Sapphire Marine

Good location

A bit dated

Location is very good

The location and staff.

Our bed was making noises

It’s a nice property. Good pools when they’re open. The rooms are ok.

The property markets itself as a poolside resort and, on first impression, it looks the part. With three pools and a well-maintained property, expectations were high. Imagine our surprise then when, in the height of summer, all three pools were closed promptly at 6pm. Staff actively shooed us and several incredulous guests away, despite the sun still blazing. All seating around the resort is shut down. Given that it’s quite far from central Baku, the fact that every facility on the property shuts down at 6pm in midsummer, means there’s nothing to do after 6pm. It is baffling for a supposed 5-star resort. Astounded, we decided instead to go to the sea—only to discover that access to the sea was also closed. We did do some reserach and apparently this tendency to close down early is not uncommon in Azerbaijan so maybe it’s a regulatory thing. But it did make the decision to stay there instead of central Baku superfluous. When the pools are open they blare out deafening dance music from morning to night, making spending time there the opposite of relaxing. The blaring music can be heard everywhere in the resort. The restaurants, especially considering the high standard of food in Baku, are average and expensive. Far better food can be found in central Baku. The service is patchy. Some staff were warm and helpful. Others, absolutely indifferent. It’s not a good option for a Baku stay. You’d be far better off staying in central Baku and making a day trip to the Caspian Sea.