Maxx Royal Kemer Resort

Maxx Royal Kemer Resort Review — Quick Verdict

Maxx Royal Kemer is the finest all-inclusive resort on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, and one of the very few that genuinely belongs in the same conversation as top Caribbean and Maldivian luxury properties. Set in a protected bay where the Taurus Mountains drop into the Mediterranean through centuries-old pine forest, it looks and feels nothing like the mega-resorts that line the Belek and Lara Beach corridors. With 291 all-suite accommodations starting at 100 square meters, a no-buffet dining philosophy, three private beaches, and a personal concierge for every single guest, this Leading Hotels of the World member earns its TripAdvisor number-one ranking out of 398 Kemer hotels.

It is also priced accordingly. Suites start around $917 per night in shoulder season and climb significantly in July and August. That is roughly double what you would pay at the excellent Rixos Premium Tekirova down the road. But if you want the best all-inclusive experience Turkey has to offer in an intimate, mountain-backed setting, Maxx Royal Kemer is where you book.

Score: 9.4 / 10 — Turkey’s most beautiful all-inclusive resort, with genuinely outstanding food and service. Loses a fraction for surcharge restaurants and a restricted best beach.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Pros	Cons
Every room is a 100sqm+ suite — no standard hotel rooms	65 km from Antalya Airport (50-70 min transfer)
Three private beaches in a pine-forested Mediterranean bay	Bishoku and Bronze Steak House carry dining surcharges
100% a la carte dining — zero buffets anywhere on property	Emerald Beach restricted to villa guests only
Maxx Assistant concierge for every guest, not just VIPs	No on-site golf course (unlike Belek sister property)
Top-shelf branded spirits genuinely included — no upgrade tier	Roughly 2x the price of other quality Kemer resorts
LHW and Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts member	Water park smaller than Belek’s Cobra Kingdom (7 vs 11 slides)
4,500sqm spa with 30 treatment rooms	Seasonal operation only (approx. April–November)

The Resort at a Glance

Detail	Info
Rooms	291 units: 217 suites + 74 villas (minimum 100sqm / 1,076 sq ft)
Restaurants	7 a la carte restaurants + chocolatier + patisserie + ice cream parlor
Bars	11 bars (all serving premium branded spirits)
Pools	6 pool areas including water park, heated saltwater pool, and indoor fitness pool
Beach	3 private beaches in a protected bay
Spa	4,500sqm Aven Royal Spa with 30 treatment rooms
Airport	65 km / 50-70 min from AYT (Antalya Airport)
Year Opened	2014
Chain	Maxx Royal Hotels & Resorts (Turkish)
Memberships	Leading Hotels of the World, American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts

Rooms and Suites at Maxx Royal Kemer

Suites (The Entry Point)

There is no such thing as a “standard room” at Maxx Royal Kemer — the smallest accommodation is a 100-square-meter (1,076 sq ft) Suite, which is larger than most luxury hotel rooms anywhere in the world. Both the Suite Sea View and Suite Land View come with a king bed, walk-in shower, Nespresso machine, daily-restocked minibar, electric curtains, a pillow menu, Etro bath amenities, and robes and slippers. The Sea View version is worth the premium: waking up to the Mediterranean framed by pine-covered mountains is the kind of moment that justifies the price tag.

Every suite guest receives the Maxx Assistant service — a personal concierge you can reach before and during your stay for restaurant reservations, excursion bookings, or the kind of small requests (a specific pillow firmness, a birthday cake waiting in the room) that separate great hotels from good ones. This is not an upsell. It is included for every guest, in every room category.

Laguna Suites and Family Suites

The Laguna Suite bumps the space to 150 square meters and adds an outdoor hot tub on the terrace with direct access to the Laguna Pool — a lush, island-landscaped pool reserved exclusively for Laguna Suite guests. It is the sweet spot for couples who want privacy without the villa price tag.

For families, the Royal Suite Family Sea View offers 175 square meters with two bedrooms (king bed plus two singles), two bathrooms, a living area, and a sea-view terrace. This layout genuinely works for families with older children who need their own space. The second bedroom has a proper door, not a partition — an underrated detail when traveling with teenagers.

