Bella Resort & Spa - All Inclusive

We travelled as a family group of nine from London, with ages ranging from two in their seventies, four of us middle-aged, and three teenagers/young adults between sixteen and twenty. Three of our group are vegetarian, so food options were always going to be important. First impressions were very good – the resort is about 45 minutes from Antalya airport and felt welcoming and relaxed when we arrived. The overall atmosphere is laid back. The preferred currency is the Euro; the resort is reluctant to take Lira and often doesn’t have small notes for change. There’s no money-changing service, though there is a small shop in the lobby selling bags, T-shirts and other reasonably priced items. Use of the room safe is charged at €2 per day. Wifi was good enough for most purposes, though a little weak in some spots such as the gym and one of our rooms. The entertainment team AKA the Animation Team were central to our holiday and really made the trip memorable. From ten in the morning they were already out by the pool getting people moving with a short dance, followed by water aerobics, yoga, step classes, archery and shooting games. There was even a foam party one afternoon. They worked incredibly hard, spending the day organising activities and then rehearsing for the evening shows, which started at 9:30pm and usually lasted an hour. The range of performances was impressive – a Michael Jackson tribute, a Mister & Mrs gameshow, comedy playback, fire shows, and live music – all family-friendly and high energy. What stood out was how approachable the team were: you could engage with them as much as you liked, but if you wanted a quiet sunbed day they left you in peace. Special mention has to go to Soul and Sam. Soul was simply outstanding – not just a great dancer of every style, but a natural entertainer who seemed to light up every performance and spend genuine time engaging with guests off stage as well. Sam matched him in energy, bringing the Michael Jackson tribute to life brilliantly and proving a charismatic compere throughout the week. But the whole team deserve praise: Nela and Eliska were fantastic Turkish-style dancers who added flair and elegance to the shows despite being all the way from the Czech Republic. Rosie and Lujane brought great energy and warmth, always smiling and engaging with guests. Tittu, Bingo, Blackie and Flockie kept the atmosphere light and fun, constantly working to make sure no-one felt left out. Between them all, the team were multilingual, tireless, and a huge part of why our holiday felt so special. The pool itself is a decent size, around five feet deep all the way across. There are two slides feeding into a small splash pool which perhaps younger kids would enjoy. Sunbeds were a bit tight and generally taken by 9am, but we always managed eventually. One nice touch was the waiter on rollerblades who whizzed around the pool area taking drinks orders straight from your lounger – efficient and fun. There are several bars and places to eat during the day. The pool bar was the hub before and after the evening shows, lively until it closed at midnight. The beach bar and restaurant offered snacks and lighter meals such as pizza, pasta, burgers, salads, pide and Turkish dishes. Portions were on the small side, which was actually a plus as it meant you could try more than one dish. Ordering was easy with a QR code system and food always came quickly. Pancakes, waffles and ice creams were available in the afternoons. Oddly, popcorn and candy floss were extra charge items. Staff here were friendly and efficient – Moslem in particular stood out. In the lobby bar, Umi, Sara and another member of staff (whose name we unfortunately didn’t catch, black hair and cream trainers) kept the drinks flowing with great service. The main buffet restaurant had a wide variety each day, and although there were enough vegetarian dishes overall, the options were noticeably more limited compared with meat eaters. A number of vegetable-based dishes had small amounts of meat in them – beef mince or chicken – which restricted choice for the vegetarians in our group. That said, the staff were always helpful and cheerful. Ayesha at the omelette counter was excellent, and Dilek worked tirelessly on the floor organising tables, drinks and generally ensuring we were looked after. The young man who greeted us with a cheerful “lovely jubbly” each day added to the fun. We didn’t try the à la carte restaurant – it looked rather deserted, required twenty-four hours’ notice and a fixed selection from a limited menu, so we gave it a miss. Our rooms were comfortable enough for a resort of this size. The standard rooms were fine for two people – not brand new, but everything worked and they were kept clean. With three in one room (two adults and a tall sixteen-year-old) the extra bed provided wasn’t great – more like a sofa bed – and probably only suitable for a younger child. The alternative would have been to upgrade to a double room, so we managed as we were. The gym was small but very well equipped for its size, around six by six metres. There were two treadmills, two bikes, a cross trainer, a leg extension, a chest/shoulder press machine, a Smith machine, a flat bench, a sit-up bench, and dumbbells from 2.5kg to 25kg. It was busy first thing in the morning before ten, but quieter afterwards. The only drawback was the wifi, which was too patchy to stream music – best to download playlists beforehand. The beach was another highlight. Just two minutes’ walk from the pool thanks to the compact layout of the resort, it was sandy, clean and safe, with warm water. There were always sunbeds available, even later in the day. Volleyball nets and marked areas gave it a lively atmosphere. Watersports such as parasailing, jet skis and banana boats were available at extra charge. The beach attendant was always friendly, making sure loungers and cushions were organised. We also took a couple of trips during our stay. One afternoon was spent at Manavgat market, which is full of clothes, bags and general goods – haggling is expected, though prices were reasonable once agreed. A taxi for all nine of us from the resort cost €23. Another evening we visited the Temple of Apollo, which is set in a beautiful harbour location. The area had a safe and vibrant atmosphere, with many scenic restaurants to choose from and great views across the water. The temple itself is a real draw at sunset, when it becomes a perfect photo spot. Some of the harbour restaurants even turn into nightclubs later in the evening. A taxi there was around €20 from the resort. If I had to suggest improvements, the first would be clearer and more plentiful vegetarian options with simple labelling. More staff around the pool to help with sunbeds and drinks orders would also be useful. Wifi reliability could be improved, especially in the gym, and cocktails could be made with a bit more consistency – no two ever tasted the same. Overall though, we had a fantastic stay. Bella Resort is highly recommended for families, couples and young groups. There’s no nightclub or entertainment after midnight, but the 24-hour lobby bar makes up for it. It really was a fantastic holiday – we all thoroughly enjoyed it, and the entertainment/animation team in particular were critical to that enjoyment. Combined with the warm, family feel we experienced from all of the staff, it made the whole experience memorable and special. We wouldn’t hesitate to return.