TUI BLUE Tropical

We have just returned from our 4th stay at TUI Blue Tropical, and once again it did not disappoint. This hotel really has become our home from home, and we enjoyed it so much that we even changed next year’s booking from the Akra Kemer back to this beautiful resort. Food & Dining: The food is consistently fantastic – plentiful, fresh, and with a wide variety of choice. We loved the themed nights in the main restaurant (Turkish, Italian, Asian, Mexican) as well as the à la carte options, which are easy to book via the app or guest relations. This year the hotel introduced some positive tweaks that really enhanced our holiday. We especially enjoyed the new set-up of the Chill Out Bar at lunchtime and in the evenings – it worked perfectly. Having the choice between the poolside snack bar or Chill Out Bar for a toastie or donor wrap was brilliant. My kids couldn’t get enough of the pancake lady and the ice cream station during the day, plus the cookies and pastries below reception in the afternoon were a big hit! Sunbeds & Pools: The new sunbed rule (no reserving with towels before 7am unless you stay with them) is a huge improvement and worked really well – no stress and always plenty of beds available. The pools are excellent, with something for everyone: the main pool has two large slides, there’s a smaller slide pool for kids, a baby pool, and a relaxing quieter pool. The water was lovely and warm in August. Hotel & Rooms: The hotel is immaculate – honestly one of the cleanest hotels we’ve ever stayed in. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the rooms are cleaned to a high standard daily. Drinks were good, though we’d love to see Pina Coladas added to the all-inclusive menu in future! Entertainment & Activities: The entertainment programme is fantastic with something for everyone. My husband and sons really enjoyed water polo – great for laughs and meeting other guests. Other daytime options included darts, archery, football, and water volleyball. The only thing missing in our opinion is a daytime quiz, which would be a nice addition. Evenings were varied and fun – music quizzes, karaoke, bingo, and the brilliant Mr Tropical competition. Our highlight was the White Party on Wednesday – such a fun night! As our kids are older, we tended to skip the amphitheatre and head to the Chill Out Bar for live music in a relaxed atmosphere. Ian’s live sets were a real treat (we just wish they were a little longer). Outside the Hotel: The location is great, just a 5-minute taxi ride into Sarigerme with its shops, bars, and restaurants. We ate at Jokers and Street 61, both excellent, and had a fun karaoke night at The New Gate Bar. We also did a private boat trip with Volkan’s Adventures which was fabulous, and a half-day boat trip booked on-site which we’d also highly recommend. For transfers and excursions, Basket Travel are excellent too. Staff & Service: One of the standout things about TUI Blue Tropical is the staff. It’s amazing how many remembered us as returning guests, and in four years we’ve never had a bad experience. Every single staff member works tirelessly to ensure guests have the best holiday, and you can really tell they take pride in their work. Special thanks to: • Pembe – makes the best iced coffees at the Sports Bar, always with a smile. • Erhan (“alright mate”) – friendly and chatty, a brilliant barman. • Süleyman & Emrah – hard-working and always cheerful by the Sports Bar. • Isa & Sirin – for excellent service in the main restaurant. • Timur – Chill Out Bar evenings wouldn’t be the same without him remembering our orders. • Mevlüt – the best waiter! Fantastic service, the hotel could do with more like him. • And a special thank you to Mehmet – who genuinely goes above and beyond to make sure the entertainment is top-class and that guests are having a great time. We’ve even seen him check in on his night off, which speaks volumes. He’s a real credit to the hotel. Final Thoughts: Thank you once again, TUI Blue Tropical, for another wonderful stay. There really is nowhere else that compares, and we can’t wait to return again next August. Love, The Jones Family x