Azak Beach Hotel

The beach access was easily the best part of our stay at Azak Beach Hotel. It’s only about 40 metres from the door, and the beach team were friendly and kept the area well managed. For 450 lira, about 100 NOK, we got two sunbeds and an umbrella, which felt like good value. With a pleasant breeze, the beach was much more comfortable than the pool area, even in 48°C heat. Most of the staff were welcoming and cheerful. After a rough first night, we were moved to a much better room on the second floor. It was clean and comfortable, and suited us for the remaining 12-13 days. That first night was a real letdown. When we arrived in late July, we weren’t in the system, and we were told the hotel was full. After some back and forth, we got a room with an “X” on the door, tucked in a far corner of the ground floor with no view. It seemed like a backup room. It was dusty and the bathroom was dirty, and the general condition wasn’t good. The food was okay, but repetitive and nothing special. There was chicken every day, sometimes lamb or something else, and spaghetti Bolognese came around often. Breakfast was usually boiled eggs, cheese, and a slice of salami or something similar. We ate at the hotel several times, but went out for dinner on a few evenings for some variety. Housekeeping could have been better too. Towels weren’t changed regularly. In 40-degree weather, we showered twice a day, so going two or three days without fresh towels, only to find the old ones folded up again, wasn’t ideal. The elevator was unbelievably slow, taking nearly a minute to reach the second floor. Still, we’d stay at Azak Beach Hotel again, mainly for its location. It’s a decent mid-range option once you’re settled, with good staff and unbeatable beach access, though the food repeats and room cleaning is inconsistent.

The holiday itself was relaxing. There was a lovely beach just minutes from the hotel grounds, though the sea was a bit rough, and the pool was well kept. There was plenty of salad and fruit, but the food was average. Getting there was a struggle. We were told the transfer would take two hours, but it took five, and the distance felt like driving from London to the north. We reached the hotel at 12:40 a.m. after that long journey. The man at reception wasn’t welcoming, and nobody offered us water or a sandwich. In 37-degree heat, I don’t think guests should have to ask for water on arrival. There was no kettle in the room, and although the fridge had two tiny cups of water, it didn’t seem cold enough. Our room was on the fourth floor. The lift broke down, and my mother, who has a knee impairment and is afraid of falling, had no handrail to help her on the stairs. She was confined to the room that day. The lift looked old, as did parts of the hotel. The corridors also had no lighting. Smoking was allowed in restaurants, rooms, reception and on the balcony, with no restrictions. It’s not fair to have to inhale smoke while eating. On the way to breakfast, there was a makeshift ramp leading to the restaurant, but no rail or anything to hold onto. My mother had to hold on to me to get up and down it, which felt dangerous. At the bar, the only all-inclusive alcoholic drinks available were beer, gin and vodka.

The room made it hard to relax: it was dirty, the air conditioner didn’t work, and the fridge barely cooled. The pool was tiny for the number of guests, the beach wasn’t as advertised, and the food was poor, with little variety and bad taste. Parking was a problem from the start. I’d specifically checked in advance and was told it was included, but when I arrived in my own car, staff told me to “find another place.” Reception were just as impolite and unhelpful as the other staff, who were rude and unwelcoming from the moment we got there. I’ve stayed in many places, but never had such unprofessional service or such low standards. It was an incredibly disappointing stay. If I could give zero stars, I would. Definitely not recommended.

We had three rooms, and not one of them was okay. They were old and worn out, nothing like what the hotel pictures suggested. Cleaning was poor, the air conditioning barely worked, and the bathrooms flooded the floors because the toilet was defective and the shower leaked. The elevator was broken and worn out too. We told the hotel about the problems, but nothing happened. Whoever we spoke to said the same thing. I’ve never known a place where they care so little when things don’t work. People who are older, tall, pregnant, or have hip injuries are left to climb five or six floors because the hotel won’t fix the elevator. I’ve been coming to Alanya for 25 years, and I’ve never stayed anywhere this bad. I unfortunately have it on now, and I definitely intend to sue the hotel and get my money back. I haven’t met any Danes staying there who were satisfied with it. Stay away from this hotel.