Sunlight Garden

7 readers found this review helpful

myself and my family decides to go to sunlight garden in oct 10,i was a bit dubious at first because i kept hearing horror stories,well i neednt have worried it was one of turkeys best resorts.myself and my family went there for one week,we thoroughly enjoyed our stay it was great,it was value for money,the food was great the apartments were great and the waiters were great crack,very friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them always pleasant and smiling.it was that good were goin back in may.well done sunlight garden we cant wait to come back.the bartletts.

8 readers found this review helpful

August is very hot and the sense of frustration to find the air con advertised was limited to just one room out of three was terrible. You can hire extra fans to blow the hot air around, but we chose to move all five of us into one room with air con; allowing all the benefit of the inefficient air con supplied. If we could have utilised the space, the apartments were ok, just too hot. The standard of wiring is dubious. During the first of our 2 weeks, the food was ok, and everyone found something to digest with a few welcome surprises every few days, by the second week our palates had been saturated by the recurrent processed meats and chilli combos; there were some excellent fish available. The bar offers 4 types of spirit, also local beer, soft and tea and coffee in the all inclusive package; the bar is open from 1000-2300. Entertainment was given 3 days/wk and lasted for about 1/2 hour. This was good, if a little repetitive. The pools were fantastic, the surfaces around the pools, bars, restaurants and apartments were extremely slippery and were the scenes of several dangerous falls. The number of sunbeds, chair and bar tables are very limited. The best things about this hotel were how amazingly friendly the staff are. Everyone wanted to interact and help to accommodate. They all had a great sense of humour and the kids loved the interaction. There is a small internet cafe which provided something else for the kids, along with some rather ancient pool tables, shame there is not an area for ball games. The staff were keen to join the kids in any games played. The staff work amazingly long hours with virtually no time off, even so they always had smile and a joke to share. The beach was great, a local bar providing free transport between hotel and beach. This is not included in the deal, food and drink carried a relatively high premium whilst on the beach. The town of Side is possibly very picturesque and we would loved to have spent time in the town taking in the scenery, etc - however the overly pushy sales pitch at every shop, bar, restaurant meant we just kept our heads down and got away as quickly as possible. There are some very dodgy people around the historical sites that quickly latch on, and would con you out of every bit of money you have, spoiling your chance to take in the otherwise beautiful town. The shops are full of things that we would have liked to see, however you aren't given the chance to explore before being hounded to buy - this sales technique is sure to put off the potential punter who may otherwise have bought. Also be aware that you have to barter for everything, and if you are not careful you will quickly fall foul of some very tricky and dodgy sales. Be wary of handling the local stray cats and dogs. One of our children were bitten by a cat and had a unpleasant course of rabies vaccine, and meant several very difficult trips to Manavgat government hospital where nobody spoke English.
Check out that every room is air conditioned.
Get up early to secure a sun lounger.
The food is better at the start of meal times.
Use the local transport and explore some of the local areas.
Don't touch the cats and dogs - however cute they look (both can carry rabies, worms, ticks, and other parasites).
Be careful about being talked into any unwanted sales, trips or tour guides.
You can use either Euros or Lira, but be aware of what they charge for the exchange rate.
Use only the big banks or post office to change travellers cheques or use pin machines - the local alternatives know how to charge!!
Remember you are expected to leave a tip - about 10% - watch out for additional service charges in some bars in Side.
Sit down at the harbour looking back towards the beach near the hotel - just before sunset you can see the Turtles for FREE.
Experience the Manavgat River in one form or another, a very cool and refreshing change with some stunning scenery.

dirty place very poor food left uncovered flys and wasps on it. Rooms unsafe balcony doors where only locked by a chain 3 rooms broke into .Plus a man was caught just lettin himself in rooms the pool well had to get out of it 2 times a day as staff would come and pour chlorine and it would burn and make us itchy .very small bar not seats for everyone but then again could not stay there long as beers was like water and only 3 free sprits and i have never known a bar to stop servin @ 10.30 pm.if u want to know more and see pics feel free to email me.claireandian@live.com

3 readers found this review helpful

You have to remember you are in turkey and things can be quite basic. We found the hotel fine the staff were very helpful and friendly. We had maid service every day so the rooms were very clean (not a bug in sight) just a litle bit dated. The food was good there was enough choise for the whole family, my children particulary enjoyed afternoon biscuits they were yummy. The pools were fine, just had to remind the children not to run around the pool area as it did get quite slippy when wet. Overall we had a good holiday.

