Swandor Hotels & Resorts Topkapi Palace

Honest Review of Swandor First impressions were very good. The entrance was clean, the staff were friendly, and the overall appearance of the hotel was impressive. The room was okay, but the small sofa bed was extremely hard and, in my opinion, not suitable for a child to sleep on. The pool area is very nice. The kids’ slides and children’s pool are great and there is plenty to keep younger guests entertained. However, I was really disappointed with the lack of lifeguard presence. I found this a major safety concern. We witnessed an incident where someone needed medical attention, and the lifeguard was on the other side of the pool chatting to a member of staff, completely unaware until people started calling for them. I also think there should be a dedicated lifeguard at the kids’ slides, as there were many children climbing up, jumping queues, and causing potential hazards. The pool surrounding area is also extremely slippery, so extra care is needed when walking around. The main slides are good fun, although some guests were very rude and pushed in to get rubber rings despite children waiting. That isn’t the hotel’s fault, but it did affect the experience. The bar staff were good overall. The cocktails were very hit and miss — some were so strong they were almost undrinkable, while others were fine. The service is a bit of a free-for-all, but that’s similar to many all-inclusive resorts. The beer, however, wasn’t great and was very weak. The restaurant is huge and we never struggled to find a table. The food quality was good, but it was quite repetitive. That said, they do offer a lot of choice, so it may just come down to personal preference. One thing I did find strange was that some guests received table service for drinks while others didn’t. I understand this may be linked to tipping, but considering you’re usually only in the restaurant for 30–45 minutes, and much of that time is spent serving yourself, I’m not sure tipping for one round of drinks should be expected. The beach snack bar was good for lunch. The food was similar to the main restaurant but it was less busy, which made it a nicer experience. The pier was also a lovely place to relax in the evening with a drink. The entertainment was mixed. We watched a few shows in the amphitheatre and they were okay. The best one was the “Be Extreme” show, which really kept the kids entertained. After the shows there was some live music, but not much else, and our children found the evenings a little boring as it didn’t feel particularly aimed at families. The daytime activities were okay — the jet ski pool activity was good fun, followed by the pool party, but it was very short. Just as everyone was getting into it, it finished after around an hour. The outdoor live music also wasn’t great, and we only stayed for one drink because the singing was disappointing. The hotel shops are extremely overpriced. For example, £30 for two bags of Haribo, Pez sweets, Mentos and chewing gum felt ridiculous. Overall, I personally wouldn’t return. I found the resort a little boring, and the constant selling around the pool area became annoying. Some guests were also quite rude, which affected the atmosphere. On our final day, while waiting in the bar for our transfer, guest relations approached us and asked about our stay. We didn’t want to discuss negatives in front of our children because we wanted them to leave feeling like they had enjoyed their holiday, so we simply said everything was okay. They then asked us to scan a QR code and leave a Tripadvisor review, standing there until we completed it and even taking a picture as proof. It felt very pressured and uncomfortable. It made me wonder how many reviews are completed this way. Overall, despite some positives, the experience did not live up to expectations. There are some great facilities, but the issues around safety, entertainment, and the overall atmosphere meant this wasn’t a hotel we would choose to return to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Outstanding Hotel – We Will Definitely Return! We are currently staying at this hotel, and I honestly can’t say enough good things about it. Everything has been exceptional from the moment we arrived. The staff are truly wonderful, and a special thank you goes to Olga and Efe. One member of our group became unwell during our stay, and the care, kindness, and support they provided went far above and beyond what we could have expected. Their genuine concern and willingness to help made a difficult situation so much easier, and we are incredibly grateful. The food has been excellent, with plenty of choice and great quality throughout our stay. Our rooms are spacious, comfortable, and beautifully maintained, making it a pleasure to relax after a day out. Overall, this is a fantastic hotel with outstanding service, excellent facilities, and an amazing team. We would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone and will definitely be returning in the future. Thank you for making our stay so memorable!

Having a fabulous stay, kids are loving the pool & slides. Quality hotel & very friendly helpful staff. Would recommend