Armonia Holiday Village & Spa

1 reader found this review helpful

A lovely looking hotel in a nice location with 3 pools and it's own private beach, which was very nice with lovely clear water.
However, as with most hotels I've been to, make sure you put a towel on your sunbed early in the morning before they are all snatched up!
All the hotel staff were very friendly and helpful.
Our room was nice and clean with a large balcony, the food was good with plenty of choice, and there was great evening entertainment, especially the Michael Jackson show!
But what really made my holiday was a really lovely boat trip on the Galaxsea boat, which picks you up from the hotel jetty, and stops at several different places and islands. They served a nice lunch on the boat, with tea/coffee and cake later on. The guys selling boat trip tickets at the hotel, Fero and Fred, were very friendly, as were the guys working on the boat who looked after you very well and made the trip very enjoyable.
So if you come to this hotel, which I will certainly think about doing again next year, then I would definitely recommend going on a Galaxsea boat trip!

Reception awful - have advised need customer service training immediately. Staff in Restaurant also need training especially towards British people.
However all was not lost as the facilities, food and rooms were great. May go again - not sure.
First Choice - we had issues with them as we had last minute deal which turned out to be more expensive so would not use First Choice directly.

1 reader found this review helpful

i went on holiday with my family, i thought this hotel was brilliant it was clean and tidy and if a member of staff was walking around and seen some rubbish they would pick it up straight away and put it in the bin. The waiters in the resturant were very good a certain waiter in particular was brilliant he would find us a table as soon as he could see us walking over to him and if he didnt have a spare table he would join some together for us, he remembered what we drank and would bring us over new ones as soon as we finished ours. The beach is right at the end of the hotel and was lovely down there, very intertaining with the water sports there too, watching all the people fall off the inflatables was very funny, they staff there were very friendly and would always come over and chat with us. The spa is very good we went to have a turkish bath and is very much recommended. The entertainment staff were very good always friendly and their club dance was great even bought the cd with all the songs on and entertainer constantly walk around whistling is funny and unforgetable!The rooms are cleaned daily if you want them too be and the shower was really good and powerful. The food was good there was a wide range of meat, fish, pasta, rice, potatoes and salad plus there is pizza cooked freshly in front of you every day for lunch and tea and there is a wide range or puddings. There isnt a great deal to do around the hotel but the buses run frequently and are very cheap and the near by town turgertries is very nice but you will get hassled by just about everyone to come and eat in their resturant or to buy something in their shops but make sure you haggle and dont take their first price as they will always charge too much. The market is good fun but dont go if you are easily offended as they will call you rude names if you dont like their prices or haggle too much. There is the problem with the sun bed hoggers that will get up a stupid times in the morning to reserve their sun bed but wont always come back to use it, the other tourists in the hotel can be rude and push in in the line which can be annoying especially the turkish but Overall a brilliant holiday and we are thinking about going back next year.

2 readers found this review helpful

my partner and i was due to go to dominican for 2wks but both lost our jobs and could not afford the holiday so as not to loose our deposit changed it to this hotel for a week and was not sure what to expect but was pleased to just have a wk away in the sun.We now are so glad this happened as could not have had a better holiday.yes it takes a while to get to the armonia and when we got there our room wasnt gt.sml balcony overlooking the slides no privacy and i wasnt happy.i thought im not going to enjoy this break.however i told the staff i wasnt happy and they said they would change my room.i then had a bellboy called kadir take me to another room and wouldnt get my cases until i was sure i was happy he was brilliant and so helpful.my room was lovely and both my partner and i had such a brilliant week.we relaxed by the pools made loads of friends and the staff were gt.our thomson rep was turkish and she was so good she felt like part of my family.okhan gokce the bar chief deserves a medal for the time and effort he does for his guests.he put us at ease and made our holiday the best and his bar staff were so friendly and god they work such long hours but still smile.i dont know how they do it they work so hard and i found some guest seem to treat them not so well.click there fingers and no please or thank u just like they are dirt on their shoes i cannot believe some people can act like that but give the staff their dues they treated everyone with the same respect i dont think i could have.the food was ok breakfast is mainly continental as they seem to have a lot of eastern european guests so my partner did miss out on his fryups and felt the food wasnt so good but thats him he likes his english roasts etc and is bit picky tho i found the food was cooked and presented well its just what u like.the entertainment is lowkey so if want a relaxing evening drinking and making friends its gt then onto the disco for a dance.my partner isnt into disco but i felt safe and ok for him to go back while i stayed out.we had a fantastic holiday and looking to go back mayb in september because of the change in hol due to lose of jobs didnt think would enjoy as much but am glad this happened as had such a gt time and was treated so well by all the staff here.would like to thank amy and her entertainment team for the laughs.okhan gokce for his team in making my partners drinking time special remembering what he wanted not just a beer but a drop of lemonade in it and coming over and chatting to us and remembering us each evening that personal touch does make a difference and u did that.ahmet the photo guy on site who works wonders with his camera but isnt pushy like some are.u gave me the best photo ever and its on my wall now thank u.the security guard who was also running the slides at the pool u was so friendly and got chatting and made friends with my partner who wanted ur belt for 30lira u said my partner was crazy.lol.but u made our holiday by being friendly and helpful.thank u.and last but not least the bellboy who took our cases to our new rooms kadir.i have travelled a lot and stayed in a lot of hotels abroad and in england and have not been treated half as well as i have here.well done to u all.

