Zeynep Hotel

Located between a gorgeous beach and several golf courses, the Sentido Zeynep Resort offers a good mix of both types of vacation experience. It is part of a two-hotel complex along with its more upscale sister property Sentido Zeynep Golf & Spa, with which it shares its grounds, its beach, and many of its amenities. While the Golf resort caters to golfers and couples, the Zeynep Resort is all about family fun, with several pools, a kids’ club, a small water park, and a daily entertainment program for all ages. We found the vibe at the Resort to be lively but not loud, with an active entertainment team that engages guests in an unobtrusive way, and music played in the background at a reasonable volume. The hotel also offers more loungers than the maximum of guests it can host, which makes for a more relaxing experience than at other hotels where guests feel the need to wake up at the crack of dawn to reserve loungers. (Aydinbey King’s Palace Spa & Resort, we’re looking at you.)

The hotel is set on lovely, sprawling grounds full of mature pine trees, palms, and flowers overlooking a gorgeous stretch of fine sand with a pier. Pools are surrounded by pleasant lawns with loungers, and big awnings offer some shade over spacious deck with lots of seating. Built in 1993, the main building is mostly nondescript, but there are 17 other smaller blocks with more Mediterranean charm. Bungalow buildings, which house a number of Standard and Family rooms and suites, are two- to three-story structures with wooden balcony railings, terra-cotta tile roofs, and white facades dotted with fuchsia bougainvillea. Villas, located closer to the beach and housed in smaller buildings, offer an even quieter, more private stay.

The Sentido Zeynep Resort is a casual, friendly property with solid amenities, but those looking for something more luxurious may want to compare rates at its sister property, or at Gloria Golf Resort, which also offers plenty of kid-friendly amenities and has stylish rooms. The slightly more contemporary Crystal Tat Beach Golf Resort & Spa is another family-friendly option offering good value, but the buffet at the Sentido Zeynep Resort seems to offer more variety. In the Zeynep's price range, the Nashira Hotel is better suited for those seeking a more lively atmosphere. The cheaper Papillon Belvil Hotel has a great kids' club with a water park and a soccer field.

The Sentido Zeynep Resort is located on a quiet street off a two-lane road flanked by golf courses on either side. There is nothing within walking distance of the property but other hotels, though a few restaurants and shops can be found within a 10-minute drive, both in Kadriye and Belek. The dolmus (local minibus) to Kadriye stops right outside the hotel, and there is a taxi stand by the main entrance. The hotel offers free shuttle service to the wonderful National and Carya golf courses, where guests get discounted rates, but there are a few other ones in the area, including the three owned by the Gloria Hotels Group, and the Titanic. Antalya city center is about a 35-minute drive away, and Side -- known for its gorgeous historic sites and seaside cafes -- is about 50 minutes from the hotel. The Sentido Zeynep Resort is less than a half-hour drive from the airport.

The hotel has a total of 375 rooms spread over the six-story main building and 17 other smaller blocks, including 156 rooms in the Bungalows section and a handful of Family Houses in a separate area closer to the beach. All rooms are comfortable and clean, but decor varies depending on room type and location. Most rooms in the main building are decorated in a blue and beige palette, with navy carpets, blond wood furniture, and caramel curtains. Bungalow units, which include some Standard and Family Rooms and Family Suites, have a somewhat more contemporary style, with laminate floors, purple accents, and generic dark wood furniture. A little less than a third of the rooms have sea views. 

At 247 square feet, Standard Rooms in the main building are smallish, but Standard Rooms in the Bungalow section offer a little more space. Family Rooms and Family Suites have two bedrooms, but suites on the first floor of the main building lack a balcony. Family Houses offer 850 square feet of space, including three bedrooms and a living area, as well as a terrace with garden and sea views. All rooms come equipped with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and free minibars replenished daily free of charge with beers, water, juices, and sodas. Wi-Fi is free and reliable throughout, but electric kettles and robes are only available on request. 

Bathrooms are clean and pleasant, with big walk-in showers with rain showerheads, lots of counter space around the sink, large mirrors, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Basic toiletries are provided, as well as body lotion, hair conditioner, and shaving and dental kits.

The hotel has its own private stretch of fine sand on a long, beautiful beach running the length of the Belek area. There are dozens of loungers under umbrellas both on the sand and on the adjacent lawn, and a lovely, quiet pier offers additional seating, stairs to the water, and a bar. DJ sessions are held at the pier several nights a week, and a VIP area offers waiter service with drinks and food for an extra fee. Water sports are available from a third party.

The kids’ club is small and cute, with a spacious outdoor area complete with a playground under a large awning. Daily activities are available in the summer for kids 4 to 12, but there is no specific program for teens other than the adult entertainment around the pool. A game room offers a few arcade machines, including air hockey, basketball games, and a driving simulator. 

The hotel’s spa is small but pleasant, and offers free access to an adult-only hammam, a sauna, and a whirlpool. Treatments -- including deep tissue massages, reflexology, coffee peelings, mud baths, and skin care therapies -- are available for a fee. The fitness center offers a handful of cardio and strength-training machines, but no classes. The hotel also features three hard tennis courts (loaner tennis equipment is available for a fee), and a small soccer field. 

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

The main restaurant at Sentido Zeynep Resort serves a large buffet spread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a smaller selection is available for late breakfast. Food gets good reviews at the buffet, and we found coffee to be particularly tasty compared to most other all-inclusive resorts in the area. 

There are thee on-site a la carte dinner options, including a fish restaurant by the beach, a Chinese restaurant by the water park, and a Turkish eatery in the main building. The all-inclusive package includes one meal at each per stay, but reservations are required. 

Two snack bars, a patisserie, and a gozleme (Turkish flatbread) corner offer small bites during the day, and the pool bar is open seasonally 24 hours a day. All food and local drinks are included in the all-inclusive rate, but there is a fee for imported brands. Room service is available 24/7 for a fee. 

The main pool is the liveliest of all five on-site pools, with daily entertainment, music, plenty of loungers, and two bars. The main kiddy pool is adjacent, complete with a colorful sunken ship structure with a slide, and a mushroom-shaped water feature. The water park is located by the amphitheater and features a big pool with three big slides and dozens of loungers. Those seeking a quieter spot can grab one of the few loungers available around the Olympic-size pool, which features 10 lanes and no music. Only guests 14 and over are allowed in this pool. The indoor pool is spacious and light, with large windows, a few loungers, and a whirlpool.

Sentido Zeynep Resort offers its guests discounted rates at the excellent Carya and the National golf courses. There is free shuttle service to both of them from the hotel, and club storage service is provided at neighboring sister property Sentido Zeynep Golf & Spa.

The Carya Golf Course has a total of 18 holes, nine of which feature floodlights for night play. This 7,186-yard, par 72 golf course was designed by Australian professional golfer Peter Thompson and offers a challenging layout, with a sand ridge and 75 bunkers. The course also features private lessons, a club house, and a pro shop. 

The National Golf Club -- opened in 1994 as Turkey’s first golf course and designed by David Feherty and David Jones -- has a beautiful setting amid pine trees. It features 27 holes, an 80-person driving range, and an academy with private classes (for a fee).