"We recently spent a lovely holiday at Aska Lara Resort & Spa and Wet & Wild as a large mixed group of family and friends, consisting of 11 adults, 9 children and 3 babies. Overall, we had a really good experience, the holiday was excellent value for money, and most importantly, the children absolutely loved it. For us, that is what matters most when choosing a family holiday.
Having read some of the negative reviews before and during our stay, I do think some of them are a little extreme. Of course, every guest has different expectations and experiences, and there are definitely areas where the hotel could improve. However, we had a great time overall, and I certainly wouldn't describe our experience as a negative one.
The positives
Excellent value for money
For what we paid, we felt the holiday offered very good value. You get access to two sites, a huge range of food and drinks, plenty of pools, entertainment and lots to keep the children occupied. When travelling with such a large group, including several young children and babies, having so much available in one place made the holiday enjoyable and convenient.
Food variety and choice
One of the biggest positives was the sheer variety of food available. There were plenty of places to eat across both Aska Lara and Wet & Wild, and lots of options throughout the day. The food won't necessarily appeal to everyone's tastes all the time, but with so much choice, I genuinely think it would be difficult not to find something you enjoy.
Could every meal be improved? Of course. Was every dish to everyone's liking? No. But I think it is unrealistic to expect every single meal to suit every guest, particularly at a large all-inclusive resort catering for so many different nationalities and age groups. We certainly never felt short of options.
Drinks and bars
Another positive was the drinks selection. The alcoholic drinks were genuine, and there was a good variety available. There were also plenty of bars spread across both sites, which meant you were never too far from somewhere to grab a drink. With children in tow, this was a welcome bonus!
The Starbucks-style offering was also a nice touch, although I can't comment on whether it was an official Starbucks or not.
Wet & Wild – a real highlight
We particularly enjoyed Wet & Wild. There was lots to do, the atmosphere was good, and the children absolutely loved it. The entertainment was enjoyable, and the frequent transfers between the main hotel and Wet & Wild made getting between the two sites very easy. We never felt we had to wait too long for transport.
The water was lovely, and despite the pools not being heated, our children didn't seem to mind at all. They were more than happy to spend their time enjoying the facilities.
One thing worth mentioning is that it can get quite cold in the evenings, particularly when the entertainment is outdoors, so I would recommend taking something warm to wear.
Cleanliness and housekeeping
The hotel was generally clean, and the rooms were attended to daily. I wouldn't say the cleaning was particularly thorough, and there were occasions when a little more attention to detail would have been appreciated. However, the cleaners did come every day, and the minibar was replenished daily, which was good.
There were also lots of cats around the resort. Some guests may find this lovely, while others may not be so keen. Personally, I didn't see it as a major issue, although I appreciate it won't be to everyone's taste.
Location and getting around
The location is reasonable, although not perfect. It isn't somewhere I would describe as particularly picturesque or ideal for those wanting to step straight out into a lively town centre. However, getting around is relatively straightforward.
The bus stop is only around 30 seconds' walk from the hotel, and buses to the Saturday market and Antalya Old Town are very affordable – approximately the equivalent of 50p for our journeys. This made it easy to explore without having to spend a fortune on taxis or organised trips.
Mosquitoes
Quite a few people in our group did get mosquito bites. However, I wouldn't hold this against the hotel. Travelling to Turkey at this time of year means being aware that mosquitoes may be an issue, and I think it is something guests should prepare for rather than automatically blame on the resort.
The negatives and areas for improvement
The main restaurant can be extremely chaotic
This was probably our biggest criticism of the holiday.
The main food selection, located on the lower-ground/basement level, became incredibly chaotic, particularly during dinner. It could feel very crowded and disorganised, with lots of people moving around at once. At peak times, the experience could be quite stressful, especially when trying to manage children and find food for everyone.
That said, we visited during half-term, so I do wonder whether this is representative of the hotel's usual experience or whether the crowds were particularly intense because of the school holidays.
I think the hotel could make a real difference by introducing a simple system to spread out dinner guests. For example, guests could select a loose dining slot of 6–7 pm, 7–8 pm or 8–9 pm. These wouldn't need to be rigid bookings, just a way of encouraging a more even distribution of guests.
