In Side, it's difficult to find a hotel that's not 4* or 5* luxury, though there are a handful of more intimate options scattered throughout the town. Many of the larger hotels are located on the outskirts of Side, but the bus will get you downtown in no time at all. These mega hotels are all about the numbers. Four pools, five restaurants, eight bars, a supremely exclusive private beach – on an All Inclusive Turkey holiday in Side, that's the norm.
5* opulence meets the seaside at this swanky resort. It covers all of your holiday bases with four pools and a splash park, activities like beach volleyball and pilates classes and a swarm of sunloungers along the coast. It also comes equipped with six restaurants – where cuisine ranges from Turkish to Italian and even an international buffet – though the restaurants and bars of downtown Side are just a 15-minute bus journey away.
A recent refurb has brought this chic hotel to 5* heights, featuring everything from three outdoor swimming pools to villa-style rooms. There are even swim-up accommodations to add that extra dash of luxury. The beach is just on the other side of the hotel – a brief walk along the waterfront promenade will take you into town.
The Crystal Sunrise Queen redefines the phrase 'sea views' – with grassy viewing platforms on virtually every rooftop, the water is almost always on the horizon. The beach itself is just on your doorstep, as are four swimming pools, a Turkish bath, swim-up bars and live shows. The hotel even has its own cinema.
The Turquoise Hotel has its own private island feel to it – maybe that's because it features its own private beach, an incredible pool scene with waterslides and a poolside steak restaurant, docks that wind out into the water and five restaurants, whose cuisine include Italian and Chinese, among others.
We're not sure if the Paloma Oceana is part of Side or its own town entirely – it's a massive resort with sunlounger-lined pools and waterslides, its own private beach, five a la carte restaurants plus a buffet spot and eight bars. It also features a cluster of luxury villas that share their own private lagoon-style pool.
The Sunlight Gardens offers accommodation on a smaller scale that won't sacrifice comfort – it's also a little bit closer to downtown Side than most of its 5* counterparts. Here, you'll find a set of pools and a buffet restaurant dishing up Turkish cuisine, plus a shuttle service that'll take you straight to the beach.
Another 5* hotel to add to Side's collection, the Barut Arum is furnished with pools twisting through palm tree-lined terraces and is treated to beautiful sea views. On site, you'll find mini golf, archery and Turkish nights by way of evening entertainment, plus the bars and restaurants of Side that are only a 10-minute walk away.