Stayed from 06/10/11-17/10/11, With my husband and 16 year old daughter. 1st ever visit to turkey, so unsure what we were in for...Got taxi transfer from airport as otherwise you could be on coach for up to 2-3 hours depending on how many other drops there are, so well worth the extra, we arrived 2 hours before others on the same flight as us!!. On arrival taken to lunch as rooms not quite ready, but after flying at 5.35am UK time and arriving at hotle at 1pm turkish time, this was more than welcome. The food is mainly Turkish, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR THE EGG AND CHIP BRIGADE. Yes the food could have been hotter on occasion's, but there was a very good choice if you are prepared to try something new, with lots of fresh salads and pasta dishes...although the desserts, despite looking really yummy were pretty bland. Got fed up with people complaining who weren't even prepared to try, or even go out to eat...why these people travel abroad I don't know, but they were well avoided by most of the guests...After lunch we were given a choice of rooms and taken to look and choose which we prefered. the rooms were clean and funcional, (as a clean freak this is one area that always concerns me), the shower was very powerfull, as was the hairdryer, but the bathrooms, athough clean, could do with a bit of TLC. Our room was cleaned every day, bedding was changed every other day, and towles were changed every day...The location is a little out of the way, but that;s why we chose it, but buses and taxis are right outside so you can get to Town for 3TL each on a bus from early to pretty late and takes only 15 minutes. The hotel is maintained very well, the ground are lovely...we found the staff to be polite and helpful, We did travel late in the season (would suggest staying no later that mid September to really get the true benefit from this hotel)..so entertainment was very limited and little to do in the evening, unless you were prepared to travel to town. We met some really great people while we were there, one couple had been in May 2011 and rebooked on the basis of how good it was then, they did say their stay earlier in the season was better, but again, you have to remember that October is very late season for Turkey. the weather was OK, mid to high 20's when the sun was out, but we did experience some very heavy rain, another reason to not go too late...Aiyden's boat trip is a must, really good day out, and book a Turkish bath early in your stay to really benefit. the market on a Saturday is hugh and really great fun, but a few points to remember...You can ask a price, but if you haggle it is understood that you are going to buy, and they get a bit upset if you then don't. We found it a great experience, but really check what you are buying and take everything out of the bags and check size etc, and the spices on the fruit/veg market are amazing. Our daughter made lots of friends, the young male staff were attentive but no overly which was reassuring, and the night she went to X club with a group of guests and Ebo the entertainment guy, he really kept an eye on them and really looked after them well....could not have been more pleased...Uncles restaurant in town is really nice to eat at, (Even though this is an all inclusive hotel, do eat out in town, it really is affordable and you are treated very well)..and if there are a few of you they will collect you and take you back again, as will many of the resturants in Bar street..And try some of the little turkish cafe's where the local's go, you can get a kebap which leaves the english version standing for as little as 2.5TL. Also dont beleive all the hype about upset tummies, we heard of no-one getting ill while we were there....We would go back to this hotel without hesitation, but would go earlier in the season, and no later than early September. This is a good value hotel, and we were more than pleased with what we got for the money we paid.
- Golden Beach Turgutreis