Villas (Where the Money Goes)

The villa portfolio is where Maxx Royal Kemer enters genuinely rarefied territory. The Laguna Duplex Villas come in two- and three-bedroom configurations (250-310 sqm), each with a private pool, Jacuzzi, terrace, and living room spread across two floors.

The Beach Villas are the crown jewels. The three-bedroom version at 230 square meters includes a private pool, sauna, steam room, two Jacuzzis, a private sundeck, a beach cabana with minibar, dedicated butler service, and exclusive access to Emerald Beach — the resort’s most tranquil stretch of sand, complete with its own restaurant. Starting at approximately EUR 15,750 per night (accommodating up to 8-10 guests), these are positioned as shared-group luxury rather than a single-couple splurge.

The four-bedroom Beach Villa (350 sqm) and the five-bedroom Presidential Villa (450 sqm, with private chef availability) complete the lineup. If you are booking these, you probably do not need a review to tell you what to expect.

Our Pick

For couples: the Laguna Suite. The private pool access and outdoor hot tub create a genuine sense of seclusion, and the Laguna Pool is noticeably quieter than the main pool area. For families: the Royal Suite Family Sea View gives everyone breathing room without the five-figure villa spend.

Food and Dining at Maxx Royal Kemer

The No-Buffet Philosophy

This is where Maxx Royal Kemer makes its strongest statement. There are no buffets. None. Every single meal across the resort is served a la carte. In a country where even excellent resorts like Calista Luxury or Regnum Carya still funnel most guests through a cavernous buffet hall for breakfast and lunch, Maxx Royal’s commitment to restaurant-style dining at every sitting is genuinely distinctive — and it shows in the food quality.

Azure Food Court (Twenty4) — The 24-Hour Anchor

Azure, also called Twenty4, is the resort’s all-hours dining hub and it operates around the clock. Rather than a single restaurant, it functions as a market-style food court with Italian, seafood, and Turkish cooking stations, plus a shared outdoor terrace overlooking the bay. You can get a proper meal at 3 AM without it feeling like reheated room service. The quality is several notches above what “24-hour dining” typically implies at an all-inclusive. This is where you will eat most breakfasts and casual lunches, and it handles both roles well.

Specialty Restaurants

Seavore is the dedicated seafood restaurant and a genuine highlight — fresh Mediterranean fish, thoughtful preparations, and the kind of meal that would cost $80-120 per person at a comparable waterfront restaurant in the US. Included in the all-inclusive rate. Reservations required, but there is no limit on how many times you can dine here.

Kalamatas serves Mediterranean cuisine in a more relaxed setting. Solid pastas, grilled meats, mezze-influenced starters. Not the most memorable restaurant on property, but a reliable dinner option.

Safraan handles Indian and Asian flavors. The curries are well-spiced and the tandoor dishes are better than you would expect from a Mediterranean resort kitchen. Worth at least one dinner visit.

The resort has collaborated with Italian Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo on a fine dining concept — the quality here is a genuine step up, with plating and ingredient sourcing that feel destination-restaurant caliber.

The Surcharge Restaurants

Two restaurants carry an extra charge, and this is the one legitimate complaint about the dining program.

Bishoku is the Japanese fine dining option (dinner only). If the Bishoku concept at the sister Belek property is any guide, expect omakase-style courses, premium sushi, and sake pairings at a quality level that justifies a surcharge — but still feels contradictory in an all-inclusive context.

Bronze Steak House (dinner only) serves premium cuts with a surcharge. The equivalent Bueno Steak House at Belek carries the same policy.

Neither surcharge amount is publicly confirmed, which is slightly annoying. Budget an extra $50-100 per person per evening if you plan to visit both.

Bars, Sweets, and Drinks

Eleven bars spread across the resort pour genuine premium branded spirits — Hendrick’s, Grey Goose, Johnnie Walker Black, and equivalent labels — without any upgrade charge. This is the Maxx Inclusive philosophy in action and it matters: at most Turkish all-inclusives, the included spirits are local brands, with premium pours costing extra. Here, top-shelf is the standard.

