Royal Holiday Palace

We won’t return, and we’ll complain to the travel agency for selling this as a five-star hotel. The price is too high for the experience, and it didn’t feel worthy of five stars. We’d heard people say you don’t go back to Greece after Turkey, but that definitely wasn’t true for us. There were positives: the staff were friendly, the weather was nice, the pool was big and long, and there were several waterslides. The entertainment team wasn’t constantly making noise or pushing people to join in, and there were lots of cats. They didn’t jump on you or beg for food, but would come over if you tossed them some. The food was a major letdown. It was often cold, and the choices were limited enough that we were eating the same standard dishes every day. Desserts had no labels, which caused a lot of avoidable waste. Cutlery was already on the tables, and with cats around, I wondered how long it had been there. The dining dress rules weren’t enforced either, despite clear mention of them: people wore bathing suits, and men wore shorts and flip-flops. The shower temperature swung from scalding to freezing after about two seconds, which seemed dangerous for children. The rooms had carpet, which didn’t feel hygienic. And guests seemed to assume everyone was German. The towel situation at the pool was frustrating. People left towels on beds and disappeared, sometimes claiming two beds on each side so they could move when the shade shifted. I’d suggest requiring them to bring a card to the bar within an hour, removing towels if they don’t, or using room-numbered towels and warning repeat offenders or limiting their towel service. Staff were working hard, but there weren’t enough of them for the number of guests. People jumped from the pool bridges despite it being forbidden, drinks were missing at meals, and sometimes it was hard to find a clean dinner table. The people bothered by the towel problem are the ones who count most as guests.

The pool was beautiful, the evening shows were fantastic, and the hotel was very clean. Drinks service around the pool was good, and the restaurant waiters helped make our holiday. Kecep looked after us with real care every morning, and Omar from the animation team was fun, friendly, and a real asset. Food safety was a serious problem for me. Buffet dishes weren’t labelled, so with allergies I couldn’t tell what I could safely eat and had to stick to basics like chips. Cross-contamination was also poorly handled: at breakfast the nuts were right beside the other pancake toppings, and nuts had fallen into them. With my severe nut allergy, that was dangerous. Non-smoking areas were limited too, and cigarette smoke could be smelled throughout the hotel because so many guests seemed to smoke constantly. At the Moonlight Bar, the non-smoking section was just a far back corner with no view of the stage or performers, and no way to join the dancing. That felt very unfair. Housekeeping missed the shower gel and shampoo for three days, and I eventually had to call reception to have those basic supplies refilled. At checkout, the receptionist asked for my room number, took my key, and said nothing else, without asking about the stay or wishing me a safe trip. I’d just come back from 10 nights at Royal Holiday Palace, and despite the great holiday, these issues need attention.

We came as a family of four, two adults and two children, and left after seven days wishing we’d had time to try everything. There were different activities each afternoon and evening, and the large heated pool never seemed overcrowded. There were plenty of sunbeds. The hotel was clean, with lots of food choices and attractions for younger and older children. Staff were kind and helpful despite the heat, and we especially remember our friendly, always smiling waiter Okkes. There were plenty of lifeguards and other staff around, so we felt safe and well looked after. We’d seen reviews mentioning guests feeling unsafe or experiencing theft, but that wasn’t our impression at all. We felt comfortable leaving our belongings in the room and at the beach or pool. A wonderful family stay, and we’d gladly come back.

The food was the one disappointment: a lot of dishes seemed carelessly prepared, lacked flavor, or arrived cold or lukewarm. That stood out against the otherwise high standard. The rooms were clean, staff were friendly, and the hotel felt welcoming and relaxing. Its location in Antalya also made it easy to enjoy the beach and city. I still recommend the Royal Palace Hotel for a comfortable stay, and hope the dining improves.