What to Expect from a Budget-friendly All-Inclusive Resort in Alanya, Turkey

As passionate low-budget travellers, we have always leaned towards backpacking to explore new destinations. The idea of staying in an all-inclusive resort in Alanya has never really appealed to us—until we decided to switch things up and try our hand at a luxury holiday. 

For our recent trip to Alanya, Turkey, we took the plunge and booked a week, all-inclusive in a mid-range all-inclusive resort, eager to see what all the fuss was about and try and have a relaxing trip. 

In this blog post, I will share how we got on with our all-inclusive stay and compare it to our usual backpacking adventures. From the endless buffet to organised adventures and everything in between. So if you’re wondering whether an all-inclusive resort in Alanya is the right choice for your next holiday, keep reading for our honest review, tips and recommendations! 

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.

Why We Chose an All-Inclusive Holiday in Alanya, Turkey (and Why You Might Too)

So as this is truly a backpacking blog, I feel the need to tell you exactly why we chose an all-inclusive trip and why we chose Alanya in Turkey to begin with. 

We both now work full-time jobs, so 3 to 4 mini trips abroad are all we can manage these days, especially while we are saving for our next longer backpacking trip. Although we love exploring cities and essentially roughing it in hostels, we were both in need of a well-deserved break that involved just sitting in the sun and enjoying our books. 

As street food lovers, the idea of an all-inclusive buffet is slightly disappointing to us, however, the convenience cannot be denied. 

I’ll let you know towards the end of this article if I think we would do this type of trip again or whether it suited our travel style but for now, I will tell you that if you are in fact looking for a stress-free getaway, an all-inclusive resort is a great choice. 

Now for why we chose Turkey… it was cheap and hot, and those were pretty much our main requirements! Neither of us had ever visited Turkey before and while a city trip to Istanbul is high on our list, any region of Turkey would be a new experience for us both. Our requirements when looking at areas, hotels and resorts were mainly that it wasn’t a completely isolated resort. We were worried that we wouldn’t enjoy the experience and would want to be able to walk around and enjoy the sights outside of the hotel without having to heavily rely on shuttles and taxis. 

When we saw this hotel was a 20-minute stroll down to the beach and only a few minutes walk away from the main town of Alanya, we decided it was a safe bet. 

First Impressions: Arrival and Check-in Experience at Our All-Inclusive Resort in Alanya

We flew straight into Antalya airport and while usually we would be scrambling to find wifi to find out whether public transport or Uber would be our best bet to reach our destination, we had conveniently booked the hotel transfer, to take us straight to our hotel. 

We opted for a shared minibus which meant we had to stop at several other people’s hotels on the way and the whole journey took around two hours in the end. This is one of the reasons I might not recommend Alanya as a first choice if you have younger kids as the journey from the airport is pretty long. 

Once we arrived at the hotel, the night receptionist was there to welcome us, who was very friendly, especially considering the hour we arrived. We were then informed we would have to pay extra to use the wifi in the hotel, but for the week it was only 20 euros so nothing too bad. 

Our Resort Room in Alanya: Comfort and Convenience for Budget Travelers

So our room in the resort was very basic and not like the photos I’d seen online at all. I did check our booking and saw that I did in fact book the most basic of rooms and although a bit rundown, it was clean and had everything we could need for our holiday. 

We were located in the hotel across the road from the main building but it had a tunnel underneath the road connecting the buildings and a lift that went to all of the rooms. While we had a balcony which was nice to sit on in the evenings and to dry our wet clothes during the day, the view was non-existent. 

The resort also had a few convenience shops (although the one over the road was a lot more affordable), multiple swimming pools, three different bars, a spa, a hair salon, a tourist desk and even a tattoo parlour. 

So our rating of our room, in particular, is not very high, however, it was spacious, not far from the resort’s amenities and was comfortable enough for us to enjoy our stay. 

