From the moment we walked into the hotel we knew we'd made a good choice.We'd come out of season for a relaxing week's holiday and that's just what we had.We wanted for nothing and the staff were all friendly and couldn't do enough for us.Everything in the hotel was spotless and the room was above average size with a walk-in wardrobe,a double bed and a single,Free Safety Deposit Box and a Free Mini-Bar that was restocked daily with water,coke,orangeade and fruit juice.The food was out of this world,but don't expect English food...most of the dishes were cooked in a Turkish/European style and we both enjoyed trying things we hadn't had before.For the less adventurous there was always Pasta,chips etc.The animation team worked tirelessly and were very friendly,but not pushy.The evening entertainment was a bit mixed but perfectly acceptable and as good as most other hotels.Would we go again...you bet we would.

Cleanliness was of a good standard in the public areas but our room was not kept as clean as it should have been. Some small items were still in the same positions on the bedroom and bathroom floors for most of the week we were there indicating that those parts had not been swept.

There are a variety of restaurants to choose from 2 of which do not incur additional charges but must be booked a day in advance. We only ate in the main buffet restaurant partly because we couldnt be bothered to book the others but mainly due to the wide range of well displayed food available in that restaurant. The variety should be acceptable to most tastes, there was even a section for those on diets, but dont forget this is a muslem country so dont expect bacon for breakfast. We did come across some 'bloody' chicken pieces in a shish kebab which we did not eat, but this was the exception. Plenty of drinks available at all meals but sometimes it was difficult to get a waiters attention for service, they seemed very short of waiting staff sometimes although the staff were very friendly and cheerful.

The hotel is right on a soft sandy beach but there is a band of small pebbles at the water line. The sea was very warm (28deg) but disappointingly cloudy, difficult to see the bottom except in the shallows.
The gardens are very well kept and clean as are the 7 pools, yes 7 but some are very small, water slides are in 2 of the pools (pool temperatures 32 deg.).
The hotel really is only about 20 minutes from the airport and is one of a small group of "5 star" hotels in a recently developed area. Being fairly new the hotel and area lack a feel of the character of Turkey, indeed when in the hotel you could be anywhere in the world. Although it had a 'Japanese' theme throughout, including the rooms, it had an anonymous international feel to it.

Staff are generally very friendly despite being treated rather rudely by most of the guests from other countries. We found that a smile plus a please and thank you when served with drinks went a long way to encourage good service from most of the staff.
The entertainment team could not really be faulted for there enthusiasm and drive but the evening entertainment was dire at times. Often spoiled by the need for narative to be repeated in several languages which tended to totally disrupt the flow of the performances. The rather elderly magician takes the prize for the worst of the week causing many people (including us) to leave prematurely.
Finally, although the hotel is of a good quality over all we felt isolated as we were the only ones to be dropped off at the hotel and only came across one other british family there during the whole week. Other guests seem to have been a mix of (maily) German, Russian speaking, Dutch or Belgian. This tended to spoil things for us and is the reason why we would not go back there. This is not the hotel's fault. We feel that Thomas Cook (who would be well aware of the limited number of bookings they place with the hotel) should at least advise their customers of this when booking. It may not matter to those going as part of a big group or others who are looking for seclusion but customers should at least be given the information so that they can make an informed choice - a black mark Thomas Cook!

Having said all that we found that the general travel arrangements went well both outgoing and homeward with no delays (we even arrived there about 10 minutes early!). The plane is not designed to encourage sleep, anyone who is tall and who cannot sleep sitting upright is likly to find the journey uncomfortable. On arrival at Antalya airport you will have to pay

This is one of the nicest and friendliest of all the hotels that I have ever stayed in. I have travelled worldwide on business for the last twenty years staying in hotels which have varied in standard from zero stars to five stars. This hotel definitely deserves the five stars that it has been awarded.

Checking in at reception was a pleasure. My room was large, clean and extremely comfortable. As a single traveller this is often not the case.

All of the staff were friendly, attentive and helpful.

Meals were mainly buffet but one visit to an A Le Carte restaurant was included free of any extra charges. I didn't take advantage of this as I found the buffet exceedingly good.

Service at the bar was fast and friendly, none of the large queues that one often finds at many AI hotels.

I can't comment on the entertainment as I didn't participate, however the Animation staff were seen at all hours encouraging guests to attend.

The clientele at the hotel at this time of the year are mainly German, no problem at all, most Germans speak English and believe it or not are easy to get on with and good company. Don't be afraid to speak with them and you will make a few new friends.
if you want a holiday amongst the English then go to Blackpool or the Costa Blanca

So many thanks to ALL the staff at the hotel for making my winter break so enjoyable. I hope to return again next year

Excellent hotel

Check - in was straightforward and the staff even knew our names on arrival as we were a very late check-in.

Room - large room. Space for a double and single bed;chair and table; two seater couch and outside verandah with small table and chairs. Plasma TV on wall. 3 English channels and Eurosport. Mini bar replenished daily. Free of charge wall safe. Bathroom large enough for us. Shower in bath.Fruit was delivered to the room on one day. Bath robes were also provided.

