We booked our stay as a cancellation and were to be honest turkey sceptics on the whole.
Not really suited to the club scene, given that we had three of our children aged from 4 to 13 with us, we decided that given the price and the reviews on this hotel, we would go ahead and book it.

We all loved the place, both the Hotel especially, Martin, Cash, Abdul (fabulous massage with aromatherapy oils) and ali (turkish bath on site was heaven), and the resort of Gumbet was wonderful. So hot, almost too hot, but so friendly, we ate at the Arya restaurant an three of our 7 nights and spread our wings the remaining 4 nights.

Dinner on the beach at Dennys Bar was special, and the food at the windy bay was also very good.

Just off Windy Bay was a little Bar called the Jolly Jug Beach Bar, run by a man named Zeki, possibly the nicest man I have ever met!! If you go to Gumbet you absolutely MUST visit his bar, you get real chat, a wide variety of music, Cocktails to make your head spin and such fantastically friendly service. When you visit, tell him Jiif sent you, and that Holly and Claudia say hello and send love!!!

Anyway, back to the Arya, The pool was kept maticulously clean and was always so very very inviting after walking the sun drenched streets, and the rooms were cleaned daily, with towels and sheets changed daily too, we even got to retain our room at a supplement of £10 or 24 ytl so that we didnt have to sit in hotel reception til 8 o' colck at night on our last day guarding luggage!! although I feel sure the accomodating Martin would happily have stored it for us had we asked. We also got a weeks worth of very welcoming air conditioning for a very reasonable £28.

We found the rooms to be sufficient, but unspectacular and be warned, if you intend to self cater on your holiday, you can't given that your cooking facilities are a two ringed plug in "hob" and a kettle!! You will need to eat out, but the array of choice of restaurants and cafes is so large and the menus so diverse and well priced, that you wouldn't really want to cook anyway!!

The other thing worth a mention is the Hairdressers next door (IBOS), I got a turkish shave (cutthroat razor) and massage, whilst i waited for my sons highlights to settle in his hair and my daughter getting her hair braided...altogether cost around £18-£20

Generally, a fantastic holiday...will definately be going back there, hopefully later this year when I am convinced we will be welcomed with open arms...

Well what can I say but only that we loved the whole holiday and the staff made it so special for us that we have booked to go back next year to the arya. A big hello to Bayram, Martin, Cash, Abdul, Sedat, Ali, Abduman Hassein.Mosey, Alan and everyone who we have forgot to mention - we miss you all so much and thankyou for a great time. Don't worry Ali we have that t-shirt for you when we come back.
On arrival to the Arya in Jul 06, I was a bit disappointed as we thought the rooms were very small and dingy - but after a few days we didn't care as lovely Maria the maid gave us clean towels and sheets every day. The food in the restaurant was that good that we only ate out 4 other nights. What we liked about the restaurant staff was when the kids wanted to try an adults meal it was not problem - Alan allowed them to order what we were having in a smaller portion - I think they had the sizzling beef and chicken the whole holiday. As for Cash he was so funny that the kids loved him and Abdul always kept them amused to let us finish our meal. The pool was always spotless with Martin always checking the water to make sure it was ok - the bar at night was great fun with the staff livening things up if they thought it was too quiet. We thought everything was reasonably priced and for the 10 of us we couldn't have ate any cheaper and enjoyed it as much anywhere else in Turkey . We have never went back to the same place and to be honest we have stayed in far better hotels - but nothing in any of the other places we have stayed in compares to the friendliness in the Arya and all the people we have met who will be going back next year too.

We've been back two weeks and we've booked for next year already. The apartment was basic, but Gumbet is all about eating out, so we had enough with comfortable beds and an adequate bathroom, plus a lovely veranda. The pool and pool area are great, with a good bar and barman (Ali). I had my best meals at the Arya, although we sampled quite a few others in Gumbet and the family enjoyed most of them. Abdul sulks if you don't patronise the Arya all the time, but you can live with that. The Turkish bath and massage is worth a go and the barber next door gives an excellent shave. The laundry service is good (also next door). The beach is literally three minutes away and the apartments are just far enough from the nightlife to be comfortable regarding noise, although there can be some excess noise on certain nights from next door. Access to the nightlife in Gumbet is minutes away. Everything good written about the staff is true (with one exception that I've promised not to mention - OK Martin?) with special mention going to Byram from his english Mama, Papa and new brothers. Finally - If Martin was a Christian, he would be a saint. He is as good as everyone says and then double it.
See you next year in Room 101, Martin!

been to the Ayra several times over the years,, this time it was terrible,,, many members of the staff have changed, this is acceptable, however their rudeness is not.
My family have friends in the locality so we dine with them most evening, this is the problem, the staff do not like the guests eating elsewhere other than the resteraunt of the Ayra. Each day on leaving the hotel, a young Turkish man named Cash would glare and be abrupt with the family, as we went to dinner. I met this guy last year, although we did eat many times at the hotel, he was pleasant, this year, he was completely differant. If you eat elsewhere, the staff make you feel dreadfully gulity, however as it is your holiday , you are free to eat and drink elsewhere. I have stayed in the hotel many times, however i will not be visiting again.