Me and my boyfriend stayed at Grand Faros in July 2011 for 2 weeks, bearing in mind it was our 2nd holiday alone without parents, we booked with a positive attitude and tried not to worry about the bad reviews so much. I am so glad we did.
The transfer is, yes, long, and can be uncomfortable with the heat, but I think that is a very small negative.
When we got to the hotel, we were on the 5th floor in a loft room, which for 2 people is a perfect size (how much time do you spend in your room on holiday anyway?) - it had a balcony which looked out of the hotel and we thought it was a really pretty view, we spent a lot of nights out there just chilling out, and it was really pleasant. They were cleaned everyday to a high standard, and the a/c was good - we woke up in the night freezing sometimes it was that good! Also get a safety deposit box! They're only small but its better than nothing!
Breakfast is good, its more continental than a full english fry up, and they have a lot of the traditional food that they have for breakfast like olives etc, so you get to try that aswell. The home made jam is lovely, my boyfriend had it every morning. They had juice in the morning, but freshly squeezed orange juice was something like 3 lira, which isn't bad. They also make fried eggs or ommeletes right in front of you, and have beans or tomatoes sometimes aswell.
The sun loungers are really good! If you dont fancy getting up really early then bring your towels down with you at breakfast (we used to go down at about half 9) and after breakfast is done, they move all the tables and chairs and put even more sun loungers out for you (these are the best ones as well as the sun is on them all day). Me and my boyfriend also came back from the market on one Thursday (which is also a must! we got the bus the first time, but the second time walked as it isn't too far away) and we got back at about 1pm, there wasnt any sun loungers for us, so the staff pulled out an extra 2 for us, which was very nice.
We were half board, so didn't have the lunch, but we know that it was a buffet and people we talked to said it was nice. We payed for our lunch at the pool bar, which is of really high standard and there is lots to choose from, and was really cheap.
In the day we stayed around the pool most days, and the staff wait on you hand and foot, they are all very friendly, helpful, and make you feel welcome. Don't listen to people saying that you have to tip them otherwise they are horrible, its not true at all, they don't expect anything!
The entertainment in the day was water polo, killer pool, etc and a lot of the staff joined in, and the team that won got a fish bowl!
You get to know the staff really well, at the end of the holiday its quite sad to actually say goodbye to them!
Showers were fine, a bit small when trying to shave your legs (I had to stick my leg out of the shower) but another small negative with doesn't cause a problem!
Dinner was lovely, its got a really nice atmosphere outside, the food is great and they have a good choice each night, my boyfriend put on about a stone whilst we were there! They always have something that is being cooked right in front of you, and its all delicious.
The entertainment is fine, its like any other entertainment you would have! Theres a good choice, and they normally get the audience up as well, which is always a laugh. Karaoke, bingo and quiz nights are fun aswell, but if you dont want to stay in the hotel (drinks are also cheap) you can walk about 5 minutes and there is a strip of bars and restaurants, there is also a mini golf and trampolines, which are also really cheap and good fun!
The taxi rank is also there, so you could get a taxi for 20 lira to the main bar strip as well.
We went to the water park that is on the beach front, its only small but we stayed there all day in the wave pool, as it was that hot!
This is the best holiday I have ever had, and my boyfriend loved it too. If you like your rooms to be clean and tidy, your food to be good, to have a laugh, have fun and get a good tan as well then it would be perfect!
(P.s. Get a turkish bath as well, they give you a good deal and its a must! It helps you get a deeper tan and helps you keep it afterwards!)
We're going back next year, and neither of us have ever liked somewhere that much we've done that before!