So let me caveat this review with, I am someone who, until last year, had been incredibly snobby about Turkey as a holiday destination and couldn’t for the life of me see how an ‘all inclusive’ holiday, sitting around a pool in one place could constitute a holiday.
I was proven wrong in 2022 with a wonderfully relaxing break in the surprising scenic Fethiye and staying in Tui Blue Sensatori Akra Fethiye. in 2023, we stayed for the whole week in the sister resort Akra Fethiye, The Residence Tui Blue Sensatori resort and experienced even more of a treat.
There’s a few things to accept to get the best out of the resort; the service happens when it happens in some areas and is lightening fast in others. Relax. Don’t sweat the inconsistency, you’re here all week. The other is that the house white is bordering on terrible (red is OK, rose, surprisingly, to my tastes is the best of the 3). Two minor details in an other wise sea of excellence which may or may not even feature on your personal radar.
I was heartened to see the guest relations manager from The Residence had been promoted to general manager of both sites this year. She is a no-nonsense, get things done character with a great ear for live music. The entertainment schedule had been noticeably amped up with an excellent selection of musical styles with some stand out acts. We didn’t catch as many as we’d like as, not unreasonably, the scheduling team expect people to be staying up late on their holiday’s to make the most of everyday. I’m an 8 hours sleep a night kinda’ a gal and I’m afraid I don’t switch that up even if I’m on holiday.
The food quality also had seemed to take a step up. Take the menu descriptions with a pinch of salt more than them being gospel. They hint at what you will get. Case in point; chocolate mochi balls. What we ate was actually more like a Nutella Eccles cake, but when warm and paired with matcha tea ice cream and thick, punchy raspberry coulis, what you got was a scrumptious, comforting hug of a dessert (but mochi ball…it was not). I treated the menu discrepancies as sport, but do take care if you have any allergies.
The pool is world class and manages to create small pockets of places to lounge so you never feel like you are cramped or on top of anyone. Some might say it feels a bit brisk at this time of year when the ambient temperatures are lower, but hey, it’s good for the circulation…embrace it. You soon warm up on your swim to the bar.
The grounds are kept immaculately, with a large team of gardeners present each day. Block planting of lush bananas, canas and birds of paradise add to the tropical feel. There’s an obvious cohesion to creating an curated atmosphere. Right down to the smell (which is divine). I commented on this to a team on reception, with one (I think only half jokingly) saying ‘it’s the sense in Sensatori’.
The bookable entertainment opens for bookings at 5pm each day, but the popular activities, such as archery and the exercise classes book up within minutes so be sure to set an alarm as a reminder. It’s worth popping along 5-10 mins before an activity starts if you couldn’t book to see if there are any no shows.
The Residence is accredited as a green hotel. For me, they could gone a few steeps further, for example, does anyone REALLY need a turn down service? Think how many strange ‘by the bed napkins’ less you’d wash per year if you dropped this. Also, ask if we’d like nuts with our drinks, don’t bring them automatically. Save waste, resources, and ultimately improve your bottom line for being greener without impacting the perceived ‘customer offering’.
The beach is course sand and pebbles, but once you’re across the crescent of pebbles, you are in to (mostly) calm, hot/cold, shallow blue green Aegean waters with a sandy seabed. If a Maldives style picture postcard white sand beach is a must for you, then this won’t fit the bill. I enjoyed the novelty of the Caribbean sea scape in Jamaica for a few days but have to confess, I prefer a mountainous, island view, and this delivers.
There’s the usual waterspouts and day excursions to the local town (Feithye – check out the markets where you can pick you fish fresh from catch of the day and have it cooked at a restaurant for you), but we didn’t feel the need to venture further than the beach and the pool…such was the quality of the daiquiris!
We booked all inclusive with Tui from Manchester. I was surprised and impressed on both my trips at how good tempered the families with children were at the airport on the return flight. Flight times are frankly evil and even when you’re prepared for how terrible Dalaman airport is at 2am… it doesn’t help… I still want to cry a little.
Flights aside, Tui has converted me to the possibility of doing not a lot on holiday. Some people tell me this is the point of holidays 😉 I’d be back like a shot next year… however the one tiny detail with big impact is the beds are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard. I’m a side sleeper so had 6 terrible nights sleep and I can’t help but feel this is the opposite to being a restorative experience. Lets see if the rose tinted glasses colour my opinion on this, I may well be back!
Review My Trip 