Kemer, Phaselis Princess Hotel

We stayed here in August 2010. We are both teachers and have a 15yr old daughter. Having had mixed experiences of Turkey in the past, we did our homework very thoroughly before going ahead with our booking, reading all the reviews. Overall, we think we made a good choice.

Terrific food and most of the staff are friendly, polite and helpful . This prides itself as being an ultra all-inclusive hotel where you are offered everything you would ever need starting from breakfast and continuing with a variety of meals and snacks available right through the day and into the evening. The guests appear to be mainly Russian and English.

The heat here is a wet heat due to the close proximity of the mountains. Temperature was 33 degrees on most days with the sea and pool only a few degrees lower. Plenty of space on the beach and even the pools can be accessed without the need to dash down at 6a.m. and claim a sun-bed. Good water facilities including water-slides, waterfall, Jacuzzi-style areas and smaller shaded toddler pools as well as the main pool. It is here that the entertainment starts at 10am and an enthusiastic entertainment manager who, with his team, provide games and, in the evening, shows of varying standards. There is a late-night disco that is discretely placed underground and inaudible to other guests. This is excellent for teenagers who have been lucky enough to meet like-minded people. A variety of water activities (including scuba diving) can be booked on the sand /shingle beach.

If you get the chance, would recommend the white-water rafting at Koprulu canyon. It is a 3hr 30min coach ride each way but well worth it. Allow 12 hours for the whole day (7 'til 7) and take a change of clothing.

Closer to home is the"Sea to Sky" trip where you visit the Roman ruins of Phaselis, just 20 minutes up the coast from the hotel. Take swimming gear as you have an hour to swim in the two bays that surround this historical site. That's followed by lunch in the beautiful Ulupinar region where you can sit (Japanese- style) on low platforms constructed over a tree-shaded river and linked by walkways. The day ends with a cable-car journey up to the 6040 foot Tahtali mountain that overlooks the hotel. This is the second longest cable-car run in the world. Brilliant!

If you are brave enough to go for the Turkish bath & sauna in Antalya, allow 4-5hrs for this. Unforgettable but very much a matter of personal taste! The hotel also offers an in-house sauna & massage facility.

Curiously, everyone in the area is happy to take Turkish Lira, Euros, Dollars or Sterling. Be warned that the last three are valued equally and the Lira is worth half (2 Turkish Lira = 1 Euro = $1 = £1) so you must work out what is best for you. There are several cash machines within 10mins walking distance of the hotel offering multi-currencies.

Minor reservations: The hotel, built in 1989, is located 2 hours from the airport and is designed in a typical 1920's & 30's Art Deco style worthy of an Agatha Christie novel. Consequently, some may feel it is outdated. If you are expecting 5-star luxury rooms, you may be disappointed. The service and exterior facilities may be worth 5, but the rooms are no more than 4-star. Internet is confined to the lobby area only and rooms have basic terrestrial TV with 2 English-speaking news channels plus one other. The sea view is great, but the other side of the hotel will be quieter and cooler - more suitable for families with younger children. Air conditioning works reasonably well but does not extend to the corridors or lifts and barely manages to cope in the restaurant area in high season. Be wary of going to the linked & cheaper Phaselis Orange Apartments (10 minutes drive away). You will be dependent on a regular coach service to and from the main Princess hotel and it really isn't worth the saving or the hassle.

However, this is a quaint hotel in which to stay that offers great food and has friendly staff. Once you have paid your up-front charges (not forgetting the £10 visitor's visa once you are in Turkey), you could stay here without spending anything at all and still have a great time.