Riolavitas Resort & Spa

The hotel was excellent, especially when it came to cleanliness. Rabia and Hilal cleaned our room and were always smiling and so kind. They did their work exceptionally well and professionally.

The hotel was extremely disappointing, and I can't recommend it. The rooms weren't soundproof, and some neighbors sang after having a few drinks. Its location between two other hotels also meant constant noise from several directions, so there was no relaxing atmosphere. Other basic problems included old renovations, crumbling plaster, mold in the pool, dirty sunbeds, and sand in the water. Meals were repetitive every day. At dinner, guests had to collect their own cutlery, and tables were often left uncleared with dirty dishes piling up while people looked for seats. Not once during our stay did a waiter offer us drinks at the table, so we always had to go to the bar ourselves. The entertainment team seemed unenthusiastic and put in little effort. One animator didn't know the dance moves, activities were poorly communicated, and announcements were almost nonexistent. The sound system was unpleasant, with speakers screeching every day and songs being cut off mid-play. Housekeeping and service were unprofessional, too. Staff came into our room without permission even when the “Do Not Disturb” sign was on. After five nights, they brought in an extra bed we'd never asked for and moved our belongings, including luggage. At reception, the lady working didn't seem happy or ready to answer guests' questions. When we asked another person why staff ignored the sign, they asked only whether the room had been cleaned. We said no, and they seemed more surprised about that than about someone entering the room against our wishes. Housekeepers eventually came to remove the unnecessary bed, but never put the furniture or our things back where they had been. This was far from our first stay in Turkey, and we've had much better service at other, actually 5* hotels. Everything here, from cleanliness and food to service and entertainment, fell well below expectations.

The rooms were clean and pleasant, though the shower rails had bits of chewing gum stuck to them, and the walls were so thin we could hear everything. We had two standard double rooms booked with pool views: my partner and I got a double bed but barely any view, while our friends had twin beds. When we complained, nothing could be done until the next day. At check-in, hardly anyone spoke English, we were only asked for a reference and given wristbands, and we had to pay €20 for a safe. Food was awful, with hardly any choice. I mostly ate chips, and it didn’t seem good for children. Evening entertainment was disappointing and a 20-minute walk away on the beach. Saturday was the best night, but there was no English music on any night. You couldn’t get proper cocktails in the evening, just things like vodka and coke made far too strong. The pool bar barely had cocktails either, and no strawberry daiquiris. The bar staff also struggled with English. The entertainment team could be rude if you didn’t join activities, then ignore you for days. They pushed us to buy bingo and raffle tickets so much that they were peering into my partner’s wallet. The beach snack bar was a bright spot, with some nice food and drinks on certain days. There was one lovely evening staff member whose name I didn’t catch, and he went out of his way to help us. Getting a dinner table was a race, cutlery was often missing, and we had to chase staff to get it. They advertised a foam party for Wednesday, but when we asked, we were told it was cancelled because the weather was too cold, even though it was 30-32 degrees. There’s little within walking distance. We wanted to go to the markets, but staff sent us by bus to the wrong place, wasting our time and money. Seeing camel ride workers outside the hotel hit us hard: they were smacking the camels and trying to push them into vans. We paid over €2,000 for this holiday and came away really disappointed. I’d put this at 2 or 3 stars, not 5, and would avoid this hotel and probably the Side area, where there seems to be very little around.

The cats that wander into the restaurant are harmless. Guests seem to like them, pet them, and even try to give them food. I hope the staff are making sure they get food and water, especially in this heat, instead of chasing them off as I’ve seen happen. They’re only looking for affection, something to eat, and water. Chasing them away feels inhumane.