Alternatively, a one-way system for entry and exit could help prevent people from moving in opposite directions and reduce some of the congestion.
The food itself wasn't the problem; it was the overall dining experience during busy periods. When mealtimes are such an important part of an all-inclusive holiday, improving the flow and organisation of the restaurant would make a significant difference.
Staff friendliness and communication
This was another area where we felt there was room for improvement.
To be fair, we encountered some staff members who were genuinely friendly, welcoming and helpful. However, these felt more like isolated individuals than a reflection of the overall service culture.
The staff were not rude in our experience, and I don't want to suggest otherwise. Rather, we often found that interactions were quite functional, without the warmth or friendliness you might expect from a resort that markets itself as a family-friendly holiday destination.
We did try to learn a few basic Turkish expressions before arriving, and we certainly don't expect every member of staff to speak fluent English. However, at an international resort of this size, I would have expected a more basic level of English communication, at least for simple requests such as asking for a towel or checking whether a dish contains pineapple.
This wasn't a huge problem because we used Google Translate on many occasions, and we managed perfectly well. Nevertheless, it was something we hadn't expected and occasionally made simple interactions more difficult than they needed to be.
A little more warmth, willingness to help and basic communication would go a long way towards improving the guest experience.
Excursions and the tour representative
We booked a couple of excursions through the MYT representative, including a pirate ship trip and a spa visit. Overall, we felt these experiences were fairly average and that we hadn't received particularly good value for money.
We also felt somewhat let down by the recommendations and arrangements made through the representative. In particular, the external spa we visited – which I believe was Lara Spa – did not impress us as much as the spa available at the hotel itself.
In fact, we found the hotel's own spa much nicer and cleaner, and I would personally recommend considering the hotel spa before booking an external one through a representative.
I wouldn't say the excursions completely ruined anything, but they weren't highlights of the holiday either. In hindsight, I would probably do a little more research independently before booking trips.
A few other things worth knowing
Pools: They aren't heated, so the water can feel cold, but our children were perfectly happy and it didn't stop them enjoying themselves.
Evenings: Bring a cardigan, jumper or light jacket, especially if you plan to watch the outdoor entertainment at Wet & Wild.
Mosquitoes: Take appropriate repellent and prepare accordingly if travelling at this time of year.
Exploring independently: The local bus is an affordable option for visiting the Saturday market and Antalya Old Town.
Dining: Expect busy periods, particularly during school holidays, and be prepared for the main restaurant to feel overwhelming at peak dinner times.
Would we return or recommend it?
Honestly, I probably wouldn't choose to return, but that doesn't mean we had a bad holiday.
I think I would prefer the Dalaman area over Antalya for our next trip, and I would probably look for a slightly less commercial resort with a calmer atmosphere, particularly at mealtimes. For me, the restaurant experience is a big part of an all-inclusive holiday, and the chaos during dinner was the main thing that took away from what was otherwise a really enjoyable stay.
However, I want to be clear that this is a personal preference rather than a criticism that the hotel is terrible. We had a lovely holiday, the children had an amazing time, the drinks were good, the food was plentiful, the water was lovely, Wet & Wild was a highlight, and the hotel was generally clean.
Travelling as a group of 11 adults, 9 children and 3 babies could easily have been complicated, but we had plenty to keep everyone entertained and made some lovely memories together.
My final verdict: Aska Lara Resort & Spa and Wet & Wild offer good value for money, particularly for families with children who want plenty of activities, food choices, drinks and entertainment in one place. There are definitely areas that could be improved, especially the organisation of the main restaurant during peak times and the overall warmth of the service. But I think some of the negative reviews are a little harsh, and I wouldn't want anyone to be put off entirely by them.
We went, we had fun, the children loved it, and we came home feeling that we had enjoyed a good holiday for the money we paid. I wouldn't necessarily rush back, but I certainly wouldn't leave a negative review of the hotel overall. Our experience was positive, and I think it is important to recognise both the shortcomings and the things the resort does well."
