Belek is famous for its clear azure sea, beautiful beaches and healing air filled with aromas of pine forests and eucalyptus groves.
When planning a trip, it is always useful to get acquainted with the reviews of experienced travelers to choose the best option. This article provides information about the River Garden Holiday Village 4 * hotel (formerly called River Garden Residence 4 *).
Belek
Belek is located between the ancient city of Side and fashionable Antalya (35 km).
This popular center of international tourism is considered the most respectable, prestigious and comfortable, therefore there are not many noisy young people here, middle-aged tourists, often with children, predominate.
People come to this region to admire the amazing nature of the national reserve, and guests of the River Garden Hotel can relax among the green forests of cypress, cedar, eucalyptus and pine trees.
It is no coincidence that Belek is called "bird paradise." More than a hundred species of rare birds live here, including the symbol of Belek - the famous barn owl or owl "tuto-alba" (the same snow-white owl that brought letters to Harry Potter).
The reserve is famous not only for birds, but also for Caretta-Caretta turtles (meter-long sea turtles with a large head), which have been sailing to Belek's beaches for 100 million years to lay their eggs here.
Belek is a major international golf center, fans of this sport come from many countries here.
Climate and beaches
Belek has a mild Mediterranean subtropical climate. It is dry and hot in summer (38-40 ° C), wet and warm in winter (15 ° C).
The sea warms up in summer to 27 ° C, and in winter maintains a temperature of 17 ° C.
Tourists living in the Belek River Garden have the opportunity to swim on the beautiful beaches of Belek, which is almost a continuous beach strip for 20 km.
All beaches are clean and even, regularly cleaned, well equipped and covered with sand. There are more blue flags than in Antalya, and magnificent eucalyptus and pine groves descend directly to the sea waves.
Hotel River Garden 5 (Belek) has its own beach, where tourists take a hotel bus, departing every half hour. The road takes five minutes (2 km). The bus runs until 18.00, at other times you can get to the beach and back by regular bus (2 lira).
According to tourists, the hotel’s beach is clean, sand - to the level of the surf (then fine pebbles), the water is clear, the sea is quite deep, there are many sun loungers and deck chairs on the shore, there is a bar. True, there are no toilet stalls, but they are on the nearby beach. For a fee, you can parachute for a boat.
In addition, a small boat ($ 5) leaves for the “wild beach” twice a day from the river pier near the River Garden Hotel, where it is very interesting for children, as you can see tiny crabs, cute turtles and unusual mollusks with fancy shells.
According to tourists, the last time on the "wild beach" is not a boat, but a bus, but the beauty of the beach does not change.
Interesting places
Belek and the surrounding areas have many attractions:
- The ruins of the ancient cities of Aspendos, Perge and Side (half an hour before each).
- Museums, water parks and entertainment centers of Antalya (30 minutes).
- Kepryulu Canyon National Park (unique flora and fauna, rare birds and giant turtles, cypress and eucalyptus trees, mountain climbing, rock climbing, horseback riding, rafting and kayaking on a mountain river).
- Excursions in Pamukalla (hot mineral springs surrounded by snow-white calcareous hills and terraces).
- Kursunlu National Park with the famous waterfall of the same name.
- Green Canyon (a picturesque reservoir surrounded by green forests) and Lake and Waterfall Minangaut.
- Water park "Troy" in the hotel Rixos Premium Belek, built in the form of an ancient city with unusual slides and a dolphinarium.
Hotel
Hotel River Garden 5 (Turkey) was built 5 km from Belek and 40 km from Antalya (transfer from Antalya Airport - 45 minutes).
The hotel complex is the so-called "holiday village" (HV - Holiday Village) and consists of two-storey villas, which accommodate 4 rooms (2 on the ground floor and 2 on the second). Only 69 rooms. The cost of one room is from 9600 rubles per night.
Each cottage has its own pool (140 cm deep). There is a secluded relaxation pool by the river.
The hotel has a large and well-groomed area with its own garden and park.
The staff speaks Russian and English.
Belek River Garden provides the following services:
- Spa and massage services.
- Sauna and hammam (for a group of 15 people) from 12.00 to 18.00.
- Tennis court, table tennis, volleyball courts, boccia (throwing balls on accuracy), mini-golf and five-a-side football, as well as a gym.
- Indoor and outdoor pools, as well as 2 children's pools.
- Laundry (paid).
- Concierge service.
- Minimarket.
- Barber and beauty salon (extra charge).
- Bicycles for rent.
- Safe.
- Photo service (paid).
- Transportation of tourists with luggage around the hotel on electric cars.
For children, there is a playground, a pool with slides (until 16.00), a special children's toilet.
There are children's animation and a mini-club (10.00-12.00 and 15.00-17.00), there are babysitting services.
Adult leisure activities at River Garden Hotel:
- Games and sports throughout the day - volleyball, water polo, darts, bilboke, boccia, football and so on.
- In the evening, discos, theme parties, lotteries (Bingo), live music.
- There are many excursions to the surrounding cities and reserves.
- On Saturdays, Turkish Night is held (concerts, pop and ethnographic shows, souvenir sales, camel riding, fireworks).
- TV lounge, games room (board games, library, slot machines.
Rooms
Spacious and bright rooms are furnished with good furniture (folding sofa, wide beds, armchairs, desk, chairs, bedside table, wardrobes, dressing table, large mirror). There is quality parquet on the floor. Each room has a balcony on the second floor and a terrace on the first floor.
