Villa Side Residence

Our six year old girl was so happy playing with the other children, and the kids animation was great. Our older daughter is usually quite shy, but she spent every day with the animation team playing volleyball and table tennis. Such a good place for a holiday with children, I’d recommend it to everybody!

The beach and pool were perfect for families with kids, and the hotel was very clean with good food. The location and staff were lovely, and everyone speaks German. Music gets really loud after 9 PM, which is the only downside, though you can get used to it.

Our stay involved unexpected charges, poor communication, and facilities that weren’t available as we expected. Before arriving, we sent two emails about delayed flights and received no reply, even after checking spam. At reception, staff struggled with basic questions and kept saying, “wait, manager tomorrow.” The next morning we were told the manager was off for the weekend. Only after we insisted did someone call the manager. So the hotel’s claim that the manager was “in a meeting” is simply untrue. Communication was especially difficult with guest relations, and staff didn’t understand even basic English. The indoor pool was closed, though we chose the resort partly for that facility. Booking.com didn’t say it would be unavailable, or that it would close for the summer season. It was the end of October, and the outdoor pools were too cold to use. The arcade and indoor game room were advertised without any extra charges mentioned, but they weren’t complimentary. Half the outdoor play area and the water park slides were also closed “for the weekend,” something we weren’t told before booking. We paid for full access, and it’s unreasonable to close major attractions without adjusting the price. Guests should know about seasonal or weekend closures in advance. The listing called the resort all-inclusive, but we were told we had to pay an extra €12 per person to book the restaurants. That fee wasn’t visible on Booking.com or mentioned before arrival. Charging it without advance notice is misleading. In almost all five-star Antalya resorts, the arcade and game areas are included too. The hotel also said our room had been upgraded as a goodwill gesture. That isn’t true. We were first given a poor “donkey-view” room, and only moved after two days of complaints. That was a correction to an unacceptable room assignment, not a goodwill upgrade. These were genuine problems, including misleading facility information, unexpected fees, and a lack of basic customer service. Instead of saying our statements aren’t factual, the hotel should address the issues transparently for future guests. This hotel isn’t suitable for young couples.

The beach was a highlight for me, with the tunnel, shuttle, and a local bar and restaurant making it easy to get there. I’d rate the beach 9/10. For the price, it’s a good deal compared with other five-star resorts, also 9/10. But having stayed at many five-star all inclusive resorts worldwide, I wouldn’t call this one five-star. At most I’d give it four, maybe 3.5/5 if the categories are weighted objectively. Several areas need serious improvement. I spent almost 12 days here. The pools, aqua facilities, and general amenities were quite good for everyone, 8/10. The kids’ activities were varied enough, 8/10, though the program repeats. Adult and evening entertainment also gets 8/10, with lots of options but a lot of Turkish music. The hotel is already old and needs upgrades in many areas, 7/10. It’s probably the least green hotel I’ve visited, 3/10. There was plenty of food all day, with nothing major to complain about, 8/10. The main restaurant had long queues for main courses, and lots of people skipped the line without anyone caring. Staff friendliness and customer service were 6/10. People often seemed tired or annoyed and didn’t smile much, and English was very limited, even at reception. Not all tourists speak German, and I’m German myself. Alcohol was 6/10, as the drinks and cocktails weren’t really good. WiFi was 5/10 and very poor in most areas, almost nonexistent around the pool. The spa was 8/10 for its prices and massage selection, though what you get isn’t the same as what was discussed. The à la carte was 3/10. Charging €12 per person is unheard of at all inclusive resorts, and there should be one free reservation.