3 readers found this review helpful

i look at the reviews before i wen to this hotel bt didnt realy belive them as they were quiet bad and never really read or write reviews. this hotel was nothing like they told us and we read about.
we arrived at the hotel at night and it looked amazing all lit up and we were very excited to see wat the rest of the hotel was like.
The rooms are very small they are nothing like the pictures we saw. the room was clean bt the standard could of been alot higher. we had dead moths still stuck to the floor and the bath towels had holes in and were very tatty. you also got towel cards which you could get towels for around the pool and beach and they were the same.
The staff around the hotel were not friendly and seemed very rude. the restaurant seemed to have the same food most days so after the 2 day we got bored of eatin the same things. some of the meat we got wasnt cooked and seemed still pink in the middle. the staff there seemed to take your plates very quicky sometimes wen u was still eating off it but did not reset the tables much. you had to go and find your own cuttley.
we spend most time around the beach which had lovely views. we didnt really spend much time around the pool as one of the pools has tablets around so at dinner time it was full of waiters and the smell of the food. the pools got very full in the moring.
the entertament was ok some nights bt didnt start till 10 oclock and only lasted about 40 minutes.
this hotel is not a 4 plus like they say . we have been to alot of 4 plus and 5 star hotels snd i wud put this hotel as a 3/4. we looked forward to getin a hoilday after working all year and it was a very big lt down. first choice told us this hotel was a brand new building for 2010 and you could it wasnt. for the price you pay for this hotel you can find a lot nicer ones . i would not recomend this hotel and would not return .

i have just returned from a 2 week holiday staying at the Armonia. I found the rooms to be very clean and modern and were of a good size. There are 3 pools, one of which where pool games etc take place which is where i would advise sunbathing if you like to join in and take part. The other larger pool is more quiet however the entertainment team still come round and ask if you want to take part in the days activity. The 3rd pool is the baby pool which is between the 2 larger pools which is also an ok size for small children. I found the entertainment team to be brilliant, they all speak very good english and there is always something to do if you want. The food wasn't the best, although i am a fussy eater. It all looks lovely and there is plenty of it and there is always loads of fresh bread and cjips daily if you struggle to find something you like. I didn't go to the fish a la cart however the turkish one was lovely and i would suggest going there. There is a small shop at the hotel which sells basics such as ice creams, crisps fags, chocolate etc however the shop just outside the hotel is cheaper. There is also another small shop which sells fake designer clothes, it is just as cheap as going to the market if not cheaper. The spa was very expensive so if you plan on using it then prepare to spend quite a bit however i did have a tour round and it was lovely inside. Some of the water sports were quite expensive however they are fun. We found it worked out cheaper paying with english money rather than turkish so its probably best to take sterling as they prefer it and most things are prices in sterling and euro as apposed to TL.The beach isn't really sand, more like small stones and is quite painfull on your feet so prepare yourself. The hotel itself is out of the way of everything. There are 2 shops within walking distance but apart from that you need to get a bus which stops right outside the hotel and is 2.50 TL to get into the main town. I also found that there were not alot of english at this hotel and those that weren't english could be quite rude. They like to push in quite alot and have no manners. Also if you want a sunbed then get out early cause they go quite quickly!!! Also girls if you like to sunbathe topless they dont like it round the pool so go out onto the jetti, thats where everyone goes if you dont want to go home with white bits!!
The entertainment was very good on the evfening and i would definately recomend watching the michael jackson show. I was there for 2 weeks and found the entertainment repeated itself however some of it is worth seeing twice.
I loved my holiday and would go back however the food was a big problem for me and i found myself looking forward to coming home and having something decent to eat.

