Liberty Fabay Hotel

The beach was the quietest spot for us, with hardly anyone around, and we could even snore without disturbing too many people. We’d started at the adult pool, but it could get busy. There were a few ants by the beach, though no flies, so it didn’t bother us much. Our sea view room was amazing and very clean, thanks to alayh (sorry if I spelled your name wrong). The iron and ironing board were useful, and the towel artwork on the bed was a nice touch. The light controls are touch buttons, which got frustrating when my husband pressed the wrong one without looking and turned off the shower light. Then it was pitch black. Still, it’s a great hotel and worth the money. We hope to see you again soon, thanks for a lovely holiday! The staff were amazing from the start. Amatis welcomed us and was happy to help with anything. We booked the Asian restaurant, where kursat and mikhail looked after us really well. The main restaurant could be busy at night, so we tried the adult restaurant instead. It was quiet, had better desserts, and the staff there also went out of their way to help.

We’ve stayed at plenty of luxury hotels and five-star resorts, but Liberty Fabay gave my husband and me one of our best holidays. The resort is beautiful, modern, spotless and very well looked after. Food was excellent, with lots of choice and good ingredients, and the cocktails were among the best we’ve had at an all-inclusive, consistently made with premium brands. As a couple in our 30s, we liked the mix of downtime and things to do. The pools, food court, beach bar, yoga and activities were all great. The evening shows were spectacular, and the DJ beach parties with live music and lasers were a highlight. We also loved having the midnight restaurant. The team made us feel welcome throughout. Thanks to Gizem at the beach bar for working so hard and giving such good service, and to Tugba, the Guest Relations team and the General Manager as well. Zerda and the entertainment team deserve a special mention too. They helped the evenings feel fun in a natural way, dancing and chatting with guests without being pushy. If someone was a bit reserved, they’d invite them onto the dance floor and help them feel included. It felt more like hanging out with friends, and as a couple we appreciated how genuine and welcoming they were. We were also impressed by the hair salon. Soner was fantastic. I was thinking of getting a more expensive balayage, but he honestly said it wasn’t the best choice for my hair. I respected his professionalism and honesty. My husband was just as happy with his haircut, and the salon team’s service and skills were outstanding. One small suggestion: the roller-skating waiter service wasn’t as consistent in some restaurant areas, depending on where you sat. I was excited to buy iris photographs from the eye photography service as an optometrist, but the images we received didn’t match the quality shown at the booth. I’ve emailed twice without a reply, and would appreciate someone looking into it. We’d happily return and recommend Liberty Fabay. It was an incredible holiday and a real five-star experience.

The kids club, Libby and Bertie, was a lovely part of our early April holiday. They had lots of different activities, including discos, games, a "science" show and an Easter festival with plenty of sweet treats. There were lots of swimming areas, plus the sauna and steam room. The hotel stayed clean even through a couple of rainy days. We were meant to stay at the sister hotel, but got moved here before travelling, and have no regrets. The food was lovely too, with fresh grilled meat, salads, bread and dips, and plenty of chips and nuggets for anyone who likes those. The staff we met at the late-opening Chinese restaurant were top class, and everyone working here was welcoming and courteous.

Update: management and guest relations were proactive and tried hard to sort out many of the issues. They checked the pool temperature, and while it never got properly warm, it was at least acceptable for swimming. The operations manager also personally made sure they had sugar-free oatmeal at breakfast for babies. Service can still be hit or miss, especially at the spa, which we don’t think is worth the price. But management clearly cares about improving the hotel. Just avoid travelling after Ramadan, as it gets very crowded. We picked Liberty Fabay after being told the spa pool and outdoor pools would be heated, and expected more based on that and the reviews. The design is modern and looks nice, but the stay didn’t live up to the image. The rooms felt smaller than we expected, with thin doors and walls and poor soundproofing. We were near the elevator, but could easily hear people in the corridor, housekeeping outside and general hallway noise. It didn’t feel peaceful or premium. The food selection was big, but much of it was bland, and there were long waits even for basic things like meat. Breakfast was weak for this hotel category, with no eggs Benedict or even simple poached eggs with salmon. Basic Turkish items were inconsistent too. We asked for hummus at breakfast and were told it would be available at lunch, then at lunch were told there was none. Some tomatoes in the kids section were clearly spoiled, and nobody seemed to care. The spa was a big letdown. The indoor pool was too cold to enjoy, and even the hammam stone slabs were cold when they should have been heated. The outdoor pools were also supposed to be heated, but the hotel said there had been issues. Even after they said those were fixed, the pools were only slightly warm and not pleasant to swim in. Management and attention to detail were the main service problems. Staff were around, but too many things got missed, and it felt like nobody cared enough. We ordered two cappuccinos at breakfast, but only one came, and it was cold. Little things like that kept happening. It cost about twice as much as Jiva Beach, but Jiva Beach was much better for food, staff care and how well the place was run. Liberty Fabay may look more upscale in photos, but it didn’t deliver where it mattered.