Black Diamond Bar is the standout — literally built into the rocks, it doubles as the resort’s late-night venue with cocktails and dancing. Emerald Bar is the more refined cocktail lounge for a quieter evening drink.

Beyond the bars, three complimentary sweet venues deserve mention: the Chocolatier by Maxx Royal serves handmade Valrhona chocolates in the lobby; Le Melange offers French pastries (sweet and savory) with Nespresso coffee; and a Movenpick Ice Cream kiosk serves premium Swiss ice cream. All included, all excellent.

Food Quality Verdict

Maxx Royal Kemer has the best dining program of any all-inclusive resort in Turkey. The no-buffet commitment is not marketing — it fundamentally changes the eating experience. The surcharge restaurants are an annoyance, not a dealbreaker, when you have five included restaurants that would each hold their own as standalone venues.

Beaches at Maxx Royal Kemer

Three Beaches, Three Vibes

The resort’s setting in a protected bay with three distinct beach sections is its single greatest asset. The Taurus Mountains rise directly behind you, pine forest covers the hillsides, and the water is calm, clear Mediterranean blue. There is zero sargassum risk here — a meaningful advantage over Caribbean destinations where seaweed can ruin entire seasons.

Tangerine Beach is the most active section — think lounge music from the speakers, serviced cabanas, a water sports station with kayaks and snorkeling gear, and the general buzz of a well-run beach club. This is where most suite guests spend their days and it never feels overcrowded thanks to the 291-room cap.

Middle Bay is quieter, slightly more pebbly, and has shallow areas that work well for small children. It is the family beach by default, and the transition from pebble to sand means the water clarity is exceptional.

Emerald Beach is exclusively reserved for villa guests. Suite guests can pay an extra fee to access it, but it is primarily the private domain of Beach Villa and Presidential Villa bookings. This is the most tranquil section, with its own cabana service and a private villa restaurant right on the sand. The restriction is understandable from a capacity perspective, but it stings when you are paying $900+ per night for a suite and the best stretch of beach requires either a five-figure villa or an additional fee.

Beach Verdict

The overall beach experience is outstanding. The protected bay means calm water, the pine-forest backdrop is genuinely unique among Mediterranean resorts, and the sand-pebble mix is kept clean and well-maintained. Just set your expectations: this is Mediterranean pebble-to-sand, not Maldivian powder.

Pools at Maxx Royal Kemer

Six pool areas provide enough variety that no single pool ever feels overcrowded:

The Main Beachfront Pool offers sea views, abundant daybeds, and waiter service — the default gathering spot for most guests. The Heated Saltwater Pool is a welcome option for cooler shoulder-season days in May or October. The Laguna Pool is reserved for Laguna Suite guests, with island-style landscaping and a noticeably more secluded atmosphere.

Families get a heated children’s pool with water features, slides, and shallow areas, plus the Maxxi Land Water Park with seven slides — entertaining enough for kids and teens, though smaller than the 11-slide Cobra Kingdom at the Belek property.

The Indoor Fitness Pool is worth singling out: an infinity-edge pool with underwater bicycles, gym equipment, and a baby area, all enclosed. It is genuinely useful on the rare rainy day and doubles as a wellness facility.

Activities and Entertainment

Daytime

The resort includes non-motorized water sports (kayaking, pedal boats, snorkeling), four tennis courts (court time included, lessons extra), group fitness classes, and yoga sessions. The setting is more conducive to relaxation than activity — this is not a mega-resort with zip lines and climbing walls. If you want that, look at Rixos Sungate down the coast.

The Maxxi Land Water Park keeps kids and teens busy with seven slides during seasonal operation. It is included in the all-inclusive rate and runs from approximately May through October.

Evening

Nightly entertainment shows rotate through the main performance area. The quality is generally good by resort standards — think acrobatic shows, live music, and themed evenings rather than Broadway-level productions. Black Diamond Bar picks up late-night energy with DJ sets and dancing for guests who want to extend the evening.

