Vonresort Golden Beach

We had a good holiday at Von Resort Golden Beach during October half term. We’re a family of four, with two adults and two early-teen girls, and stayed in a recently refurbished two-bedroom suite with two bathrooms and a kitchenette. The resort had plenty of sunbeds and tables, unlimited all-inclusive food and drink, clean modern pools and facilities, and nice artwork and flowers. The shuttle to the beach was easy, and the girls enjoyed the waterslides. For the price, we could overlook some issues we hadn’t seen at more mid-range resorts. The weather was lovely, around 27°C by day and 20°C in the evening, with a pleasant cool breeze. There were thunderstorms one day, but otherwise it was a great time of year for a Brit with pale skin, without the intensity of summer sun. By the activity pool, daytime snacks were nice, and there were darts, Zumba, aqua aerobics and yoga. Staff led dances to raise the energy, but nothing felt pushy. There was no service at the tables or sunbeds, but the bar was only a short walk away. The food choices were limited, and the buffet was much the same day to day, with a bit more variety at dinner. We didn’t try the à la carte options because it seemed harder to change your mind if you didn’t like the food. The kids were happy and could always find something tasty, but the standard wasn’t as good as other resorts we’ve visited at a higher price. Foodies should keep expectations in check. The cocktails were hit and miss depending on who made them, ranging from delicious to disgusting. They ran out of rum during our stay, and it felt like they were closing down for the end of the year. Staff seemed disinterested and often weren’t very welcoming or engaging. Maybe the season was nearly over and they’d had enough of tourists. The bag porter was an exception, as was an older female cook who fried eggs in the morning and made pancakes by the activity pool in the afternoon. She always greeted us with a warm smile and wave. Our suite was newly refurbished, but the finish was very poor. During a thunderstorm, water came in and flooded the lounge, and the showers leaked. The bathroom lock was on the wrong side of the door, cupboard doors rubbed against the walls, and the kitchenette had a hob and sink but nothing to use with them. We asked for a kettle and cups and got them, but would have liked a properly equipped kitchenette. On the plus side, the beds were comfortable, the girls liked the free minibar, and the air conditioning worked well. It’s a shame the rooms weren’t finished properly and the construction was done with so little care. Without those problems, the room could have been a highlight. Even with the issues, we’d recommend the resort for the price. We had a nice holiday and were never hungry or thirsty. There was no pushiness or rudeness, and we enjoyed playing games without the stress of an overcrowded resort.

The gardens were my favourite part, with beautiful flowers and the scent of Japanese honeysuckle. We enjoyed our stay in a family room that hadn’t been renovated, despite hearing complaints about those rooms. It met what I’d expect from a four-star hotel, and booking Golden Beach also let us use the grounds of the two pricier sister hotels, Elite and Golden Coast. The cigarette smell was the main annoyance. Since the windows are open, you end up breathing smoke from outside even when sitting indoors. I think this hotel, and hotels across Turkey, should become completely smoke-free. It’s not good for children or anyone to keep inhaling cigarette smoke. There weren’t many TV channels, and the only English one was a Chinese news channel. Most were German or Russian.

The pools and water park were brilliant, with plenty of room and no hassle finding sunbeds, and the beach was lovely for relaxing. Our son had a great time at the kids club, where the team kept him busy from start to finish. The food was a highlight too, with lots of variety each day and several restaurants to choose from. I’ve never been much of an all-inclusive holiday fan, but Bon Resort changed my mind. The staff welcomed us warmly and surprised us with a free room upgrade. Our room was spacious and comfortable, a little dated perhaps, but perfectly fine. Most staff were very friendly, and a few really stood out for their service. The WiFi could be better, but vonResort was a fantastic summer break. We had a wonderful time and couldn’t have asked for more!

I generally recommend the hotel, but I had a bad experience at the bar today. I ordered two drinks, expecting two different brands, and the bartender brought a different brand. I told him twice what I’d asked for, but he mocked my explanation and argued that I’d only ordered whiskey. When I said that, under the laws and regulations, the customer is always right, he replied, “He’s not.” The bartender, Yılmaz, may not hear well, but the real issue was his disrespect. I’ve been visiting hotels in Türkiye for 40 years and have never had this kind of problem before. He deserves a warning. Poor hearing doesn’t give anyone the right to be disrespectful.