Side Star Resort Hotel – Ultra All Inclusive

HOTEL OVERVIEW

So here’s the thing about Side Star Resort – it’s actually one of those places where “ultra all inclusive” isn’t just marketing speak. I mean, you roll up to this spot on Feslegenli Caddesi (which honestly took me three tries to pronounce correctly), and right away you can tell they’re not messing around. The lobby’s got that polished marble thing going on, but it doesn’t feel stuffy or pretentious – more like they actually invested in the place instead of just slapping some fancy wallpaper on budget bones.

What really got me was the location, though. You’re basically tucked into Çolaklı, which is this sweet spot between the ancient ruins of Side and the livelier Manavgat area. The beach here is properly Mediterranean – none of that rocky, hard-to-navigate coastline you sometimes get. Sand’s decent, water’s that ridiculous turquoise color that makes your Instagram followers hate you, and honestly? The resort’s beach section never felt overcrowded, even in July when half of Europe descends on the Turkish coast. They’ve got their sun lounger situation figured out too – no 6 AM towel wars here.

The food situation is where they really shine, and I’m someone who’s usually skeptical about hotel buffets. But their main restaurant actually changes things up throughout the week, and the à la carte spots (there are like four of them) don’t require reservations three days in advance like some places. The Turkish breakfast spread alone could keep you busy for an hour – proper menemen, about six different cheese varieties, and this honey that I’m pretty sure they source locally because it doesn’t taste like the generic stuff you get at chain hotels. Room service was surprisingly quick too, which matters when you’re dealing with jet lag and want something at weird hours.

Now look, it’s not perfect – the evening entertainment can get a bit loud if you’re in the rooms facing the main pool area, and the WiFi gets sketchy during peak hours when everyone’s trying to upload their vacation photos. But the staff genuinely seems to know what they’re doing, especially at the front desk where they actually speak decent English and can help with things like taxi arrangements or day trips to the Side amphitheater (which is like a 15-minute drive and absolutely worth it, by the way).

The rooms themselves are solid – clean, air conditioning that actually works, and bathrooms that don’t make you feel like you’re in a budget motel. Nothing revolutionary, but everything functions properly, which is honestly more than you can say for a lot of places. And you know what impressed me most? The little details. Like how they keep the pool areas clean without being obnoxious about it, or how the beach towel exchange actually works efficiently. It’s the kind of place where you can tell the management gives a damn about the guest experience without being all in your face about it.