"Reading the reviews ahead of our holiday, we were getting worried. Construction, illnesses, struggles for sunbeds, poor food, bad drinks and rude staff. For the price point, which is a big factor here, it is all pretty much nonsense.
Yes, there is room for improvement, but this is still a 5 star hotel. It is just not to the same standard as Rixos hotels, although Rixos is usually 30% to 50% more expensive. When you take the price into account, Numa Bay offers very good value for money.
We arrived at around 8pm or 9pm and were welcomed by 2 front desk staff who spoke good English. They suggested that we could complete the rest of the check in later and advised us to get some food before it closed, which was thoughtful and really helpful after travelling with 2 young children.
We were shown to a superior room, which was amazing, although it overlooked the construction at the neighbouring hotel. We asked if we could move, and the staff were very accommodating. They took us to see the alternative rooms first, so we could make sure we were happy before deciding. We then chose to upgrade for £250 to a family room on the 5th floor of Building 2, overlooking the sea, and it was absolutely amazing.
The room had loads of space and a fantastic view. There was not much storage in the bathroom, and the bathroom was located in the main living area where the children slept, so the layout was not perfect. However, these were only minor issues, and overall the room was excellent. The minibar was stocked with soft drinks, the room was cleaned and replenished whenever we left the cleaning tag on the door, and we had no complaints. Nothing was stolen during our stay.
The evening shows were loud until around 11pm or midnight, which could put some people off, but this is common in many all inclusive hotels and should be expected when booking a lively family resort.
The food in the main buffet was fine, and we were not sure what some of the negative online reviews were about. It is a buffet offering food from around the world, so expectations need to be realistic. We would avoid the children’s corner, as some of the food appeared to have been standing for a while. The main buffet had much of the same food available, and it seemed fresher.
The pools were clean, and it was easy to find sunbeds until around 10am or 11am. Towels were provided, and we never had an issue getting settled by the pool. Some of the bars serve pre made cocktails that can be a little weak, but the bars will make cocktails fresh if you ask politely. We never had any problems with the drinks during our stay.
The toilets were generally fine, although some could have been cleaned more regularly. We did not see anything seriously unhygienic, and the hotel was always being cleaned and maintained.
The lifeguards were very good, especially Fatih in the waterfall pool area. He was brilliant with all the children and always seemed attentive and helpful.
The beach was good, warm and relatively clean. It is a natural beach, so it is not perfectly manicured, but there were plenty of sunbeds, showers and space for the children to build sandcastles. It suited us well.
The entertainment was another highlight. The main entertainment was very good, especially the white party and the bike stunt show. The children’s entertainment was safe and enjoyable, although it became a little boring and repetitive during the week.
It is a shame that the ice cream parlour costs extra, as the free ice cream choice is limited to 2 options, usually a Twister or a basic Magnum style ice cream.
Overall, we had a fantastic family holiday at Numa Bay Exclusive. The hotel was clean, tidy and well maintained, and the staff were generally friendly and helpful. There are a few areas that could be improved, but based on the price we paid, we felt that the hotel offered very good value for money.
We would happily return and would recommend Numa Bay to families looking for a lively, good value all inclusive holiday in the Alanya area. Just make sure you compare it with hotels at a similar price point, rather than expecting it to match a Rixos hotel that costs considerably more.
**Rating, 5 out of 5**"
