We have just returned from five nights at the Sueral Saray Hotel (actually spelt Su(umlaut)ral Saray), having visited for the eclipse that took place on 29 March 2006.

The Sueral group operate three hotels in the area (the Sueral Hotel, the Sueral Saray and the Sueral Garden) which is why there may seem to be a confusing number of hits when you search for any of them. Only the Sueral Saray appeared to be open during our visit. They seem to own a water company and various other interests as well.

The hotel is supposedly five star, and it does tick most of the boxes for facilities. However, the standard of the facilities is not that great, and the decor is rather tired. This is probably why the hotel is relatively cheap.

The clientele of the hotel appeared to be about 40% Turkish, 50% German-speaking and 10% English-speaking. One copy of the International Herald Tribune on one day was the only English paper available.

The hotel is situated on the coast about 5 km from the resort of Side ('Seeday'), which we visited but were not too impressed with. It is about an hour's drive from Antalya Airport, and the hotel will arrange transfers for you in both directions for 70 Euros return. I did this by e-mail and it worked, although the driver turned up at the international rather than domestic terminal. A phone call to the hotel put this right.

The rooms were clean and of a reasonable size and the beds were comfortable. Rooms have a small balcony. Our children were put next door although not interconnecting.

The food was OK for lunch and dinner but not so good for breakfast - no orange juice! There was an indoor swimming pool - a plus for the time of year, but the room it was in was so hot that unless you were swimming you couldn't bear to be in it. The outdoor pool was closed but appeared to be being prepared for use. There was a small Turkish bath and sauna in the hotel. Presumably there is more entertainment laid on in the summer - we were given two evening shows in five nights and nothing else. The staff were friendly but their standard of English was variable. Most signs were in Turkish and German only. There was a 'beach bar' by the beach that served drinks (tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine and beer) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a (somewhat temperamental) woman making sort of Turkish tortillas to order from 12 to 3 ish. The grounds were sizeable and green and dotted with trees for shade. A lot of people in Turkey smoke but it wasn't too noticeable.

Still, you can't go too wrong with sunny weather and a long beach abutting the grounds. However, we are unlikely to return to this hotel, or the area it was in.