La Gaia Boutique Hotel (Adult Only 18+)

We spent 11 days at this new, clean hotel and didn’t have a single bad experience. The rooms are lovely, breakfast is delicious, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Mehmet was particularly helpful from the start. We couldn’t settle on a room type, so he sent extra room photos before we booked, then helped with recommendations for the area and laundry service. A few things we especially liked were the bathtub, great shower, and cozy corner balcony. The rooftop bar burgers were good, and housekeeping came after 1 pm. The beach is across the street, and the smart TV has Netflix. The location is on a busy central street in Alanya, with a rooftop bar above and a cafe below. If you book a front sea-view room, expect some noise after 10 pm rather than a perfectly quiet early night. It all settles down by midnight.

The rooms are spacious, with big beds and great pillows, and the hotel has a new, natural minimalist look. The employees are friendly and helpful. Its spot by the beach makes it easy to walk to the popular shopping streets. There are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby, though the hotel restaurant is excellent too. Attractions close by include a museum, a gondola up to the castle, Cleopatra's hamam, and a green park.

The food was Michelin-star level, and the rooftop bar was just as good. The DJ was very good too. This is a new hotel with seriously lovely staff, probably the best hotel in Alanya. There were a few small snags with the meal service. We asked for starters before the main course, but every time everything arrived together, even after we specifically explained what we wanted. Hopefully their communication and organization improve naturally as they get more experience.

The private pool was the standout for me, especially at this price, and the main pool area was very nice too. The room was spacious and comfortable, with a good bed and sofa, and the relaxing area by the private pool was lovely. The hotel feels fresh, with stylish modern decor. Location was excellent, with lots nearby, including good restaurants and Occo Beach within walking distance, where there are free sunbeds. For the value, I’d rate the stay around 3.5-4. A few problems over the last nights kept it from being a five. Sleep was badly disrupted by loud footsteps and activity upstairs around midnight and again at 4-5 am. Staff said the people up there were working, which didn’t reassure me. The toilet and shower had no doors, which might be fine with a partner but is awkward otherwise. The booking photos showed doors, so hopefully that’s fixed next season. There was no umbrella by the private pool either. We bought two and left them behind, you’re welcome 😉. Breakfast was okay for cold options, but the hot food was never hot and felt uninspired. It seemed to be about looks more than taste. Juices and smoothies were good, but the chai was just Lipton. Foodies may be disappointed. Cleaning was often late, around 4-5 pm, and I’d suggest just doing it discreetly instead of asking us every single day. Staff were friendly but inexperienced, with too many calls needed for small things instead of handling them smoothly. There was renovation work near our door, and we were asked to leave it open for the electricity. We asked three staff members to lock it afterward, but came back five hours later to find it wide open. Nothing was stolen, but it felt unsafe. Smoking was allowed everywhere, so the poolside air could get smoky. There’s no gym or any kind of fitness area.