🏨 Hotels in Turkey: from 3* to 5* – full comparison
When choosing a hotel in Turkey, I asked myself: should I fork out for five stars or, even more expensive, “Lux”? Or I can get a high level of comfort, but for less money in a lower class hotel.
The main criteria that I have defined for myself:
- Rating and reviews. The first thing I pay attention to when I monitor hotels on travel sites is the rating. I decided not to consider anything below 7.5 on booking. In addition, I study the reviews of those who have already been lucky enough to add to their collection of impressions in the selected hotels. Should you trust the opinions of strangers? Everyone decides for themselves. But in some reviews you can find information that is not in the eloquent description from hotel representatives and which the tour operator is silent about.
- Food and drinks. In India or Thailand, I would not choose a hotel with breakfast. But in Turkey I am considering All Inclusive. Since I’m going to the sea, I want to see high-quality seafood, a lot of greens and fruits in my diet. There should be plenty of this. Standing in a crowd of vacationers five minutes before the restaurant opens in order to have time to collect a plate is definitely not my option. For drinks, it is important to have plenty of clean drinking water. I hardly drink alcohol, but if I really want it, it’s high-quality alcohol, not moonshine from a relative of the hotel manager.
- Staff and service. Polite staff who greet guests with a smile and not with irritation on their faces affect the rest.
- Beach. Although I sometimes look into the pool, I still prefer the sea with a sandy beach. But I know that many people like pebbles. The road to the sea should take no more than 10 minutes. I wouldn’t want to fight for a sun lounger and umbrellas with other vacationers, so I’d prefer a hotel with its own beach.
- Scope and luxury. If it’s a bed, then it’s one that you can sleep on as an asterisk. And if there is a bath, then so that two people can fit in without covering their ears with their knees. Large flowering gardens, transparent pools and wide paths leading straight to the beach.
- Entertainment. For children, animators, children's activities and a water park. And something relaxing for adults – a spa center with massages, a gym, karaoke, an evening program.
- Neighborhood. Walking around the territory, you want to see not a wasteland behind its walls, but the beauty of the local nature. And when going outside, it is important how easy it is to get to a restaurant, attractions or the city center.
- Comfort. Here I mean the wonders of civilization, like WI-Fi, air conditioning, hair dryer
Having found out for myself the basic requirements that I will rely on when choosing a hotel, I begin to study hotels. I'll start with perhaps the least stellar ones.
The price is indicated for 2 people per day and is current at the time of publication. For more information, contact travel agency Tiqets.com.
3 stars
Miarosa Incekum West Resort, Avsallar
Rating: 7.9
Cost: €158
The hotel is located in Alanya, 3 km from the city of Avsallar. In addition to the outdoor pools, you can soak up the private stretch of sandy Incekum Beach. You can get there through an underground passage.
It is possible to choose a room with a view of the garden or the sea. The apartments have air conditioning, TV and minibar.
There are many flowers and spreading trees on the territory, in the shade of which there are comfortable sofas and you can hide from the scorching sun.
The cuisine in the hotel restaurant deserves special attention – a lot of fish, meat and delicious fruits. True, the food is not very varied and can become boring within a week.
For guests there is a good hammam, fitness center and animation.
But it is better to take excursions outside the hotel. Yes, and the coffee is instant and its taste leaves much to be desired.
But most of all, according to reviews from vacationers, the cacophony caused by music near the pools is annoying. Too noisy if you want to take a nap in the middle of the day or need to put the kids to bed.
Best Alanya Hotel, Alanya
Rating: 8.1
Cost: €178
The hotel is located 200 meters from the Mediterranean Sea. 3 minutes and you're on the beach. True, it is small-pebble and public. The cost of a sun lounger, mattress and umbrella is about €2.
The restaurant offers buffet-style meals, but it is better to arrive early. The food is good, but the menu is a bit limited. There are bars in the lobby and by the pool with spirits and more.
The hotel itself and the area are small. The interior and textiles are tired, but clean enough. There will be enough personal hygiene products for a couple of times, so it is better to take it with you or buy it on the spot.
There is nowhere to go near the hotel, except for small local cafes. And 5 km away is one of the attractions of Alanya – Syedra Castle.
Transfer to the airport is paid, as in most cases, but there is free parking.
