banana coast

Written: 10 september 2009
Travel time: 30 august — 6 september 2009
Who does the author recommend the hotel to?: For a relaxing holiday
Your rating of this hotel:
8.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms: 8.0
Service: 8.0
Cleanliness: 10.0
Food: 8.0
Amenities: 8.0
It was the first time in Turkey. Traveled with my 13 year old son. The hotel was chosen according to the principle: "What green!!! "...Once in Alanya, it turned out that the symbol of this place is a small royal banana. That's why I called this place Banana Beach. Banana palm trees grow . . there are a lot of ripening bananas . . Indeed, the hotel area is green and well-groomed, this is a plus. The hotel itself is not pompous, but, in general, pleasant. I would say something like a cottage. The floor in the hotel and near the pool is marble, it is very pleasant to walk barefoot (I always forgot my slippers somewhere).
There is only one building, the territory is not huge, but you can also wander around the park. It's impossible to get lost!! ! So, if the child went for a walk around the territory, you don’t have to worry, you will definitely find him. The rooms are standard. Our room had two single beds, TV, air conditioning, a small fridge (1.5 liter bottle of water - All Inclusive - every day). The bathroom is small (shower, hairdryer).
Placed in a room (no tip) on the second floor in the right wing very quickly. It was convenient for me, I didn’t have to use the elevator (the elevator moves slowly and it’s faster to walk on foot than you would expect this miracle of technology). They helped carry things to the room. You get the remote control for the air conditioner and TV at the reception after making a deposit for each of $ 10 (total - a deposit of $ 20). Safe in the room for a fee of $ 2 per day, pay immediately if you need it. We arrived with the help of the tour operator Coral Travel. The meeting with the hotel guide Adil was the next day in the morning. That is, it turned out a whole day for self-development. The main thing is to smile and attract attention to yourself if you need it (attention). Any questions you may have can be asked at the reception. A Russian-speaking girl (blonde) works there, the rest also understand and try to speak Russian. In any case, you will smile.

Food at the hotel does not "sparkle" with delicacies, but you won't be able to die of hunger in a week either. As for me, for restaurant cuisine is rather weak. Standard breakfast from 7.00 am to 11.00 am. For breakfast, during the week, I did not find any variety. I get up early, so my breakfast was at 7.15. Boiled egg, vegetables (cucumber, tomato), pink jam, honey (!! ! excellent), nut jam, you could also try plum and apricot jam, goat cheese (delicious), semi-hard cheese cut into pieces and sausage (not Ukrainian ...we do not recommend eating, but then decide for yourself). There are a lot of cats in the hotel (!!! ). Here for them you can take pieces of sausage. Cats should not be touched with their hands (yes, they don’t walk themselves . . keep their distance), some animals would need to be shown to the veterinarian and treated. And so quite friendly, hotel "wild" animals.
I survived without it), potatoes fried in pieces in spices (I tried it once, the rating is "minus"). Also, wild rice and white rice (the rice was eaten) is presented as a side dish. From vegetables - stewed eggplant, zucchini in different versions (with cheese, with small pieces of meat and just by themselves) and grilled eggplant. Red and white beans in sauce, cauliflower - fried and boiled. Fresh vegetables (tomato, cucumber) and salads from different types of cabbage. Several types of different sauces and a dish with nuts (also in some kind of sauce). At first glance, the sweet table looks rich, but after two days I already tried everything, nothing changes, everything is the same, they just use a different dye for the cake. There is also fruit jelly, baklava. Fruit - there is only watermelon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, apples cut into halves, plums (not every day) and melon (not very ripe ...green, also not every day), other fruits were not offered.
All buns are made from the same type of dough, only the powders are different (poppy seeds, sesame . . where a spoonful of jam will be added, where cheese and sausage in the form of a cheesecake) . . There are so many small buns that they don’t have time to eat them and morning buns can be seen at noon . I didn’t like the lunch . . They just take out the remnants of what vacationers didn’t make out for breakfast and lunch (buns and a sweet table), only cookies are added. Economically though..: ))
Waiter service in the restaurant - everything is good . . but!! ! I came across one who needs to be sent to advanced training . . he took the plates from the table over his head, approaching the table, loudly spoke something to his employees in Turkish and snatched the plate almost out of his hands without bothering to wait until it was pushed aside . . I simply solved the problem . . I stopped sitting at those tables where he served . . because ..

