Rixos Sungate

Me and my husband stayed at Rixos sungate for 7 nights for our first wedding anniversary from 18th-25th September. This is a mostly positive review. Although it is long as jotted things down over the week.

Room:

We got upgraded for free to the marine room. It was clean, modern and a spacious room. The room had a walk in wardrobe. The mini fridge was restocked daily with waters, coke, Fanta, beer and juice boxed. On our first night they had left a celebratory gelatine cake thing but unfortunately had melted by the time we had arrived, they also messaged to say that we had a free bottle of wine but as neither of us drink it we never asked for it.

The steps in the room could do with being lit up or painted another colour, in the dark they were impossible to see!

Drinks:

We mainly drunk at the marine pool, the cocktails were strong but nice, the blender was out of action for few days. The alcohol portions were generous with branded spirits used. The coffee at the bar was also great and the free costa’s was also lovely on the beach.

Food:

This was our main let down. The food lacked flavour and seasoning.

The buffet did cater mainly for Russians but that said I always found a plate full of food that was not just chips etc, it changed some bits daily.

The Ice cream selection across the whole site was great! So many different flavoured cornettos!

The lunch time snack restaurant was limited but the pizza there and at the buffet was lush, the dough is great! Different pizza was at dinner which was not as nice!

We tried bloom (I asked for a free reservation for our anniversary which was accepted!) the appetisers and starters were nice but main course (beef tenderloin and surf and turf) lacked flavour and seasoning.

We used our free al a carte at the Mexican which was a nice change, we both had potato skins and my husband had beef tacos and I had beef fajitas. Both were lovely! Had no room for dessert!

Now here is what I found strange, not on one single day did they have kebab at the snack bar or buffet(I’d often check both at lunch time), this was disappointing as we love a good Turkish lamb kebab!

We went for the late night food when we first arrived, was not anything special but have things like chips, stew bread etc.

Staff:

There was a few staff at the marine pool who we tipped as they were friendly, but it took a few days for them to build that relationship with us.

There was one lady at the main pool bar one night who was lovely and worked very hard.

The gardeners and cleaners work hard around the clock!

The facilities/hotel:

The property is huge! From our room which was one side of the site to the water slides on other side it was a 15/20 min walk, but we like big property’s. It has not been overcrowded or busy at any time!

The toilets were all immaculate and smelt lovely. Not sure why the sensor in the toilets by the marine pool went off every 10 seconds!

There is lots of mosquitoes, my partner got bit to death, even with spray, I used sprayed too but only time I was bitten was at bloom restaurant one night.

I used the gym twice, each time it was clean, although better air con would be beneficial as even at 8am it was so hot in there! There is so much equipment, I would argue the most equipped gym id been to at an all inclusive.

The pools are beautiful and clean! Everytime we walked past the main pools they were quiet and empty. There was no sun bed wars, even at the marine pool I would say at 10/11am there was still some sun beds.

The marine pool we stayed at mostly, this was always clean and quite chill, the bar never that busy. The waiter was hit and miss some days, you had to get their attention to be served.

The entertainment we rarely stayed up for, it was mainly live bands. Saw the start of a circus one night but it was nothing special.

There was plenty of shops onsite for clothes and shoes. We went in one shop and it said all shoes are €100. For context you can buy air force ones for £80 on offer in the uk, and these shoes in the hotels are fakes! In our last turkey hotel we could buy ‘air force ones’ for £20!

They wanted €100 for jet sky for 15 minutes. Again this is about double the price we paid in our last turkey hotel!

There is bowling but you have to pay for it. Never enquired so unsure on the price.

There was so much activities going on each day, football/basketball/air rifle/yoga etc. There seemed to be a DJ each day at the main pool, but we did not see them so could not comment. There was so many kids activities each day too, but again could not comment as we do not have children.

The hotel is near a mosque, by the marine pool where we were I heard it at sunrise, however I am a light sleeper and was not annoyed by it, however others might be so worth knowing. Otherwise you rarely heard it in the day or around the hotel. Was only in our room.

We used the onsite water park, some great flumes and were not busy! Had a proper giggle using them.

Land of legends:

We booked this purposely for a rainy day however the weather remained warm with some overcast all day.

The transfer there took an hour and 10 minutes. Get to reception early as there was two coaches and once first one was full in left, so we left at 8:50, we were told coach was 9:15 for context. Once arrival we loaded our bands with money straight away and then put our items on a sun lounger in one of the kids areas.

Once you get your bearings I would definitely get a locker, both our bags had been opened on our return but luckily nothing taken, so we then used a locker after this.

We done the new tower first which I’m glad we did as it got busy by afternoon.

We managed to do all the waterslides in the park (bar a few that were closed) and managed to do some a second time,the wave pool and lazy river as well as have lunch.

My partner got the kebab wrap which came with no sides and the wrap it self was not massive. I got a burger and chips and both were lovely.

There was towels at the beach areas that were free for Rixos hotels.

I did nip over to the theme park to do the water coaster in my swimming costume, which everyone appeared to do. It was a walk on ride with no wait!

The park did not appear over busy and longest we waited was 20 minutes for the turtle coaster. The new tower did seem busy everytime we saw it in the afternoon but as it’s new I can imagine that’s why.

The transfer back left on time but again get there for 4:30, as the first coach left once full. We got back at 6:10 and left land of legends at 4:45.

Check your band before leaving to ensure you spent all your money as they will only refund it if over a certain amount and you have to apply for it.

It was a great day and I’d highly recommend people to go! The slides were awesome and whole water park had lots to do! There was a mixture of nice slides as well as thrill seeking ones!

Overall I do think it is a good hotel, especially if you have children, no it’s not as good as some 5*’s but I think if you go in with realistic expectations then you won’t be let down.

Food not edible and the Restaurant is like a cattle market and the food does not cater for English the cake selection worse i have ever seen The only ala carte worth a visit is the chinese dont bother with the rest was ill all day after the Mexican Restaurant We had booked a family room but my 9 year old grandson was expected to sleep on a sofa this is not acceptable for supposedly 5 star All the pools are very shadey due to lots of trees everywhere so hard if your a sun worshiper None of us ate well grandchildren lived off ice cream my husband list 6lb and I lost 4lb never has that happened to me before but then again we were constantly hungry and nothing nice to eat and same things at the snack bar but we and a lot of people were suffering with diarrhoea

The place is massive and if you forgot something and had to go back to your room its a 30 minute trip there and back all in all had a terrible holiday and this place is not at all Rixos standard rude staff and Russian based entertainment definitely would nor recommend unless you want diaohrea

Rooms are kept spotlessly clean aswell as the full hotel. Restaurants have so much variation. Great pool areas and Waterpark, very attentive servers for drinks and snacks. Aziza from guest relations is very helpful with any requests. Saruhan skater services is amazing, remembering orders. Costa on the beach was perfect for a morning stroll. Wide variety of activities for both kids and adults. Nightly shows were very well put together.