Lalila Blue Suites

The pool snack bar has a great range, including pasta, pizza, fried chicken and salads, rather than just the usual burgers and hot dogs. The main meals have been good too. We had no trouble switching from a double bed to a twin when we arrived, as I was travelling with my mother in law. Jay Jay from entertainment has kept everyone busy with darts, bingo and games during the day. Turkish night with bingo was last night, and the karaoke the night before had everyone joining in and singing along. We're staying at Lalila Blue Suites now and have been really impressed with the service and staff.

Food and service were generally good, and the drinks were okay, though the cocktails were poor. It's all-inclusive, so I wasn't expecting too much. The entertainment wasn't for me: no singers or bands, just juggling and folk dancing. Smoking is allowed almost everywhere apart from reception and the dining room, so this place feels like heaven for smokers. Management says smoking isn't allowed in rooms, yet they leave an ashtray and matches there. They also claim towels are taken off reserved loungers after breakfast if nobody is using them. We stayed a week and never saw a single towel removed. If you don't smoke, I wouldn't recommend it.

The spa was a real highlight. We were hesitant about booking anything because we prefer to make our own choices, but the deluxe couples' treatment was two hours of bliss. We liked it so much that we booked the aftersun treatment for the day before we left. The indoor pool is another lovely quiet spot if you want a break from the sun. It's hardly used by other guests. We came for a peaceful break right after getting married. Check-in went smoothly, and we appreciated the fruit basket and red wine. I had mentioned a honeymoon suite in our requests, but nobody asked us about upgrades, and it might already have been booked. The hotel was modern and immaculate, and the staff were generally pleasant and helpful. The manager was cheerful and involved with guests, though I didn't like seeing him shout at a towel attendant over a guest bringing a glass drink to the pool. The guest was at fault, in my view, and staff deserve to be spoken to respectfully. Food was a good standard but repetitive, with much the same choices from breakfast through dinner. We were disappointed there was no doner kebab, which we'd been looking forward to, so we ate out one night. Spirits seemed heavily watered down, and it was hard to feel any effect. The wine and beer seemed stronger. Cocktails tasted nice but more like mocktails. The pool area is nice but small. Getting a lounger was difficult unless you came out before 7am, even though people sometimes didn't start using reserved beds until 11 or 12. A timed system and removing towels after two hours away might help. The two male entertainers were brilliant at getting people involved, especially Jay Jay, who was fun and professional. The female entertainer was nice, though her dresses didn't seem suitable if she had to keep pulling them down. Some evening shows were good and others just okay. The Motown trio were among the best I've seen, while the acrobatics felt familiar after seeing one act. Pool games were always popular, though many guests seemed more interested in relaxing than joining in. I felt for the entertainment staff, as that must make their job harder. The hotel also seems to have little control over the quality of entertainment available in Turkey. Our stay was brilliant and we'd recommend the place, though we tend to choose somewhere new each time and probably wouldn't return.

Delnia, the Guest Relations Manager, made us feel so well looked after. She arranged balloons and decorations for my partner's 40th birthday, booked the à la carte restaurant, and checked in with us regularly. Mezut, the restaurant manager, was always smiling and laughing, and made every meal feel cheerful. At the pool bar, Speedy and Emre served tasty cocktails and kept us entertained with their banter. I drank them all day without getting tipsy, which I'm blaming on the local alcohol, not their mixing. Jack and Naz were great with the daytime activities. I'm usually happy just lying in the sun, and they remembered that after getting me to try the morning dance club and darts at 11:30. They let me enjoy some quiet time too. Evening entertainment was short and sweet, with bingo on some nights when enough guests were around. The hotel was spotless, and the staff clearly worked hard to keep everything in good order. The rooms were modern and comfortable, with blackout curtains, although the control panel lights were bright enough that I'd bring an eye mask if you need a fully dark room. The pool and sunbathing space are small, but I always found a lounger. The restaurant side gets the morning sun, the cabana beds get it in the afternoon, and there are beds upstairs too. Staff were quick to help if we needed a spot. There's no children's entertainment and only a couple of kids were around during our stay, so it felt better suited to couples or adults. The food was tasty and varied, if sometimes not hot, and I never went hungry. There's even a whole room for cheese, which I made the most of, as my scales can confirm. We met lovely people, including first-time visitors like us and guests who've been coming for years. I can see why they return. Lalila Blue Suites felt like a happy place where guests become part of the family. We'll definitely be back.