Clover Magic Altinkum Park Hotel

We paid £505 for nine nights all-inclusive in two double rooms for single occupancy, under £28 a night. That was unbelievable value for a laid-back, friendly base. We’ve been coming to Side for years and usually stay in budget accommodation. If you want luxury or this is your first trip to Turkey, this probably isn’t the place for you. You might prefer a Barut or The Raga. But if you miss the old town’s former vibe, give it a go. We stayed in Altinkum, one of two parts of this small complex; the other is Nova, with individual bungalows. They share a lovely pool and a dining room overlooking the sea. The location is fantastic, the small pool is good, there are plenty of comfortable loungers, and the private beach is right in front. Our room was cleaned well, with beds and towels changed daily. The rooms could use some attention, especially the shower cubicles, and the bathroom drains smelled. A €1 bottle of bleach sorted that out. The staff were the real highlight. Every one of them was friendly, welcoming, and worked hard to make the stay enjoyable. The hotel mainly attracts German guests, so don’t expect British food. Meals were plentiful, if repetitive, and there was always something to eat. All-inclusive alcoholic drinks ran from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the usual local options; water, juice, coffee, fruit, and biscuits were available around the clock. Staff were constantly cleaning the shared spaces, and lots of people, possibly managers, walked around with clipboards taking notes. It looked like the new owners were making changes.

The staff work very hard, and the hotel is nice enough, but I’d suggest a branded hotel or another resort if you want more inclusive entertainment and food. It’s a pretty average place, though right by the beach, just a few feet away. I was there in September, when the pool was clean and pleasant, with plenty of sunbeds. The drains could use a proper clean. The balcony was shared, which wasn’t mentioned when booking, so I didn’t use it. Its light didn’t work, and it was very dark at night, with a risk of slipping or tripping. The walk through the Nova Beach huts to the restaurant was dark on the way back late at night, but I felt safer taking it to get to the Altinkum rooms than walking up the main road to reception. My room was cleaned regularly at first, then housekeeping seemed to disappear during the final week. I had no fresh towels or sheets, and the floor and bathroom weren’t cleaned for nearly a week. I found the towel storage and got my own. Reception staff were friendly and helpful, and arranged clean towels, but left them on the balcony instead of inside the room. The hammam attendant was pushy and rude when I declined his service. He charged €40 for the standard package, while other places charged €25. It wasn’t clear which drinks were included in all-inclusive, with no list posted. Fridges were stocked with water boxes day and night, but the machine coffee and juice tasted bad. Turkish tea was available in the restaurant, not by the bar. Restaurant and bar staff worked tirelessly, clearing tables constantly, sometimes before we’d finished. Meal times ended promptly, so there was no food outside those hours. The afternoon biscuits and cakes had no taste, and the bar smelled of stale alcohol, as if it wasn’t cleaned well. Food options were limited and repetitive, and nothing was labelled. There was no sign for the pide station or its hours, and you could miss the lovely Turkish woman making gözleme in a restaurant corner in the afternoons. Most guests were German or Turkish, and I was the only English speaker during my stay. Entertainment and music were in German. Waiters brought tea and coffee to German guests’ tables, while I had to get my own. Turkish night on my last evening was fun, though the entertainment was in German and Turkish.

The food at Clover magic hotels is excellent, and I had a good impression of the hotel itself. But be careful with the photographer, Mr Ozdemir ( Jack pirate ). You can pay for a shoot and still never receive the photos.

The sea was lovely, and the walk along the path to Side center takes about 10-15 minutes. We had a good time on the beach when we found a usable spot among the old, broken sunbeds and umbrellas. The hotel itself was a real letdown. After reading the reviews, we expected a lot from a 3-star place, but it felt very poorly run, and the prices seemed excessive. Our room didn’t look like the pictures online, and a dead spider stayed behind the bathroom door for days. The all-inclusive package was said to include local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, but only the vending machines were free. Hygiene at the bars was terrible, and cocktails were made using little tubes of shot alcohol. By the end of the first day I had a fever and body aches, which went away after I stopped drinking the hotel’s beverages. I bought beer from the market instead. The food looked varied, but the vegetables were tasteless and poor quality. We could only manage one or two dishes and ended up eating the same things for four days. The grill staff seemed tense, and most of the staff, apart from two or three people, looked very unhappy. I can honestly say I won’t go back.