Side Azalia Garden

“Family holiday”

We felt the need to write a review after booking through love holiday and not being able to find an English review. This hotel is 3.5-4 star but saying that we had a lovely relaxing family holiday for 11 days. We Wanted some uk customers to have a review before booking as this would certainly have … more

We felt the need to write a review after booking through love holiday and not being able to find an English review. This hotel is 3.5-4 star but saying that we had a lovely relaxing family holiday for 11 days. We Wanted some uk customers to have a review before booking as this would certainly have helped us! This is not a uk / tui / easy jet/ type hotel. Rooms - we travelled 2 adults and a 6 year old and 15 year old. Two bedrooms, a double and two single and a space to change and store luggage. The room had a fridge. No hangers and no iron. Rooms were lovely and we had a second floor balcony overlooking the pool which was stunning if a little small. Cleaned every day. Only problem was that we were expected to use our room towels as towels for the pool. At a 4 star resort we would have expected to have a separate provision for towels. Maid was lovely and friendly and deserve her tips. Room were of a good standard overall. WiFi - only in lobby. Lobby was air conditioned and needed in the august heat. We stayed 11 days and paid 15 euro per device for internet. A must for a 15 year old!!! WiFi was free in the reception area and was of good enough signal but didn’t cover the whole hotel. Reception staff are very friendly although some struggled with English. This is very much a German resort from hotels to the main town!! Pool - pool was lovely. Considering we went in august the pool wasn’t overcrowded and the temperature was just right. We spend so much time in this beautiful pool. Plenty of sunloungers available and all were very comfortable. Parasols also provided. Please, please if you have younger children buy them pool socks or shoes of some kind. I have never ever seen so many children fall on tiles and get injured and the hotel seemed to do nothing about it. The pool tiles are lethal and should not be in use in my opinion. It was upsetting to see so many children hurt, my niece included!! No one came to see if she was ok. Food- breakfast was lovely in as much as you had fresh eggs and beautiful bread and omelette but that was it. Very repetitive and no English breakfast which some will want. Never saw bacon. Sausage, beans etc which you would get when booking an “English resort” Lunch - always something fresh but I felt it was more incline to German / polish / Russian guests. That said the pizza and pasta were lovely and we always found something to eat. Turkey is very different to foods in Spain etc which seem to cater better for English guests. Snacks - always something available. Set times for ice cream. Candy floss, waffle, burgers, but all lovely. Food available right throughout the day in some form or other. Drinks - omg the white wine was undrinkable. No words for it. Would have expected more from an all inclusive deal. No alternative at all to what was on tap. Managed the rose wine at a big push but the wine really let’s this place down. Cocktails were ok but depending on who served you dependent on the quality. Water is free all day. Stock up and keep it in the fridge as water is warm throughout the day. Slides: open 10-12 and 3-5pm. We had so much fun on these. Water was cleaned regularly. Foam party ; every Wednesday. Great fun. Staff - this hotel is successful because of its amazing staff. Waiting staff, restaurant staff, cleaners etc are fantastic and work so bloody hard in very hot and humid conditions. Please tip these staff. All of them deserve every tip they get and they are so grateful. Shop - DO NOT use the shop on site. Come out of the hotel, turn left and there is a lovely man selling everything you need at less than half the price. Blow up pool items, snacks, chocolates etc. can’t be beaten on price. The hotel shop really tried to rip us off with overpriced item. Beach - free bus too and from the beach which was stunning. Free food and bar included in all inclusive from 12-4pm. Showers and toilets on site. Free sun beds. The sea was beautiful- so warm and Calm and watersports at a charge. Would highly recommend a Visit. Side - catch the bus for 1 euro each from opposite the hotel. The ruins are breathtaking at day but more so at sunset and night. This made the trip for us! Lovely cheap restaurants. We would go again just to be in this town. It’s amazing.

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