We have just got back (18 Sept '11) and before we went we knew that the hotel would be mainly Germans. we thought that this wouldn't be a problem as we normally get-by with the language barrier - this is not the case, they were more likely Russian and they came across as aggressive.
On a positive note, we thought that the hotel was 'in the middle of nowhere' - the dolphin show is across the road. from the hotel you can easily catch a dolmus into town (approx 35mins @ 3 lira each), to your left is Alanya town and very friendly with English bars including Burger King and the markets of course. there is also a play park, harbour and fun fair. To you right is a small town/village with lots of places to eat/drink and shop and you are made to feel welcome from the start. This is probably a 7 min drive in a taxi and can vary (so make sure you get a fair deal).
We paid for a large family room (highest bracket) and were astounded to find that we had 3 beds shoved together and a sofa bed. We arrived at 3am and were offered something to eat (don't bother unless you just want a piece of bread). We have 2 children yet we were left with just 3 pillows and 3 blankets. However, the chambermaids kept the rooms very clean and orderly and provided clean towels and bed sheets daily.
The all-inclusive drinks deal on offer is vodka, gin or ffes - all the 'real deal' but you paid for all the others and were on offer in the evenings from a drinks trolley. the pool bar staff were unhelpful and the plastic cups and coffee cups were mostly dirty. on a couple of occasions I had to ask for a cup as there were none out on display. the drinking water tasted foul so we would recommend purchasing this from the shops across the way.
The entertainment was bad, the music that blasted out all day was mainly dance music but with terrible language added. this was okay i suppose if you are Turkish or Russian as their children wouldn't understand it, but my 10yr old and her friends noticed!!! The was a 15min kids disco was nice but there was no kids club!! My ten year tells me that there was, it consisted of a small shed in the shape of a rock situated under the slides and next to the DJ but there was only ever 1 child in at any time - personally i thought it was also closed!!!
the food was vile, even the chips!!! we eat out 3 nights and we were all starving!!! the first two nights were the best when they served us brussel sprout soup with freshly baked bread, followed by chicken (we made ourselves some chicken butties - no butter tho). The second night was some weird salty soup & bread, followed by chicken kebab from a spit tho we all had to wait 45mins for the chicken.
Round the pool is very slippy and you need to be careful at all times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although it is a bonus to be offered proper alcohol, you must be careful as this is not very wise on an empty stomach!!!!!!!!!!!! (you get pissed quick).
Don't leave your showers too late as you will get cold water!!!
The weather is very hot so leave your fob in the air con and just take your room key with you.
You go under the subway to get to a small private beach. the water is very unsafe for children and although my 10yr old goes to a swimming club, she was banned from going in on her own. the sand is very grainy.
Thank god we met some great friends on this holiday and had such a laugh!!!!
- Asrin Beach Hotel Alanya