Food at an All-Inclusive Resort in Alanya: Buffet, Drinks, and Local Specialties

So one of the aspects Alex was most excited about and I was most nervous about was the all-inclusive food available. This resort only had one dining room which was served buffet style 5 times daily. Once for breakfast, late breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner. 

I was extremely impressed by how much I enjoyed this style of eating and ended up having several helpings each meal time. 

The standout was always dinner service where they had a huge selection of offerings and a live cooking show of their special dish which varied from sushi, noodles, shwarma and more. 

They had an assortment of local foods and dishes meant for a tourist palette which everyone can get behind such as a salad bar, chips and plain pasta, so even if you didn’t like the mains for that day, you wouldn’t go hungry. 

The salad and dessert sections were the largest with endless options including sweet treats and fresh fruit. 

My one slight complaint is that I found the breakfast a bit of a letdown. It was a continental-style breakfast and while they did manage to find me some gluten-free rolls which was a result! The breakfast options weren’t the best and we regularly opted to have a coffee and wait until lunch was served to eat. 

Now onto the important stuff.. The all-inclusive bar! You’ll be thankful to know you can pretty much make use of the drinks all day round and it wasn’t uncommon to see people sat with a pint of beer at 9am. 

As a bit of a cocktail snob, the cocktails were questionable so we often opted for a glass of local wine, sometimes mixed with a Fanta lemon to make the poor man’s sangria. They also had iced tea available so we mainly drank that and bottled water throughout the day. You are also able to get spirit and mixer combos and a variety of fruit juices with your all-inclusive wristbands. 

Things to Do: Pools, Excursions, and More

When we checked in to the hotel we were told that we could meet with the tourism guy in the lobby the next day to get some information on the area and book any activities we wanted to do during our trip. Shout out to Ayberk he was amazing and gave us some awesome tips! 

He had a huge brochure of things we could book during our trip including boat trips, caving, snorkelling, shows, theme parks, ATV rides and more which looked incredible and were all available with transport for a very reasonable price (you could definitely haggle these lower and get a bundle deal too). 

That being said we were very committed to our relaxing holiday so we chose to take the time to ask him for the local restaurants and bars he recommended, the best markets to visit and the best ways to get around which he was great at. 

There was a free shuttle bus to the beach every day from the hotel which we did use once but realised it was actually walkable if you didn’t have too many bags to carry. 

While we didn’t make use of any of the excursions we got our money’s worth out of our pool use and things like the pool table and evening entertainment which we enjoyed. 

In all honesty, our must brings for an all-inclusive holiday include a Kindle and a pack of waterproof playing cards. 

We did have a couple of days exploring the beach, and local markets and doing some shopping in the town centre but we mainly stayed by the pool. 

One of our main days out during our 7-day trip was our day trip up to Alanya Castle. We took the cable car up, had a walk around, had some lunch and then back down again. I will write a whole post on this soon but this is an easy trip to do alone without booking through the hotel. 

The All-Inclusive Perks: Is It Really Worth It?

Absolutely. 

That being said, we got a great deal at under £300 for the flights and week stay per person. Had this holiday cost us £1000 each I might have very different opinions. 

When abroad, we really enjoy eating and drinking out which unfortunately really adds up the cost of a trip and can make going away unaffordable. The freedom to go and eat out if you want to but to know there is always food available to you back at the hotel was a luxury we had never had before and while it did make us hesitant to spend the whole day out, it was definitely worth it. 

Exploring Alanya: Is the Resort Location Convenient?

There were several other resort locations we were close to booking but I have to say I think this location was perfect for us. The beach was around a 20-minute walk away which might be too far for some people but for us was a perfect distance and helped us burn off some of those desserts we were eating each night. 

Between the hotel and the beach was the main town of Alanya which had big shops, tourist stalls and markets scattered about containing everything you could possibly need from fridge magnets to louis viton handbags. 

There were also a few convenience stores nearby which were slightly cheaper than the resort ones where we could pick up any toiletry bits we might need. 

