Ares Blue Hotel

The pool was pretty good, though cold, and the sun loungers were decent. They badly need umbrellas for shade. There was a DJ booth, but it played the same five songs every day, which got frustrating after a few hours. The lift never worked while we were there, and at checkout the staff were rude, didn’t say goodbye or ask about our stay. I won’t be back. The rooms were passable but not very clean, with no expectation of a daily clean and reset. The bathroom was grimy, and after a few days we found ants in there. Beds weren’t too bad, but not very comfortable. The balcony was nice, though there was only one chair for two people. The food was the worst I’ve ever had in a hotel. Dishes weren’t labelled and there was no allergy information, which felt scary with my dietary restrictions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were exactly the same every day. Customers pushed and shoved when the food hall opened. The bar looked dirty and served only warm white and red wine, beer and cola, despite spirits being displayed on the shelf. Slush drinks were full of wasps, and some got into the slush. Staff refused to change it and kept serving. More than once the glasses were dirty, or there weren’t any. The staff were the rudest I’ve ever encountered. There were no smiles or conversation with customers, and restaurant staff ignored you while you ate. They wore casual clothes like tracksuits rather than uniforms.

Avoid this place. The food was disgusting, and the room wasn’t cleaned, though that probably wouldn’t have helped. Staff were rude. It wasn’t really all-inclusive: drinks were limited to warm wine, beer and orange tango, and the bars kept closing. Meals were only served at set times, with nothing in between: breakfast 8-10, lunch 12:30-2, and dinner 7-9.

A big thank you to Oktay Öztürk, the bar and restaurant manager, for organizing things so well. The food was varied, delicious and served beautifully, with a new surprise for guests each evening. The waiters were polite and well-mannered, which reflects the work of a talented manager.

The food was woeful, and they only served beer and wine. They often ran out of beer. The room was small for three, and the bathroom shower was disgusting. There was no kettle, and we had to ask for clean towels, which took a day or two. The staff didn’t speak English. Lifts didn’t work. This hotel should be shut down. I wouldn’t go back even for a million pounds.