XL Hotels Hotel

The place could have been stunning, but it felt like squatting in a Disney Castle. The beer was warm and came in cans, and only some of it was cold. There was just one spirit, vodka, though the Russians didn’t seem to mind. The food was edible, but far from appealing. I heard people saying TUI was taking over and seemed to be cutting costs. We arrived in the early hours and were put in a room under the pool, known as the dungeons. It stank, the bathroom had no doors, and flea-like creatures were roaming around. We put up with it for a few days, then the AC started making random noises and jingles all night. Eventually we were moved into a room in the hotel, which was much better. Good luck.

We got a really good deal on this hotel, but after reading the bad reviews I was dreading the holiday, I won’t lie. The staff were friendly and tried their best to understand and speak English, despite what earlier reviews said. We’re in Turkey, so we can’t expect everyone else to speak our language. We English are the ones who assume and don’t learn theirs. The hotel and our room were clean. It’s clearly being renovated: it looks fairly modern, but some rooms are only half finished. A few wires were sticking out of the wall, though they were covered with electrical tape. Our shower water wasn’t hot. We noticed hotels in Turkey have water tanks on the roof for the sun to heat, so the water isn’t warm. On a 30-40 degree day, a cooler shower wasn’t so bad. It was September, near the end of the holiday season, and I’m sure the hotel will look brilliant once it’s ready for next year, outside peak summer. If you’re fussy about food and have the palate of a five-year-old, you’ll be disappointed, complain, and eat out like half the reviewers. But if you like salads, pasta, soup, meat stews, grilled fish, and omelettes, the typical food you’d expect in a hot country, you’ll be happy. You’re in Turkey, not at a five-star restaurant in England. The beer comes in cans and was decent. The water wasn’t chilled, and some beers were cold while others weren’t. With the demand at this hotel, it’s no surprise everything wasn’t cool enough. The cocktails were a bit of a mystery, some great and some not. For what we paid, there was no way we could get close to £600 for a week for two people, including food, drinks, flights, and transfers, in the UK. There’s a shuttle bus to the beach, and it’s a ten-minute walk into town. The hill back up is an absolute killer, but there’s a taxi rank at the bottom of the road and a ride back to the hotel costs £4. We got a bloody good deal, so I can’t complain. If you’re expecting the Ritz, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a cheap holiday, and you make of it what you will.

The meals were pretty good, and most of the staff were genuinely kind, especially the receptionist who checked us in and the women looking after the dining area. The bartender, though, gave us a bad impression. Our room was in rough shape. The toilet had unpleasant stains, the lights and air conditioning didn't work properly, WiFi was unreliable across most of the resort, and the room service phone was broken. There were no duvets, and housekeeping came just once during our stay. I wish I'd read the reviews before booking. The pool and nearby beach could suit someone looking to relax, but the location isn't very convenient. We were glad to have a rental car for visiting attractions. Without one, we would've felt stuck.

The gardens are green and well kept, and the pool is lovely with plenty of sunbeds. You'll need to get up early to claim a particular spot. It was quiet, with no pounding music or entertainment, and we found ourselves wishing there'd been a little more atmosphere. The beach was nice, though we didn't use the bar there. We were told it only served soft drinks and coffee. The town is two minutes away by taxi, which cost 200 lira, but mind the hill. Our room was across the pool and down some steps, so I can't speak for the main hotel rooms. It was roomy, the bed was comfortable and the air conditioning worked great, but the room itself was shabby and poorly finished. It smelled so much like a drain that we went out and bought air freshener. The shower was huge but never got properly warm, and its oddly angled head had to be held the whole time. The view from the panoramic bar is stunning. The drinks were disappointing, though. The pina coladas were good when they had the ingredients, and the bars seemed short staffed, so order more than one drink at a time. Everyone we met on staff was pleasant and spoke reasonable English. We were pleasantly surprised by the food at first, but by day four I couldn't stomach it. The same bland dishes came out at every meal. We ate out half the nights and spent a fortune, which was really disappointing for an all inclusive stay. Still, the people we met and the town and surrounding area made for a lovely holiday. We wouldn't return to the x life hotel.