Eftalia Marin

Honest review- 16-23rd October. 1 Adult, 4 kids (4,15,16,17) When we arrived at 11.30pm we were checked in quickly and efficiently. Room was massive, we had a 2 bed family room which had 2 massive bedrooms, 2 balconies and separated toilet, shower and sink which was useful. Day 1 & 2 were a bit windy but the sun was still shining and we got to explore the island, which is a 5 minute walk through a tunnel, and the beach which is next to the island pools. Plenty of free food options down on the island (waffles were definitely a big hit!) Sea was warm. Everything was really clean and tidy. Loads to do. Kids pools were really impressive and lazy river was loads of fun in the inflatables. It was always very busy down there but we managed to get a couple of sun loungers everytime we went.  We also took a trip to the local shops, which again is only about 5 minutes away. There was a supermarket, clothing shops, souvenir shops, tattoo parlour, bars, restaurants etc. Just behind the market was a play park which we enjoyed as well. The rest of the holiday we spent by the hotel pool, it is basic but add in some floaties, water guns and balls and the kids were happy 😊 The kids club is just behind the kids pool and has a small play park and inside were things like lego, playdough, face painting as well as organised activities like basketball & football. At night there was a kids disco, karaoke and live music as well as big shows down the island like bubble magic, balloon shows, extreme parkour & a foam party. Food - there was LOADS of choices. Breakfast you had pastries, pancakes, bread, cooked breakfast, eggs, omelette (made to order) fruit, cereal, yoghurt, cold meats, chips, pizzas, chicken nuggets, soup, bread, veg and salad. There was also fresh orange juice (for a charge) but plenty of other drink options like tea, coffee, juice, milk. Lunch you had chicken dishes in lovely sauces (tomato, creamy), meatballs, beef kebabs, rice, pasta, spagetti, salad, chips, nuggets, meats and cheeses, there was also a jacket potato station with multiple options. The desserts were insane, crazy amount of choices. There is also a kids buffet with hot dogs, spaghetti, tomatoes and some desserts including yoghurt. At dinner you had a different 'special' each night which included amazing fresh brownies, steak, churros, sushi, doughnuts, salmon, whole crabs, made to order noodles. There was also a special Turkish night which included Donner meat, stuffed peppers, yoghurt cheesecake pots and loads of other Turkish foods. Then the choices were as varied as lunch with things like chilli, kebabs, roast chicken, pizza, focaccia, pastas, shepherds pie, mash, lasagne as well as all the things I mentioned for lunch plus all the desserts - chocolate cake, carrot cake, baklava and tonnes more (photos attached) The bar was also open in the restaurant for lunch and dinner. On our last night we visited the Blue Shark restaurant which provides and pick up/drop off service free of charge. Food was brilliant and well priced, there was a great little kids play area and even a tank filled with baby sharks. Staff at the hotel were really friendly and helpful, our room was cleaned daily, the cleaners even made cute swans out of the towels and bedsheets and arranged my sons toys on them. There were always wet floor signs dotted about on the bottom floor because people were in and out from the pool. Seating areas and bars were always clean and tidy. At the bar you were served quickly, even if there was a queue. I heard a lot of negativity surrounding this hotel and when I booked i worried I had made a huge mistake but it was far from that. We had a fantastic holiday, I was really impressed with the amenities, location and i think if you are a family looking for an all inclusive holiday then it's definitely worth a visit. For what you pay (for us it worked out at around £90 per person, per day including private transfers) it's a brilliant place and I wouldn't hesitate to come here again.

the activities during the day were really good many things to do including yoga darts water polo and many more all of the staff running these were so wonderful and friendly they also made sure we knew when and where the activities were taking place.

We were pleasantly surprised how the hotel is still full of entertainment and activities, despite us visiting at the end of the season. Layla was very friendly, greeted us and invited to join the activities in the hotel. She familiarise us with schedule and we felt welcomed and taken care of.

The hotel is about a 90 minute drive for Antalya airport and is a 2 minute walk from the beach. The atmosphere around the hotel is great, with music playing all day around the pool and entertainment at night. The rooms are spacious with good facilities and are cleaned regularly. You get good value for money with the food and drink available for most of the day, with some having a price for vendors not connected to the hotel. There is some noise at night, but only the other guests and not the hotels fault. The staff are very accommodating and kind, and certain staff like Hidayet at the pool bar is very funny and kind even though he doesn’t speak english. The entertainment staff (Cengiz and Bosh) are very funny and welcoming to us and the/or your children. The hotel overall is very nice and will defiantly be a possibility of coming back in the future!!

Stayed here with my two teens. The hotel is nice and was kept clean and tidy. Our room was fine for the three of us (a double and a single bed), with lots of storage. The beds weren't the comfiest, but that's personal choice, and the TV only has BBC News and Sky News in English. **The good:** The bar staff were friendly and quick, and our housekeeper was lovely, adding towel animals when we left a tip. The animation team were great, especially Bosh, who we saw every day and played darts with twice a day. It was fun and a good way to meet other guests. My son loved the water polo. The spa was excellent too; we had a Turkish massage and thoroughly enjoyed it. **The food:** This really let the place down. The restaurant is huge and badly laid out, with not enough tables at peak times, so we often had to leave and come back 15 minutes later. There were long queues for the live cooking, which only makes one or two portions at a time. The rest of the food wasn't great, and with everything under lids you have to queue just to see what's on offer. The choice was fine for a fussy teen (nuggets and chips), but poor otherwise. Breakfast was terrible: good pancakes, but no jam or sliced bread, just baguettes to cut for the toaster, margarine and chocolate spread. The food court was a bit better for lunch, but overall mealtimes became stressful rather than enjoyable. **Pools and Eftalia Island:** The pools were freezing; the sea was much warmer. Eftalia Island is included and is good for pools and slides, with much better food, but it's overcrowded with long queues, so we ate at different times due to queuing and saving tables. It's pretty run down, only beer and wine are available in the evenings, and there's no evening food as part of all-inclusive. Entertainment was mixed, but the party club area was great for the teens. **Entertainment and reception:** Evening entertainment at the hotel was hit and miss, and it was annoying that you couldn't use the bar at the stage unless you paid, which meant going back and forth and queuing. Reception and guest services were the worst. There wasn't a smile between them, and any request for advice or information was met with huffing and moaning. **Out and about:** The nearby shops and pub restaurants (with entertainment and football) made a nice change, and a boat trip we booked through GetYourGuide was great. **Overall:** We kept busy and enjoyed the daytime activities, but we wouldn't return.