mat and Pilates ball available. Plus complimentary yoga in weekends which I will join.

Now enjoying main pool alone under a clear blue sky. Bliss. Looking forward to the coming days.

We are enjoying Amanruya right now and as all other visitors from this forum, we are happy to report a very good first impression. A very warm welcome by GM Gabriel and other senior staff including our friend Boris from Aman Sveti Stefan last year (in charge of F&B) and very helpful Yeshi (previously Amankora) who has handled all our pre arrival requests in an excellent way.

Resort looks just wonderful and is much larger than I imagined and extremely beautiful. Villa just fantastic. We are in number 32 which has a large rectangular pool and a wonderful view in addition to being very private and also close to common areas. Very happy! Bed very comfortable. I got a mattress topper as requested to make it a bit softer. Musken jr. has his bed in the bathroom which works cell even without separate air condition in there.

Beach club a bit further away than I thought. Need buggy to get there especially considering the heat. Very fresh delicious light lunch there yesterday after unpacking. Had an excellent Thai dinner last night. Very authentic. They clearly has a thai chef working there. And perfectly spicy for our taste. We sat outside enjoying the dinner. Some bees around just before sunset but these disappeared by magic when it was getting dark.

Tried the little gym yesterday afternoon. Perfectly ok for cardio. And also mat and Pilates ball available. Plus complimentary yoga in weekends which I will join.

Now enjoying main pool alone under a clear blue sky. Bliss. Looking forward to the coming days.

Sounds wonderful Musken. Nice to hear about Boris - he was great fun last summer. Have a fantastic break!