Hotel and gardens were constantly being cleaned and there seemed to be an endless supply of waiters and gardeners.

Food - best food we have had in an AI. Plenty of choices and snacks available throughout the day. Cafe Bonjour for the free ice creams and cakes/doughnuts at 1600hrs. Would reccomed both the Mexican and Indian " a la carte" restaurants. Indian was include in the AI and the Mexican incurred a 9

We have stayed in the resort of Lara Beach near Antalya twice before in two superb hotels and this one had alot to live up to.
We were surprised at the size of the hotel and after 2 weeks had not seen all the hotel, discovering new seating areas etc daily. The choice of bars is excellent and the service and drink choices very good.
The branded drinks included are clearly displayed in the bars on the bar list on each table, some incur a supplement but the included choice is excellent.
We arrived at 10pm and after leaving our luggage and quickly looking at the room we went to explore and believe me it is like a maze, and we decided to sit outside at the lovely tea house, which is actually a bar that has live acts on 4 nights a week and is surrounded by water on 3 side and a lovely spot during the day. This hotels has the best pools we have ever seen and with bars and restaurants on stilts it is spectacular! we have never seen so many pools. During the day we got a prime spot opposite the tea house and could access it from the pool for a nice relaxing drink. The main animation pool was very lively and they did an excellent job if that is your thing but we prefered the above area and had to be up very early to bag a spot and beat the other europeans at their own game. My husband saw the pool boy with a stack of towels saving them chairs, must have had a nice tip to do it.
Our favourite spot was walking to the beach and sitting in comfort at the beach bar and listening to the reggie music and having a nice effes watching the world go by, the beach at this hotel was less regimented than the others and set out great, and the non motorized water sports were free and all the equipment new and good quality and we had the best water sport choices on the beach.
Lara is a strip of 5 star hotels and each has a theme, the limak being japanese style and really it was so well designed and pleasing on the eye. The grounds were well kept and superb with all the childrens slides etc tucked away at the side of the hotel along with the excellent kids club with loads of shade.The gardeners did a great job and the planting in keeping with the theme of the hotel.
There are 2 lunch time snack bars both facing onto the beach and a tent serving turkish fayre and the dining room was also open.6 al a carte choices available with 3 of them having a 7 euro supplement.
The mexican was superb and well worth the extra charge, the mexican food was spicier and better than we got in mexico!!
We also liked the tandoori which was an included choice.The great thing was that you rang an automated number so no queues and we never had a problem getting through and we had 7 al a carte meals and could have had more, but liked the theme evenings in the main restaurant.
The one problem and not the hotels fault are the other nationalalities who do not know how to keep their kids in check and allow them to run around screaming and playing and the parents themselves are rude and noisy. The have no concept of manners or queuing and regard for other guests. Would you beleive that at breakfast we had got a table put coffes on it and juice and while we had gone off to get our food a israeli man dragged our table up to theirs and asked my husband to move to another table so that their friends could join them!!! We stayed put!! The ammount of food they get would feed an army and much of it is left, such a waste when many in the world go hungry.
The animation were excellent and the beach party was great for all ages and spectacular, the watersports team gave a display in the dark with flood lighting and this was great, followed by some dancing and games and then a wonderful fireworks display and a huge cake brought by the chefs with flames and a fanfayre.
after the party it was off to the entertainment area to have a foam party and the build up with the dramatic music and the animation team dancing on stage with special effects was truly wonderful and the anticipation of for kids was building up. My 50 something husband was eager to join in with our teenage son ( think the raki was having an effect!!!)
It was one of the highlights of the holiday.

The rooms at the hotel are superb and large with a seating area and a large double bed and proper single bed which are so comfortable and the linen change frequently. The large plasma tv on the wall was great and the walk in closet excellent. The bathroom was a good size and ultra modern and toiletries included dove bath cream and lux handwash, soap,hair conditioner, cotton buds,and shower caps.
The safe was free to use and our sons laptop fit in nicely. There was free internet connection for him via a cable avaiable from reception and there is a desk and chair in the room.The mini bar was topped up daily and free room service was available from midnight till 4 am for light meals and hot beverages. The lobby bar is open 24 hours.
The staff with the odd exception are superb and the reception helpful and friendly and nothing is to much trouble, we asked for extra pillows and got them quickly, we asked for bathrobes and these also arrived. I think if you treat the staff nicely they respond well to you in return.

We started the holiday comparing the Limak to the superb Barut Lara and equally superb Delphin Palace and realized pretty quickly that although each offer something different all are truly supeb value and good in their own way. We love this area because of the luxury and are booked to return to the Barut at easter ans the Delphin next august and I am sure we shall return to the Limak in the near future!

We have been spoilt by this area and having been to turkey 10 times and been to other areas we could not go back to the more basic accomadation, we always go all-inclusive but here it is just that and you do not need to spend much once you arrive.