Hi minione.

Im not sure there is on an A/I basis . but I would love to hear if there is. I think what makes the BB special is the fact that is was already a succesful B+B/HB when it became A/I. Its fairly small in size compared to the larger A/Is which of course have all the facilities but not the personal touch of the BB. In terms of staff its well known in olu everyone wants to work there . I think its down to good management which rubs off on the staff which in turn rubs off on the guests. It also has mostly british guests meaning there is not the need to bring in international staff and animation teams that are just not the same .

There are many equally as good and better in terms of food and facililies which lets face it the BB doesnt have but I think we are going to be hard pushed to find that special something that the BB has elsewhere if we are determined to stick with A/I.

lyn

I agree with Lyn that you will be hard pushed to find a hotel with better atmosphere than the BB. Its much more personal than most AI's I am sure its because it was never built to be an AI, only a BB/HB hotel and virtually everyone in it apart from the staff are English however their is no yob culture there at all.

I think it is very hard to get a mix like the above. The maager and some of the staff all stood on the steps and waved us off when we left the BB and the staff always laugh and joke with you.

I've just come back from Lykia World, where the facilities and the food better than the BB. I know that's hard to beleive as the food at the BB is excellent, but it still has only one included restaurant, whereas Lykia has three. One of which is set by the water and you can watch the sunsets each night. Truely stunning.

Lykia does lose out on scale, it cannot match the BB for atmosphere, any site that has 2,500 people on it however well laid out and beautifully landscaped is never going to feel personal. Also it had many, many nationalities so the shows got on my nerves as you had to listen to everything in 5 languages, so we didn't bother and went into Olu every other night, by cab.

I woud still recommend Lykia to most people, but particularly those that have children the facilities are outstanding.

We was there the year before it went AI and at the time wondered how it would cope when all the guests would be eting and staying most of the day in the hotel. We was HB but there was B & B option, even then we sometimes had to wait for a table.

My friend and her family went there end of June and said they felt as if they were rushed each mealtime, they had previously been to Sun City and Aegean dream. In their opinoon Aegean came out top but then that is only their opinion.

I liked the atmoshere when I was there, the only downside was too many round the pool so we used to sit on the grass., or go to the lagoon.

These days we go B & B to Kalkan and love it, pace of life suits us now but then that would not be suitable for young children.,

Welll the BB certainally has that "something" special
I think the atmosphere there is very hard to beat even if it lacks some of the facillities of other AI hotels
I loved the ADR and the Conrad this year but the BB is still the best for me.
Lally

lallygirl wrote:

Welll the BB certainally has that "something" special
I think the atmosphere there is very hard to beat even if it lacks some of the facillities of other AI hotels
I loved the ADR and the Conrad this year but the BB is still the best for me.
Lally

LOL it certainly has got that 'je ne sais quoi', that seems to be missing in a lot of other hotels. Just hope it doesn't change.

Infact it's so good I seem to have put up the same post twice. I hope Briar notices and deletes one of them.

I havent stayed at the BB but have stayed in Olu Deniz at the Sun City,which I must admit wasnt that keen on.
The Hemera hotel in Side is a fabulous hotel and is always number 1 on various holiday review sites.
The hotel is German owned and very well run.Side is an interesting old town with an authentic Turkish feel.

Thanks for all your replies. I think when I asked the question I had an idea what the answers would be!
Think we will just go for it and try somewhere in Side next time.
We know where the BB is if we want to go back, which I am sure we will. Daughter is having none of it though, her and her friend are looking to go to the BB for a month next summer!
Thanks once again

Ive booked the Hemera for next summer mini . It consistantly gets excellent reviews and I got an excellent price and just went for it but the year after I can see ourselves back at the BB as ive yet to find another for my list .

Hi Lyn, the Hemera is on my list too, Jaytrip mentions that it is German owned, do you think the entertainment will be geared more towards the Germans?
Also been looking at the Paloma Perrissia but think that's German owned too?
I know Lara Beach has some fantastic AI's but don't think they sound very Turkish if you know what I mean.
Shame you weren't going to the Hemera this year! I will have to book shortly so best get back to reading the reviews again!