6 readers found this review helpful

We've just returned from this resort - sold as 5 star and all inclusive. We experienced none of the problems noted in the earlier reviews (apart from the 'livliness').
Rooms:
I guess the hotel management have listened to previous criticisms and seem to have worked hard to overcome many of them. We found it to be beautifully clean with friendly and daily room cleaning. they said that towels are refreshed every other day - but we had fresh towels and sheets everyday. Bathroom was very clean, well finished and had a GREAT shower - much better than our home shower. Fresh bottled water was put in the room fridge every day. Very effective airconditioning and ceiling fan. I liked the economical/green fact that the a/c won't work if the doors are left open.
Beach:
Not a big enough beach for the size of the hotel. There are plenty of beds and parasols, but they are cramped close together and for the first time in my life (over 25 years of holidaying!) we found ourselves going to the beach before breakfast to bag a good position. Felt quite German :-) !! However, there were a couple of days that we didn't go to the beach until 11ish and we still found somewhere decent. The sea is absolutely lovely here with a beautiful view of Kos. The water is crysal clear and (in June) quite cold, but appreciated when it's hot. The water is also cordoned off with a floating fenders and ropes which makes it feel very safe if you want to drift off on a lilo (which, incidentally, is the quietest place you will find). There are a couple of large floating toys for you and the kids to climb up and dive off. good fun.
Pools:
Beautiful pools. Not slippery anymore as they have put great non-slip mats around the edges. Again, a bit crowded, but you will always find a lounger and parasol.
Restaurants:
The self-service restaurant was good. Great choice and quality of food. Freshly bbq'd meats and pizzas and pide avaialble from the grill. LOADS of fantastic salads. A section for dieters with clearly labelled low fat options. All food had labels in several languages. Really couldn't complain after one week. Perhaps after two weeks it might seem a bit repetitive, but if you are selective and don't try to eat everything available :-) then you'll be fine. The 'a la carte' menus are a bit of a joke, as there isn't really a menu choice, but nontheless, the restaurants themselves are delightful places, more spacious and calmer than the main restaurants with full waiter service. The fish restaurant was brilliant - but the Turkish was nothing special. The 'snack bar' by the pool serves chips and burgers and pasta seemingly all day. There is hot soup served between 11 and 12 and then sandwiches served between 1am and 7am. Cake and biscuits (piles and piles of them) served in the late afternoon. Food here really is 24 hours and we all put on weight!
Staff:
Brilliant. Loads of them, sometimes felt like too many as your plates and glasses are whipped away as soon as it looks like you've finished (even if you haven't!) but they are good humoured and very friendly and most speak adequate english (and Russian, German and who knows what else). Cleaners on site all day, even on the beach collecting up rubbish and empty glasses and plates.
Entertainment:
A very lively and friendly entertainment team who seem to work 24 hours. The acutal evening entertainment was a bit amateurish, but we didn't expect anything else, and it was good enough to amuse us. And it was all conducted in about 5 languages, so quite impressive really. the comedy sketch show had me in hysterics - but perhaps I am just easy to please. The Michael Jackson show was amazing! The Miss Armonia contest is not a beauty pageant (so don't be put off) and was hilarious - more an amateaur talent show. There is something for you all day if you want it.
Bars:
Plenty of bars with nice seating and comfortable sofas and chairs. All inclusive drinks are local brands, but adequate and certainly drinkable. The white and rose wine does need ice - which you have to ask for at the bar, but always readily supplied. Milk is not left out (understably), so you also have to ask for that at the bar.
Location:
A very pretty view, but miles from anywhere. Too far to walk out anywhere at night (or day). Short and cheap bus ride into Turgetries and not too far from Bodrum.
the brochure says 1hr 15 mins transfer from airport, but this is inaccurate. It took two hours going and nearly 2.5 coming back. Not too bad if you expect it, but almost unbearable if you were only expecting to be on the bus for an hour!
Noise:
Well, this is the only downside. If you are a family with young kids and used to chaotic noise then you will love this place - in fact, I am going to recommend my sister and her three kids come here. But, for us, who wanted a quiet and peaceful, restful beach holiday - it was too noisy. Whereever we sat outside, beach, pool, lounge areas, whatever, we could either hear the music from the entertainments or beach bars or the music from the hotel bar next door! or just the squeals of zillions of kids having the time of their lives.