Pros and Cons: The All-Inclusive Resort vs. Budget Backpacking

Pros of staying opting for an all-inclusive holiday: 

• Convenience 

One of the main pros of booking all-inclusive would be the pure convenience of it all. Arriving somewhere, knowing where you are staying, how easily you can book your activities and to know there are meals and drinks available to you. Having everything you could need practically on your doorstep has to be a pro. 

• Cost 

While initially, an all-inclusive resort might not be the most affordable option, many travel companies offer payment plans that you can pay off over the year. It also means once you arrive, everything is already paid for and limited costs once you get there. 

• Luxury and Comfort

While I had some issues with our room, the luxury of the resort we stayed is unlike anything you could find while backpacking. With an assortment of pools, sunbeds, spas and top-notch service, if you are seeking a relaxing vacation, an all-inclusive resort is the best option. 

• Ideal for groups

If you are a large group or a family going on holiday, undeniably, all-inclusive is a great choice. You can all stay in the same location and do activities together or separately and takes the hassle away from trying to find a restaurant that suits everyone. 

Cons of staying in an all-inclusive resort in Alanya

• Higher initial cost 

One of the things we struggled with was parting with the large chunk of money needed to book a resort-style holiday. That being said, backpacking and paying for food and drinks as you go, can add up to a similar amount of money if not more. 

• Limited freedom and flexibility 

One of the things we really missed while staying in a resort is feeling somewhat restricted and less free to explore and find hidden gems. Although you are free to skip dinner and find your own local food, knowing that you have already paid for the all-inclusive meant we often felt stuck to the resort timetable. 

• Lack of local culture immersion 

Okay, so this is the big one. Alanya is an awesome place if you are looking for that typical holiday destination, however, it is fully built around tourism and lacks a lot of the culture you will see in lesser-visited locations. It is also not uncommon for holidaymakers to never leave the resort and walk around the town surrounding which we found crazy. 

Final Thoughts: Is an All-Inclusive Resort in Alanya Right for You?

If you are looking for a relaxing getaway that is convenient and has minimal stress, an all-inclusive resort in Alanya is a great option. 

While we don’t feel the need to go again, we have no regrets about our trip and had an incredible time and came back to England feeling well-rested. 

I feel like busy working couples who want a quick getaway would enjoy this type of trip, or larger families to save themselves the stress of trying to organise themselves once they’re on vacation. 

FAQs About Staying at an All-Inclusive Resort in Alanya

How to Book Your Stay

We booked our Alanya all-inclusive trip through Loveholidays and had no issues. Their platform made it easy to compare prices, find the cheapest time to visit and add our luggage and transfers. 

Additional Tips for a Smooth Stay at Your Alanya Resort

• Pack lightly

 You can save heaps of money by packing as little luggage as possible and this is where our backpacking expertise helped us out. We took one carry-on each and then paid for a suitcase between us but realistically we could’ve packed less. That being said, save some room for anything you might want to buy from the fake designer markets. 

• get out of the resort 

To get the most out of your trip, do speak to locals about places to walk around nearby so you can get a feel for the place you’re in. Our favourite time spent on our trip was wandering around, speaking to the market vendors and visiting local cafes. 

• don’t always book your excursions through your resort 

Although our resort had good prices for activities, often you might find better deals on things like Viator or GetYourGuide. 

Overall, our week at an all-inclusive resort in Alanya, Turkey was a refreshing break from our usual chaotic budget backpacking travels. While we missed the spontaneity of not booking a package holiday the convinience, relaxation, and comfort of an all-inclusive trip were undeniable.

So if you are looking for a stree-free vacation, this type of holiday is a fantastic choice, especially in the stunning location of Alanya.

Would we do it again? Probably, but for now we are looking forward to our more independent travels and going back to our backpacking roots.

We would love to know your all-inclusive holiday experiences! Have you been to Alanya, backpacked across Turkey, or taken a break from independent travel? Let us know in the comments! And dont forget to check out our other travel guides for some tips on budget travel, backpacking guides and unforgettable adventures.

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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.