Side Royal Paradise

There was mold on the bathroom tiles, and the towels were stained. The cups and plates in the restaurant weren’t clean either. Most staff didn’t speak English, only German or Russian. On the plus side, the food was good with lots of variety, and sunbeds, drinks, and food were included at the beach.

The beach is close, but we barely used it because my whole family was throwing up. I think the mold and dirty plates were to blame. The mold smell is everywhere, especially at the bar, and it made it hard to enjoy the all-inclusive stay. The food wasn’t good, and things kept breaking at least once a day, so we couldn’t even get coffee from the machine. Service was poor, and only a few staff speak English. We tried calling reception twice because the hotel says the phone can be used 24/7, but someone there disconnected us both times.

The bar staff were great, and Murat from the shop was so friendly and helpful. Rose, who promotes the spa, was also a wonderful part of our holiday, and the massage was incredibly relaxing. The toilet in our room wasn’t working properly, though, and we had to wait 30 minutes before flushing again. When we arrived late, the supper offered was just soup and bread. We also had to pay for an upgrade if we wanted our 17-year-old daughter to stay nearby. The outdoor pool was very cold, while the indoor one was good but small. Food was repetitive, and by day seven I didn’t really want to eat. All-inclusive and entertainment didn’t amount to much: three similar meals a day, one beer on tap, and darts at 3pm. Not many staff spoke English, which wasn’t a problem by itself, but without knowing Rose and using a translator, we wouldn’t have been understood. The hotel cats are cute, but they can be vicious and sit by you while you eat. We wouldn’t come back, to be honest.

We arrived at night after the food had run out, but a curly-haired boy bought me something to eat, which was really kind of him. The room was good for the price, and everything is close to the hotel. The staff are nice, and I’d recommend the place if you don’t spend much time in your room. The food is good too.