We stayed here in April with our family for 1 week and again in October for 9 nights as a couple. Both times, it was TA reviews that helped us chose, but also Thomas Cook were offering superb deals for the star rating. There were other hotels but they were costing much more. This is a combined review of 2 trips, so of the boxes I have to tick, are only relevent to the first holiday really as a family.
Clearly we had a good time in April or we would not have considered returning again the same year. In April our first day was full rain, but then it was gorgeous. In October it rained again on our first day. We were told it was thier first drop of rain in 6 months , lucky us ha ha !!! But then its was beautifully warm.
They were slightly different experiences.
Both time we were in the garden villas.
In April, as a family we had a 2 bedroom accomodation + lounge. Our 22 year old daughter had the upstairs room on the mezzanine floor, reached by a spiral staircase and had plenty of space and good storage for clothes etc. It would have been useful she had a curtain to pull across, as she could not get undressed upstairs in her room with out being seen by our 2 foster kids from below in the lounge area. The lounge area had 2 sofas which were permanently made up as beds for the 11 and 12 year old, it also had a TV and solid pine dining table and chairs. They might be a bit on the small side for older kids or adults. We only ever slept in the rooms, so it didnt matter that the lounge sofas were always made up as beds. Our bedroom was spacious with plenty of wardrobe space and we had a large new flat screen TV. We had 3 balconies, 1 for each room. It was all very clean and we had no problems or issues with it whilst we were there. The bathroom was excellent, plenty of reliable hot water for the shower, and there were large pump dispensers in the shower for shampoo and liquid soap. The sink also had a large pump dispenser for liquid soap. So much better then bars of soap that get caked in sand and are more hygienent.
Second visit on our own, we also had a garden villa. We had been upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite, which was kind, although unless we had a row and needed another bedroom, was redundant. However it did prove usefull for storing the suitcases ! 2nd time our sheets were in a dreadfull condition and the edging was ripped and frayed. It was an odd material too, a sort of patterened woven cloth, which caught on the toenails! 2nd time we were also gifted a lovely fruit basket, slippers and bathrobes, which was a thoughfull and appreciated gesture.
Both stays the maids kept the rooms immaculate. The mini fridge only contained soft drinks. The beds have to be the hardest I have slept on and it made leaving Turkey less painfull at home time as we knew we would be able to sleep better.
Food
It was good both times, but was better on the first visit. The desserts were decorated better first time. But it was still very good 2nd visit, especially over in the Starlight.
In April, maybe due to lower occupancy, the waiter service was better for drinks. Second visit we almost always,90% of the time had to get our tea/coffees at breakfast and our own wine or beer from self service kegs at dinner. Other guests on the way back to the airport, said they didnt find this quite so much, but that was our experience. We had taken cash to tip, but frankly as we self served everything 2nd visit, we didnt have anyone to tip other then the bedroom maid! In October we often struggled to find a table and a few times. So we walked over to the Starlight. Service was better there, but they were very busy as they had a medical convention taking place, so the stafff were a bit stretched.
Pools/Beach
First visit in April, the beach was not open, There massive machines trundling along, that seemed to be taking in the stones, grinding them and spitting out sand. We may be wrong, but it looked like that. So we stayed by the pools. The pools were brilliant. The family pool has what youngsters want lots of entertainment and loud music. We prefered the quiet pool, which was huge and had also had a bar for refreshments. There were still families there, but ones like us that enjoy some tranquility, which we normally find on the beach. The kids were gutted that the Aqua Park wasnt open. Thomas Cook had promise us it would be when we booked it in the UK. Thankfully Half way through our 7 days, it did open and the kids had a brill time. The dougnut slide was closed quickly due to some safety issue.
2nd visit we were able to use the beach. It was lovely and clean and the sea was warm and clear. It is sandy where the sunbeds are, but as you enter it is quite stoney, so water shoes are really usefull (although ugly, who cares, your on holiday!) The sea was mainly calm, and we were able to stay in for ages.
People watching!
Yes, ther are lots of Russians, after all it is Russian owned and Russia is closer to Turkey then the Uk, so they would visit !! Yes there are a few who dont seem to know the concept of queuing. But on the whole the vast majority are polite and nice people. It was our experience that it was the Brits that caused the most noise, ie screaming at thier kids around the pool an swearing profusely at thier kids too and smacking them too!. Once again the majority of Brits were fine, but there were several families that were extreemly noisy and rowdy. Didn't see any Russians behaving like that. But this is our own experience, and I do appreciate, other folk may have had another experience.
The staff were very polite and helpful to us, as was Thomas Cook Rep.
The hotel is quite a trip out of Side Town, but the taxi's were in good condition, clean and mostly new. Agree price before you get in though. We prebooked a taxi through a reccomendation on the TA forum page. An English guy called Graham wjho lives out there. It arrived as pre planned form the UK and we rang him when we had enough of Side shopping and he picked us up when I text him we were ready.
Entertainment wise, we didnt do any shows, so cant comment.
The Starlight is superior lobby/reception wise, the Starlight is looking tired in comparison. But gusets can use both facilities.
All in all, we would return again if the price was right. However we are more likely to try another area of Turkey, just for a change.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
