A So-So Resort with Some Serious Flaws

Hello everyone, I'm sharing our experience at the Crystal Flora Beach Resort in Turkey.

We used to love vacationing in Thailand, but after the pandemic and having a newborn, we decided to try something new in Turkey. My husband and I searched for hotels with a tour operator and finally settled on the 5-star Crystal Flora Beach Resort in Beldibi, about 15-20 minutes from Kemer. You can get there by local bus or just call a taxi from the hotel.

The resort's grounds are absolutely stunning - well-maintained and super pretty. This is what sets non-city hotels apart, you know? You've got plenty of space to walk around and not feel cramped. My baby and I loved it. Every morning on our way to the restaurant, we'd watch the gardeners planting new flowers and trimming the lawn.

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5* Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*The food at the resort was super varied and tasted great, but I'm not a huge fan of all-inclusive systems. Eating at regular Turkish cafes is way more enjoyable, where you can try one dish at a time and know it's going to be amazing. The drinks, on the other hand, were a total letdown - there were hardly any good non-alcoholic cocktails to be found, just loads of sweet fizzy drinks and syrups. They even called some of them 'kids' drinks', which made me feel like a grown adult couldn't order a cocktail without booze. Even if you were willing to pay for it, you couldn't get a decent Mojito anywhere - it was really frustrating, especially since you can easily get one at a cafe in Turkey.

I was a bit skeptical about the beach at first, but it turned out to be a real gem. It's mostly sandy, with two piers for getting into the water. We went in October and there were still plenty of free sunbeds available. What really caught my eye, though, were the beach bungalows - they're super pricey, but it's worth it for a couple of days to mix things up and try something new.

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*

Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*We were really looking forward to the kids' club at Crystal, and our rep Melissa is a total kid-whisperer - she gave our little one a soft toy from the resort and spent ages playing with him. One major downside, though, was the appalling state of the rooms - we were shown a few different ones, and they were all on the level of a 3-star hotel at best. The laminate flooring was peeling, the beds were creaky, and the cupboards were falling apart. For $50, we were upgraded to a 4-star room (check out rooms 6901-6913 for reference).

Room stock at Crystal Flora Beach Resort 5*Under the main restaurant, the furniture was being moved around from 7am to 10pm, and the music from the amphitheater was blasting until 11:30pm. But we didn't even think about switching to the older, quieter rooms - my husband and I are both old enough to remember what real 5-star rooms look like, and we couldn't believe what we were seeing.

We didn't get to experience the animation program too much, as we were usually out exploring or at the beach with our little one. We did catch one show at the amphitheater, but it was a bit too late for our toddler's bedtime routine. Verdict: In the end, we really enjoyed our stay: the grounds are beautiful, we got a room upgrade, and the spa and beach huts were a huge hit. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was super relaxed. If you're not too fussed about the state of your room and can just roll with it, I'd definitely recommend Crystal Flora Beach Resort for a family holiday or a relaxing break.

Date of stay: October 2021