Port River Hotel & Spa

The location was the main reason I probably wouldn't choose this resort again. It's on the village side, with no shops or supermarkets nearby, and the closest one was a 15-20 minute walk. A taxi from the hotel cost a ridiculous amount, while the shops and little bazaar downstairs charged tourist prices. The buffet didn't have much variety, and the 24/7 food at the animation area was the same limited choice of hamburgers and pizza every day. The salon was interesting, though, and the indoor pool was cool. Our room was spacious, mostly clean and hygienic, and the heating and air conditioning worked well. Under the bed was very dusty, the toilet leaked, and the shower broke once. We reported it and someone came to look. The cleaners were lovely and asked if we wanted the room serviced. Some staff, including receptionists, were friendly, but others looked like they didn't want to be there and could have smiled. Most spoke limited English, but we managed to communicate. I would have preferred a kettle and tea or coffee in the room instead of going down three floors for a coffee, even though it was unlimited for all-inclusive guests. It wasn't a bad stay, and was pleasant enough, but the food options and location weren't for me.

The hotel is in a really bad spot, and no taxi would come there, so we felt stranded. There also wasn't much to do at the hotel for free. For a budget holiday it was good, though you can get better for the same price. The food choices were limited, mostly vegetables and carbs with maybe one or two meat options, but it tasted really good. Turkish food can seem a little bland to me, and this was seasoned incredibly well, so I'm fine with fewer choices when the quality is there. The staff were helpful, but they often looked angry and moody, which made them harder to approach. Our room was pretty clean overall, although the towels had stains even though they seemed clean. The bidet leaked everywhere. Housekeeping was super nice, stocked the fridge with drinks, and made the room look lovely. I don't agree that this is a five-star hotel, but it wasn't a bad experience. We went at Christmas, so it was quite cold. I think with the outdoor pools and slides open in summer, it could be a really nice holiday.

We had pancakes every breakfast and they were delicious, and the waterslides were super fun. The location is amazing, with good food and games. Our suite was cleaned every day and soda was put in the fridge. We also found two cats and named them Coal and Juicy. I'd highly recommend the hotel to anyone. The cat in the picture is the one we named Juicy.

We paid a few pennies to catch the bus outside, since there isn't much around and the nearest shops are about a 15-minute walk away. For the price, with the food, drinks, and weather we had, we had a good time. The staff seemed a bit distant on day one, but after the people from Russia left, they were really friendly and brought drinks to our table in the afternoon. There's a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with plenty of food. Pasta, chips, and the basics are there every day, while the meat changes most days. No bacon in Turkey, sorry. There's also an outdoor BBQ, a beach grill serving food from noon, and a small 24-hour poolside fast-food place with nuggets, pizza, and similar things. If you're still hungry, you can book one of the a la carte restaurants, though we didn't try one. The hotel could use a little TLC, but the toilets are always clean, with two cleaners there all day. There are about five cats around and no cat poo. They leave you alone if you don't feed them. The pool gets cleaned early, then salt is added, which I personally prefer to chemicals. We saw a guy walk around photographing a tear in a chair after he'd had three plates of dinner, and his partner seemed to be having a great time at belly dance class after a few glasses of GT. If you want to find something wrong, you will. We're leaving tomorrow after 10 days. It isn't five-star, though Turkey rates things differently.