Grand Uysal Beach Hotel

The spa was a real bonus, the food was very tasty, and the Turkish show was a blast. We had a great stay and would recommend the hotel if you don't mind being 5 km from the harbor. Staff at the pool, restaurant, bar, beach, and cleaning services worked hard to make us feel looked after. The pool was crowded, but that's to be expected in August, and there were nice activities there. The hotel beach was clean while staff were working during the day and evening. On late walks, we saw plastic bottles and packaging left on nearby beaches by local people who had been partying. This hotel puts a lot of effort into keeping its own beach and water clean. I wish the other hotels would work with it on the environment too. Recycling and caring for nature matters a lot to us wherever we travel. The front desk girls could use some training in being more open and friendly. They weren't unfriendly, though, and perhaps that's part of their culture. I mean it as constructive criticism.

The sunbed situation made this a difficult hotel for families. There aren't nearly enough, so you have to go out at 6:30 to claim one. After breakfast, it seems there's no chance of getting a bed until people start heading to dinner around 5pm. That keeps you tied to the pool all day, which takes away the usual freedom we've had at other hotels. The beach was another problem on 5 of our 10 days. Big waves washed away most of the beds, forcing people back unless they were lucky enough to have one in the back row. The hotel itself is lovely and clean, and the staff are nice, but the overall stay fell short. The food was nice, though Turkish food has lots of different dishes that don't really make up meals. All-inclusive drinks were also limited for the price: beer, wine, four spirits, soft drinks and a few juices got boring after a few days. You can pay for other drinks, but we never saw anyone do that. On nights without entertainment, or after midnight, they close up and turn out the lights. With only two small places in the whole hotel for drinks and music, sitting in the dark is despicable. The man who owns the shop was nasty and the way he spoke to us was unacceptable. We understand he needs to earn a living, but challenge the ridiculous prices and he goes off at you without holding back. Pathetic.

We went in October and absolutely loved our stay. The spa was very good, the shows were interesting, and the food was delicious. The hotel was lovely, and all the staff were friendly and attentive. We'd love to return.

The food was decent at lunch and dinner, though it got repetitive, as it does in places like this. Chicken kebab night was my favourite. My main frustration was that the food was nearly always cold. I might have had one hot meal in 10 nights, and I'm not sure whether the heaters needed turning up. A lot of them said 28. I like my food hot. Breakfast wasn't for me either. I like bacon, but sprouts and onion rings at breakfast felt a little weird. We both enjoyed our time here, though. The place was spotlessly clean, and the staff seemed friendly. The tall lady with dark wavy hair, who I think was the manager, was always walking around saying hello to guests. There was easy beach access through a tunnel from the hotel. The onsite shop had a really friendly fella, and my missus said her massage was great value. It was our first trip away without the children, and most of the shows were pretty decent. The kids' entertainment beforehand was repetitive, but so is that at all hotels. We popped to Relax Cafe, near the tunnel, for a couple of drinks while it was on. The man who runs it was really friendly.