after the third time of such "super service" I wanted to slap a plate in his face . . but, these are trifles . . the family has its black sheep ..
About saving..!! ! Electricity in Turkey is (as they say) expensive, so (!!! ) the hotel uses photocells to turn on and off the light (appeared at night in the corridor - the light turned on . . left - the light turned off)) conveniently. It is NOT convenient only when the air conditioner stops working in the middle of the night due to this savings . . Room cleaning was carried out as standard. Before the trip, my friends told me that for a tip they would depict masterpieces on the bed for me. . Nothing like that!! ! . . they just cleaned it up and that's it . . the bed has not been changed for seven days ...the towel to be changed needs to be thrown on the floor (and I hang it out of habit ..
so that they changed one towel in seven days, and then probably for the sake of decency))) I didn’t have a lack of towels)) I attended a massage twice a day and there they gave me two of these towels at once, both in the morning and in the evening .. )) the beach can be taken on a deposit of $ 10 (I didn’t take it . . I used my own . . hotel towels for the beach of the “dead” type)
On the territory of the hotel there are two swimming pools and one pond without fish (they could have started it for interest). The main pool is not very big, next to the pool with a slide, the slide is also not very big. In the neighboring hotel, the slides were more interesting, here it’s just a slide, if only it wasn’t too extreme.
Hotel SPA center.
According to the hotel, the morning begins with the fact that Leyla (the administrator of the Spa Center) walks around the territory and offers to visit the hammam (Turkish bath) and use the services of masseurs. Pleasant voice, pleasant woman familiar with the psychology of the client.
If you use the services of the Spa, then by the end of the vacation, the team will try their best to have Scheherazade fly home on the plane and nothing less.
Individual hammam + massage - $ 40 (this is what they offer at the very beginning)

Many thanks to a girl named Suna for her massage.. )))
Smart girl with good hands. Serves very attentively, listens to all complaints and works with your body regarding your "Crying". She can speak English, a few phrases from Russian, but in any case, you can call Leila for help in communication))) In general, the hotel offers different types of massage. In this case, it is a convenient opportunity to improve your health or just give a few pleasant minutes.
Animation.
The star of the hotel animation is Andy . . Fire show, walking on glass, lying on nails, etc. (I liked it . . well done .. ) Muscovite girls also participate in the animation (play with children).
Shrek is the star of the pool))) water aerobics is for him. The rest of the hotel's animation is a la a school skit with specially invited guests (hotel guests, that is, YOU are tourists))) In the evening they show cartoons. Cartoons are watched by both children and adults. At 23.00 they try to organize a disco.
The hotel has a chic place for a disco, but it can be seen due to the fact that vacationers are mainly with small children and grandparents, there are few people at the disco, not a large group of young people who can’t sleep . . I wanted to dance, but not with anyone . . Only came, the waiter immediately shoved me a menu with cocktails . . from $ 12 to $ 25 . . I didn’t feel like drinking, I wanted to dance . . Once a week, loudly for the whole hotel, they announced that they were invited to gather in the hotel lobby for a trip in the evening at 23.00 to the disco for $12. At the entrance, a drink is given for free, and then if you don’t like dancing, you can take a walk nearby on the embankment.
During the day, Masha wrote down who would go to the disco, she came up herself, it was not necessary to run after her.

The sea itself is less than a minute's walk from the hotel building to it. The beach is narrow, almost non-existent. In the butt there are sunbeds in three rows. Full of empty beds. I went down to the sea in one bathing suit, swam and back. For me, as a lover of the sea, this proposed sea was a disaster . . The first two days the sea was dirty, then we went on excursions, the last two days the sea was clean. The bottom of the sea is pebbles and rocks. On the left, some construction at the bottom of metal and iron overgrown with algae. Small fish swim nearby. It is not worth it to relax in the sea, so as not to get hurt on the underwater rocks. On the right - a small bay with boats and a rock with greenery (there is further parachute jumping). To the left along the bank there is a white and blue hotel and further the construction of a new hotel.
Suggested excursions by the hotel guide (on any excursion water is not paid.
Either take it with you or get ready to buy) the cost of the tour per person:
Pamukkale (1 day) - $80
Demre-Mira-Kekovo (to the church of St. Nicholas) - $75
Yacht trip - $45 (child), $80 (adult)
Turkish bath (hammam) outside the hotel -60$
Water park-80$
Scuba diving - 80 $
Rafting (descent down the mountain river) - $30 (child), $60 (adult)
All-terrain vehicles-safari (motorcycle) - $55 (child), $70 (adult)
Jeep tour of Turkish mountain villages - $40
You can also fly to Istanbul for a day - $350
To Cyprus -258$
To Israel, to the wailing wall -$350 (at a discount . . it was, as they say, $465)
Additional expenses for excursions (water, buying souvenirs at the expense of the tourist); ))))
For those traveling for the first time:
We smile.. ))))) Turkey is a country of tips.. )) tips start with the bus driver. . and TRADING)) always and everywhere)))
I have been on two tours. This is in Pamukkale and Demre-Mira-Kekovo.
In Pamukla, if you want to see everything, then two days is better. They will be placed in a hotel.
In one day, I managed to run only to the calcareous white terraces and fall into the pool of Cleopatra. Then there was not enough time or energy. The road is long, you get very tired from the road. The standard route on the way back is the delivery of souvenirs - first for onyx, then textiles, carpets and wine.

