Eftalia Ocean Resort and Spa

We have not long come back from eftalia ocean and we really did have the best time...im only scoring it 4 / 5 because there are just a few things they could improve on. We arrived very late and got to our room. It was me, hubby, daughter and her best friend. The receptionist offered us an up grade at £200 and now we know why. Our double bed was in the middle of two single beds so with 2 teenage girls wanting to talk etc, the receptionist just knew. The first room was lovely with a great view but we upgraded to a suite and that was the best decision we made. The girls had their own room as did we. The hotel was huge and i feel they could put maps in the rooms so you can find things as you go and put the entertainment programs in rooms to so like an information pack. Our room was cleaned every day which was lovely. The restaurant was massive but so so busy and hectic. From the size of the hotel, they could fit another buffet style restaurant just to ease the pressure of that one restaurant. The restaurant staff work so hard and clear those tables so quick. They certainly dont get enough credit. The food was ok, there's something for everyone. Salad bar was fresh with lots of choice. The pool area was big with lots to do, and plenty of sunbeds. We strolled pasted as 9:30 am and still loads of available beds. It states NO RESERVING. Some pools were closed due to kids not knowing when they need the toilet. Not the hotels fault, its the parents fault. There were cleaners everywhere ensuring the hotel was clean all the time. Remember its the people that are dirty, the staff can only do so much. If people dont want to use the bins that are provided all over the hotel, thats on them. We went to eftalia island most of the time as it was better over there. You use the under paths which yes they do smell but like your walking through for less than 30 seconds, move on... Eftalia island has 2 pools, a splash park, water slides and the beach. Lots of entertainment throughout the day and night. Much better than on the hotel complex. Saturday night at the beach bar is the best night...the DJ was amazing. They had a foam party there to, a zip line, things for the younger ones, which yes, are at an extra cost but it really doesn't cost the earth. They have a food court there to which is FREE and lots of different choices. Cocktails are not free either. Nor are alcoholic drinks ie malibu, jack Daniels etc, that are imported. But thats what spending money was for and we treated ourselves to a few great cocktails. The burger bar was crap. Honestly the choice was poor. The pizza was rank. The difference between those chefs to the chefs in the main restaurant was noticeable. So although we had a great time and none of us were ill, there are just a few things the hotel could improve on. An extra buffet style restaurant, welcolm packages in the rooms, A bigger area for the evening entertainment as its in the small pool bar area, the pool bar to do after snacks ie burgers, hot dogs or pizza so you dont need to go into the restaurant. I honestly dont care about where your from or what religion you are but if your child can't say when they need a poo, and close of that pool for the whole day ruining it for 100s, they should have to pay or put a water nappy on your kid. Would we go back? YES, yes we would.

Slightly remote location off a busy highway. Not much around the hotel, so grateful for the island otherwise it would have been terribly boring. Very lively atmosphere, would be great for people with kids or if you like a busy atmosphere. There is noise constantly from the minute you wake up till last thing at night. We upgraded to a sea view room with 2 bedrooms for an extra £300. Rooms were okay, some dirt that was there when we arrived, stained beside tables. There are no doors for the toilet, just screens. So be prepared to get comfortable with one another as you can hear everything. Furthermore, the second room was directly across from the bathroom with no door so was frequently awoken by others in my family as they went to the toilet. Communal areas were always very clean and tidy, as everyone else mentions be aware of the slippy floors. As others mention, the rooms are not soundproof and you can hear when people are being loud in the corridor. I also was awoken most mornings by the next door room vomiting as I gathered there bathroom was beside my bed. Food was just okay, always found something every night but is it the best of food? No. It can be particularly difficult to find a clean table and cutlery between 7-8pm so either go early or late, if not, be prepared to search. In terms of all inclusive, there is lots that is not included however we did not pay for anything so it is possible to just not spend extra.

Overall, I think this would be suited to families with small kids/kids who want to use the pool and water facilities.

Our Experience at Eftalia Ocean.

We have just returned from a 15-day stay at Eftalia Ocean, and unfortunately, our overall experience was quite disappointing.

During our stay, one or more swimming pools were closed almost every day because there was feces in the pool. We found this extremely concerning. We have been holidaying in Turkey for many years and have never been sick before. Unfortunately, during this holiday, my son and I became extremely ill for two days, with severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Our room was another disappointment. We had a room for four people with three beds and one sofa bed. One of the beds had a large dip in the mattress. When we asked for a new mattress, the initial solution was to put three blankets underneath the mattress to fill the dip. We obviously did not agree with this. The housekeeping staff were also very unfriendly when we raised the issue.

After complaining again, the manager came to speak to us. He was very friendly and helpful and made sure we received a new mattress. We really appreciated his effort to resolve the problem.

The restaurant was very chaotic and crowded. There were often not enough tables available, and we frequently had to find cutlery ourselves. At some of the bars, the staff were unfortunately not very friendly. Sometimes they looked rather grumpy and simply said “next” when taking orders. If you wanted an alcoholic drink in the lobby, you sometimes had to wait in line for around 15 minutes.

It is a very large and crowded hotel, and you have to pay extra for many of the facilities, which we found disappointing considering the price of the holiday. On the beach, the only alcoholic drinks available are beer and wine.

We also noticed unpleasant smells in many places, outside the hotel.

There are, however, some positive points. The hotel is generally clean and well maintained. Our room was clean, fresh towels were provided daily, and the fridge was restocked every day. The cleaners and most of the lifeguards were very friendly. We also found the food varied and tasty.

Unfortunately, despite these positive aspects, the combination of hygiene concerns around the swimming pools, becoming seriously ill, the crowds and the chaotic service had a major negative impact on our holiday.

For us, Eftalia Ocean is unfortunately a never again.