Swandor Topkapi Palace
Write A Review
"Staff is slow and insufficient"
Topkapi has a lovely view as a hotel, but unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. There aren’t many activities to do besides the pool and the sea. We constantly found ourselves waiting in long lines at the bars. The staff were very slow, and by the time you finally got your drink and made it back to your seat, it was no longer cold. Getting a refreshing drink by the pool was nearly impossible. The food lines were also long and poorly organized. Although we were told we were eligible for free à la carte dining, we didn’t even bother because of the hassle. On the positive side, the rooms were good, and the animation crew did a great job entertaining guests. Sadly, we’re still here, but this will be our first and last visit. I would not recommend this hotel.
"Swandor"
The staff were excellent and very friendly, always going above and beyond to help. Drinks were very good, and the room was clean and comfortable. The animation team kept us entertained throughout our stay, and the food was delicious with plenty of variety. Overall, a wonderful experience!
"Sorry, we were dissatisfied"
We stayed at Swandor Hotel for 6 nights and 7 days with family and friends (two families in total). Before sharing the negatives, I want to highlight that the sea and beach are absolutely beautiful—calm, sandy, and wave-free, making it very enjoyable. Unfortunately, this was one of the few positives. We chose this hotel based on previous reviews, expecting a great vacation, but sadly it fell far short of expectations and is definitely not a price-performance hotel in my opinion. From the moment we arrived, issues began. On our first night, we discovered an unbearable noise in our room coming from the air system. We informed the front desk, but the noise continued through the night, making it impossible to sleep. The next morning, we visited guest relations and were told that they were aware of the issue with the room before assigning it to us. They promised a new room and we finally moved around 2 p.m. on the second day—something that should never have happened in a hotel of this level. The service quality throughout the hotel was disappointing. There were no poolside waiters, and during dinner, we struggled to find a table with no staff available to assist. It seemed clear that the hotel was understaffed, particularly in the restaurant. The food lacked variety, with the same dishes appearing daily. Lunch options were mostly turkey and chicken, and dinners alternated between meatballs, Adana kebab, or grilled chicken and turkey. There were no premium options like bonfile steak or pizzolata-style dishes, except for lamb ribs on one evening. Basic amenities were also lacking—no paper towels in any of the hotel bathrooms, and room cleaning was inconsistent. We also couldn’t open our balcony door due to mosquitoes flooding in. I want to thank Mr. Umut, the guest relations representative, and Mr. Demircan, who were the most caring and helpful staff members we encountered. They genuinely tried their best to resolve our issues. However, despite their efforts, our overall experience was far from the relaxing and enjoyable vacation we had hoped for.
"Hussain from Palestine"
We had a very good experience overall. The staff were very nice and welcoming, the food was absolutely delicious, and the beach was beautiful. The facilities are also well-suited for kids, making it a great option for families. However, it was a little bit noisy at times, and we felt the hotel could improve by installing more designated bars or areas for smokers.
