Gloria Serenity Resort

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what hit me first when I pulled up to Gloria Serenity Resort? The sheer scale of the place – it’s honestly massive, but in a good way. I mean, when you’re driving through Belek (which, let’s be honest, is basically hotel central along this stretch of the Mediterranean), you see plenty of big resorts, but this one actually manages to feel exclusive despite housing what must be thousands of guests. The lobby alone is this soaring space with these incredible marble details, and the check-in was surprisingly smooth considering how busy they must be.

The location in Acisu is pretty brilliant, actually – you’re far enough from the main Belek strip to avoid the tourist chaos, but close enough that you can easily grab a dolmuş into Antalya if you want to explore beyond the resort bubble. What really gets me about this place is how they’ve managed the grounds. I spent half my first morning just wandering around, and there are these quiet corners with fountains where you can actually hear yourself think, even when the main pool area is packed with families. The beach access is direct (no shuttle nonsense), and honestly, this section of coastline is some of the best along the Turkish Riviera – that fine sand that doesn’t stick to everything, crystal-clear water that’s perfect for swimming rather than just Instagram photos.

The rooms are spacious in a way that surprised me – I’ve stayed at plenty of five-star places where you’re basically paying for the lobby experience, but these actually give you room to spread out. Air conditioning works properly (crucial in Turkish summers), and the balcony views are genuinely spectacular, especially if you snag one of the upper floors facing the Mediterranean. What I really appreciated were the little details that show someone’s actually thinking about guest experience – like having enough outlets near the bed for charging devices, proper water pressure in the shower, and blackout curtains that actually block light. The staff genuinely seem to know what they’re doing too, which isn’t always a given at these large-scale resorts. I had this one issue with the safe, and instead of the usual runaround, someone was up to fix it within twenty minutes.

Food-wise, well, you’ve got multiple restaurants and the usual resort spread, but the Turkish breakfast alone is worth the stay – I’m talking fresh börek, local honey, olives that taste like they were picked yesterday. The main buffet can get crazy during peak meal times (pro tip: go slightly early or late), but the quality is consistently solid. Pool service is efficient without being pushy, and the bars actually make decent cocktails rather than the watered-down stuff you sometimes get at all-inclusives. If you’re planning to visit, shoulder seasons are absolutely ideal – May or September give you perfect weather without the July-August crowds, plus you’ll actually be able to book the better spa treatments without planning a week ahead.