I have a feeling it will again be more "international" than the BB. but have a look on that famous video website , type in Hemera and there are some of the beach party /pool dance . looks good . its very heavily featured by the british T/os so Im hoping over the school summer holidays there should be a high percentage of English .

cant say Ive heard of the Paloma Perrissia so my instinct would lead me to believe its english guests would be much lower.

hi minone

There are also what look like a nice lot of AI hotels at somewhere called Lara Beach. I dont think there is a town in the same way as there is in Side, but the hotels, Titanic, Concord etc seem to be in all the British brochures so presumably they must get some Brits there as well as all the Germans and Russians. I dont suppose they will ahve the same atmosphere as the BB, but I'm sure the facilities will be excellent.

Doe

Lyn, just reread reviews on Hemera and it's looking favourite at the moment.

Doe, hotels in Lara Beach look fab but bit worried they might be a bit sterile if you know what I mean?
They have fantastic facilities and I've heard excellent service but do you feel like you are really in Turkey?

We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday at the ADR mini and im sure we will the Hemera but olu so far is very much a "british " resort which adds to the difficult search. Have you thought of trying one of the other hotels there for a change as it seems that is where your heart lies as ours does.

not sure how old your children are mini but we have teens to keep happy as well and as of this year according to the hemera thread there is now a disco at the hemera as well as the noisy open air one close by. That should keep mine happy I hope.

You are quite correct, re the hotels on Lara beach, they are all superb 5* luxury hotels with little to choose between them, all very modern and all on the own private beach. However,Brits are in a minority at these hotels. Lots and lots of Russians there. There is no resort centre in Lara beach, and as yet, no bars or restaurants. Nowhere to walk to either. There is lots to do at each resort hotel and if thats what you like, then you couldn't choose a better lot of hotels. We have been to several, and they suit us down to the ground as we take our 3 little grandchildren with us, they are too young to appriciate the Real Turkey just yet.... But if you are content with just a bucket and spade holiday in fabulous hotel surroundings you can't go wrong with Lara beach.
Denny

Right, almost sorted. Daughter who will be eighteen is keen now You have mentioned the disco at Hemera. I also checked out the thread you gave me Lyn. Looks great. So end result is if our daughter and her friend are coming with us it's Hemera if not hubby and I are off to be pampered at a Lara beach hotel.

I am hoping to persuade my husband to go to the Hemera at the end of this October/beginning of November as its available with Direct Holidays and Thomas Cook!.
When we were there during the month of March there was a nice mix of guests.Quite a few were long stay ,including some British.
There were Germans,Swiss,Norwegians,Dutch,Belguims and British.Only Thomas Cook went there then,so during the summer months there will be more British and more families.The Entertainment team were brilliant and it was all in English.
Another good thing is Antalya airport is an oasis of calm compared to Dalaman

We've just returned from our first trip to the BB. We had a good time but it was our least favourite of the AI's we've previously visited in Turkey. As everyone else says the food and especially the service were excellent but the downsides for us were the unbelievably small rooms and the fact the pool area was so crowded - in 15 days we only had a sunbed around the pool twice and this was on changeover days when less guests were around. We usually sat in the garden which was nice but you are unable to actually see the pool which would be a problem if you had to supervise younger children.

At previous similarly priced AI's everything has been included but at the BB you have to pay £5.00pp to visit the a la carte restaurant for a set meal of either Thai, Italian or Indian (tried the Thai and Indian and both were excellent) and normally inclusive things such as in room safes, internet use and branded drinks were all chargeable here which we felt was a bit mean!

Most guests seemed to have previously visited the hotel and all seemed to know each other - one woman was on her 16th visit. I can see why it appeals to some but it was just far too 'British' for us with roast dinners being served on Sundays and everyone discussing the latest football results!

Our favourite AI in Turkey was the Hemera in Side, closely followed by the WOW Kremlin Palace in Lara and the Xanadu Resort in Belek which we felt were far superior. The WOW Bodrum Resort and the Ephesus Princess at Kusadasi were also very good but both were on steep hills which weren't fun in the August temperatures!

We won't be going AI in Turkey again as we bought a villa whilst out there this time - at least next year we will be guaranteed a sunbed by the pool

Forgot to say that the Paloma Perissa used to be available through Thomas Cook .... not sure if it still is.

The more praise the Hemera gets will mean it will be difficult to book due to it almost being fully booked
Maybe we should say its not that good?