"Barut Goia - 10 night All Inclusive with Jet2 in late July/early August
2 adults and two children aged 9
Brief review – more detailed review provided below
Highly recommended, clean and well designed resort. Brilliant, friendly staff, lovely facilities, great food with a variety for most tastes, range of drinks, plenty to keep kids entertained and local area is a must see.
We had an amazing 10 night stay at Barut Goia and likely will return. Our first all inclusive with our 9 year old twins and whilst we loved the look of the resort from reviews, photos and videos, we were still hopeful rather than confident that it would match up to expectations. It did just that, and perhaps exceeded them.
I would recommend this resort to anyone, and met several families that had been before and were returning. I think we might be joining them in doing that in the next year or two.
Longer review
The hotel – really nice, well laid out building, set across two main complexes; a busier main complex and across from the main reception (and accessible from an underpass too) was the quieter side. We didn’t venture over that side other than to have dinner at the restaurant there, and to have a few pics taken. That side has its own pool but we didn’t visit it.
Once we became familiar with where everything was, it became more obvious how well laid out everything was.
The central area just after the reception desk is where the food hall, entertainment and main bar is situated. There are then additional bars located around the site, and the restaurants on the outer areas too. Further out you have the pools and the apartments.
The room – we paid a little extra for a poolside terrace and we are delighted that we did, we were maybe 8 steps to the pool from our sliding doors, and the layout of the room was perfect. Big enough for the 4 of us, plenty of room for clothes, bags etc.
Every room has a safe, and each day the fridge was restocked. We left 50-100TL for the housekeeping each day.
The twins slept on the sofa beds in the main room, but we were only in the room to sleep, wash and change so they stayed as beds the whole time. TV in main room and bedroom, air con was perfect (make sure the external door is closed otherwise it wont come on), and we left it on when we were out, but turned it off overnight.
Great shower – rainforest shower and big cubicle was very refreshing. Lovely big mirror and sink and plenty of room for toiletries.
The food – I am the least fussiest eater of the 4 of us, with my wife at the other end of that spectrum, and I was spoiled for choice but she found things that she could eat. The range of cuisine was impressive, it felt that I was having 2 or 3 dinners a day because I wanted to try so much. Breakfast was more disciplined, but that maybe because of the lady making the omelettes each morning was my go to.
Such a range of food at each mealtime, it was very impressive. There were salads, fruit, pastries and desserts all the time. Then you had the time dependent choices, breakfast was more cereals, eggs, cheeses, fruit etc. lunch was a mix, you could either get light bites or a larger meal with what was on offer. Dinnertime catered more as the evening meal, so you would have different areas for different tastes. We are English and Irish so some was like home but there were local offerings too.
One thing I would say, the butter was apparently not what we are used to in UK and Ireland, with a different taste, so if that puts you off I would recommend maybe bringing some or getting some from a supermarket. We brought a bottle of ketchup and it didn’t get opened during the holiday, but we did use our own tea bags. Not a criticism of the hotel, just our taste and it might help you out.
There was a little café with a selection of cakes, and I am told the coffee was nice (only tea for me) and the cakes and ice cream on offer was lovely after stepping out of the sun.
The standard – very impressive. The hotel was clean, well maintained, and it was obvious that there was a sense of pride in keeping it that way from all the staff.
Corridors were clean, rooms cleaned each day, poolside was kept looking great and I cannot remember us noticing anything which could have done with being cleaned at the time. The main areas looked great each day, really a compliment to the staff when the bars were open well into the night.
Pool and poolside – loved the pool, and somehow we always found room in the pool; it never felt crammed. There are activities each day, and water polo took place twice a day in the pool which was fun to watch - playing with kids took priority over getting involved in that, but I did keep saying each day I might play tomorrow.
Poolside was hosed down each evening, and whilst there I didn’t think there was a problem with people towels on loungers (there were still loungers available past 9am each morning) I did put them out quite early once we had found a spot we liked.
The entertainment – mostly dance groups, but this was mixed up. Hip-hop one night, latin dance another, a magic show another, a circus event another. Missed Michael Jackson which I heard was good, he played the day we left, but the main hall was well laid out, and if you got there an hour before the show you could get a good seat, but we never failed to get some seat.
There were kids events on earlier than the main show, for younger ones.
The bar – great selection of drinks, and whilst there was a cocktail list, including virgin cocktails, the staff would make you whatever you wanted. Local beer Efes on tap and in bottles was very nice, and there were others too, Becks and Bolmonte. All range of soft drinks, spirits, slushies, a really good offering couldn’t fault it.
The area – the local area of Side has ancient ruins from Roman Empire days, and the waterfront is stunningly beautiful. Little cobbled streets lead down to the marina. I am a sucker for sunsets and was not disappointed, beautiful area. You will be asked to visit the restaurants and bars, and will get a few sales pitches for them but it never felt unreasonable. People are very polite and not pressured at all, they will accept a no thank you, but at the same time we sat down for a drink in one and could have stayed there all evening.
We also visited the next big town over Mavangat, as we went on a boat tour through Jet 2 and that was lovely too, but Side is the gem in the local crown, will look even better once the restorations to the ruins have completed. Maybe in time for our next visit?
The staff – last but certainly not least, the staff. Every single member of staff, from the reception to the bars to the food hall to the restaurants to the cleaners, were so clearly dedicated to their job and to making sure that us guests were happy with their stay. They could not do enough for you, and over the few days we were there we became familiar with several. The highlight perhaps being my walk to the bar to be greeted by a prepared glass of beer, only problem is I didn’t get the mans name to give him a name check. The hotel should be very proud, I am sure they are. I hope to see some of them again in the near future."
