UPDATED OVERVIEW;
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO Sensatori, Akra Fethiye BEFORE, READ THIS:
(It might help with your decision)
The first thing to know is that this is NOT a party hotel - it IS a chilled, relaxed, unplugged hotel, where you can listen to background music during the day, without being approached every five minutes to join in something or other, or being hassled to have a Hammam - there are NO pool parties or foam parties Neon Parties or White parties.
Sensatori is the flagship of Tui as a brand and is the one most favoured by Tui staff (all 64000 of them), and of the various Hotels in the brand, the top three are Fethiye, Sorgun and Sharm.
Most regular Sensatorists think Fethiye is the best – we do. Akra Fethiye enjoys a 70% return rate so we meet many people that we’ve met in previous visits.
The rooms are simple, modern stylish, but this hides the fact that everything you could reasonably want is catered for 49" TV, mini bar (mainly soft drinks, a couple of beers) T & C making, plus an Nespresso machine, Slippers, Bathrobe QUALITY Bog roll, all the complimentary stuff that you can think of, decent Shampoo, Shower Gel, Conditioner, hand soap and moisturiser. Our was serviced every day by the lovely, smiley and expert Google translate user, Selma!
Breakfast is in the Buffet. Inside or out, huge range. Much cooked in front of you – LOVE the Omelette cooked by the ever smiley and cheerful Meryem. But there is SO much choice. Don’t see what you fancy? Ask one of the Managers. If they can do it or get it for the following day – they will (NOT British Bacon, - don't be silly! ). Remember this hotel can accommodate 1500 people, but will still try to give that level of personal service, I am blown away! There are always supervisors like Abidin or Gem (pronounced Chem) or Managers like Memhet and Gokhan wandering constantly - anything that you are not sure about, or want that is not there, they'll help with, with a smile.
In reception, a quick Coffee (and Cake? - as much as you want) at Baska’s coffee shop, or visit The Tui Blue Reps (there are at least 5 of them - led by the inimitable Tara - who's been there years) they gets thing sorted and with out fuss, and guest relations are at the next desk.
Then on the way down to the Pools and the beach, maybe a stop at the Lime or Jasmine bar for a Coffee or something stronger - most people seem to go to the latter ;-) Then there is Thea's in the Basilico for another Coffee or Tea, maybe a Croissant, beautiful pastry or just a biscuit?
Grab a glass of water from the various chillers, or a bottle from any bar, Towels from either the adult bar or the towel shack – change them as often as you want. We tend to get two each, one rolled up as a pillow – but we keep them for a couple of days – we don’t want to take the Pee!
You might want to do Yoga or Pilates or Football or Archery, with qualified Professional fitness instructors or we like doing "Monkeysee, Monkeydo" (Aquafit) - which is very effective at burning off the many, many hard to avoid calories. Some brave folk do yoga balancing on paddle boards in the (heated) activity pool. Mesut is always walking around the Family and activity pool collecting glasses and bringing drinks if you are too lazy to get up and use the millions of calories you are piling up at every meal time. I know there is someone else doing the Adult pool too. On the beach loungers - which have cushions this year - there are QR codes to scan on the parasols to have drinks brought to you.
At lunch you might be serenaded by one of the cast singing with backing music or playing guitar or Saxophone. Lunch might be at;
· The Sunset (which is a payable restaurant in the evening) or the one immediately below (can’t remember what its name is) which does traditional Turkish food – like Pide and Goz….something or other (I can say it, but not spell it) – I recommend trying Aryan – which is salted yogurt and water, sounds odd, but is delicious! You can order from either, or both, menus.
· Or you could have a Jacket Potato (you have to ask “why would you” when there is so much fabulous food all around you? They are delicious! (and MASSIVE)) from the shack, which also offers “the best Kebab in Türkiye” (and that is according to the staff) fresh fruit or filled rolls if you just want something simple. Opposite is a bar that apart from the usual also usually offers a “health drink” – looks awful, tastes great.
· Or the Buffet with a massive choice which you can eat in door or out
· Or the Basilico which offers Italian style food (and absolutely delicious Pizzas – I REALLY can’t think of having a better Pizza anywhere – including Italy!), or the Patisserie within the Basilico.
· In the afternoon, you might drop into Thea's Coffee shop for a drink and a wide range of Pastries or the Ice-Cream parlour with a choice of ten different Ice-cream and Sorbet flavours (some are really exotic like Sorrel or Walnut).
More Pilates, Yoga, meditation, French boules on the lawn, swing in a string Hamock for two, play Pool or Table Tennis at the sports bar, play a strange Nordic game – the name of which escapes me, but is easy to learn and quite fun. There is pool, darts and sport on two TV's either side of a central podium – lots of major stuff is shown at the sports bar.
Then have a walk along the beach, very pebbled at the water’s edge for about 6 feet, get past that and the water is warm and relatively shallow – the easiest way is to go along the pier and climb down the stairs.
Or there is Archery and always football matches, or Tennis…… Or you could lounge on one of the many Sunbeds - all set out with reasonable space even when the hotel is at full capacity there are lots of Sunbeds, and more than a hundred more on the beach!
In the evening, go up to the Cocktail bar where Tugba and sometimes Huseyin (usually works in the main lobby) who makes phenomenal Cocktails and watch the sun go down over the Islands and chill again, drinking professionally created Cocktails (downside - they take FOREVER to get to you - so allow time to CHILL!), while possibly listening to a small band or Saxophone (live of course), but still background. If they have the ingredients, they’ll make anything you want – apart from a Harvey Wallbanger – they don’t have Galliano – nobody knows why!
Then dinner in the newly renovated Buffet Restaurant - all expensive curves, bright and open (with a MASSIVE choice of quality, freshly prepared food) or one of the three included a la carte restaurants (Asian, Italian, Turkish) or splash out at one of the two payable restaurants.
Or you could take in some of the music at the Piano bar with the resident musicians -So far, Jonathan and Craig plus others on Piano, Guitar and we've had Violin and electric Cello, in the past - any combination of 3. Then down to the boardwalk Amphitheatre for a simple drink, or a premade Cocktail - staffed by Yigit (pronounced Yeads) and Hakan with Serhat collecting glasses and bring you replacements if needed. the evening entertainment - could be the Professional cast (all from performing arts schools - most with degrees (all?) in the subject), or a flown in tribute act, (Michael Buble, Gary Barlow, Tom Jones, Madonna, Dolly Parton, Jess Glynne, Dua Lipa, Tina Turner, Robbie Williams - to name but a few) or an acrobatic or dance act, (there are about 17 of them throwing themselves about the stage - very impressive!)
Some folk will spend the evening down at the Caretta Bar with “Sounds of Ibiza” playing from the raised DJ set.
Then there is the opportunity to go back up to the lounge bar where you'll probably get the cast (Jakob, Tom, Mia, Mim, Libby and alicia) (and I do mean cast – i.e.: NOT an animation team lip synching) - around the piano - could be a total of 9 entertaining either as an ensemble, or individually. Music stops at close to midnight (we have managed to push it past 12 a couple of times in the past) - at 12pm, The bar is open all night - All of the spirits are imported premium brands - like Gentleman Jack (my current fav when on holiday) and Johnny Walker Red or Black Label. and we have been there until 3:30am!
Fancy a little nibble? (BOY! do you have an appetite!) up to the Amber restaurant which is open all through the night! You can also use the bar there for drinks looking over the resort.
Then to bed.
Repeat! .
Enjoy!
GB