"Definitely not 5 star maybe 3 star Blackpool in the sun"
We stayed at Swandor Topkapi expecting a 5-star experience, but sadly, it fell far short of that standard. At best, I would rate it as a 3-star property with no real service quality to justify the price. Compared to hotels like Voyage, Lara, or the Ela chain, this hotel doesn’t even come close. The resort felt like Blackpool on the beach. It’s overcrowded, chaotic, and not at all relaxing. The marketing team clearly does an excellent job selling the all-inclusive concept, but in reality, it’s a money-making machine with constant upcharges. You pay extra for almost everything—tennis courts, kids’ games, evening activities, and even taxis (they block Ubers and force you to use their expensive service at €30 to Antalya). The water slides were old, with rusty, dirty steps—nothing like the shiny videos and photos on their website. Staff at the slides just stood around without even acknowledging guests. Around the pool, empty glasses and rubbish weren’t cleared all day, and reserving a sunbed meant waking up at the crack of dawn. The “Ultra All Inclusive” is misleading. Even basic activities like tennis cost €15 per person per hour (plus €15 to hire rackets). Drinks were served in tiny glasses, no straws provided, and most cocktails were poorly made with overly sweet pre-mixed syrups. The buffet food was tasty with a good variety, but dining felt rushed. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were limited to 90 minutes each, and staff started clearing food immediately after. The beach buffet stayed open later but the food there was stale and unappetizing. The rooms were another disappointment. The family room supposedly accommodates five people, but the fifth bed is just a rock-hard sofa. Beds and towels were cheap and uncomfortable, and the bathroom leaked water onto the floor. TVs had barely any English channels and no Netflix or YouTube—surprising for a hotel claiming to be 5-star. The hammam and spa looked old and tired, and prices for massages and basic items in the hotel shop were astronomical (€75 for a massage, €16 for deodorant). Staff were polite but uninspired, more focused on enforcing rules (like not letting a child get ice cream because he had a towel over his swim shorts) than going above and beyond. There was no poolside drink service and no one made an effort to make guests feel special. The one positive: the buffet food was tasty with plenty of choice, but even that got repetitive after a few days. If you’re expecting luxury and relaxation, this isn’t the place for you. But if you’re happy with Blackpool in the sun—crowds, queues, and being charged for every little thing—you might enjoy it. We won’t be returning.
"Ignore the fake negative reviews – this place is excellent"
We just got back from an amazing week at this hotel over half term, and I wanted to write an honest, detailed review to help anyone considering booking. As a family of four (two girls aged 13 and nearly 9), we hadn’t done an all-inclusive holiday in over 10 years, so I spent ages researching to find the “perfect” place. This hotel came very close! First, I know there are a few negative reviews floating around, but in my opinion, they’re either exaggerated or come from people with unrealistically high expectations. This is a fantastic resort with so much to offer. ✅ Wi-Fi: Excellent free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and even on the beach. It never dropped out once during our stay. ✅ Rooms: We had a deluxe family room with two bedrooms separated by a door—ideal for parents who want some privacy once the kids are asleep. The beds were incredibly comfy, the minibar was well-stocked with drinks and snacks, and housekeeping was great. We left regular tips, and one day the cleaner surprised us with a lovely towel display and extra goodies. The only small drawback was that the bathroom was next to the kids’ room, meaning we had to sneak through at night if they were asleep. ✅ Activities: We booked a Turkish bath excursion (£35 for 2.5 hours) through Jet2—highly recommend. Also did a private boat trip from the beach (booked through locals near the Kremlin Hotel). For £185, we had two hours of swimming, cave visits, and even drove the boat! We also tried parasailing with the same team. ✅ Food & Drink: The main buffet restaurant is huge, like a football pitch! Yes, some dishes are repeated, but with the variety on offer, you’ll always find something tasty. Specials changed daily, and they struck a great balance between Turkish cuisine and international options. Hurrem, the kebab place on the way to the beach, felt like dining in a quaint village restaurant and was a hidden gem. For a special treat, we tried Hanedan, the authentic Turkish restaurant (£30 adults, £15 kids). Endless, delicious food—highly recommend! Drinks were great too: good cocktails, Efes beer on tap, and quality spirits. ✅ Facilities: Plenty of sun loungers—no need to reserve early. Beautiful pools (the big one isn’t heated but the kids didn’t mind). The slides were a hit with our girls. The private beach felt very safe and clean, with warm water and lots of loungers. ✅ General Atmosphere: Mostly Russian guests, some Germans, and very few Brits (which we actually liked). Apart from a few slightly rude encounters, the vibe was great—no rowdy behavior or drunkenness. Staff were polite and efficient. They’re not overly chatty, so if you enjoy lots of interaction with staff, this may not be the place for you. 🎉 Entertainment: We didn’t take part much, but the foam party on Friday was great fun, and the two themed nights at Xone (red party and Halloween) were well put together. 🐾 Bonus for Animal Lovers: Lots of friendly cats around the grounds, which our kids loved. They were clean and well looked after.
