Aral Hotel Reviews

We went to view property and booked on a BandB basis.Hotel very quite and we did try breakfast one morning but something different arrived so we gave this a miss for the week . Rooms large and clean and well serviced . A word of warning I.E Mossies from Hell take at least 1/2 plug ins for the room and repellant spray.We liked the area so much and the people that we bought a property.Some confusion on other reviews RE:Lira or Euro Basically take both 50/50 if you need cash the A.T.M.'s are fine with a decent exchange rate.To hire a car go to Almeria car hire in Side, worth getting about for a couple of days.[Beware you can handle the driving but they are mad.

Eating out , do not go to Ameldas food very average but next door their is a restuarant on a hotel complex [Blue entrance cannot remember the name , for breakfast go to the Hawiana cafe real english .Soundwaves restuarant in Side old town gets great reviews however we found it overpriced and average.To spoil yourselves go to to CONNYS next to the hotel hosts Ad and Conny pricey but excellant food and service , tell them you read my review and enjoy.

Ref:Exel Holidays we did not have a rep at the airport when we arrived nor during the week we where there ,dont eat the food? on the plane ,probablly expect delays ,how they won an award last year is beyond me.Transfers can be expensive and if you try to book through their call centre , forget it.

We have just returned from a weeks stay at the Aral Hotel, the hotel has only been opened since July and the rooms were immaculate, spacious and well equipped with 1 x double and 1 x single bed, there is a fridge in the room but it is not of much use as it does not get cold enough, your key fob operates the electric, which means also the air condition and the fridge. Air conditioning costs 20 Euro per week and the safety box in your room is 5 Euros per week, both are of course optional. The bathroom is a good size with an excellent walk in shower, the girls who clean the rooms were brilliant and ensured a good standard was maintained providing clean towels every day.

The breakfast is basic and repetitive and you soon get tired of it but that is the way it is in most small hotels in Turkey.

There is an excellent large swimming pool with plenty of sun beds and parasols for shade, we never once had any problem in finding a bed. The clientele of the hotel was a mix of British, Dutch, German and Scandinavian guests. The hotel had no entertainment during our stay whether this will change or not I do not know. The hotel will accepts Sterling, Euros, and Turkish Lira, my advice would be to take Lira as you will not get a good rate for Sterling or Euros in restaurants shops etc some will even rip you off.

There is a beach about a 15 min walk from the hotel, the hotel also provides transport 3 times a day to another beach where you can hire sun beds etc, on both beaches and there are plenty of places to eat and buy drinks. There are a few bars and restaurants near the hotel but we preferred to go to the beach area or the old town centre(15-20 min walk) to eat, but we did use those near the hotel for late night drinks watching football etc.

Unfortunately as well as many great aspects there are naturally some detractors from the experience. The main one being constantly harassed to eat at restaurateurs and to enter shops as you wander past them. It's best to simply smile and say no thanks, but the more persistent restaurateurs and shop owners will often put out a hand to shake, and take offence if you don't stop to shake it, at which point they launch into the sales pitch and can get a bit rude if you don't use there services. You will simply need to learn to be firm but courteous otherwise you'll find yourself adding 15 minuets on to every journey you take.

Side is full of old ruins and very interesting it has a very large amphitheatre at the entrance to the old town. There are shops everywhere selling good quality copies of designer clothes, shoes, bags and t-shirts, if you like some thing you just haggle and settle about 50-60 percent of the original asking price if not lower, but it gets on your nerves after a bit.

All in all Side is a good place for a holiday, would I go back not really as there are to many other places to see.