BAYOU Acanthus by Barut

Loved the work out with Dalya. Property and food is amazing. Lots of Germans who smoke too much. I feel like I smoked 2 packs of second hand smoke.

Wonderful holiday in a beautiful location. Food was fantastic in each restaurant we went to. Our daughter has never wanted to go to a kids’ club before but their Mini club was fantastic, run by two wonderful ladies and our daughter couldn’t wait for it to open each day! It made the holiday. Thank you.

This was our second stay at Acanthus Cennet Barut Collection. We loved it the first time and loved it again, although a few things have changed since our last visit. Most notably, the cats, who have apparently unionised in our absence. The hotel itself is fantastic. The staff couldn’t be more helpful, the food is excellent, with plenty of choice, and all the à la carte restaurants are well worth visiting. Our room was lovely, cleaned thoroughly, and the whole hotel is clean and beautiful. The bars have a great selection of drinks, including premium brands, all of which I tested thoroughly in the name of research. My findings were inconclusive, so further research may be required. Our daughter adored the kids’ club staff and was visibly torn between spending time with us and returning to them. The gym is well equipped for a week’s stay, and I made a point of using it each morning so I could approach breakfast with a clear conscience and a second plate. The spa is properly relaxing, too. The Halloween show was well worth the wait, and the buffet team’s decorations were outstanding. The carved pumpkins were works of art. I felt slightly guilty walking past them with a plate of food, as though I were being judged by a very orange jury. The evening entertainment was generally good, although most shows started at 9.15 pm, which is around the time we would normally be negotiating bedtime with a small person. It was also the same saxophonist and singer on most nights, so by the end of the week I knew the setlist better than they did and was mentally preparing to offer my services. The Halloween show, however, was absolutely worth the late night. Now, the cats. Their numbers seem to have tripled since last year, and I’m fairly sure this is no accident. This is an organised labour movement. Every time we ate outside, they appeared in force, spreading themselves around the tables like a furry security detail. Several had clearly read the menu and were bargaining collectively over our food. I never saw a cat actually asleep. They were all on duty, and I’m told their shifts start whenever someone opens a bread roll. The staff do a heroic job of shooing them away, but it’s like holding back the tide with a tea towel. Every time one is moved on, another two arrive with a grievance. By the end of the week, I’d stopped asking for a table for three and started requesting a meeting room with a whiteboard. Naturally, a movement of this size needs a leader. And her name begins with M. For the hotel’s benefit, M is German, blonde and occupies a spot near the pool bar every day. She was here last year, too, and the staff know her by her first name. She is quite clearly the union’s general secretary. Each day, she arrived carrying a plastic bag, at which point the cats materialised as though she were headlining a rock concert. There were also tins. Proper tins of cat food. I can only assume this is the union’s membership reward scheme, with a benefits package more generous than some employers offer their staff. Once the feeding was complete, M rinsed her hands in the pool. That is the one part of the operation I’d gently suggest the hotel looks at. These meetings took place multiple times a day, usually near the pool bar. Minutes were presumably taken, motions passed and grievances recorded. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one cat had a lanyard. To be fair, M isn’t the only one contributing to the cause. Plenty of other guests were slipping the cats something to eat despite the signs asking people not to feed them. Think of these guests as the union’s donors and sponsors, while M handles the day to day running of the organisation. M also reserves two sunbeds in a prime spot at 6 am, despite travelling alone. She occupies one, while her feline members take the other, where they play, eat and generally conduct union business. It’s less a sunbed than a branch office, albeit one with a very relaxed dress code. To be fair, though, the sunbed situation is a wider issue. Plenty of guests reserve beds and then disappear, leaving them empty while other guests are left with whatever is available. There are usually other beds around, but they’re often in less desirable spots. M’s arrangement is simply the most unusual example of a familiar holiday habit, with the added complication that one of her reserved beds appears to come with a feline workforce. None of this detracts from what is a fantastic hotel, but a little firmer enforcement would help. The signs asking guests not to feed the cats are already there, and a more consistent approach to sunbed reservations would be welcome, too. After all, it’s difficult to blame the cats for turning up to a buffet that guests keep providing. Would we return? Absolutely. The hotel is amazing, but having visited twice in two years, we’re keen to try somewhere new for a few years before coming back.

This was our third visit to this hotel which says a lot. Our normal holiday practice is to try out new places each time so somewhere has to be very special for us to return. There is simply nothing wrong with this hotel and a lot of everything spot on. Stylish accommodation with beautifully maintained grounds all help to make things perfect. You will not be disappointed by the catering the food is delicious and a very memorable part of the holiday. We loved our meal times and two particular members of staff always ensured we were happy and that our wine glasses were never empty, they deserve special mention, a big thank you to Fatima and Sinai. Each evening’s entertainment was varied and very professionally delivered and presented. Thank you to the Acanthus team.

Had an amazing week here at this wonderful hotel. The atmosphere was so chilled out vibes with great music around the pool and quality singers in the main lounge bar on an evening. We picked this hotel because of the food reviews and proximity to Side old town. The food was extremely good including the a la cartes and the buffet. A highlight being the buffet on their halloween themed night it was tremendous. The staff all spoke great english and were super helpful a credit to the hotel, you were never waiting for a drink topped up or asked if you needed anything more. Great drinks with a good selection of cocktails and top branded drinks. Hotel was immaculately clean the guest courtesy room was the best I have ever used with multiple safes and safety lockers with even a sitting area with TV and sofas and books which is helpful should you be waiting for use of either the female or male shower areas. So this is the third time in Side all have been 5 star hotels but can see why this one comes under indulgent escapes it was a league above. Lovely private beach section in front of the hotel with wooden loungers and great cushions on with bar service right to where you were. There are other areas in Turkey we wish to visit and the first thing we will do is see if this hotel group is there. We will definitely re-visit this hotel also.