Hotel review for Hotel Alba Resort

Hotel

The hotel is set in large gardens even incorporating a mini zoo. every area of this complex is spotlessly clean from the rooms to the pool areas to the bars and the beach. The hotel is mostly populated by families which suited us exactly but perhaps not the place to go for a romantic gettaway as a couple. The hotel is prodominantly German occupied but most people speak good english and I didnt find it a problem.

Location

Side is nearest town and is a short taxi ride away and is great for a night or two away from the resort with lots of shops and nice bars by a pretty harbour, most taxis carry seven people and costs about 12 euros each way (make sure you agree a price before you get in else they will put you on the meter). There are plenty of shops 2 mins walk from the resort which is great if your into buying loads of fake gear, my kids did and being a sales manager in the uk used to negotiation I found out that if you initially offer half of the asking price for the stuff you will eventually only pay a bit more as long as you stick to your guns and walk away - theyll soon call you back. there are a few shops within the resort and we had some nice bespoke jewellery make at the Lidya shop on site at a fair price and we picked it on a Tuesday and it was ready on the Wednesday night.

Service

Couldnt really fault the service at the hotel from the reception staff, waiters, bell boys and room cleaners. My wife needed to see the onsite doctor whilst we were there (as she had an allergic reaction to a certain brand of Aftersun) he again was most helpful and sopke very good english.

Gastronomy

Plenty to eat as with most all inc packages and you could be stuffing all day, the buffet restaurant has plenty for every pallet albeit with a German tilt and the meals were lovely at the 2 a la carte (fish and Italian) which is a must 1 visit to each permitted each week. the service at these 2 restaurants was impeccable.

Sport & Entertainment

If your sport minded again there is plenty to do, football, volley ball, tennis, Gym as well as plenty of swimming in the imacculate pools. One great thing about this hotel is that with the German tilt we were worried that we would be getting up in the middle of the night to sercure a sun lounger but the hotel staff remove any towels that are put out before 8. 00 am so provided that you dont lay in till lunchtime you get easily get a lounger ( the hotel was full when we were there) and we never had a problem plonking them down at around 9 ish before breakfast. If you have really young kids there is a great mini club with activities all day long they even take them for meals for you if you wish and hold a nightly disco for them between 8. 30 and 9. 00. Mine are too old to get involved in this but they would have loved it when they were under 10.

Room

Our room had a garden view which suited us as it was cooler in the evening and during the night. The room was ok in size with aircon and a soft drink mini bar which was restocked daily free of charge. It had saterlite TV and my only critisism was that out of 23 channels only 2 were in English and both of these were newws.

Tips and recommendations

Dont take towels, the resort provide beach/pool ones daily and there are penty to use in your room for showering etc. Wireless connectivity is available in the huge Lobby.
Currency - most uk travel agents will tell you to take Turkish Lira but take 10% Lira to 90% euro as this seems to be the currency of choice in this part of Turkey.
Go to the Alba - have a great family holiday - we did!! and we'll be going back!