Eftalia Ocean Resort & Spa

Besides the Wheater it was fine

Excellent value for families, superb food and cleanliness—with a few areas for improvement We visited Eftalia Ocean as a family with two teenage boys during October half term. Overall, we had a very good holiday, and the hotel met—and in several respects exceeded—our expectations. As someone who works in hotel management, I wanted to give a fair review that recognises both the excellent value offered and the areas where improvements could be made. Arrival and first impressions The welcome at reception felt rather cold and functional. Check-in was completed and our luggage was taken to our room, but there was little warmth or effort to make us feel particularly welcome. A friendlier, more engaging arrival experience would make a real difference. The lobby would also benefit from a more relaxed evening atmosphere. Somewhere inviting to sit with a drink, perhaps with a pianist or gentle live music, would be a lovely addition. I would suggest relocating the smoking area away from the main entrance, perhaps to the conference balcony area. Replacing it with planting would create a much more pleasant first impression. Our room and swim-up upgrade We initially stayed in a standard family room before upgrading to a two-level swim-up room. For us, the upgrade was worth every penny. It was less about additional luxury and more about the space, privacy and overall experience. The boys loved being able to enjoy the pool while we were at the room, and the balconies were lovely places to sit with a coffee. Having our own retreat away from the busiest areas made a considerable difference to our holiday. Our main disappointment was the beds, which were extremely hard. The bedding also felt inadequate for the size of the bed. We would have preferred properly sized super-king sheets and either a duvet or a comfortable, generously sized blanket, rather than the individual hospital-style blankets provided. Housekeeping was inconsistent. Earlier in the holiday we were very pleased with it, but across the stay we felt the room received noticeably more attention when we left a tip. On other days, the service seemed fairly minimal. The towel animals were a lovely gesture, but they were sometimes made using towels and bedding we needed afterwards. Dismantling the displays and rearranging the bed was a little inconvenient. Food and drink The food was one of the strongest aspects of the holiday. The choice was exceptional—probably the best we have experienced at an all-inclusive resort. As a vegetarian who follows a healthy, Slimming World approach to eating, I found plenty of suitable options. The boys were equally well catered for, and there was always something for everyone. The main restaurant became extremely busy at peak dinner times. We found it easier to establish a routine: find a table, get drinks and cold items first, and then collect hot food. Our favourite place to eat was the indoor food court on the Island. It was consistently quieter, beautifully clean and offered lovely food, including healthy choices and plenty for children. Sitting by the window watching people along the Island walkway was particularly enjoyable. We also highly recommend the beach food court for a relaxed lunch. The food courts gave us some welcome quieter places to eat away from the main restaurant. Some premium drinks and additional items cost extra. We felt this was fairly typical of all-inclusive resorts and did not detract from the generous choice already included. Cleanliness and slippery surfaces The cleanliness of the public areas was superb. Toilets, restaurants, buffet stations and shared spaces were constantly being cleaned. Staff worked hard to keep everything looking immaculate, including attending to small details around the pool areas. Before travelling, we had seen comments about slippery pool surrounds. There certainly are areas where care is needed: hard tiles become slippery when wet, particularly with sunscreen added to the mix. However, we saw warning signs and matting laid along walking routes, although some guests chose not to use it. In my opinion, the hotel had taken visible precautions. Guests also need to walk carefully and use the designated matting. The possibility of slipping should be taken seriously, but I did not feel the hotel was ignoring it. Facilities, entertainment and crowds For children and teenagers, there is an enormous amount to enjoy. Between the pools, water park, beach and activities, there was always something happening. The Island across the road is part of the resort experience. Initially, its busy, commercial atmosphere was not particularly to our taste, but the more we explored, the more we appreciated its quieter food courts and places to sit. This is a very large, very busy resort. During half term, many areas were packed with hundreds of people. That could feel overwhelming, but it is also the nature of the hotel we booked. Families looking for constant activity will probably appreciate this more than guests seeking peace and quiet. Gym and spa The gym was disappointing, particularly compared with the other facilities. The equipment could be improved, and opening arrangements were frustrating. I went down around 7am on several occasions to find it locked and dark, with other guests also waiting. For a hotel of this size, I would recommend much earlier opening, or ideally 24-hour access. The spa, however, was fantastic. I highly recommend the Turkish bath and Balinese massage experience. It was one of the highlights of our stay, and my husband also thoroughly enjoyed his longer massage. Shops and local recommendations We found the staff in the hotel shops kind and welcoming, without feeling pressured to buy. Across the road, China Royal 2 was an excellent discovery. The service was lovely, the food was of a high standard, and the beautiful table settings and Turkish ceramic crockery made it feel particularly special. We thought it was reasonably priced and would highly recommend it. Royal Fashion Centre opposite the hotel was another favourite. Prices were clearly displayed on many items, and the shopping experience was calm and unpressured. Mustafa was particularly kind and helpful. Walking and exploring Because the gym was disappointing, we began taking daily walks along the beachfront promenade, which became one of our favourite parts of the holiday. Turning left towards Alanya, we passed beach huts where local families gathered and prepared food together. Seeing these gatherings beside the sea, particularly at sunset, was a lovely experience. The sunsets were some of the most beautiful we have seen. Although we initially felt a little uncomfortable with some of the attention while out shopping, we subsequently felt very safe on our regular promenade walks. It is worth understanding that the hotel is outside central Alanya. We enjoyed visiting Alanya and particularly recommend exploring the castle area. Side’s old town was also very pretty, and the historic sites we visited were fascinating. We hired a car locally through Konak. Unfortunately, the vehicle delivered was not the one we had ordered, and it arrived with an empty fuel tank, so our first stop had to be a petrol station. We still enjoyed having the freedom to explore, but I would research hire arrangements carefully before booking. Practical packing tips A few small items made—or would have made—daily life easier: • Reusable travel cutlery, including a teaspoon. • A thermal mug for coffee. • Larger reusable drinks cups or wine glasses, as the supplied cups can be small. • A small tray for carrying several drinks back to your table or room. Our overall verdict Was Eftalia Ocean good value for money? Absolutely. Did it exceed our expectations? In several important areas, yes—particularly food, cleanliness and the amount available for children. Would we return to this particular hotel? Probably not. For our next holiday, we would prefer somewhere quieter and more luxurious, in a larger town with more variety to explore. We recognise that this would come at a higher price. The areas of Turkey we visited did not appeal to us as much as some destinations we have enjoyed in Spain and Greece. Some shopping areas felt repetitive, although Side’s old town and the historic attractions were definite highlights. We would consider returning to Turkey to try a different area and hotel. That is a personal preference rather than a criticism of the value Eftalia Ocean offers. For families working within a more modest budget who want excellent food, superb public-area cleanliness and endless entertainment for children, I would highly recommend it. We had a good holiday, and the hotel delivered a great deal for the money.

Demet in guest relations was really helpful.

Ive just came back from Eftalia Ocean Resort , in comparison to my last visit to Turkey it was far below my estimation, The Food was not very good , the rooms were dirty , There was only basic availability on Drinks and the parents of children had to Pay for Ice Cream, This was supposed to be an All Inclusive Holiday. I shall in future read the reviews thoroughly before i book anywhere

Best Hotel we have ever visit. Many thanks to the Guest Relations. They more then Perfect ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️