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TEMPLE oF EXCESS
If the Mardan Palace had opened two years ago, at the height of the noughties boom before the humbling
effects of the bust, we would have lapped it up. Now it seems too much, too late, says April Hutchinson
M
ariah Carey was paid a rumoured £1 million to at the top are the Royal Suites (€14,000 a
perform at the opening extravaganza for Mardan night in high season). The garden apartments
Palace in Turkey at the end of May. Paris Hilton at the quiet end of the pool, close to the
paraded around in pink, Tom Jones and Seal sang for their beach, will be great for families. In fact, once
supper and Sharon Stone fumbled over the pronunciation the dust has settled, this may become
of Azerbaijan – the origin of the hotel’s owner. a success, as these rooms have an overall
Although I didn’t get a ticket to the main event (and lead-in price of €360.
frankly, I don’t think my conscience would have let me However, there are some mistakes. The
accept it), I was invited to to check out the hotel in April lobby for a start; it may be a work of art, but it
to see what all the fuss was about. is just so big, bold and overwhelming, with
Word has it that during a business trip to Turkey, staff erring on the cold side and dressed in
billionaire property developer Telman Ismailov visited uncomfortable-looking outfits.
Antalya and saw the land which would later become home And monkeys in one of the nightclubs?
to his dream, and had to buy it. His original plan was a I don’t care how well they are looked after,
boutique hotel, but eventually it became a temple to there’s a place for monkeys and it is not
excess, with the cavernous lobby modelled on Istanbul’s behind glass in a nightclub.
Dolmabahce Palace. I doubt the Mardan Palace will recoup the
Unsurprisingly, Ismailov is a fan of the Burj Al Arab and $1.4billion building costs in this millennium,
several of his key staff come from there. In fact, this resort but with all his money that’s probably not
will appeal to those who like Dubai, or those wanting an troubling Ismailov. He is even considering
everything-on-offer resort break. opening another hotel in Turkey and is said IN NUMBERS
It has nightclubs, a chic bowling bar, a spa, a gym, an to have applied for Turkish citizenship. 560 rooms, 1,200 staff,
indoor pool, and a “swim reef” where you can swim with $1.4 billion to build,
rays and sharks – a welcome touch for a non-diver like me How to book it: 50 types of tea served in the
who will never get close to these graceful creatures. Harlequin Holidays offers seven nights in July lobby, 13,000sq m of water in
There are 10 a la carte restaurants – including the from £1,127pp, based on two people sharing a the pool, big enough for 1,000
aquarium restaurant where my dessert was a chocolate Premium room in the Anatolian or European guests, 25 florists, 17 bars,
creation designed to look like intricate coral. Wing and including breakfast, British Airways 10 a la carte restaurants,
Rooms are nicely done and spacious. My bed was flights from Gatwick plus transfers. €1.5 million on Hermes
draped in lush Arabian-nights fabrics and there has been Tel: 0845 277 3398 china for La Cucina, 7,500 fish,
talk of gold-plated mirrors on the floor in the bathrooms.
harlequinholidays.com 4 aquariums, 18 divers and
12
There are plenty of categories in this 560-room hotel –
mardanpalace.com one marine expert
in the know
summer 09
ttgluxury.com
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