If your priority is saving money and simply lying on the beach, then you can consider this hotel. If you want more comfort, then you need to look for something else.
Hotel Dream Of Side, Side
Rating: 8.1
Cost: €196
The hotel is cozy with a small area, two clean swimming pools and a children's playground. He owns a private beach, but it will take you about 20 minutes to get there. You can, of course, take a free shuttle. But it’s not a fact that there will be enough space for the next one, but you have to wait for the next one.
But the ancient city of Side is within easy reach
The food is fresh, but not fancy. Every day they cook something on the grill – fish, chicken, vegetables. Lots of fruits and delicious desserts. In addition, a large selection of local alcohol.
Several times a week in the evenings, guests are entertained by dancers, acrobats and even Turkish folk ensembles.
The bathrooms require improvements – they are very small. There is also poor sound insulation – you can hear everything that happens in the corridor or with your neighbors.
4 stars
Villa Side Hotel, Side
Rating: 9.1
Cost: from €234
This elegant hotel with oriental décor is located along the Mediterranean coast in Kumkoy. The beach is private, sandy, but located 200 meters away. There are almost always enough sun loungers with rare exceptions.
For guests there is a spa with hydromassage, Turkish bath and sauna. There is a modern gym.
You can eat both in the hotel restaurant and in the beach restaurant, where there is also a karaoke bar. The food is tasty and varied, there is a lot of it and you don’t have to crowd in line.
The hotel has easy access to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the Greek Amphitheater and Side Antique Canti. And 4.5 kilometers away are the monumental Nymphaeum fountain and the Arch of Vespasian – popular attractions of Side.
The hotel is located on the second coastline in a place where there is traffic day and night. So sleeping with the windows open is not realistic. The animation here is not intrusive and there is not much entertainment, so the hotel is least suitable for young people and families with children.
The staff is as polite as possible and speaks good German and Turkish, and a little English.
Free parking for guests and a 24-hour reception are typical of a four-star hotel.
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Panorama Hotel, Alanya
Rating: 8.6
Cost: €312
The hotel is named Panorama for a reason. The restaurant offers incredible views directly to the sea. Food from Turkish and European cuisines captivates with its diversity. The beach and pool bars offer salads, pasta, burgers and pizza. However, there is no children's or diet menu.
The balconies are located so that you can hear your neighbors. And if a closed balcony door saves you from conversations, then it does not protect you from the sounds of a night show. Some of the balconies overlook a noisy street, others look at the windows of opposite hotel buildings. Regular foreign clients are accommodated in rooms with sea views.
The beach has small pebbles, but the entrance is gentle and sandy. The sun loungers can be “stuffed” with towels in the morning just to be on the safe side. The waves are moderate.
The hotel does not have its own animation. Imported artists perform periodically. Entertainment options include archery, bocce ball, volleyball, and darts. The kids are a bit bored here. The holiday is more suitable for retirees. But you can enjoy a quality massage at a local spa center.
The hotel has a convenient location five minutes from the city center. Nearby is Alanya harbor, the red tower and the shipyard.
5 stars
Pirate's Beach Club, Tekirova
Rating: 8.8
Cost: €249
The large hotel area is located in Tekirova between the pine forest of the Taurus Mountains and the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Guests can enjoy four swimming pools, water slides, a sauna, hammam and steam room. There is a SPA center, a tennis court and mini golf.
The rooms have their own safes. There are slippers in the bathroom, and bathrobes in some rooms. Yes, the same ones that tourists who recently returned from Turkey often boast about.
There are four restaurants on site with Turkish and Italian cuisine.
Nice sandy beach with a pontoon. Water activities include boat rides, jet skis, boat rides. All for a fee.
What makes this hotel different from the rest? So this is a pirate theme that can be seen in everything. The staff are dressed in Jack Sparrow style, and the local mini-zoo has many parrots and monkeys. This hotel is perfect for families with children, because it is famous for its noisy and active animation. And for adults – a night bar, decorated like a pirate cave.
The hotel participates in the “Conscious Travel” program for tourists concerned about environmental issues.
