Royal Alhambra Palace

One of seven Stone Group resorts in the Antalya region, the Royal Alhambra Palace has a stunning design. As its name suggests, its architectural style incorporates tons of elements from the homonymous UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city of Granada, Spain. From the outside, the hotel looks grand and imposing, with domes, arched windows, and a striped brick-red and white facade. Interiors are inspired by the richly decorated halls in the original Alhambra, with delicate latticework accents, polished floors with golden star-shaped patters, blind and cusped arches with ornamental "muqarnas," and calligraphic embellishments throughout. Every inch of wall is covered in intricate arabesque decorations and geometrical patterns, but this ornate design combines with elegant but more understated furniture in earth tones to create upscale rather than pretentious spaces. Granted, it still may be a little much for some, but the attention to detail is impressive. 

The outdoors are equally stunning, especially the massive main pool, surrounded by palm trees and loungers, and built around a central island home to a bar with a spacious shaded deck. Big decks with wooden beams and umbrellas offer plenty of space for relaxation, but the pool area is generally lively. During the day, sports activities and competitions take place around the pool, and the kids’ club and small water park keeps children busy. In the evening, professional performances draw many guests to the amphitheater. The beachside snack bar offers live music several nights a week and draws a quieter crowd, including many couples. Most guests at the Royal Alhambra Palace are German families, and the entertainment program is mostly geared toward them, which some non-German speaking guests have found frustrating. 

While this is an excellent pick for families, those looking for a few more options may want to consider sister property Royal Dragon Hotel, which has similar rates and a larger water park. Also in this price range, the Paloma Oceana Resort has similar amenities and a more subdued decor style. The Turquoise is a wonderful pick for families, but has great perks for couples as well, including an adult-only pool and a lovely spa. Those seeking something more exclusive may want to check out the Ali Bey Resort Side, which has a more intimate feel, a wonderful beach, and gorgeous rooms. 

The Royal Alhambra Palace is located on a small street lined with other large hotels in the tourist complex of Colakli. Little of interest can be found within walking distance of the resort, but the hotel owns a small shopping center with a handful of clothes and accessories shops right across the street. Side -- known for its stunning historic ruins, beautiful sunset views, and charming seaside cafes -- is just a 20-minute drive away. Other local attractions, including the Manavgat Waterfalls, Aspendos, and the archaeological area of Lyrbe, are all within a 30-minute drive of the hotel. Antalya and the airport are just under an hour away.

The hotel has 579 large rooms, all decked out in brown, purple, and pink hues. Carved wood details and geometric patterns on lamps, carpets, and curtains are Nasrid-inspired touches, but the overall style is simpler than in common spaces. Canvas-colored furniture with clean lines stands out among the darker shades and busy designs on bed runners, floors, and some chairs. Large windows open onto small balconies with two chairs and a table, and almost half of them offer sea views. Rooms are equipped with electric kettles, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and safes. Minibars come stocked with beer, water, and sodas; housekeeping replenishes them daily at no extra charge. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and there are upgrades available for a fee. 

Bathrooms are smallish but clean, and feature large shower/tub combos and lots of counter space. Shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, and body lotion are all provided, as are loofahs, cotton swabs, and wall-mounted hairdryers. 

As a family-friendly hotel, there are plenty of room types for those traveling with kids, including Family Rooms, Duplex units, and three types of suites ranging in size from 573 to 1,474 square feet. All have either two bedrooms or a bedroom and a living area, and Duplex Family Rooms have two bathrooms, one with a shower/tub combo and one with a shower only. 

The hotel has two kids’ clubs, one for the summer and an indoor one for the winter. Both offer plenty of daily activities, including arts and crafts, sports, dancing, and face painting. The outdoor one has a mini-golf area, a shaded playground with swings and slides, and cute kid-size tables and chairs. There is also a small carnival with a few rides, including a ferries wheel, a pirate boat, and trampolines, all of which are free for all guests. There is no club for teens, but there is a game room with arcade machines, two bowling lanes, and ping-pong and pool tables (all for an extra fee). 

The spa is relaxing and pleasant, with dim lights, decor in brown hues with purple accents, and candles throughout. Guest over 16 get free access to a beautiful small hammam and a sauna, but all treatments are extra. A small salon run by a third party offers hair and nail services. The fitness center is spacious and well-equipped, with an array of cardio and strength-training machines, and natural light. Unlike most other resorts in the area, the Royal Alhambra Palace does not have tennis courts. 

There are three meeting rooms on-site, all equipped with projectors, flip charts, and both wired and wireless microphones. Few Wi-Fi si available throughout the property, but there are also upgrades available for a daily fee.

The hotel has a great stretch of beach with fine sand and clean waters. Dozens of loungers under big awnings offer plenty of space for guests to relax in the shade, but there is also lots of space in the sun for those looking to sunbathe. There is a volleyball net to one side of the beach, and a bar keeps drinks flowing during the day. Live music is available at the bar several times a week when the weather is nice, and an independently owned company offers water sports for a fee.

The large L-shaped main restaurant offers a huge spread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a spacious dining room with a separate section for kids, and a big terrace for outdoor dining. Food gets good reviews, but some guests have complained that the spread doesn’t vary much and can get repetitive after a few days despite is many options. The snack bar serves a la carte lunch, as well as well as fruit and snacks in the afternoon, and the patisserie offers Turkish coffee and tea along with a selection of pastries and sandwiches until late at night. The Bistro serves late breakfast, snacks, and drinks overnight. 

The hotel also features five a la carte restaurants serving fish, Italian, Mexican, Asian, and Turkish cuisine. They all get consistently good reviews, but reservations are required and all are an extra fee. The all-inclusive rate includes all food and local drinks 24 hours a day, as well as some imported brands.

One of the hotel’s top highlights is its massive, freeform main pool, featuring dozens of loungers and umbrellas, and a striking design with sunken whirlpools and small peninsulas with additional seating. Long, cute bridges connect the main deck to the pool bar, located on a large island in the middle of the pool and serving drinks only. 

A smaller pool features five slides, including three for children, and there is a smaller, shallower pool for toddlers adjacent to the main pool.