Lara Tourism Centre, Kemeragzi, Antalya, Turkey | 90-242-352-0011
On
Lara Beach in Antalya, with beautifully landscaped gardens
Contemporary
rooms have balconies and walk-in showers; some have sea views
Private
beach with wooden pier and seating
Several
on-site pools, including a kids' pool and waterslides
Steam
room, sauna, Turkish bath, and fitness center at Botanical Lara Spa
Six restaurants
and nine bars, plus 24-hour room service
Free
kids' club, and other child-friendly amenities
All-inclusive packages are available
Entertainment
includes theme parties, shows, live music, and karaoke
Water sports,
movie theater, tennis courts, and bowling alley
Free
Wi-Fi throughout and free shuttle to downtown Antalya
Some features are only offered seasonally
Beach, pools, and restaurants can get crowded
Bland decor in some rooms
The all-inclusive, 534-room Botanik Lara is an upscale resort on Lara Beach, a 30-minute drive from the center of Antalya. Most rooms are modern, and all have furnished balconies, some with beautiful sea views. Other rooms, though aren't quite up to the level of luxury the hotel claims. Facilities include outdoor and indoor
pools, a full-service spa, and many excellent on-site restaurants and bars. Kid-friendly
features such as the children’s pool, free kids' club, and bowling alley are a
plus for families, but some of these activities are only offered in high season. Travelers might want to also consider the
Aska Lara Resort & Spa, which has a huge Wet ’n Wild theme park and lower rates.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A massive seaside resort with a bustling atmosphere
Three circular turrets with
olive-green trim connected at a central lobby to form the body of this sprawling resort along the Mediterranean Sea. The lobby has a slick, shimmery look, from purple velvet furniture with whimsical and antique lines to the shiny dark marble floors and twinkling rows of decorative light fixtures. Free pastries and refreshing soft drinks are set out for guests to enjoy. It's a large area with plenty of space for guests to sit and mingle, though the size and layout doesn't exactly scream "Get to know each other," as this is a a truly massive resort. The restaurants and bars are a mix of indoor and outdoor venues. The main buffet restaurant has wood
floors and metallic fabrics, with red table runners adding a punch of
color. Like many other places throughout the hotel -- including the beach and pools -- the buffet restaurant can get hectic. The well-maintained outdoor garden is beautifully landscaped, with gardens, flowers, trees, and seating. The resort draws mostly families, but couples find their way here too.
Location
On Lara Beach overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
The Botanik Lara is on Lara
Beach in Antalya with similar hotels and souvenir shops within a one-minute
walk in either direction. This resort is a destination in and of itself, so the surrounding area isn't exactly crammed with much of interest -- instead guests are liable to hang out within the resort. Antalya’s city center is about a 30-minute drive, and there are plenty of historic sights in the Old Town (Kaleici) there, including Hadrian's Gate and the Kesik Minare. This hotel offers easy access to the Antalya Airport
-- which is 15 minutes away by car -- with the ancient ruins at Perga and the Deepo Outlet Center a 20- to 25-minute drive
away.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with furnished balconies, some with sea views
Most of the Botanik
Lara's 534 rooms are have a bright, modern style. Eye-catching wood veneer tones look sharp
against the aqua and brown motif that appears in everything from throw pillows and blankets on beds to carpets and curtain, while tan lounge chairs offer
seating. Furniture is contemporary, with simple clean lines. Wall art is generically abstract, and while rooms are attractive, they don't exactly exude the level of luxury that the hotel claims to embody. In fact, some rooms feel a bit bland, like the perfectly fine, but unexceptional Family Suite that we visited. This room has lovely details, like subtly patterned wallpaper and handsome black leather headboards, but overall the rooms look like any upscale suburban home around the world. All rooms are air-conditioned, and have furnished balconies; some have exceptional views of the garden or the Mediterranean Sea. Free minibars are restocked daily, and there are coffeemakers plus
flat-screen TVs with soundsystems. Bathrooms are stylish, with vessel sinks on wood vanities and white tile. Most have walk-in showers (although some have shower/tub combos), magnifying mirrors, bathrobes, slippers, and toiletries.
Features
Private beach plus pools, full-service spa, and kid-friendly features; many on-site restaurants and bars
A wooden pier juts out from
the private sandy beach, which has chairs and tables, along with outdoor showers. Blue tile covers the huge outdoor pool, while the indoor pool, with an adjoining rectangular hot tub, has a glass ceiling that lets in plenty of natural light. There's also an outdoor kids' pool with slides and water
umbrellas. The beach and the pools can be crowded. Massages and body
treatments, which cost extra, are available at the full-service Botanical Lara Spa. The spa also has a steam room, sauna, Turkish bath, and fitness center with weight and cardio equipment -- and use of these facilities is included in the room rate. There's also a beauty salon. Snacks, in addition to food and drinks, are part of the all-inclusive package at this resort, which has six restaurants, nine bars, and
24-hour room service (room service comes with an additional fee). Cuisines range from Turkish and Asian to Italian, and meals are a major highlight of a stay here. The buffets are varied and generous, though they can be crowded. A la carte options and restaurants are also available, but reservations are recommended.A free kids' club is
available, and other kid-friendly features include playgrounds and kids' disco. Theme parties, shows, movies, and bowling alley are also
available, but most of these come with extra fee and are only available seasonally. Tennis courts are also available. Animation teams and entertainers are on hand to encourage guests to participate, but they don't always do the best job at involving all guests. There's a free shuttle service to downtown Antalya, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.
