Amanruya

A lot can be said – and has been said – about the next-level luxury of Aman hotels. And it may be fairly obvious to point out, but worth reiterating, that we were blown away by the extraordinary service at Amanruya. It began long before we arrived, with the wonderfully detailed communication by email (up there with Smith’s finest). But it came into its own as we pulled outside the resort in a taxi. A welcoming committee awaited us: half a dozen staff members stood at the entrance, eager to greet us with cool, refreshing hand towels and delicious, fresh lemonade.

After a seamless check-in, we were ferried to our Pool Suite and advised that there were golf buggies available, should we need to be taken to the hotel’s private beach. This is because Amanruya is vast: so vast, in fact, that after my first few hours on the beach, I need to take a buggy to the hotel library to choose a book (the driver patiently waiting for me), returning by that very same buggy to our spot on the beach. Before you judge, know that I was seven months pregnant at the time. Still, quite the luxury. That beach, too, though not a sandy one, is dotted with super-private loungers dramatically nestled along the cliff edge or on the jetty.

And ‘private’ beach is the optimum word. Other than at breakfast and dinner, it felt like we were the only guests at the hotel which, on occasion, did seem almost too peaceful (a mad complaint, granted). As for breakfast: it was served on the pavilion area overlooking the 50-meter Olympic-sized pool. A mixture of continental and Turkish dishes like Cilbir (baked eggs in yoghurt) and Gozleme (a savoury filled flatbread) were on the menu as well as your usual continental offering. I would’ve eaten for two whether I was pregnant or not.

However, our favourite ‘meal’ time wasn’t breakfast or dinner, but the 5–6pm Turkish tea-and-biscuit hour. This gesture of complimentary sweet treats was our idea of heaven, and just the kind of ‘happy hour’ this pregnant lady was willing to indulge in.

The following day, I was making use of the sunlounger by that enormous pool, ruminating over the fact that, on account of the extra ‘baggage’ I was carrying, I’d likely not make it back in time for those delicious afternoon treats. In true Aman fashion, a staff member seemed to read my mind and without me asking brought over a whole plate of cookies and biscuits at about 5:45pm. ‘You seemed to like these yesterday’, she said. Fantastic moments like this really made the holiday.

All in all, I’m sure our little Smith has been enjoying the ‘luxury’ of me for nine months, but next time, I’ll leave the hard work to the staff at Amanruya.