"Family holiday"
We had an enjoyable holiday overall, but it wasn’t quite as good as our last visit five years ago. It’s clear that some standards have slipped since then. However, the new beach bar is a fantastic addition, and as always, the staff were very helpful and made us feel welcome.
"No complaints about hotel"
The hotel was as expected – like most all-inclusive resorts in Turkey, it’s not quite up to an English 5-star rating but we couldn’t really complain. The staff were friendly, the food had plenty of choice, and everything was very clean. However, the beer was often warm and flat, and even the soft drinks lacked fizz and felt like they needed more cooling and gas. Shopping in Turkey isn’t as cheap as it used to be – prices for goods are similar to back home, and the quality wasn’t impressive. Drinks at bars outside the hotel were also UK prices, so we wouldn’t bother again. A word of caution: avoid buying from the shops in the hotel as they overcharge, especially for English customers. Also, the mix of Lira and Euros for pricing feels confusing and gives the impression they’re trying to catch tourists out.
"not for us…..won’t be returning"
On arrival, the resort made a great first impression – it looked beautiful and spotlessly clean. Our room was spacious, well-maintained, and we had no complaints at all in that regard. However, after nearly 10 days here, there are several issues that would stop us from returning. Two of the three lifts in our block were constantly out of order, which was frustrating. Many of the other guests and even some staff (with the exception of the cleaners and entertainment team) came across as rude, with a clear preference shown towards Turkish and Russian visitors over British guests. The food seemed heavily catered to Russian and German tastes and became repetitive, offering very little variety from night to night. On arrival, no one explained the meal times or locations, which left us confused at first. Outside the resort, be cautious with taxis – always agree on a price upfront or insist on the meter; we were charged £3 each way most of the time, but a few drivers tried to demand €10-15. The hotel shop is shockingly expensive too, charging €15 for a small ball and even €50 for sun cream, while the same items cost much less at Nigel’s on the nearby strip (£10 for sun cream and £3 for a ball). Also, it seemed unsafe that glass cups were being used around the pool, as we often saw them dropped and smashed, and there were very few lifeguards monitoring the large pool. That said, there were positives: the cleaning staff were absolutely wonderful and couldn’t do enough for us. The food, while repetitive, was available almost all day. We loved the ice cream from the beach bar and patisserie, and the mini fridge in our room was restocked daily with drinks and snacks – again, thanks to the hardworking cleaners.
"Good resort but not going back !"
We visited as a group and unfortunately, our rooms were allocated in different parts of the property. Despite our request, we were given rooms with balconies overlooking the rear of the resort, facing the parking lot of a neighboring property – not what we were promised by the travel agency when we booked. That said, the resort itself was lovely, and we still enjoyed our stay. Turkey and this region are absolutely amazing, and while we would happily return to Turkey, we would probably choose a different resort next time.
"Fantastic service and food! Great for adults and kids! Lovely music. Lots of starters to choose from. Can’t wait return"
We had an incredible experience here – the service was outstanding, and the food was absolutely amazing. From the moment we arrived, the warm and welcoming atmosphere made us feel at home. A variety of starters came out, each one fantastic, and there was so much to choose from that even our little one was happy. The spaghetti and meatballs were delicious, and the massive bread sharer was the star of the show! The live musicians added such a lovely touch to the evening, creating a perfect vibe. 10/10 – highly recommended!
Swandor Topkapi Palace
Sprawling 5★ all-inclusive resort with a private beach, multiple pools, fitness center, gardens, and extensive on-site entertainment . Redditors praise its scale, amenities, and value compared to pricier alternatives.
Address
Kundu, Yaşar Sobutay Bulvarı No:100, 07112 Aksu/Antalya, Türkiye
Website
http://www.swandorhotels.com/en/hotels/topkapi-palace/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+902424312600