Maxxiland Kids Club

The Maxxiland kids club (ages 1-12) is consistently rated the best in the Kemer area. It has its own movie theater, a dedicated kids restaurant serving healthy options alongside ice cream, a shaded playground in a woodland setting, and dozens of daily age-appropriate activities. The staff take a low-key approach — they engage kids without the aggressive “entertainment team” energy that some parents find exhausting. There is also a sleeping room for naps, which is a thoughtful touch for families with younger children.

Aven Royal Spa

The Aven Royal Spa spans 4,500 square meters underground — making it one of the largest resort spas in Turkey and significantly bigger than the 3,000sqm Aven Spa at the Belek property. Thirty treatment rooms handle everything from Swedish massage to Rhassoul therapy, ayurvedic treatments, LPG and CACI clinical services, Silkpeel facials, and cryolipolysis body treatments.

The thermal circuit is included in the all-inclusive rate: whirlpool, steam room, Finnish sauna, bio sauna, hot stone loungers, relaxation area with daybeds, and an indoor infinity pool. Hammam access is also included, though individual scrub treatments carry a surcharge. Budget $100-200 for a signature treatment if spa time is important to you.

What Is Included vs What Costs Extra

Included	Extra Charge
All meals at 5 a la carte restaurants (no visit limits)	Bishoku Japanese restaurant (surcharge, dinner only)
Azure/Twenty4 24-hour gourmet food court	Bronze Steak House (surcharge, dinner only)
Premium branded spirits at 11 bars	Emerald Beach access for suite guests (fee)
Minibar restocked daily	Spa treatments (massages, facials, individual scrubs)
Valrhona chocolatier, French patisserie, Movenpick ice cream	Tennis lessons
Maxx Assistant personal concierge	Motorized water sports
Water park (Maxxi Land, 7 slides)	Airport transfers
Non-motorized water sports	Helicopter tours
Kids Club (Maxxiland, ages 1-12)	Private babysitting (~EUR 35/hr)
4 tennis courts	Villa restaurant for non-villa guests
Spa thermal circuit (sauna, steam, hammam access, pools)
Nightly entertainment
Wi-Fi and valet parking
24-hour room service

Pricing and How to Book Maxx Royal Kemer

Price Ranges by Season

Season	Period	Suite From (per night)	Notes
Shoulder	May, June, Sept, Oct	~$917	Best value; weather still excellent
Peak Summer	July–August	$1,200–1,800+	Book 3-4 months ahead
Opening/Closing	April, November	~$900+	Limited availability, check dates
Villas	Any season	$2,500–15,750+	Beach Villas start ~EUR 15,750/night for 3-bed

The resort operates seasonally — typically April or May through October or November. It is closed in winter. Always verify exact opening dates before booking.

Best Time to Book

Book three to four months ahead for peak summer (July-August) to secure your preferred suite category. For shoulder season (May-June, September-October), six weeks of lead time is usually sufficient. Shoulder season delivers the best balance of price, weather, and crowd levels — temperatures are warm without the intense July heat, and pool areas feel spacious rather than busy.

Where to Book

Direct via maxxroyal.com often yields the best rates and lets you contact your Maxx Assistant before arrival to arrange preferences. American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts adds meaningful perks: room upgrade at check-in (when available), daily breakfast, guaranteed 4 PM late checkout, and a $100 property credit. If you have an Amex Platinum card, always check FHR rates before booking elsewhere.

LHW.com (Leading Hotels of the World) may offer member rates and upgrade possibilities. Booking.com and KAYAK are useful for price comparison, with KAYAK showing recent bookings around $1,054 per night.

Check latest prices on Booking.com →

Compared to Nearby Resorts

vs Maxx Royal Belek (same chain): Belek is larger (512 suites vs 291), has the 11-slide Cobra Kingdom water park, and a championship golf course on-site. Kemer is more intimate, more scenic (mountains vs flatlands), has superior dining (no buffet vs buffet available), and a bigger spa. Choose Belek for golf and water park variety; choose Kemer for romance, scenery, and food.

