Eftalia Ocean Resort and Spa

I took my two teenage lads to Eftalia Ocean for 9 days in late July, great weather ranging between 35c and 41c max. We went as a Jet 2 package.

It's a nice hotel, large and quite busy. Mixture of nationalities visit, it's not dominated by one in particular. First impressions are good, speedy check in, nice reception area with a bar. We spent 40EUR to upgrade to a larger superior (not family) room with pool view. The room was nice too although it didn't look like it had been fully cleaned after a late checkout. It was spacious for the 3 of us, but had there been 4 then someone would have ended up on a pull out sofa which didn't look comfy.

As others have mentioned, pools were closed numerous days while we were there, but I can't put that on the hotel. It's parents letting their kids do a number 2 in the pool. There are signs up telling you to use swimmer nappies for non toilet trained kids, I hear they even hand out nappies, but it still happens. Frustrating but the flip side is you probably don't want to swim in a poop infested pool and end up ill.

Jet2 were great with communication - the app told us about our transfers both there and back, so no guessing there. Given the choice though, I wouldn't come back. I'd go back to the 2024 Bodrum hotel we went to which was a smaller campus, less hectic with better entertainment, just a few less water slides.

Good bits:

• There was always something to eat for us all. Local food, hot/cold options, grilled meat. Bottled water everywhere, good choice of drinks across the hotel. Nutella waffles / pancakes with every meal !
• Hotel was clean. Queue's at bars were never too long. We paid to play pool in the middle of the day when it was scorching hot, there's options to stay out of the midday sun. Good shops, all take contactless.
• Room was good. AC very strong, fridge always filled, towels changed etc.
• Pools / slides were really fun at the hotel, and also on Eftalia Island although those get busy quite quickly so we'd go there when they opened and then come back to Ocean when it got busy. OK entertainment / disco at night.
• Always found a sunbed. I'd wander out about 9am and get 2 near the slides where we would normally be. I think you'd need to be out earlier to get some near the pool.

To improve:

• The marble floors on the ground floor, and particularly in the main restaurant are like ice. So incredibly dangerous, wandering around with food and drinks and trying your best not to slip.
• The restaurant is busy which is to be expected, but it's hard to find a table at peak times and even harder to find cutlery. They clear the tables when people leave but don't reset them. Just having cutlery in obvious places to collect would help.
• Salesmen - every time you walk past the Spa you are hounded to buy massages. Every day, every time you walk past. Whilst sunbathing expect to be repeatedly badgered by salesmen selling spa treatments and paid drinks. I'm pretty ignorant so got away with it mostly, but if you do engage in a chat, expect them to be with you on the hard sell for 5 to 10 mins.
• Dated elements in the hotel - the sink in our room leaked all over the floor when it was used. The contactless lock on the door stopped working and an engineer had to fix it. The patio door only just locked, not easily, there was a knack to it.
• Burgerland - 24/7 food. But just don't rely on it. We went once and didn't bother again.

Hotel outstanding, however, all inclusive it is not. Anything nice to drink costs money, lots of money. Shame as this really lets it down. Food is absolutely poor. Overcooked and tasteless. To many kids veing very unhygenic at the buffet, parents should supervise better. Stayed 8 nights had to eat out 4 of them. Sunbed situation ok despite other reviews. Stayed at side star 6 weeks ago, far better.

Arrived at 11pm - got checked in easily - room overlooking the back of the hotel and mountains - lovely! We were in a basic room so double bed, single bed and pull out single bed. There is a little dressing area next to the bathroom that was a god send - loads of space to unpack and store all the cases. This is a big hotel with over 600 rooms - they really did their best to keep it clean. I noticed if you're having drinks at the lounge its cleared up within a few mins and cleaned for the next. Niggles for a restaurant that sits >1000 people there's only 3 ladies toilets - long waits. The restaurant is packed at peak times - like you queue for everything and sometimes >5 mins for the popular bits. No one was rude and there was no shoving but its just a let down for a expensive hotel, they need another buffet. Pool was good but the big pool just felt dirty - so many people packed into it - and if they shut the kids slide pool (which happened 3/10days) they all go to the big pool. They need another pool for sure. Kids pool with slides is fantastic and didn't feel as busy. Even with the island Ocean felt packed. Island pools felt nicer overall - there's one party pool and one quiet pool. Beware there's a high height restriction on the slides at the island my 7 year old could only go on 2 and was gutted. Its a difficult to write this review - because I guess I should have known before I went how busy it would be - reviewers below said - but it was just packed. I wouldn't go back - but just because of the sheer numbers, other people may not be fussed though.

Trips - we went on the relaxing boat trip in Alanya - 100% recommend - £20 pp food and non alcoholic drinks - 5 stops to swim inc a beach - it was the best day! We also went to the dolphin and sea lion show down the road - its a little expensive but I think it was worth it. Show is 50mins full of excitement.