"We stayed at the Golden Beach in beginning of April
The first impression was really good – the reception area is nice. I wouldn’t say the staff there were extremely helpful, but overall it was fine. The territory is clean, beautiful, and quite large, although definitely smaller than it looks in the hotel pictures. I expected something huge where walking back and forth would feel long, but in reality it’s manageable and everything is easily walkable.
We stayed in a standard room on the second floor with a balcony. The room itself was nice, but clearly outdated – it hasn’t been renovated in a long time. Everything felt a bit old, including the beds and interior, which disappointed my son a bit. Still, it somehow fits the general vibe – I didn’t expect ultra-luxury.
The territory is well maintained with pretty gardens. It’s not modern, but it’s clean and pleasant. A fun surprise was the chickens (guinea fowl) that are released every morning – probably to eat snails, as there are many. They can be a bit loud, but it’s actually funny and kids love them. There are also many cats around – clean, calm, and not intrusive. They stay outside and don’t bother guests. Even with my child’s allergy and asthma, it wasn’t an issue.
The staff overall are very polite, friendly, and smiling. Restaurant staff and bartenders were especially great – always welcoming and attentive. One of the ladies cooking eggs in the morning was especially lovely – always smiling and in a great mood.
Food was very good with a huge variety. Yes, some things repeat, but those are often the favorites you’re happy to have again (like pancakes, croissants, cream cheese, etc.). We had themed days as well – a seafood day with calamari and grilled salmon, and a Turkish cuisine day, which was excellent. It was great to try traditional dishes.
Drinks were surprisingly good quality. We tried wine, beer, cocktails, mimosas, rum, gin – everything was solid, and no headaches the next day. There are also great options like iced coffee (with Baileys) and kids’ cocktails. Water is available everywhere, and the minibar (refilled daily) includes water, sparkling water, Pepsi, Mirinda, beers, and juices.
The beach snack bar is excellent – you can make your own wraps or burgers, and they serve churros, which are amazing with chocolate by the beach.
I've cream available at the pool and beach snack bar for free!
Pools were quite cold. You’re not allowed to use facilities at neighboring hotels (like indoor pools), even for an extra fee.
There are many paid activities – bring cash (preferably euros). Prices are quite high, especially for kids’ activities. Shops inside and around the hotel are also expensive, often overpriced compared to what you could find elsewhere. For better shopping, we recommend going to Manavgat, although even there prices are not cheap.
Room cleaning was unfortunately poor. Rooms were not properly cleaned regardless of tipping. The bathroom wasn’t cleaned well, floors weren’t vacuumed, and even small things like hair or debris remained. At one point we even found a piece of glass on the floor that clearly wasn’t ours. This was disappointing.
On the positive side, towels are changed daily, and beach towels can be replaced twice a day, which is very convenient.
The spa (sauna and Turkish bath) is free but gets very crowded, especially on colder days, and not very relaxing due to many children.
Wi-Fi was inconsistent. The first two days it worked perfectly everywhere, but after that it became unreliable – sometimes only working in the lobby. Staff didn’t really provide clear explanations, which was frustrating.
Towards the end of our stay, we had an issue with bugs in our room and had to move. The first replacement room had mold, which was unacceptable, especially due to my child’s asthma. We were then moved again to a larger family room, which was better, but on the first floor and with no internet.
One important tip – if Wi-Fi matters to you, consider getting an eSIM. I used one and it worked perfectly everywhere.
The beach is beautiful – sandy with some shells and small rocks. It’s about a 5–7 minute walk, or you can take a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes. We recommend reserving beach spots early in the morning, especially if you want front-row sunbeds.
Weather in early April was mixed – around 20–21°C on sunny days, 16–17°C on colder days, and about 10°C at night. The sea was around 18°C, and we still swam every day.
The water slides and beach dock was not open though.
Rooms can get cold, and heating is not very intuitive to use. Bathrooms are especially cold due to constant ventilation (basically an open hole), which lets cold air in. Also, there’s no proper way to dry wet clothes.
Every evening there is entertainment shows but they are only 1 hour long usually. Bingo costs fortune!
Overall, the hotel is nice and I would recommend it – but not for very picky guests. Consider it as country house, where ants sometimes come inside 😊
One very important thing to note: the hotel is heavily oriented towards German guests, and smoking is allowed almost everywhere. People smoke in outdoor dining areas, by the pool, at the beach – basically everywhere. This was a big downside for us, especially with a child. If you’re sensitive to cigarette smoke or traveling with kids, this is something to seriously consider.
P.S. Try oranges! They are divine!"
