Loginn

The Barut Kemer really is 5star! You’re about 1hr 10 mins from the Antalya airport. The first thing to say is the service is excellent. Staff are genuinely friendly and attentive, nothing is too much trouble and it was a real treat to be looked after. The maids, reception and bar staff/waiters are all top notch. They appreciate tipping. We didn’t tip everyone - it’s not possible - but waiters we saw often we tipped 100TL (about 5euro) and this was very well received. Turkish Lira, Euros and Dollars are all accepted. The standout thing at the Barut is the Animations Team. This lot are absolutely super. The kids club staff are busy all day and have a disco 8.30-9 each night. We didn’t use the club because our little ones didn’t want to (6yr old) and weren’t old enough (2yrs) but we joined the disco every night and they had lots of fun. The team offer a full timetable of activities through the day. There’s no pressure to join in, but it’s worth it if you fancy what’s on offer. Gym in the pool twice a day, darts, dancing, water polo, basketball, pilates, table tennis…the list goes on. When you’re done, order a daiquiri from the waiters on skates and sit back in the sunshine. The nightly entertainment is very good. The best show by far is the Michael Jackson tribute on Mondays. I’m a fan, but it was excellent. After the main show all the dancers come to the stage/dance floor area and have photos and join in the party. Next, the food. I would say, it’s the best AI we’ve ever been to. There are lots of options for every meal and we always had choices for 6 and 2yr old - who ate like a Queen and King! Goodness me, 3x3 course meals a day. Fantastic. Again, waiting staff are tremendous. There are 4 a’la carte restaurants which were easy to book - but could be trickier later in the season. Use the hotel app to book. Drinks are excellent and branded is included. Cocktails are good and they’ll make any changes you want. There’s two pool side cafes which make the best pizzas, kebabs and burgers. The hotel is so well maintained, the buildings and the gardens are beautiful. There’s a pier for those looking for peace and quiet - we never got that far because our little enjoyed the ‘little pool’ (about a foot) and the slides too much. We had a 1 bedroom suite, perfect for the 4 of us. The room had a sea view and we were happy it didn’t get sun as it kept the room cool - we literally only slept in there. The bathrooms are beautiful and the shower is powerful. Our only grumble was the beds - no lost sleep, but very firm. The only other thing to say, the Hilton which is close by has what can only be described as a rave on Wednesday nights. It ends at midnight but pack ear plugs. My kids didn’t flicker and it definitely wasn’t a deal breaker. It’s a 10min walk down to Kemer centre which is full of shops, places to eat, a nice marina and park. We had 2-3 visits and found some ‘genuine fake’ clothes and perfume. As with most similar places, there’s lots of ‘selling’ by the side of the road and asking you in. Always felt safe and the Turks love kids. Overall if you’re looking for quality in Kemer, look no further. We like to see different places but we would definitely visit Barut again.