Holiday Inn ANTALYA - LARA by IHG

I'm someone who's never given a bad review for a hotel before, but this is my first truly terrible one. This was by far the worst hotel I stayed at during this trip. First, the bed was incredibly, incredibly, incredibly soft – you just sank right into it, and even turning over was a struggle. If you can't stand soft mattresses, definitely proceed with caution. Second, there were no outlets on either side of the bed; I had to plug my devices in on a distant table, which was extremely inconvenient. Third, there was a strange odor, and the air felt stagnant and poorly ventilated. While you could see the sea from the small balcony window, every room has that, and it's really just a distant view. Plus, getting to a supermarket or finding a place to eat nearby was very inconvenient. In summary, for such a high price, I strongly advise everyone to think twice, and then think again!

I chose this hotel based on reviews and its affiliation with a well-known chain. Overall, it's not bad. I liked the room style, and the mattress was very soft, so I slept well. It's great that there's a balcony where you can watch planes fly by in the evening. It wasn't noisy at all, and it didn't disturb my sleep. We didn't try the food at the hotel restaurant, as the selection didn't appeal to us. We also didn't find anything appetizing at the buffet, and for the same price, we had an excellent meal at a restaurant near the hotel instead. The hotel's location is close to the airport, making it suitable for those using it as a transit point. There's a rooftop pool, but it was too cold, so we didn't swim. As for the downsides, there was only one tea bag in the room and no complimentary water. When I asked about water, I was directed to the bar. We ended up buying water at the supermarket. I'd give the hotel a generous 3 out of 5, it just lacks a certain warmth. We probably won't stay here again; we'll look for somewhere else.

Cleanliness, pleasant rooms, shuttle to the beach, swimming pool, exclusive beach area. This wasn't our first stay at this hotel. But I'd especially like to highlight the responsive, friendly, and attentive staff. They helped me several times; early check-in and late check-out due to a delayed flight were handled without any issues or extra charges. A staff member brought me food and noticed I had a cut finger, then brought me a band-aid. Incredibly caring and kind people. Thank you!

This hotel is really old. The second floor just reeks of old age. Unfortunately, due to an injury, we were forced to stay an extra day here. When I booked it, it seemed like the best option in the area, but in the end, we overpaid for nothing.

The location is excellent. I didn't have breakfast, so I can't comment on that. Let's talk about the facilities: It's hard to find the reception desk at first. I walked through two floors of the shopping center, which occupies five floors of the building, before I found it. There are no signs anywhere, only an indicator in the elevator that says '8th floor'. The hotel is located on the 8th-13th floors of a 16-story building. There are only two elevators, and sometimes you have to wait a long time. There's no guide for tourists in the room, explaining where to find things. There's also no information about TV channels. The air conditioning only allows you to adjust the fan speed. On setting 2, it barely blows, and on setting 3, it's very noisy. The temperature cannot be adjusted. And the icing on the cake – the hot water was turned off in the morning! 🤦🏻 I had to shower with cold water.

The hotel is a bit dated, but has almost everything you need. My room didn't have a bathrobe or disposable toothbrushes with paste, but I assume they're available upon request. However, a vanity kit was provided, along with Dove shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion. The mini-fridge was incredibly loud at night. The air conditioning hums constantly and softly, so you get used to it, but the fridge kicks on periodically. There's a canteen and a Starbucks coffee shop downstairs. I tried to get a drink from Starbucks a couple of times, but there was no one at the counter. They offer a beach shuttle. It starts at 9:30 AM, with the last shuttle from the hotel to the beach at 3:30 PM, and the last return shuttle from the beach to the hotel at 4:00 PM. A 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM shuttle would have been great, as I ended up taking a taxi. You can get beach towels from the spa area. The beach itself is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas. In mid-June, there weren't many people from our hotel there. The area is part of the Red & White Beach club. You can order food and drinks directly to your sun lounger. The entry into the water is good – small pebbles that aren't painful on your feet. It gets deep, but not immediately. Since I was only in Antalya for a one-day layover, I didn't order breakfast or room service. It was very quiet for sleeping; the most I heard was occasionally neighbors opening their doors, and that was only when I was awake. The drinking water in the room is replenished. There are also tea bags and instant coffee.

The rooms – 4 (a bit tired). Sea view (7th floor 👍). Soundproofing from the street – 3 (noise from planes, cars). But overall, it's fine for sleeping at night, as long as the plane isn't flying directly over the hotel. Service at the entrance – 3+ (you have to ask and explain that this is a European 5-star hotel with stated service, not the 'local' attitude of 'lazy, do it yourself, take it, call'). Beach access – 5 (considering the area and location). Only apartments and ultra-luxury hotels are closer. It's a pleasant 10-minute walk at a leisurely pace along the promenade to the beach club. Beach club – 5. Beautiful, clean, good service, the best in this location. But be careful: the beach club likes to overcharge. Items you didn't order might appear on your bill, and they don't even apologize. Pay immediately, don't wait until you leave the beach. Check your receipt carefully. They are audacious. They try to give you a sun lounger that's convenient for them, not for you. You'll need to assert yourself once. Put them in their place. After that, they'll come running to you. Sea and entrance area – 5! (cleanliness, clarity, view) – Blue Flag. I recommend it.

The room was clean, the front desk staff was very helpful, and the breakfast was delicious.

I really liked the hotel, especially since we had an early checkout for the airport. The outdoor pool wasn't working on May 5, 2026. Natalia at the front desk gave us a room with a balcony at no extra charge, which was a lovely surprise.