Royal Dragon Hotel

Situated in a built-up area full of large all-inclusives, the Royal Dragon stands out for its striking Asian-inspired design. The main entrance is topped with a multilayered pagoda-style roof, and perched atop each corner of the main building is a large dragon. Throughout, large yin and yang symbols decorate floors, and coffered ceilings feature delicate painted details. Though this decor may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the themed design finds some balance with more understated elements, making for ornate spaces that somehow don’t feel overdone or gaudy. More obvious Asian-inspired accents such as red lacquered furniture, Chinese calligraphy on vases, and golden touches combine with simpler polished brown floors, wooden finishes, and rattan couches with white cushions. The outdoors also feature some themed details, including mosaic floors with dragon designs, a few statues of mythological lions, and wooden structures shaped like pagodas. The property is long and skinny, and the space not occupied by the hotel’s three six-story buildings is almost entirely a huge freeform pool. The pool goes all the way from the back of the building to the rear door of the property, which opens onto a lush public promenade leading to the hotel’s private stretch of beach. To one side of the property, a small tunnel connects the hotel to its huge water park, shared with neighboring sister property Royal Taj Mahal. This is where the action takes place during the day, with 11 slides, seven pools, and an active entertainment team leading plenty of fitness activities and games. The main pool at the hotel is slightly quieter but also busy, with dozens of kids running around at any given time. This makes for a bustling atmosphere throughout the hotel, but those seeking a quieter spot can relax at the hotel’s lovely beach, which has fine sand, a few dozen loungers under big awnings, and a snack bar. Most guests here are German families, and daily activities and evening shows are geared toward them. The hotel offers virtually everything one might need for a fun vacation, from plenty of pools, to several restaurants, to entertainment, sports facilities, and even a small shopping mall across the street. Couples seeking a quieter all-inclusive vacation may want to consider the Turquoise Resort Hotel & Spa, which features great rooms, separate adult-only and family areas, a wonderful beach, and serene grounds. The beautiful Ali Bey Resort Side has higher rates, but is a good option for those looking for something more exclusive and relaxing. The Sentido Zeynep Resort is generally cheaper, but less impressive than the Royal Dragon. In this price range, sister property Royal Alhambra Palace has a similarly striking design and comparable features (except for the water park, which is smaller). 

The Royal Dragon Hotel is located on a small street lined with other all-inclusives in a tourist complex south of Evrenseki. There is a popular shopping strip lined with clothes stores, spa parlors, and tour desks selling day trips within a five-minute walk of the hotel, and the hotel owns a small mall with a handful of shops right across the street from the property. The shopping area gets busy with tourists in the evening, but is mostly quiet during the day. Side -- known for its stunning historic ruins, charming seaside cafes, and beachside lounges -- is just a 15-minute drive away. Other local attractions, including the Manavgat Waterfalls and Lyrbe, are within a 30-minute drive of the hotel. Antalya and the airport are about an hour away.

There are 564 rooms of different varieties at the Royal Dragon, ranging from 430-square-foot Standard units for three guests, to 1,076-square-foot King Suites with two bedrooms and a living area. Decor is for the most part Asian-inspired, with golden dragons on doors, bamboo designs on carpets, and bed runners in crimson and beige with embroidered flowers. Other elements -- such as the Byzantine-inspired ogee arches decorating the headboards -- have more regional reminiscences. Rich fabrics in wine hues and gold make rooms ornate and elegant, while blond wood furniture with clean lines, and cute rattan lounge chairs with beige upholstery are more subdues. All rooms feature flat-screen TVs, central air-conditioning, and free minibars stocked with beer, water and sodas (replenished daily free of charge). Safes and slippers are also provided, as are electric kettles with free tea bags and instant coffee. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property. Family Rooms are larger units with two connecting bedrooms and one bathroom. There are also duplex units for families, complete with a master bedroom on the top floor with a double bed and a bathroom, and an additional bedroom on the lower level with two twins and another bathroom with a shower. Junior Suites are slightly larger and feature a living area and a jetted tub. All units have furnished balconies, but tall palm trees obstruct the views in most rooms; limited units have full sea views. Bathrooms are clean but compact, with older granite counters, shower/tub combos with plastic curtains. Wall-mounted hairdryers, a small array of toiletries, and extras such as sponges are provided. 

As a hotel that caters to families, the Royal Dragon has a nice kids’ club for children 4 to 12. Daily activities include sports, pool games, arts and crafts, and face painting, and there are weekly themed days, such as pirate, sandcastle, and pizza days. The kids’ club has indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a spacious playground with swings, slides, and a small merry-go-round. Bumper cars, trampolines, a ferris wheel, and a few other carnival rides are available at the water park free of charge. A teens’ club offers sports and games for kids 13 to 17, also at the water park. The spa has a relaxing atmosphere, with dim lighting, Asian-inspired decor that draws heavily on natural materials such as stone and wood, and a soft neutral palette. A wide array of treatments are available for a fee, and all guests are offered free access to a hammam, a sauna and a steam room. With a decent array of cardio and strength-training machines, the fitness center is fine for a quick workout, but some may find the space unappealing, as it lacks windows and has bright orange and yellow linoleum floors. The hotel also features a full sports complex across the street from the main building, complete with five tennis courts and a small soccer field. Use of the facilities is free, but there is a charge for equipment rental and lights. Adjacent to the sports complex is the hotel’s shopping mall, which features about a dozen clothes and accessories shops. Located across the promenade, the hotel’s Blue Flag beach is sandy and pleasant, with several rows of loungers, long awnings for shade, and a water sports desk run by a third party. Unlike at many other properties, there is no pier at the Royal Dragon. The hotel has two spacious meeting rooms equipped with flip charts, projectors, wireless microphones, and other audiovisual equipment. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. 

The Royal Dragon shares with its neighboring sister property Royal Taj Mahal what it claims is the largest water park in the region, complete with 11 slides of different sizes, a total of seven pools of different depths, a few carnival rides, and a large shaded area for daily entertainment. Activities offered here include yoga, aerobics, Zumba, and belly dance lessons. The water park is a hit with children, and the vibe is generally busy and loud. The main pool is huge but somewhat quieter than the water park, with dozens of loungers around it, and a huge wooden bridge crossing it from one end to the other to allow for easier access to the beach. There is a big, round kiddy pool on the same deck, and a separate area offers activities for kids. The deck was busy and a little loud during our visit, but thanks to the large size of the pool it was still possible to find somewhat mellower areas away from the splashing kids and the music.There is also a long, pleasant indoor pool complete with big windows, a kiddy section, two whirlpools, and lots of loungers. 

The main restaurant serves a big buffet spread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests praise the buffet for its variety, but some complain that the quality is only average for a luxury hotel. Late breakfast and night snacks are available at Notte Bistro, which also serves drinks overnight. The beach bar offers a la carte snacks and a salad bar for lunch, and the poolside bar has a nice drinks menu during the day. A patisserie offers Turkish coffee, tea, pastries, and cake in the afternoon. For dinner guests can also choose from four a la cartes -- serving fish and Italian, Turkish and Asian cuisines -- but all are an extra charge, and not all open daily. Reservations are required for all of them. The all-inclusive package covers all food and drinks 24 hours a day, including some imported brands.