Telatiye Resort Hotel - All Inclusive

The beach is a pleasant five-minute walk away, with enough parasols and seats, though the ground is rocky and the waves can be big. The hotel is in a safe, small town near shops and markets, convenient for families, and about 13 km from Alanya. The entrance sign is hidden by trees, so it's hard to spot when arriving. Our room was spotless. Daily cleaning was prompt and thorough, and the mini-fridge was restocked with free water. There was also a kettle with Nescafé, tea, coffee mate and sugar. Reception and most staff were friendly and helpful. Food was fair, though it didn't feel up to a five-star standard. Breakfast was simple with limited choice, while lunch and dinner were acceptable but could be better. Salads were always fresh and tasty, and there was an impressive big cake every day. The free juices were artificially sweetened; fresh orange juice cost 2€. The main discomfort was the lobby. The smoking spot by the entrance is so close that smoke gets inside, and mosquitoes make sitting there unpleasant. Management should move the smoking area and deal with the mosquitoes, especially for guests with allergies or asthma. Lobby WiFi is free but slow, and using it in the room costs extra, which is unexpected for a hotel of this class. One serious incident happened at the beach: after a family left, an employee used inappropriate, “very bad” words in Turkish about them. Their children had been playing and digging a hole in the sand next to their seat. That behavior is unacceptable and needs management attention and staff training. The outdoor pool was good, but the indoor pool is open only 7:00-10:00 and 17:00-18:00. Extending those hours, with time allowed for cleaning and filtering, would help. The small, basic gym is also limited for a five-star hotel, and its 7:00-19:00 hours are restrictive. Activity schedules could be posted clearly at reception and kept up to date so guests know what's on.

The rooms are roomy and clean, and housekeeping does a thorough job. Shops are an easy walk away, and for the price I think it's great value. The food is spectacular. There are lots of kids, so the hotel gets noisy and the pools crowded. A few steps into the sea and you hit rocks. Around breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can wait a long time for an elevator since there are only two for the whole hotel. Still, a nice hotel overall.

The beach was so dirty and covered in plastic that it was unusable, definitely not family-friendly. Sunbeds were another source of trouble: even though reserving them is against the rules, staff didn't enforce that. Guests had set aside six loungers for over six hours. When we used just two, they came back angry, and the hotel wouldn't step in or help. It was uncomfortable and easily avoidable if staff had done their job. Most staff, from reception to the bars, seemed uninterested and unhelpful. The waiters were rude and inattentive, which spoiled meals, though the kitchen and buffet staff were nice. The animation team was fantastic, housekeeping were very kind, and the food was generally good. I got an actual electric shock from a buffet station and had to go to hospital. The hotel denied responsibility despite medical confirmation, gave no apology, and tried to call it static electricity. They handled it with shocking indifference. Power also went out several times without explanation. The poolside and lobby floors were dangerously slippery; I saw several people fall, but no safety steps were taken. The beds were extremely hard. We had only one key card for the room, so the electricity, including air conditioning and the fridge, shut off when we went out. That's risky if you need to keep medication cool. This place has potential, but the safety issues, weak management, and poor service attitude mean I can't recommend it, especially to families or anyone with health or safety needs.

Once the room issue was finally sorted, the rest of our stay went smoothly. The food was good, the other staff were always friendly, the facilities decent, and the rooms new and clean. The beach was only a few minutes away, and its bar served good food and drinks. The start of the trip was awful. There were 15 of us, including six elderly relatives, and our travel agency had arranged and confirmed an airport transfer. We arrived after 10 p.m., but our rooms weren't ready. We were put in different room categories for the night and told we'd move the next morning. That was inconvenient, but things happen. In the morning, the rooms still weren't ready, and we were told to wait until after midday. We'd booked more than four months earlier and paid in full ahead of time, so we questioned the delay. The receptionist on duty laughed and dismissed us, saying nothing could be done and we'd have to wait. When we asked for the manager, it turned out he was the same person. He acted aggressively, told one of us “don't touch me,” and threatened to cancel all the rooms and refuse us entry. Our elderly relatives were distressed and confused. He blamed us for arriving late. He eventually calmed down, and we changed rooms mid-afternoon. The next day, the Join Up representative heard our complaint but said nothing could be done. She told us the manager often behaves rudely with other guests and that this was “normal for him.” That one man made the holiday excruciating. Someone so unfit to resolve internal problems shouldn't be dealing with guests. The hotel is very family-oriented, with lots of children and mostly Muslim guests. That's not a problem, but it may be better to avoid much public affection with your partner to prevent misunderstandings.