Wyndham Garden Lara

As a general point, if you like to stay in the hotel and sunbathe, this is an ok option. However, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel if you want to be kept busy, if you want a huge range of activities, or a big complex. I also wouldn’t choose Lara Beach as a resort if you like to wander out of the hotel at night for entertainment/bars etc. - bars/restaurants outside of the complex are few and far between, there are a few “malls” but they are all the same type of shops selling either knock off clothing or tourist souvenirs. The main strip is a dual carriageway, which detracts from the holiday vibe. Overall I was very unimpressed with Lara Beach as a resort. In terms of the hotel itself: Pros: - It is a very clean hotel. - The food is excellent! Really excellent - the best I’ve had at an all-inclusive style hotel, both in terms of quality and variety. - *Most* of the staff are very friendly. - The rooms are very basic and a little dated, but nice enough and clean. My son threw a toy under the bed and when I went to retrieve it, the floor was clean (I know it’s a common complaint in some places that the floor under beds is dirty). - You get access to the facilities at the sister hotel opposite - bear in mind this is where 3 of the pools are (and they’re the same slides/features etc. as in the other side, so in my view advertising them all as X number of pools is a bit misleading, even if factually accurate). The pools are clean and well maintained. - The beach area is lovely, and the kids’ splash park over there is excellent. - In general, the kids’ facilities (kids’ buffet, provision of travel cot, splash pools on both premises, kids’ club with ball pit and slide) are all excellent. It’s a great kid-friendly hotel, especially for over 4 year olds (minimum age for unsupervised time at the kids’ club). Cons: - Although it’s very family friendly on the whole, the daytime snack bar closes at 4, and the kids’ buffet isn’t until 6. This means that during most kids’ usual dinner times, there is nothing available for them. Whilst friendly, I don’t think the staff provided anything exceptional by way of service. - The staff running the spa on the premises are quite pushy and will attempt to sell their services to you regularly - which you walk past them often as their spa is next to the doorway between the foyer and the pool area. - It is fairly basic as far as higher end all inclusive hotels go. - Rules seemed to be imposed for no good reason, ie all of the food for the snack bar was out and ready but they wouldn’t let anyone get a place until exactly midday. For a family friendly hotel, when kids are hungry, this seems futile - especially when you’ve paid for all inclusive. - If you are eating in the pool area, the staff are attentive but to the point where it’s uncomfortable - trying to clean tables/take plates when you’re still eating. Neither a pro nor a con, but a bad experience for me personally - when my 1 year old son had a bad allergic reaction to food eaten at breakfast, they were fairly useless in providing me information about ingredients. The “guest services” rang the chef to ask, but then said that breakfast was closed so they couldn’t help me (it had only closed 5 minutes ago). She then said she had to go to her office but I could come back later if I still needed help, and if we wanted medical assistance we could speak to the doctor but it would cost us (fair enough that they would charge - but I hadn’t asked for that and it seemed more like a cash grab opportunity than assistance).

Just back today from a week at this establishment. There are better hotels out there, but pound for pound I thought it was astonishing. Rooms, no complaints, modern, mini fridge with coke, Fanta, still and fizzy water. General ambience, fine, quite a busy foyer. Drink, branded spirits, what more could you ask for. Food, considering I was there for dental work and couldn't chew, any meat I had, was always very tender. The quality of the food was way better than one would expect at the price I paid and can only describe as excellent. The variety was outstanding. Little touches like, water bottles everywhere, 24 hrs bar, quality ice creams and Red Bull!!!!! Coffee with your dessert instead of after. Staff in the restaurant, always checking your drink requirements. I don't think I've ever come across such hard working staff, a leaf couldn't land for 2 seconds before staff with pan and brush immediately on the scene. Sorry to go on but the hotel beach complex was another highlight. Bar, big spread of excellent food, blown away, basically. I'd recommend in a heartbeat.

Family holiday with the 4 grandparents, our children and 2 grandchildren. Everything about the hotel is amazing and one of the best I have ever stayed in and I am well traveled worldwide. Cleanliness was of the highest standard throughout the entire complex with cleaners constantly on patrol sweeping up. This even extended to the dining room where any small spillage of food was swept within a minute. Lost count of the number of cleans under our 1 year olds high chair and each time the cleaner would smile and interact with him too. Food at the buffet was extensive and always hot and fresh. We dined for two weeks and never found it in the least repetitive as there were different dishes each evening from the outside grill area. We liked lunching at the beach bar for both the views and the quality of food. Drinks on the all inclusive were of a higher quality and more extensive choices than we had experienced before. Notably the cocktails which were mixed and shaken in front of you and not dispensed from premixed cocktails. The free mini bar in your room is topped up daily with water and branded soft drinks. The staff throughout the hotel were efficient and amazingly friendly. From arrival to departure they could not do enough for us. I have to pick out two members of staff for particular praise. Emir and Hazal who served us most evenings in the restaurant and sometimes in the beach bar outside. They constantly interacted with our two children keeping them amused at mealtimes. We even had Emir creating a crown from drinking straws one evening. The minute a plate was emptied they were there clearing up and if your glass was half empty they would appear with a wine bottle and top you up or a fresh beer would appear on the table. They even went to the vending machine and brought us coffee at the end of the meal. Worth noting is you can use all the facilities across the road at the Ramada which includes their indoor heated pool, bars and restaurants. If you arrive really late they have an all night buffet so you can get food after your journey In summary book this place as you will not be disappointed.