Why we keep going back
This June was our third time at Holiday Village Turkey in Sarıgerme, and we've had a great holiday every time. We went for 14 nights with our two youngest, aged 3 and 12. The staff are so friendly, the hotel is spotless and the landscaped gardens are beautiful to walk around.
Room or suite with a toddler?
We've stayed in the suites twice, but this year we booked a standard room and it worked better for us. The suites have steps, which isn't ideal with a toddler running around.
The food
The food is the best I've had at any all inclusive. It's always fresh and hot, there's loads of choice at every meal, and even the pickiest eaters will eat well. The attention to detail is something else, and the desserts are wow.
There are three à la carte restaurants. We've only used the American one, which was lovely. Drinks are fine; the cocktails are a bit sweet but drinkable, and the kids love their mocktails.
Pools and things to do for kids
There are 7 or more pools on site:
A pool for little ones
The main pool, with a gradual entrance, where the activities happen
A jacuzzi pool
A kids' pool with a slide
A slide pool with four slides and no height restrictions
Three quieter pools near the suites
On top of that there are kids' clubs, poolside activities, football and swim academies, an inflatable obstacle course, high ropes, a bowling alley, pool tables, an arcade and a games room. You can check each day's activities on an app. There are two entertainment areas; to be fair the shows can be hit and miss, but they're great for kids regardless.
The beach and getting there
The hotel is right on the beach, but the sea is choppy there. The transfer from Dalaman airport is only around 20 minutes.
Sarıgerme village
There are a few shops on site, and more about a five-minute taxi away in Sarıgerme, which is a lovely resort with restaurants and bars. It felt really safe; I went out with just the kids and was fine. We ate at Jokers Steak House in the village, which was such a good meal.
How we filled the days
I'm usually one to want to go out and explore, but apart from a trip or two into Sarıgerme to shop and eat, we spent our days by the pool. In the evenings we'd walk down to the beach to watch the sunset, kick a ball around on the football pitch, then have a few drinks playing Uno or watching the entertainment. You really don't need to leave the hotel if you don't want to.
What could be better
A kids' pool with more slides, or a splash pad, would be a great addition. The entertainment could also do with a revamp, as it's been more or less the same for the last three years.
Cost and booking
We booked through TUI and paid roughly £4,000 for 14 nights. I felt well prepared before going, mainly thanks to the hotel's Facebook group, which is so helpful.
Would we go back?
100%. I'd recommend it to anyone with kids.