We hadn't visited Turkey in over 15 years, and I'm glad we decided to give it another shot. The hotel's ultra all-inclusive concept really delivers.
Since we went on a family vacation with our two little ones (1 and 4 years old), my review is geared more towards family-friendly relaxation and activities.
Check-in was quick, and our room was a standard one with a view of the main entrance, but from a distance, not right next to the neighboring hotel that had loud music playing all the time. Initially, we were disappointed, but then we saw the breathtaking view of the mountains from our balcony and fell in love. The view was always quiet and peaceful.
Room.
The standard room for our family of two adults and two kids (with one child not occupying a bed) was perfect for our needs. The room had two beds and an additional sofa bed that could comfortably fit an adult, albeit not the largest one. The room was average in size, but there was enough space for us to move around. The bathroom was a pleasant surprise, with one minor complaint being the lack of a door handle – just a small latch from the inside. Thankfully, this wasn't a major issue, except for when our little one could have easily climbed into the toilet or something.
We were pleasantly surprised by the mini-bar, which was restocked daily with juices, beer, soda, cookies, and even a coffee machine with capsules. Although, we didn't end up using it much since we were already stuffed from the all-inclusive meals.
The hotel always had bottled water available, and on our child's birthday, they even brought a fruit platter to our room. It was a lovely touch that made us feel special.
Area.
Initially, I wasn't sure about the area based on the photos, but it's actually pretty small and well-maintained. There are a few pools, and an aqua park with more than just a couple of little slides.
Battery Life.
We were really pleased with everything, I'd read reviews saying it's no-frills and simple, but I wouldn't say that's entirely accurate. There's a pretty big selection of dishes, a different theme every day, yes, maybe not everything is divine, but there's always something to choose from – fish, meat, seafood. We even had oysters and crayfish. We stuffed ourselves. For breakfast, every day it was salmon and orange juice (I'm not sure if it was freshly squeezed or just a good packaged one). There were plenty of fruits, veggies, and desserts.
We really liked that there was a separate restaurant for kids, where you could just grab some food or sit down and eat. Big thanks for the chicken soup, which was every day and sometimes really saved the day.
We also liked that they had wine available and would pour it into glasses for lunch and dinner. However, the only downside was that sometimes we had to wait a while. The wine was decent, but we actually preferred the rosé and white wine – the red wasn't really our thing.
The bars had great cocktails, bottled beer, and you could grab snacks. There were fridges near the pool and beach where you could always grab water, cola, and other drinks.
There were three bars – one by the pool, one by the sea, and one in the lobby. I actually liked the lobby one the most (it was usually less crowded).
The food and drinks just never ended. Sometimes they'd make Turkish-style pancakes, other times they'd hand out sandwiches, ice cream was available in cones and cups, and it was all really varied. There was also a coffee shop with all sorts of coffee, which was my favorite. There's also a place where you could get all sorts of cakes and pastries at any time. Trying everything was impossible, we were never hungry, and we never had time to get hungry.
Beach and Sea.
The sea and the surroundings here are just incredible. Sure, the pebbles can be a bit rough, but it's worth it – the water's cleaner than you'd expect. We spent most of our time at the beach, and it was always lively but not too crowded.
There were always plenty of spots on the beach. We'd often head to the pier to jump with our kid. The water was a lovely +29 degrees Celsius during our stay, and it was super warm.
The rocky bottom might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's totally fine to bring your coral reef shoes. There's also a metal ramp into the water for those who struggle with the rocks.
One downside was the pesky fish near the shore. At first, I wasn't even sure what was going on. If you're swimming, it's no big deal, but if you're standing still, they tend to latch on.
Animation.
I didn't notice any particularly annoying or overwhelming animation for adults, but there's something there for kids. For kids, it's a daily mini-disco, and they also have a kids' club that's open till midnight. Our kid had a blast there, and we were able to leave them there from 4 years old and older.
I've got to say, the kids' club was a whole different story. We were able to leave our little ones there from 4 years old, and they could even stay for the whole day. The first half of the day was mostly spent outdoors, and then they'd move inside to a room with cartoons and another room with all sorts of obstacles. Throughout the day, there were various activities and entertainment, and they even had pajama parties.
The club stayed open till midnight, which was pretty cool. My older kid was absolutely thrilled. They had these red cards, which meant the kids couldn't leave without a parent, and green cards for the older ones, who could come and go as they pleased.
I'd read some negative reviews complaining about how much time the kids spent indoors, but we weren't too fussed. Plus, our kid had spent most of their time with us at the beach and pool, so it was only a few hours in the mini-club, mostly in the evenings.
Our vacation was ruined by a stomach virus, which started with our youngest throwing up. We spent his birthday in the hospital on an IV drip. Luckily, that was the worst of it. I was feeling pretty crummy on the day we were supposed to leave, but our travel insurance came to the rescue. The staff at the hospital were also super helpful. All in all, it was a bit of a disaster, but we made it out alive!
Looking back, this incident did cast a bit of a shadow over our vacation, but unfortunately, it's not the first time something like that's happened. That being said, as a family getaway, I'd definitely recommend this hotel – I'd go back in a heartbeat and tell my friends to do the same.
The sea is crystal-clear, and the heat from the mountains isn't as oppressive as you'd expect, with a lovely mist often rolling in and bringing relief from the sun. From my perspective, the hotel isn't ideal for a young, party crowd or a super laid-back vibe, but it's perfect for families – and that's why most people come here, in my opinion.
The service and food are top-notch, even if it does come with a price tag. But in my opinion, it's worth every penny.