Melas Lara Hotel - All Inclusive

It was the people who made my three-day stay in Turkey so special. At the lobby bar, Ozlem gave fantastic service with a smile, and Hasan Unal, the bell boy, was attentive and helpful from the moment I arrived. Gulben Kuslar at reception gave me a warm welcome, was always helpful, and had a lovely smile. There were many other professionals whose names I didn't catch. These three showed the best of Turkish hospitality. I can't wait to return!

The cleaning staff were the only people who came across as kind and professional, and they did their jobs well. The food was good too. Beyond that, I found the stay disappointing and wouldn't recommend the hotel. Communication was difficult because most staff didn't speak or understand English, and I felt they lacked basic respect toward guests. Once, while we were still at the dining table, a staff member took our food without asking or realizing we were there. It was upsetting and rude. The bar also fell short. It seemed geared toward people who drink, but the staff didn't seem to know how to make proper cocktails, and the alcohol tasted low quality. The whole experience felt cheap and careless. Basic courtesy and communication were missing.

The kids' club was amazing. Selin and the young girl whose name starts with B did a fantastic job, with different activities every day and a mini disco and performances in the evenings. Our room was spacious and clean, and the food and service were excellent. The private beach was large enough, with plenty of sunbeds, clear water and no rocks. The hotel is close to the airport, so the transfer is shorter. The only downside was the aircon directly above our heads. We turned it off, which made the nights a little difficult.

We came expecting a luxurious five-star stay and instead found it closer to a two-star disappointment. What upset us most was the way Vietnamese guests seemed to be treated differently. While other guests got friendly attention and drinks, our family and other Vietnamese guests were ignored. When we called staff over, they seemed deliberately indifferent. My parents felt invisible, as if they didn't matter. At the buffet, plates were cleared without warning while guests had only briefly gone to get more food. It felt discourteous and excluding. We also got the impression staff assumed we wouldn't tip and favored guests they thought were more profitable. Being made to feel irrelevant that way was humiliating. The poor service was bad enough, but this apparent discrimination was deeply offensive and heartbreaking. No one should face prejudice in a hotel that claims five-star standards. We urge management to review staff training, values and commitment to treating every guest with dignity. Travel should be enriching, not leave people feeling invisible.