My opinion: onyx is cute, but it's not enough. . We sell such things in abundance in the Children's World (from here from Turkey, at the same prices). Textile is not an interesting factory at all. All these towels can be bought at our large Barabashov market at the same prices and cheaper. Purely Turkish textiles were not shown to me. Bedspreads and tablecloths with Ukrainian ornaments (probably influenced by Roksolana). Guests from Russia bought something. Carpets )))))))))))))))) A beautiful boy Ruslan came out. Politely and affably met potential buyers))) First they showed my grandmother (she has already become a star of the entire CIS. Everyone who was on this route tells about this grandmother).
Grandmother is cheerful)), noticing the guests, she hurries to take her show place with a spindle))) waves her hand and smiles. Here the girls are sitting at work on the carpets. On the second floor, you will be given a presentation of carpets and will be treated to apple tea. I looked at it all like in a museum.
if you saw that you began to be interested in products "taken into circulation. " You can buy any carpet you like and even order any pattern of your choice. To purchase, leave a minimum deposit of $100. You will be delivered anywhere in the world from a month to four. Pay the rest after delivery))) They do not sell via the Internet and are not allowed to take pictures. I liked the angora rug-bed (they used to sleep on it during hikes) for $1500 and the carpet that I found on the wall in one of the rooms with Turkish ornaments.
There are a lot of carpets made with an eye to Europe (so that they fit into the interior, with a classic pattern and designed modern ornaments). If you need carpets, walk everywhere, then what you will endure is not all . . the sweetest in the corners . . Dig, there are 18000 of them))))..
Next - Wine in the cellar ..
Oh . . oh . . oh . . funny guys, of course . . everyone can bargain at our market . . All the proposed wine at a discount can be bought on the Demre-Mira-Kekova route CHEAPER and still bargain . . So, the phrase "NOTHING THERE IS NO FREE IN TURKEY!!! " plays in full . . what you will be offered supposedly at a discount + a gift . . immediately - the gift is included in the price and the gift does not include the best wine ...subtract the cost of this gift ($ 15) and we get the cost of wine on the Demre-Mira-Kekovo route . . and now we are bargaining. Good luck with your bidding. . )))))))))))))))))) A set of three wines: pomegranate, cherry and blackberry - the starting price is $ 55 .. , and then we are looking for a price that is convenient for you . . not agree ...in the world buy ..

))) in Mir, the seller even abandoned his counter and rolled me off for 30 minutes, walking on the heels of the store, so that I could take a bottle of wine ..
on the second tour of Demre-Mira-Kekovo it is easier ...here is a boat, the sea and swimming in the Turquoise Bay . . St. Nicholas Church and a tour of the necropolis and amphitheater. For souvenirs - near the church of St. Nicholas icon shop. . if you are a religious person and you are interested, I think there is something to see and buy. . There is also a mini market here. . Here you can see ceramics and textiles with this TURKISH ornament)))))))) ))))) well, and a lot of all sorts of nonsense))))
If you do not plan excursions, then the hotel will once offer free skiing to shops in Antalya (leave in the morning, arrive in the evening) ..
Before our excursions, the hotel guide Adil told us to order a lunch package for the excursion, as we would not be at breakfast. There is NO lunch package in our hotel..
crawl out early in the morning to a restaurant and chew bread with margarine (butter), sip coffee and tea and bite down on a cucumber . . everyone had breakfast . . they won’t cook eggs ...

OUTSIDE...
I lost my electronic room key on the last day. To take a shower, dry your hair before flying home, we buy a new key for $ 25. We left early. plane at 9:00. Pick up four hours before departure. Going down to the hotel lobby, you give the key to the reception and wait for the bus. They didn't offer to bring my things to the bus. They stood neighing among themselves in a voice near the entrance to the departing did not react . . I didn’t want to ask !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As in any trip, there are pros and cons ...somewhere it was good, but somewhere not so much ...Those who are going to rest - I wish you a pleasant, memorable vacation ..

P. S...Next time I choose a different hotel . . A big plus from the trip is that it was like this and not otherwise ...Now I know exactly how it should be next time.

Many thanks to the guide Oksana, who picked us up from the airport on the day of arrival. Guide Turgut for the atmosphere of the tour)) on the route to Pamukkale. Leila from the hotel spa for her attention. Sune for a good job. To all the guys from the animation group - the child is delighted with you, not just as an animation team . . for him you have become friends.

No one will make our vacation great and memorable if we don’t put our hand to it))) and the most important thing is the mood with which we eat ..

Once again, have a great holiday : )
Translated automatically from Russian. View original