Port Side Resort

The animation team deserves special praise. Romeo was amazing with the kids, who all loved him, and Melo, their boss, was friendly and outgoing. They offered plenty of sports, from beach volleyball, boccia, table tennis, table football and water polo to aqua gym and darts. The team was open to suggestions and happy to join in. There’s also a disco trip once a week for 15€, including one drink. The hotel feels more family-oriented, so I wouldn’t pick it if partying is the main aim, though there are clubs nearby. We stayed 10 days, our first time in Turkey, and the experience made us want to visit again. Everyone from reception to housekeeping and the waiters was friendly and there for us. Room service was spotless, and one day they even made a crocodile out of towels, which was a nice touch. Food was amazing and there was so much of it, with something available about every two hours at the snack bar, pool or beach. Most of the waiting staff were good, though a few were slower. The spa was a little too expensive for us. I’d suggest looking elsewhere for a hamam and massage, since you can get the same treatment in town for about a third of the price. The gym is small but has the basics to keep you in shape on holiday. It’s not one of the area’s bigger hotels, but I’d definitely choose to come back.

The people working here were kind and keen to help, and the hotel was very clean. The pool has a bar and snacks, with something sweet or savory available even between meals. There’s also a private beach with lots of sunbeds, a bar and a restaurant that serves lunch and stays open later than the hotel restaurant. Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, had good variety. Internet was available in the lobby, pool, room and beach, though it wasn’t very fast. They also offered a PCR test at the hotel for €17 per person before our return, with results the next day. Our flight home was at night, and they let us stay well past the usual 12:00 check-out, which I appreciated. The resort seems geared towards German and Turkish guests. Kids’ activities and evening shows were in German and Turkish, and most waiters spoke those languages rather than English. It may not be a good fit to advertise it on Dutch websites. Whenever you go to the spa to change pool towels, staff try to sell you services. Showing them once is fine, but being pushed every time gets annoying. There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants in the area, but the hotel isn’t close to central Side. One of the animation staff offered to arrange a ride to a particular nightclub and said we could pay him. Once we were on the bus, he changed the destination and took us to another club. He’d also promised a cocktail as part of the price, but we got a small shot instead. Drinks there were extremely expensive, much more than here. We enjoyed the night, but I’d expect that kind of behavior from someone outside the hotel.

I saw a cat being kicked, and the way animals were treated here was very bad. The buffet was dull and uninspired, with the same food every day and few or no changes. The restaurant only served two times a week, and staff refused to serve the outdoor area or beach deck because of a little rain. The hotel seemed aimed at people over 50, who were very unfriendly. It felt like an unfriendly retirement home, absolutely no recommendation.

We were moved here from the lake and riverside hotel without being told beforehand. This place was truly terrible. The food was disgusting and not worth one lira, and loud music played all night so we couldn’t sleep. I’d rather have stayed in a roadside motel.