Melas Lara Hotel - All Inclusive

We just returned from a week at Melas Lara, and this was our second time staying at the hotel — something we normally don’t do (see my previous review). Once again, we had a wonderful experience. The hotel is exceptionally clean and not as massive or overwhelming as some other resorts. The staff are incredibly friendly and genuinely kind to everyone. They’re especially sweet with small children and work hard to provide excellent service. The reception team is helpful and always tries to make everything possible. The animation team was fun and engaging. The Aquagym instructor this year was different from last year — and what a great improvement! Last year we were also impressed with the kids’ club lady, and she’s still absolutely amazing. Such a lovely person! The food was delicious — definitely much better than at other hotels we’ve been to. The Turkish dishes in particular were fantastic, both at the cold and hot buffets. Freshly made snacks are available at the pool bar, and the beach offers a fresh and tasty lunch too. Personally, I think they could skip the themed nights (Asian night, Mexican night were a bit of a disaster), but thankfully there’s always Turkish food available. Perhaps others enjoyed those theme nights more than we did. Drinks were good, and service was attentive. The staff even remember your drink preferences and sometimes bring them without asking. Ice cream was also very tasty. We stayed in a family room, which was spacious and had everything we needed. We’re not too picky about how modern a room looks — as long as it’s clean, we’re happy. And the cleaning service was excellent every day. I only discovered on the last day that you can request different types of pillows and even a soft top mattress — a great option to have. The minibar is restocked daily. Still a pity they don’t include Diet Coke and only provide 1-liter bottles, but on the other hand, that’s more sustainable. The pool with slides is heated, while the main pool is not. All in all we had a great time and truly enjoyed our vacation!