2 readers found this review helpful

I am just back from Turkey and i stayed at Sunlight Gardens. It was the best holiday i have ever been on. The hotel was great and the staff was just amazing. I never wanted to leave. I am going back next year. The cleaning staff were very good the room was always spotless and the food was spot on. The pool area was slippy but if you dont run and are cautious when walking then you are fine. x

1 reader found this review helpful

We read other peoples reviews and wondered what we had let us self in for but we were very pleasently surprised.The rooms were big but very out dated but kept spotlessly clean by the cleaning staff. Shower was a bit hit and miss but it was ok for for freshning up.
The staff were brilliant especially the waiters but the two that made our holiday so rememberable, who we would like to thank are Adem and Rait (pronounced Right).
The food was fresh and lots of it. If i had to complain it would be about the breakfast, it was the weakest meal of the day but they was plenty of bread and cereals. Something for everyone. Ate so much while away. It was a shame that you could only get your own drinks, 1 per person after 10.30pm but talking about it and planning it is also something that we wont forget in a hurry. The bar also finishes serving free drinks at 11pm but we didnt find this a problem as the days were hot and we looked forward to getting some sleep. If you want to go on a trip to see Turkey away from the main stream go on the Green Cavern Tour which can be booked in the tour shop on the main road. It is a fantastic adventure. The staff in the shop are also very friendly. The Saterday market is also not to be missed, a stroll down beside the mosque the fruit so ripe and juicy and i must also mention our friend who sells the linen shirts and shorts on the last row on the right. pop on and say hello. The resident DJ is a bit of a let down and i thought he should be a bit more professional in his behavour. It was our first trip to Turkey and we plan to go again.

3 readers found this review helpful

i only arrived back home yesterday from the Sunlight gardens hotel and am already missing the polite, friendly company of the staff. from first arriving to leaving the hotel after a week, my family and i were treated with respect and kindness throughout our stay. I decided to read the reviews for the hotel today and am very shocked at the comparison and complaning about the food and conditions. i presume most reviews are british because of the complaining of the food choices and catering. My personal opinion on the food was interesting, different and an experiance recommended if travelling to a different country. it would be a boring choice to have burgers, chips and other un-Turkish food on the menu. You go to Turkey to experiance all the culture and differences, not for what you can get easily everywhere at home.
It came a big surprise to me how healthy and fresh the food was on the menu. A wide range of salades and meat were a good change to normal food i have at home, and most nights was beautifully arranged withh great effort of the staff.
various water melons were carved to impossible designs making the food around look as beautiful and taseful as the beauty of the surroundings.
The Hotel rooms were very surprising, as they were massive for a family of four. Every room was clean, and well presented. however, the stairs became a death trap as they were quite steep and made of marble. so when coming back from a day at the pool, be extremely careful walking up and down.
overall the hotel was brilliant! RECOMMENDED.!

6 readers found this review helpful

We arrived at Sun light Gardens on the 19th Sep 2009 for a two week holiday. First impressions were 'luvly big clean rooms, nice sized pools and gorg gardens' I went with my partner and have to say we really enjoyed it. You get exactly what you pay for, and it is value for money. The waiters/bar staff/security gaurd and cleaners were fantastic, they work so hard and nothing was to much trouble for them. The rooms were very clean, the showers werent great but ok for a two week holiday, the food got a bit repetative, but there is cafes/resturants close by if u wanted something spersific. If you do go to Side, please go to 'beckhams' bar - we made some true friends there and weve never laughed so much in our lives. Over all we really enjoyed it. We would go back again.
Sarah

3 readers found this review helpful

we went to the sunlight gardens in july 3 star hotel.but the food was very good, our apartment was cleanedevery day,including clean towels and some times beding if dirty,the staff were great,only the head barman and his side kick [the poison dwarf]could be miserable at times but you may be after a 16hr shift.also the day time security guard hasan wasvery freindly and helpful,
only problems the pool is deep for kids and the poll area is very slipy, but funny watching people skid across the floor, could be more entertainment on 3 nights only a week
yes the food can be repetative but there is plenty of choice,come on its a 3 star hotel in turkey if you want more choice go five star.take euros every oneuses them,not cheap in side it is expensive to bodrum area of turkey.
SO thefood was good
the rooms were clean
the staff were great
the weather was hot
plenty of sunbeds
2 pools
GIVE IT A TRY we are from durham and got on with loads of people there,

Accomodation is very basic,Air con cannot be left on all day because the fob attached to the key is welded on, Not a pleasant experience when 40 degrees, and you cannot sleep at night. They will not give more than one key. The bathroom floor floods after showering, the curtain was 6inches short of tray, so you have to use the towels to mop up, which they only supply twice a week. Beds are only changed every three days. Dining area has a extractor but no cooker. Food o.k,make sure you take a drink from the bar into the resturant before seating or your drink will arrive after meal.
The sunbeds are old and have paint splashed on the cushions. There is not enough parasols,and most are broken. There is a widescreen T.V but only on for one football game once in the week.
We shall not be returning to this hotel in the future. We have stayed in 3* hotels ten times better than this. It is not value for money at this presant climate. You cannot flush toilet paper, put in bin what ever condition, and when its 40degrees think about the smell.
One possative is the swimming pools.