Utopia World Hotel, Kyrgyzak
Rating: 8.8
Cost: €297
Located in the ancient town of Syedra, this hotel rises directly on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Everything in this hotel is done on a grand scale. A private beach with two piers, several outdoor pools and a huge water park of 15 thousand m2. The SPA center traditionally has a hammam. The hotel area is large, green and well-groomed.
The spacious rooms are equipped with modern furniture. And some rooms have a separate living room and spa bath.
The hotel's restaurants offer Italian and Turkish menus. There is a lot of food, including seafood and sushi. And at certain hours in a special tent you can enjoy ice cream, pastries and pancakes.
You can go banana boating, water skiing and parasailing for an additional fee. But canoeing and pedalos are available to all hotel guests. There are many active activities – volleyball, table and tennis, water polo. For children there is a rope park, positive animators that can captivate even adults, and evening discos. There is a nightclub and hookah bar. At the same time, there are enough secluded places to do yoga and immerse yourself in meditation.
Despite all the advantages and unusual location, the water in the sea nearby is often cloudy and an oily black substance floats on the surface. Perhaps this is due to the boats that are constantly scurrying near the shore, too close to the vacationers.
In addition, in this hotel there were cases of accommodation in semi-basement rooms with tiny beds and rudeness from the staff.
Titanik Mardan Palace, Lara
Rating: 9.1
Cost: from €383
This hotel in Antalya, more like a palace, exudes luxury and grandeur. And it is one of the largest in the vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea. Planners and designers created this project, inspired by the architecture of Istanbul.
A swimming pool of 20 thousand m2 goes through the territory to the sandy beach. It is always clean and there are enough sun loungers and umbrellas. And the all-inclusive system applies to 35 restaurants and bars of the hotel. The menu is varied, suitable for any age and dietary preferences.
The rooms are spacious and clean. Cleaning here comes with classic towel swans and fresh flowers in vases.
Interesting evening shows take you into a Turkish fairy tale. There is a children's club with high-quality animation, from where the little ones simply cannot be pulled out. For those who are not ready to lose shape on vacation, yoga and Pilates are offered.
There’s nothing to say, such rave reviews are left by those who were lucky enough to relax here!
Luxury hotels
Rixos Premium Tekirova, Kemer
Rating: 8.8
Cost: from €478
The hotel is located in the village of Tekirova. Guests have access to swimming pools, a private beach, tennis courts and a spa center. Ducks and flamingos walk around the area.
The rooms have a lot of wooden interiors and sunlight coming through the French windows.
For children, there is a Rixy Kids mini-club with a cinema, playground, children's restaurant and disco. There is also a PlayStation for them, a game of chess, drawing classes and a workshop where they can work with wood or clay.
Guests can enjoy live concerts and dance events.
The hotel's main restaurant serves international cuisine in a buffet style. However, American cuisine or seafood can only be obtained at an additional cost. There are many food courts and even Starbucks with its popular coffee.
But from time to time, stale fruit falls, which after breakfast is simply covered with napkins to prevent flies. They stay like this until the next meal. Cleaning and table setting leaves much to be desired.
Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort, Belek
Rating: 9.5
Cost: from €903
The main eight-story building of this luxury hotel in Belek consists of rooms, which are all suites (two-room). In addition, guests can stay in four- or two-story villas.
And this complex seems to be created for children. There is a mini-club, divided by age, with a playground, disco, aqua and sports areas. Parents of children under 3 years old can leave their children under the supervision of staff thanks to video surveillance.
Nine hotel restaurants offer vacationers a menu of Japanese, Mediterranean, Greek and Turkish cuisine. And in 16 bars you can enjoy cool drinks in a pleasant environment. There is a 24-hour Azura restaurant and bar on site, the Chocolatier Café serves delicious homemade chocolates, and the Le Melange bakery offers delicious desserts and cakes.
It has its own amusement park. But the highlight is the world-class 18-hole golf course, designed in collaboration with golfer Colin Montgomerie. Naturally, the hotel has a SPA center with massage rooms and a traditional Turkish bath, and also offers beauty treatments.
Guests are entertained with a variety of activities daily, and water sports are available on the beach.
Many who have visited the department at least once come back here again and again, and are not going to change the hotel.
Everyone draws conclusions for themselves. But the class of a hotel does not always guarantee you quality service. And not only the high cost affects the friendliness of the staff, the talent of the cook and the good mood of the vacationers.