Amanyara

The General Manager responded thoughtfully and professionally after I sent detailed feedback, recognizing that my concerns involved the gap between the experience I expected and the one I had, including the pavilion, beach outing, and the way the resort handled things during our stay. I appreciated that he arranged a full refund for the boat transfer tied to the beach experience. The resort had first offered only a partial adjustment for that activity. We stayed seven nights, with accommodation alone costing about USD 27,000 including taxes and service charges, before meals and activities. At that price and under the Aman name, I expected attentive, personalized service. Amanyara is a beautiful, peaceful place, with striking architecture, good food, a serene atmosphere, generally polished service, and lovely ocean and natural surroundings. Still, the stay wasn’t as personal, proactive, or seamless as I’d hoped. Before we arrived, we asked for a pavilion with an open feel and ocean views, balancing privacy with convenient access to the facilities. The one assigned was at the far end of the resort and much more enclosed by vegetation than expected, so it didn’t feel like our preferences had been taken into account. Pre-arrival communication also felt formal and didn’t meaningfully reflect our requests. The private beach drop-off, arranged in advance, was the biggest letdown. We wanted a secluded beach where other people wouldn’t normally come, while understanding that full privacy couldn’t be promised. We didn’t know it was accessible by road, so visitors could approach from land and stay very close to us. The snorkeling equipment also wasn’t ready as part of the expected experience. The difference between what we’d requested and what we got was significant. We’ve stayed at Aman resorts in Asia, including Amanwana and Amannoi, and those visits felt more thoughtful, personal, and memorable even at a lower price. Amanyara is refined and beautiful in many ways, and I appreciate the General Manager’s response, but it didn’t feel exceptional enough for the price. Of the Aman resorts, this wouldn’t be our choice to revisit.

The spa was a major reason I’d consider trying Amanyara again. Thanks to Ron, Lenon, and Ken, and to Marko for leading the spa. I also want to thank Janet Galero for arranging my room for a special celebration, and Aynur for all the work on my private dinner. That dinner was the highlight of our celebration, and she made everything look beautiful. Esmeralda at the Beach Club was warm and positive. I enjoyed the stay overall and may visit another Aman property before coming back. As a first visit to an Aman, it was a decent stay. Amanyara is a beautiful place with a strong sense of calm and privacy. Each room is essentially a private villa, a great way to disconnect. The food was fresh, and I enjoyed most meals. But twice we found a large moth in the room, despite never leaving the doors open, and had to call staff to remove them. Wellness classes ran only once a week, so I’d arrived too late for the ones I wanted. It’d help to have some overlap for people arriving on different days. Most staff were friendly, though a few weren’t, including some golf cart drivers, which guests need given the size of the property. One server at The Restaurant kept interrupting my private dinner. I’d like more technology for ordering a golf cart, signing up for classes, and handling other things without calling the front desk and being transferred to another team. When we were checking out, my wife asked for a drink, and they told us to get it ourselves at the bar, after asking if we planned to spend on anything else. I understand serving it may not be their role, but I expected them to at least call it in or have someone bring it. We also asked the front desk for a second beach bag because we were carrying shoes, and they hesitated. Thanks to the cleaning staff for securing another one.

The Turkish team made our exceptional stay at Amanyara stand out. Yasam, Gul, Oya, Atakan, Tuğçe, Burak, İbo, Chef Mert, and Cüneyt each brought real warmth, attention to detail, and easy professionalism. Their care made us feel unusually comfortable, even by the highest hospitality standards. They’re a credit to Amanyara, and management should be proud of such a dedicated group. We’d return in large part because of them.

Senior management were kind and professional, but the drivers, housekeeping team, and dining staff need more training to reach the level I expect from Aman. They weren’t as courteous as the Aman standard or what I expected in the Caribbean, like St Barths. Dining orders were often hard to get right, and the rooms felt short on finishing touches. The club room was really outdated. I expected much more from an Aman property, especially in the details of service, rooms, dining, and hospitality on the beach.