7 readers found this review helpful

Beautiful hotel, not very many English, rooms are nice, could do with a better clean!!!! our shower constantly leaked, but lived with it. You don't have to rush at the crack of dawn for a sun bed, but be sure to be down by 8am. Food was lovely the first few days but gets a bit repeatative. Kids buffet consisted of chips and something in a sauce. Only two toilets on the complex, reception and pool, pool one was disgusiting.
Had 2 kids, one of 11 and one of 4, 11 year old had plently to do with the slides and pools, but my 4 year old didn't get on too well with Kids club as none of the kids spoke english and baby pool was small and very very cold, as were all the pools.
There is a breeze every day which was nice, but the pools never got warm. The floor around the pools were deadly, we saw numerous accidents where adults and kids were slipping over day and night, they clean the main walkways at 8pm and people were falling all over the place.
Hotel staff were lovely, especially the entertainment staff, they put on good shows and were all very friendly.
It is a very noisy place, don't expect to get a full nights sleep, there is a temple next to the hotel and they start to pray at 5am every day and 4 more times throughout the day. Other guests in the hotel (foreign) had no respect for anyone, and ran riot throughout the night, screaming and shouting and banging doors.
There is nowhere to walk to of an evening, only two shops outside the hotel, which are a lot cheaper than the hotel shop. Do not buy ice-creams, lollys, crisps, sun lotion in the hotel, get them from the shops outside or you will be ripped off.
It took nearly two hours to get to the hotel due to the coach driver not having a clue where he was going, so you can imagine how hot and bothered we were when we arrived. Our luggage was taken to the room, and the porter stood there and was not prepared to move until we tipped him, which we found quite rude.
We went on a lovely boat trip for the day stopping at different places around and about, but coming back was an experience I would never wish to happen again. The sea is quite rough and the boat was unable to drop us back to the hotel as it was not safe, so we had a rough ride to Turgetries which was about another hour on, and it was a white knuckle ride.
The market on a Saturday is great, loads of bargain, but be warned it is very very hot and busy, so go early in the morning. Taxi cost about 17 lira.
We made the most of our holiday but would not return to this hotel for the reasons stated above.
When reading this, if you have already booked, don't think you are going to an awful place, it is lovely, just lacking english and tooooo many rude foreign people.

6 readers found this review helpful

My husband, 7 year old daughter and I really enjoyed our week to the Armonia Holiday village & Spa. We were worried because we booked through the internet and had only a couple of reviews to go from.
The hotel has recently been refurbished and is very nice. Extremely clean and constantly being kept clean and tidy all around the hotel facilities. Our standard room was small but comfortable and adequate for our requirements (you do have an option to have a larger room).
The food was good and varied at the beginning but was becoming repetitive towards the end of our week. There was no ice cream for the kids only cakes and they were all laced with some kind of alcohol or sauce. We ate in the Italian Restaurant one night which is definitely recommended. Fish is not our thing so we didn’t venture into the fish restaurant!! The entertainment was OK but the residents were mostly eastern European which put my daughter off going to the kids club due to the language difficulties.

The swimming pool areas were lovely and we didn't have to fight for a sun bed in the morning. My only criticism about the pools is that at 1.40m deep, if your children could not swim it would obviously pose a problem. The slide pool was slightly shallower at 1.10m. Around the three pools the tiles are marble and it gets very slippy when wet. Flip flops are not ideal better with something that has tread or bare feet. The private beach was private but not exactly sandy more stoney with some sand thrown in. The jetty was lovely with sunbeds on.
The shops available are OK for those things that we all forget. A doctor’s surgery is on site too should you be unlucky enough to need it!
My husband used the gym every day and was really impressed by the new machines it had to offer.
Overall our holiday was great and I would recommend the Armonia Holiday Village and Spa to anyone.

3 readers found this review helpful

After an eight hour journey we found our welcome not very welcoming,We was put into a room that had been refurbished to a two star standard we changed straight away for another. We then asked for a new mini bar that worked, it took 2 days and still did not work, standard of the cleaning in rooms were a lot to be desired, staff in the restaurant need to smile more, We somtimes felt that we was in a cattle market and the rush for food from the Russians was just unbeliveable,also there are no food lableings to tell you what you are eating, It was supposed to be a 24 hour AI hotel and when we returned from a night out we asked for food and was told that there was not any, After complaining to the management they came out with what they called a sandwich which was a dry roll with cheese with wilted salad, very bad for a 5 star hotel, in the afternoon cakes came out at 5pm near the beach bar the stampede again from our friends was just greed again not enough to go around, The flooring around the pools which is poilished marble when wet was very very slippery we saw a few people slip over, Also for 3 days they tried to erect large parrasols every time putting them in the wrong place and drilling around the bar area while trying to relax, there are broken tiles on floor, The hotel has still got works going on at the moment it could be a really nice hotel they need some good management training and some staff the could speak English to, It is a shame as it could be a nice hotel but maybe it will one day once they get their act together, We returned home on the 27th june 08 .