vs Rixos Sungate (Kemer): Rixos has 1,094 rooms, a much lower price point ($200-450/night), and a buzzing family-party atmosphere with Land of Legends access. It is a fundamentally different experience — high-energy entertainment versus intimate luxury. If your budget is the deciding factor, Rixos Sungate delivers tremendous value. If money is secondary to exclusivity, Maxx Royal Kemer is the clear pick.

vs Rixos Premium Tekirova (Kemer): The most comparable alternative — a similar mountain-meets-sea setting with 500 rooms at $250-500 per night, plus Accor ALL loyalty points. It is a very good resort at half the price. What Maxx Royal Kemer offers over Tekirova is the all-suite minimums, no-buffet dining, and the personal concierge program. Whether that is worth double the nightly rate depends on how much those details matter to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maxx Royal Kemer really all-inclusive?

Yes, and it is one of the most comprehensive all-inclusive packages in Turkey. Five restaurants, 11 bars, 24-hour dining, premium spirits, minibar, water park, kids club, water sports, and spa thermal facilities are all included. The exceptions are Bishoku and Bronze Steak House (surcharges), spa treatments, motorized water sports, and Emerald Beach access for suite guests. Everything else is genuinely covered.

How does Maxx Royal Kemer compare to the Belek property?

Kemer is smaller (291 vs 512 rooms), more scenic (mountain bay vs coastal flatlands), has better dining (no buffets vs buffet available), a larger spa (4,500 vs 3,000 sqm), and a higher price point. Belek has an on-site golf course, a bigger water park, and more room categories at lower entry prices. Kemer is the honeymoon choice; Belek is the family-with-golfer choice.

Is the beach sandy or pebbly?

It is a mix. The sand type varies across the three beach sections — expect a pebble-to-fine-sand blend rather than uniform powder sand. Tangerine Beach is the sandiest; Middle Bay is more pebbly. Water shoes are useful but not essential. The tradeoff is exceptional water clarity — the Mediterranean here is crystal clear precisely because there is no fine sand churning in the shallows.

Is Maxx Royal Kemer good for families?

Very much so, with a caveat on budget. The Maxxiland kids club is outstanding (ages 1-12), the water park is included, the children’s pool is heated, and the Royal Suite Family Sea View gives families genuine space. However, the starting price of $917 per night puts it firmly in the luxury-family bracket. For a more budget-friendly family option in Kemer with good facilities, look at Rixos Sungate or Rixos Premium Tekirova.

When is the resort open?

Maxx Royal Kemer operates seasonally, typically from April or May through October or November. It closes for the winter months. Always confirm exact opening and closing dates before booking, as they shift slightly from year to year.

Is the airport transfer long?

Yes — it is 65 km from Antalya Airport (AYT), which translates to a 50-70 minute drive depending on traffic. This is the longest transfer among major Antalya-area resorts. The resort does not include transfers in the all-inclusive rate; arrange them directly through your Maxx Assistant or book independently. Private transfers run approximately $50-80 each way.

Final Verdict

Score: 9.4 / 10

Maxx Royal Kemer is the best all-inclusive resort in Turkey for couples and honeymooners, and a strong contender for the best in the entire Mediterranean. The setting alone — a protected bay where pine-covered mountains meet the sea — puts it in a different aesthetic category from every resort on the Belek or Lara Beach strips. Add the all-suite accommodations starting at 100 square meters, five included a la carte restaurants with zero buffets, top-shelf spirits at every bar, and a concierge assigned to every guest regardless of room category, and you have a product that competes with resorts charging twice as much in the Caribbean.

The flaws are real but minor: two surcharge restaurants break the all-inclusive contract, the best beach requires a villa booking or an extra fee, and the 65-minute airport transfer is the longest of any major resort in the region. For the price — starting around $917 per night — these are acceptable imperfections in a property that gets virtually everything else right.

Book Maxx Royal Kemer if: You want Turkey’s most beautiful and intimate luxury all-inclusive, you value exceptional dining over water park size, and you are willing to pay a significant premium over other Kemer resorts for the privilege.

Skip it if: You want a buzzing pool-party atmosphere (try Rixos Sungate), you need on-site golf (book Maxx Royal Belek instead), or your budget is under $800 per night (look at Rixos Premium Tekirova or Barut Kemer).

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