River Garden Belek 4 has one-room, two-room and three-room rooms. All rooms have modern bathrooms with shower and bathtub. If the number is more than one room, then it has two bathrooms.
The large rooms also have a kitchenette with cooking utensils, an electric kettle, a fridge, a stove / hob, dishwasher and washing machine.
All rooms are equipped with a LCD TV (satellite TV, 3 Russian-language channels, there is a USB flash drive), there is a DVD player, individual air conditioning (paid), Internet access (paid) and a telephone (paid).
Nutrition
Dining at the Belek River Garden Hotel is all-inclusive. The hotel complex has two bars and two restaurants.
Almost all tourists have rave reviews about the quality of food, which daily includes:
- Different types of meat (beef, lamb, chicken) in various forms of preparation (soups, meatballs, stews, fried chops, barbecue and so on).
- Fish (salmon, trout and others) fried, baked in the oven and on the grill.
- Vegetable salads, rolls, fruits, juices, sorbets, compotes.
- Coffee / tea and all drinks (including alcohol) are unlimited.
- Porridge, cereal, soups (including mashed soups for children), snacks, various side dishes (rice, chickpeas, pasta, potatoes), boiled and stewed vegetables (Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, corn, peas).
- Baking - rolls and pies with different fillings.
- Desserts - cakes, muffins, pastries, jams, jams, Turkish sweets (baklava, Turkish delight, halva, pistachios in honey and so on).
- After lunch and dinner, ice cream is distributed.
- At 17.00 - afternoon tea, sweets can be taken near the bar.
- Unlimited drinks (including alcohol).
Turkish Nights menu (on Saturdays): whole baked sheep, fish in foil, fried turkey and a huge ice cream cake with burning fireworks.
In addition to the main restaurant, River Garden Villas has a separate restaurant on the river, where you can order dinner for 5 euros (steaks, fish and seafood).
Dishes of the main restaurant are prepared taking into account various categories of vacationers, including children, the elderly, vegetarians and so on. The restaurant has highchairs.
Reviews
Travelers willingly share their impressions of staying at River Garden HV 1.
Mostly positive reviews prevail, although there are reports of deficiencies.
When planning your vacation and trip abroad, you should carefully and carefully think through all the arguments, get acquainted with information from various sources and make an objective decision so that your vacation goes at the best level.
Positive reviews
Many tourists note the following advantages of the hotel:
- Proximity to the airport (transfer takes 30-40 minutes).
- Clean and well-groomed area (plenty of greenery, trees and flowers).
- Attentive and friendly staff, Russian-speaking staff.
- Equal treatment of Russian and foreign guests (equally welcoming).
- Excellent attitude to children - any employee of the hotel will always smile at the child, try to cheer or console.
- Many pools, all clean and odorless bleach.
- Fast and high-quality Internet without interruptions, good access everywhere.
- Cozy and stylish interiors.
- There is no noise at night (no equipment buzzing, no drunken screams and showdowns).
- Good cleaning, daily change of towels, bed linen is replaced every three days.
- Electric cars constantly drive throughout the territory and bring tourists with children or luggage and bags (upon arrival from the airport or after excursions, shopping, and so on).
- Great animation.
- Great work of a mini club for children.
- Funny riding electric bicycles around the hotel (rental point near the market), and the rental staff ride the children themselves (very carefully and with a constant smile).
- Convenient and well-designed infrastructure - everything is located compactly.
- Fresh rooms with a good repair.
- Near the hotel there is a bus stop - you can go to any city.
- Great hamam ($ 50 for an hour and a half).
Negative reviews
Some reviews report on the shortcomings noted by tourists at Hotel River Garden:
- The bus to the beach does not always leave on schedule, you have to wait. The bus is often crowded. In addition, the last flight at 18.00, so I can’t walk on the beach in the evening.
- In the cottages an uncomfortable spiral staircase to the second floor is narrow and steep.
- There is no clear cleaning schedule in the room - the maid can drop in at any time.
- If there was no cleaning, then ants were noticed in the rooms.
- Sometimes there is a smell in the toilet.
- In the evenings it’s boring, animators play lotto, sing karaoke - not everyone likes it.
- Highchairs in the restaurant must be washed by ourselves.
- Sauna and hammam were heated only for the purchase of a paid massage session.
- Freshly squeezed juices are tasteless.
- After 20.00 you can’t swim in the pools (cleaning is in progress).
- On TVs, the volume limit is set (so as not to interfere with the neighbors) - so some people have difficulty hearing.
Travel Tips
Experienced travelers give the following tips for travelers planning to relax at the River Garden:
- Report your discontent to the Russian tour operator, and appropriate action will be taken immediately.
- On Skype, it is better to speak from the territory by the river or near the reception.
- You should not buy goods and souvenirs during the "Turkish Nights" (in the neighboring village of Kadriye prices are 5 times cheaper).
- A good bazaar in Belek is located between Ataturk and Aligentikaya streets.
- A wide selection of gemstone jewelry can be found at Aspendos Jewelry and Center Kucukbelkis Koyu, which are located between Antalya and Aspendos.
- Take beach shoes.
Conclusion
The River Garden Hotel Complex is an excellent, tranquil hotel for middle-aged tourists and families with children.
Excellent food, the fabulous sea and nature of the reserve, good living conditions and a high level of service contribute to a pleasant stay.
Youth and party lovers should choose a different hotel and resort area.