Barut Hemera - Ultra All Inclusive

I'm updating my original review. Some of the things I mentioned previously revolved around the hotel being understaffed at times, with the same hardworking employees stretched across all departments and activities. Other little niggles I aired included the variety of events, which again I think all comes back to staff being spread too thinly. After posting my review, the hotel management personally reached out to enquire further about my experience and address every concern I raised. They acknowledged my issues and committed to sharing this feedback with relevant departments, and I was left feeling that my voice was heard and that efforts would be made to prevent them in the future. This level of personal attention and problem-solving is rare in hospitality today. How a hotel responds to problems speaks volumes about their values, and Barut Hemera's management showed they genuinely care about guest satisfaction. The many staff members we encountered worked incredibly hard despite challenging circumstances, and management's response proves this dedication goes right to the top. In all honesty, some of the issues were my own misunderstanding, and so I thought I would correct the record by sharing some of the more positive and quirky aspects of our stay. My wife and I have been to several Barut hotels in the last few years, and there are some things that just stand out. Maybe our initial experience at this hotel was under less than ideal circumstances, but the staff at the Barut Hemera do work exceptionally hard and deliver the utmost levels of customer service. This is true for all Barut hotels we have visited; however, being amongst the more modest-sized resorts, you do bump into the same people quite frequently, and you can strike up a rapport or exchange idle chat to make the day more interesting. By day 3, we were personally greeted for breakfast, as, like most, once you pick an area within the vast restaurant, you like to make it your own, so we would regularly interact with the same groups of staff. The hotel is kept immaculate, and the overall grounds, restaurants, and common areas are designed and furnished to a very high standard. Everything is within a five-minute walk from your room, except maybe the beach and the entertainment areas, which were a minute or two further afield. This was also a nice walk after dinner, either just around the grounds to take in the night ambiance before catching a show or to head out and along the beach promenade. Believe me when I say you need to walk off the food; it was all so delicious and fresh that it is too easy to overindulge. The à la carte restaurants all take that exceptional level up at least another notch, with the service, food, and drinks brought right to your table, seemingly non-stop. Although one of my original issues was related to events, actually having daily events like archery and shooting enabled me to hone my skills, and towards the end of my visit, I think I put in a few impressive shots and even won a bottle of champagne! I am tooting my own horn, of course, but take a look at my photos. My wife would argue this was nothing but pot luck, but she was doing aqua aerobics while I was putting in the hard-earned practice! Talking of which, there did appear to be an external activity organised within the pool twice a week. There was water trampolining, water cycling, water aerobics, and even water yoga. Even as a spectator, I was sweating at the last one. For a smaller hotel, there are a great deal of things to do. A games room for kids, the water slides obviously, which had been expanded and upgraded compared to some holiday pictures other travellers had shared on this very site. There are several pools, indoor and outdoor, both an indoor and outdoor gym (the latter looking more like an adult playground), plus some tennis/football courts if you can ascend the hill to get there! (I'd recommend the route via the main entrance for a bit of air-con along the way). There was nightly entertainment including the occasional pre-show bingo, which had MANY prizes (too many to carry back to your table it seemed). Lastly, the main event. Sipping ice-cold drinks by the pool delivered by a rollerskating waiter/waitress all while tapping away to the chilled soundtrack! Like other Barut hotels, there is an app to order drinks directly to your seat/lounger, whether that was by the pool or within several of the pool bars. Sun loungers were plentiful and we never struggled to find a suitable one we liked, though you will have to be out there pretty early for the ones considered to be the best spots. Nothing unusual there though. We didn't venture out to the town (we will be this year), but we did walk the beach a number of times because… well… too much food. It is somewhat an unusual set-up in that the beach promenade is public, so you will need to have your room key on you to get back in, past the friendly security at the rear entrance. The Bottom Line What sets a good hotel apart from a great one isn't perfection - it's how they handle the imperfections. The management's response to my concerns, combined with the genuine warmth of every staff member we met, has earned our loyalty. Yes, they could use more staff during peak times but when you're being served drinks by rollerskating staff, winning champagne at archery, and being greeted by name at breakfast, these things fade into perspective and I think my first review was a bit of an unfair venting. Having revisited our holiday pics and memories, we're already booked to return to Barut, that's the best endorsement I can give - we're coming back.