Barut Lara Antalya information please!

[LancreWowhawk]

After several years of holiday at various IKOS resorts, we're ready for a change, and I'm considering the Lara Barut in Antalya.

It gets recommended here regularly, so if you've been, can you tell me:

• Is it really worth the money?
• Are all the bars and restaurants included in the AI?
• Are there any hidden costs?
• Were there any downsides I should know about?
• Have you done any excursions from the hotel, and what sort of prices were they?
• Do they really have a cat sanctuary??? This would be a major selling point for DD!

DH fancies straying away from AI, but I'm not quite ready to give up my week flopped on a sun lounger, and I'm wondering whether to lobby for this one or not.

Hello
I can't say about the Lara specifically but I've stayed a couple of times at the Cennet Barut and I would assume the service options would be the same?
I am assuming that it will be the same approach for all:

Yes the bars and restaurants are included in the AI. You're also not limited on how often you use them - so can be a la carte the whole week if you wanted.
Buffet food is very good though - plenty of options for everyone.
There are some alcoholic drinks that aren't included but this would be premium spirits so for example Bombay Sapphire rather than Gordon's or similar but I have never paid for drinks whilst being there.
In fact I've not had an unexpected bill at all so can't think of any 'hidden costs.'
You don't have to pay for beach towels or pay a deposit you just pick them up in the morning from by the pool and then drop them back at the end of the day in the towel bins (I know this seems small but I loved this)
Sunbeds you can have drinks delivered straight there so can indeed flop if you like.
Not done excursions sorry!
I had not heard of the cat sanctuary but the cats at the other Barut are incredibly well looked after - like pets. The staff have their own names for them. Just they ask you not to feed them from your table. But if you like cats you will be in cat heaven.

Where we stay there are three Barut hotels fairly close together and they all look excellent - I worry to be honest about going back and choosing a different brand because I wouldn't want to be disappointed! I'm afraid to say I do think they're worth the money.

Hope someone comes along that has stayed in the Lara..

Thank you @SparrowFeet! I take it you’d be happy to go back to the Cennet Barut?

Definitely - although in terms of recommending it depends how old your DD is? It's child friendly but it doesn't have all the water parks that the others do. Does have a kids club but probably more of a family vibe at the other bigger Baruts.

Haven’t been to that one but stayed at the new Anda Barut that opened last year. If it’s the same, then it’s very luxurious. We managed to get a cheap deal as it had only been open 2 weeks. But it raised the bar so this years holiday at a different location felt a right let down 🤣

DD will be 12, @SparrowFeet - so I'm inclined to a bigger resort. She's been refusing to go to any sort of kids club for years, so plenty of other activities, especially beach/pool related are a must! Thanks so much for confirming.

This is how I feel after a few years at IKOS, @londongirl12 - I've loved it so much and I would happily go back, but DH really wants a change and I think DD would like to try somewhere different too. It's just that given how much I enjoy IKOS, I want to make sure I won't be disappointed!

We stayed at Arum Barut this year. So like PP not the Lara. But it was wonderful! I do believe they are all very similar in service levels just facilities that are different.

Main drawback of that one was rocks in the sea, but we accessed the sea from beach in front of the hotel next door and didn't have issues.

I've stayed at both the Anda and Lara Barut. The Anda feels more luxurious due to the layout and how new it is. The Lara is much more like a generic AI, although everything is included (apart from premium alcohol) and Barut generally is a good brand.

I much preferred the Anda, but my kids loved the Lara. They particularly liked the water park (which is fantastic) and being able to ask for unlimited Magnums! I think it depends what your family would value, but I don't think the Lara feels super luxury.

I don't remember seeing a cat sanctuary, but as others have said, cats are everywhere.

Excursions are easy from Lara. (I felt Anda was a bit of a rip off with transfer / daily driver prices).

Saying all that the Lara was one of my son's favourite ever holidays.

We went to Lara Barut this summer with our two teens and loved it! The only negative was the wine included in the AI was not great. The food was very good (in my opinion better than Ikos Corfu where we have also been). Lovely beach and they have activities for teens/older kids who don’t enjoy kids club.

Join the Facebook page OP. Loads of real reviews will be posted. Not been to that hotel but I do love Turkey.

Been to Barut Lara a couple of times along with 5 Ikos visits. Love both, but clearly ikos is much pricier so they're obviously going to have the edge. But Barut definitely worth the money and it makes a change. Food and alcohol both good, they just don't have the extensive wine list at Barut. And I believe there's a charge for room service but we never felt the need to use it. We have both booked next year and we're looking forward to them for different reasons.

Best hotel for ever been too. Although heard it’s not quite as good as when we went.

nothing nearby. We got them to order us a taxi to the harbour and were completely ripped off.

restaurants were amazing and everywhere spotless. Cocktails weren’t the best.

there is a cat sanctuary but we didn’t see it. There is now one steakhouse you pay for. But so many other restaurants you don’t need to.

the only thing stopping us going back, apart from price, is lack of things to do outside. But great if you are resort people.
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We’ve just got back from there for a week at half term (with18o and 15yo) and all loved it. Haven’t been to Ikos before but we hadn’t done AI hols since the kids were little (went to beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals hotels years ago). We did Florida a lot as they were growing up, California and Dubai a number of times.

We have stayed in lots of other 5 star hotels and the standard at Lara is high. It doesn’t have the wow factor as you pull up and walk in but everywhere is pristine and clean. Nothing looks tired. The rooms look great, all fresh and new. Amazing shower. Pillow menu. The staff are all brilliant. Always sun beds available on the beach (a few round the pool). People were getting up early to reserve beds at the pool but around the beach we saw them removing towels several times when left too long.

Everything included except one place called secret grill. Cant remember how much but it was expensive and I read it’s not worth it. Plus they only open if at least 20 people reserve?! Never saw it open. Food everywhere was fantastic. The buffet was superb and changed a lot. So much choice. All really fresh and amazing.

Only downside is nowhere to walk to (unless you want a stroll to the fake designer goods shops 🤣). But the grounds are big and we liked walking around them. The cat sanctuary is at the entrance, next to security where the cars drive in. We loved this! When the man is there he will let you inside to stroke them. It is a bit stinky inside but there are literally 30-50 cats so understandable. All well looked after and happy though. One jumped up on my shoulder for hugs!

Didn't do any excursions as we wanted a chill week. We all loved the two main big water slides too and went a lot. Never queues. Maybe take water shoes for the beach as it can be stony in lots of places. It’s not the prettiest but nice enough. Loved air rifle and archery.

Would 100% return and we don’t normally go back to the same places.

Went there two years ago.
the cat sanctuary is a dirty room at the bottom of the entrance bit with tons of cats. Not a huge selling point IMO.

I found it a bit boring and soulless. There is no nearby town just a high street w fake designer shops and nothing else. The food was ok, it’s challenging to get into the a la carte restaurant, you have to book thr minute reservations open. The sushi place was nice, the Italian pretty rubbish. Kids club was bad, wouldn’t leave a young kid there. Not enough staff, didn’t speak much English, broken outdoor equipment and toys.