Sunis Efes Royal Palace Resort & Spa

We had an amazing stay from start to finish. As a family of 5 we asked for two rooms next to each other, this wasn’t possible with the rooms we had booked so they kindly upgraded us so we could. Food was served all day with a very good selection for everyone. We chose the Italian for our visit to the a’l’carte, the food was absolutely delicious. A great selection of drinks 24/7. Staff were very friendly and very helpful, Umit, Berk, kima, Bercu and the lady who cooks the omelettes at breakfast time were just a few that I had to mention as you made our holiday that extra bit special.

We are staying at the Sunis Efes Royal Palace & Spa from the 12th to the 23rd for two special birthdays. Check-in was very smooth and efficient. Although our room wasn’t ready when we arrived at noon (official check-in is from 2 pm), we were offered use of the spa facilities, which was appreciated. The hotel makes a strong first impression: the lobby, communal areas, restaurants, and bars are grand and beautifully decorated. There are plenty of dining and drinking options, with six à la carte restaurants, numerous bars, and a patisserie open until midnight serving snacks, desserts, tea, and coffee. Unfortunately, once you look past the exterior, the hotel shows signs of neglect. The spa showers were poorly maintained, with several broken and in bad condition. Our room also needed updating — the shower drained slowly and had mould buildup, hanger holders were cracked, and lampshades were stained. While the cleaning staff worked hard and always left the room spotless, and the minibar was topped up most days, the overall condition of the room was disappointing for a 5-star hotel. The all-inclusive buffet looked impressive at first but quickly became repetitive. Many dishes were lukewarm rather than hot, and queues for freshly prepared meats were long, leaving the food cold by the time you sat down. The options for children were limited, and service in the restaurants was inconsistent — often we had to fetch our own drinks, which is not what you’d expect at a 5-star all-inclusive. The pool facilities are large, with a main pool, kids’ slides, a paddling area, and a bigger slide pool. However, cleanliness was inconsistent, and the lifeguards rarely seemed attentive, often distracted by phones or chatting instead of supervising — concerning given that most users were children. Snack bars were a welcome alternative to the buffet, though the menu never changed. The kids’ club staff were friendly, but activities were limited and came with extra charges (e.g. €15 for painting a t-shirt or bag). On-site shops are very overpriced, and since the hotel is isolated, guests have little choice but to buy from them. The nearest town, Özdere, is a short taxi ride away but offers very little. The night time shows were great for a majority of the evenings the fire show and the kids show were great and we thoroughly enjoyed them. We did raise our concerns with guest relations. I chose not to change rooms after unpacking but was offered a complimentary à la carte dinner. I also requested a late check-out, though this can only be confirmed on the morning of departure due to peak season. We were celebrating two birthdays during our stay, but even ordering a small cake came at an extra charge of €25. Overall, while the hotel looks impressive at first glance, the reality does not live up to its 5-star rating — particularly in terms of food, service, and room quality. Having stayed in other TUI Platinum hotels across Turkey, I can confidently say this resort does no