Ok, the Hotel is nice - the majority of the staff are very nice. Call me a snob if you like but all my difficulties arose with the guests. I have rarely encountered guests (Germans) who are as rude, dissmissive and dare I say it, threatening! I'm Irish and I thought I could get along with anyone - well nobody is perfect, and lets say me and the Germans didn't swap addresses.

The hotel looks great, the grounds are imaculately manicured and the Barut Arum is located on a very long sandy beach with plenty of privately owned watersports facilities; ie Windsurfing, jet boating, jet boating and jet boating. So if you like Jet boating you're gonna love this place. Swimmers are corralled in a safe area, however the sea bed is not sandy, its rocky and slippery so be very careful - lots of people slip and fall getting in and out of the water. Water clarity was not great, most of the sea bed is dead - So, I did not enjoy the snorkling. I'm keen on a bit of beach activity: like walking, swimming, reading, surfing etc. I found out the hotel ran organised beach activities like boules and volleyball - but I couldn't figure out how to join - I guess if I was German I might have figured this out.

I spent all my time at the beach. It seemed that the sterotype of Germans marking their poolside territory with towels at 6am is alive and well and it goes completely unchecked by the hotel staff, dispite the many signs explaining that this practice is prohibited. The massive pool is mobbed with kids. I don't have any, so the poolside would have been kinda noisy anyway.

The German bias did annoy me for the first four days - then I learnt to rise above it and I lived on the beach - the hotel provides free beach towels, sunbeds and sun umberellas that can be tricky to open and require some coaxing - TIP: dont pull the rope to open gently lift up two or three of the canopy supports to start, then use the rope... if you do go to the Barut, you'll know what I mean.
I went in July and it was HOT! surprisingly HOT, I even got burnt under the umbrella with factor 30 on, so be warned. The only drawback of the beach was the neighbouring hotel blasting out music during its pool games, which lasted for two hours each morning.
The Bar staff will deliver drinks to your sunbed - the hotel runs a card system that opens your room, and you can use for a charge card at all the bars and restaurants so you dont have to carry money around at the hotel.

There are four restaurants to eat at: The serve yourself (we called it "Bedlam"), the Fish Restaurant, the International Restaurant and the Turkish Restaurant. The food was mostly hit and miss - I didn't eat in the International place but I would recommend the Turkish Restaurant - Superb - You should book early! I tried a few turkish places in Side but they didn't come close.

I found the experience of staying at the Barut Arum very restrictive - I found the restaurant Manager to be very particular about evening wear - I wore some black knee length beach shorts and leather flip flops and I was told they were innappropriate - I objected and pointed to a German guest who was wearing a sparkly boob tube, very small gold hot pants and flip flops - the Managers reply was "but she is a woman" - I walked away cursing him with every Irish insult I could muster - I'm pretty sure he didn't speak Irish but I think he got the point.

All in all it's a lovely place - I would never normally go on a package holiday - and I'm certain I will never return to the Barut Arum. I'm a surfer and I enjoy fending for myself, discovering the unexpected and sleeping where ever I find reasonable accommodation. So please bear this in mind when you read this review.

This hotel stands out along the Side beachfront allthough not as stunning as one or two others along the promenade. The Food, Service and overall helpfull attitude of the staff was outstanding. Even the weather gave 10 good days out of 14.
Travel was arranged through Thomas Cook and was well handled. The Hotel representative Dan was a charming and efficient young man and took a personal care with all his clients.
The entertainment was acceptable but not memorable with the entertainers using 'canned' music and background effects.
The UK contingent represented about 5.00% of the guests but as the atmosphere was happy and contented good conversations were had and friends made.
The EU guests were on very favourable 'All-inclusive' prices which were not available in the UK. Suggest that the vouchers for the extra restaurants in the hotel are used as they are very good value.
The November month comprised guests in the age range of over 50 and many were regular visitors every year.
A good hotel and will visit there in 2012.

Just back from a week at arum.
Weather not great to be honest - 2 days of rain but the middle of nov.
Good hotel - very clean - well organised - very good food - english very much in the minority.
We had a room out of the main hotel. Double with an extra room with twin beds. Very clean but only a shower - no bath.
Air con worked fantastically.

We chose this resort over a water park we researched in Greece (don't remember the name right now). Barut is definitely a safe bet.

We visited Barut for one week late Oct through 1st of Sept 2011. Overall Barut Arum is a well maintained and run hotel/resort. Our room on the fourth floor was fine even though we didn't have a phenomenal view. We recommend getting a room with a ocean view. The rooms are small (we had a double) for myself my wife and our five year old. Our room was on the luxurious side as it was very modern and appealing; marble wash basins, nice showers, (no tub), comfy yet firm beds, and great towels, including the ones we had available to use about the resort and beach. No probs with the AC, or pests and even noise.
Food ranged mostly from very good in the areas of quality and variety. Out of 6 nights we enjoy at least 5 with 1 or 2 evening meals leaving us a little bored or disappointed with an offering. Some nights we were pretty wowed so it was all good. More importantly it was all very clean and well laid out with varying visual themes/decor from night to night. Dessert was always really good with something special that was outstanding.

Mixed drinks are incredibly watery or taste like colored sugary water in cheap alcohol. Otherwise water and juices were fine. Don't bother asking for a milkshake... not worth it.

There's two huge pools with mostly shallow depths and a water slide that is open like twice a day for an hour each... could be open longer I say but was fun and we looked forward to it everyday.

The beach was really great. Be careful as there are large shallow areas of rock that simply not good to walk on. Take your seasocks or something for those otherwise stay in the sandy bottom areas which are plentiful. There's sea banana, parasailing (~70Euros/45mins), and other water sports avail. Looked fun and worth it esp. with how much fun people looked to be having.

Kids show every night at 8 or so and adult entertainment of dancing and or music follows. Very good and worth the time!