Ramada Resort Lara

Just back from 14 days as a family of 4 (wife, 17 & 7 year old). We got private transfer so didn’t experience the check in rush (if there was one) but it was seamless, greeted straight away and cases taken from us whilst we checked in. We stayed in the block right over near the slides but our cases were brought right to our room by a porter. Woke the first morning to find every single bed around the main pool area was taken apart from a few in the indoor pool area. We did about 2 hours around this pool, mostly on the slides. Found it to be really hectic and cramped. We had lunch at the pool snack bar on the first day, decent enough, pizza, burgers, kebab meat, chips, spaghetti, nuggets, salad bar. Next door was a crepe station but we never used that. Getting a table didn’t feel like a problem and the drinks bar is just to the side. Decided to walk down to the beach pool afterwards to check it out and fell in love with it immediately. Loads more going on and where the entertainment team spend all their time, aqua gym, water polo, beach volleyball, darts, air gun shooting, table tennis tournament, kids football, Zumba, Pilates etc The beach is great too, water sports off to the left but never used, plenty of seats with and without shade and a pier with a bar and a place to dive off and climb back up. Always managed to snag 1 bed when we had a walk down. I walked down to the beach pool every morning before the beach shuttle bus started around 7.30-7.45 (shuttle service starts at 8am through till midnight every day - 2 buses run). I had a pick of the beds and had the same beds every single day. I only reserved 3 as the little one was in the pool throughout. The food down at the beach pool is so much better. You have the same as what’s on at the hotel pool but the pizza is easier to get as it has its own station opposite the main dining area which you can take either pool side or into the dining area. You have more of a selection of salads and added things like KFC chicken. The beach pool bar can get a bit busy at times but the woman behind the bar is pretty rapid. If you don’t fancy the wait, you can always walk over to the bar near the stage and get served straight away. Splash pool and slides run from 10-12 and 2-4. We were there in the recent heatwave and it was genuinely too hot to not be in the pool. The main pool was more like a tepid bath (cools you down just enough) but the shallow pool in the splash pool was a god send as the water was always cold. The food was okay, standard for an all inclusive, repetitive but always managed to get something. The drinks were spot on, the cocktails on the menu aren’t all they do, ask them for whatever cocktail you want and they will make it - want it strong, just ask. The cleanliness is unreal, it’s spotless. You can’t go 30 steps around without seeing someone cleaning/sweeping something. Tables are cleared straight away though they do take your cutlery if it’s left on the plate, so if you are planning to go back for more, take them off your plate. We got 2 al a carter’s and we booked these on the first day to make sure we got in. We did the Mexican and Italian. Both very small menus and didn’t suit our kids but for me and the wife, was spot on. Only issue we had was the Mexican is over at Wyndham and is situated outside, our meal night was during the heatwave so it was still around 38 degrees at 7pm and the I ordered the beef fajita that came on a skillet which was like a mini furnace - I was pouring the sweat! The Italian is really nice in an air conditioned restaurant. The staff on the most part are really nice and will remember you as the days go on. The following aren’t gripes as such but more of an eye opener and what to expect: Cats (and lots of them). I’m not bothered by cats as such but the wife doesn’t like them though the kittens are cute. Best to avoid petting/feeding or having food left around you otherwise they will stay around you. They will move on if you ignore them. Mosquitos. Not the hotels fault but I was annihilated by them at the night time entertainment area as it’s mostly grassy. Just had to grin and bear it. Sunbed rush. As with all inclusive hotels, the rush is real. Expect to be getting up at 4-5am to reserve your beds for the hotel pool if you want them. I did my walk in a morning and by half 7, not 1 bed was free. I’ve seen people saying they didn’t see that being an issue - in the height of summer, it’s an issue. Sunbeds were also being reserved and not being used, we saw the pool man take away towels once but mostly went unpunished. Rude to reserve beds and not use them though the pool man will get you spare beds if you can find a space to slot them in - just ask. General rush. There’s somewhat of a rush to get a table indoors in the evening so be prepared to sit outdoors in the heat or wait. Everything felt like a mini race and some (not all) European travellers are really rude and will just push to the front. This was my biggest gripe of our holiday, our second week had more British people staying which made this problem go away. We had issues when waiting for the shuttle bus to come get us from the beach pool to return to the hotel and a huge family of Turkish went straight to the front and got on the bus before families with children. 24 hour reception bar staff. They felt really rude to me, no smiles no general banter - take your drink and go vibe. Hotel shop. Avoid at all costs. There’s 2 Migros left and right of the hotel. Quick example, 1 bag of crisps at the hotel shop is €3. For our trip home I went to Migros and got 4 bags of crisp, 3 bags of haribo, chewing gum for 306tl (approx £5.60) Late check out. You have to wait until 9.30am on the morning of your departure date to see if you can get it - we didn’t but the nice guy at the desk gave us an extra 2 hours until 2pm for free which was good of them. All in all, the beach pool is the saving grace of this hotel and means I would have no problem returning though all inclusive isn’t really for us it seems. We really missed going out for food at new places each night. We will probably return in a few years for 10 nights maybe. My advice is to join in with the activities, make friends with the animation team and they elevate your experience 10 fold and you meet other nice guests to have a laugh with. Huge shout out to Busa (dolandırıcı) and Tiger from the entertainment team. Also to Adem at the beach bar.