"Our Third Visit to Aska Lara – Room 1513 🇹🇷❤️
First of all, apologies for the length of this review! 🤣 After three visits to Aska Lara, there was just far too much to say to keep it short. We've got so many great memories, experiences and people to mention that a couple of paragraphs simply weren't going to cut it!
This was our third visit to Aska Lara, and once again, we had a fantastic holiday. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that visit number four is already booked! I think that probably says more than anything else about how much we enjoy coming here.
From the moment you arrive, Aska Lara has the wow factor. The entrance is really impressive and immediately gives you that feeling that you've arrived somewhere special. If you arrive in the evening, you're greeted by live piano music in the lobby, which creates such a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere.
Even while you're checking in, there are complimentary snacks and drinks available, which is a lovely touch after travelling. Rather than feeling like you're simply waiting around to check in, you can sit back, have something to eat and drink, and start your holiday straight away.
It's those little touches from the moment you arrive that really set the tone.
Our Room – 1513
We stayed in Room 1513, which was excellent. It was cleaned every day and had everything we needed, including soaps, moisturiser and all the usual amenities.
The room was consistently kept spotless and was a really comfortable base for our stay.
Wi-Fi
One thing that's easy to overlook until you don't have it is the Wi-Fi, but at Aska Lara it was excellent throughout the hotel.
We never had any problems getting a signal, wherever we were. Whether we were in the room, around the hotel, at Wet & Wild or elsewhere on the resort, the connection was consistently available.
It's one of those things you don't really think about when it's working well, but having excellent Wi-Fi throughout the hotel with no dead spots made everything that little bit easier.
Food & Restaurants
When it comes to food, you are genuinely spoilt for choice at Aska Lara.
Although the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant and Steakhouse come at an additional charge, we found both to be well worth it.
We've visited the Mandarin on all three of our stays, and the quality of both the food and service has consistently been outstanding. It has almost become a tradition for us and is always one of the highlights of our holiday.
This was our first visit to the Steakhouse, and we honestly wish we'd tried it sooner. Travelling with children, they've always preferred the buffet, but this time we managed to get to the Steakhouse and were really impressed. The food was phenomenal, the portions were generous and the quality was excellent throughout.
We also noticed a really positive improvement in the main restaurant this year with the way the desserts are presented. They're now covered and served in a way that prevents guests from picking something up and then putting it back. It might sound like a small change, but from a hygiene point of view, we think it makes a big difference.
I'm sure some people may complain that the portions are smaller, but honestly, we found them perfectly adequate. And if you wanted two pieces, it was extremely easy to simply ask for two. For us, the increased hygiene is far more important, and we thought it was a very sensible change.
A special mention also has to go to Volkan, one of the restaurant supervisors. He always took the time to speak to us, check everything was okay and make us feel welcome. Those personal interactions really do make a difference.
Wet & Wild
A huge part of our holiday is spending time at Wet & Wild, and we absolutely love the relaxed atmosphere there.
One thing we particularly like is how easy it is to get a good sun lounger without having to get up at the crack of dawn. We don't want the front row and have found the perfect spot for us under the sheltered area.
Every morning at around 10am, we've been able to arrive and get exactly the same place. There are no early morning wake-up calls and no having to put towels down at ridiculous times. It's simply a relaxed shuttle bus ride, or a very short walk, over to Wet & Wild, and we can settle straight in.
We've had the same place every year now, and it's absolutely ideal for us. You've got the shelter and shade if you want it, but if the sun comes out and you fancy a bit more warmth, you can simply pull the lounger out onto the grass and enjoy the sunshine.
No stress, no rushing around looking for somewhere to sit — just turn up when you're ready and enjoy the day.
The food at Wet & Wild is just as good when it comes to choice. There really is something for everyone. The kids can have pancakes, while there are also favourites such as fish and chips and jacket potatoes — and the jacket potatoes are honestly some of the biggest we've ever seen!
If you fancy going into the restaurant, that's an option too, or there's the snack bar serving kebabs, burgers and more.
You're genuinely spoilt for choice, and it's so convenient to have all these options without having to leave Wet & Wild and head back to the main hotel.
And, of course, no quick lunch is complete without an ice cream from the ice cream hut!
For a quick meal during the day while you're enjoying the pool and water park, what more could you want?
Patisserie & Starbucks
The Patisserie has been one of our favourites throughout all three visits. The food, drinks and service have always been lovely, and it remains a great place to relax with a drink and a cake before heading back to the room to shower and get changed for the evening meal.
It's a really pleasant and relaxing spot, and somewhere we always enjoy spending time.
And then there's Starbucks, which is a particular favourite with the girls!
They absolutely love their Caramel Frappuccinos and have made it something of a holiday tradition.
The girls have visited other hotels in Lara with Starbucks and were really disappointed to find that those locations had a different menu and didn't offer their beloved Caramel Frappuccinos. Needless to say, they were very happy to discover that Aska Lara's Starbucks does them!
It's a small thing in the grand scheme of a holiday, but for the girls it's another little part of Aska Lara that makes the experience special. They certainly wouldn't let us forget a visit to Starbucks while we're there!
Location
The hotel's location is ideal for what we need. It's close to shops if you want to stay local, and there's also a bus stop right next to the hotel, making it really easy to venture further afield.
The shops immediately around the hotel do seem to be a little more expensive than some further up the strip, but not excessively so. They're perfectly convenient if you don't want to travel further.
The Staff – What Really Makes Aska Lara Special
For us, the staff are without doubt one of the biggest reasons we keep coming back.
Everyone is incredibly friendly, welcoming and genuinely seems to want to make sure you have a great holiday.
Guest Services deserve a special mention. They genuinely do everything they can to make your stay as pleasurable and hassle-free as possible. Nothing ever seems like too much trouble, and they're always willing to help, answer questions and sort out anything that needs dealing with.
Their friendly and professional approach makes such a difference, and they really are amazing.
We had the most interaction with the entertainment team, and although they've always been fantastic on our previous visits, this year they seemed better than ever.
The amount of activities available throughout the day was incredible — Yoga, Pilates, Step, Aqua Aerobics, Water Spinning, Core Exercises, Shooting, Archery, Golf, Football, Water Polo, Cocktail Competitions, Kids Fest, Pool Parties — and that was just during the day!
Mr Engin deserves a special mention. He always remembers guests and makes a real effort to make you feel welcome. That personal touch doesn't go unnoticed, and he is a real credit to the hotel.
Arda, who we met for the first time this year, is full of energy and clearly very good at what he does. We particularly loved his rapping skills before the pool game! When you heard that music, you knew exactly what time it was!
Sedat has always been, and remains, one of the most polite and respectful members of the team. He's constantly making sure guests have everything they need and always does so with a smile.
Zehra, who we hadn't met before this year, was simply wow! Her energy and enthusiasm were fantastic. Her knowledge and experience in teaching all of the activities was clear to see, and she has a brilliant way of explaining things while encouraging everyone to get involved.
She always seemed determined to do her best and get the very best out of everyone.
Gözde, who we met last year, was brilliant to see again. She's another live wire, constantly full of energy and positive vibes.
Zehra and Gözde were by far the girls' favourites, and they're a huge reason why the girls were so excited to come back — and why we're returning so soon.
A special mention also has to go to Nazli in the Kids Club. She was absolutely amazing with the girls. She seemed to be constantly on the move, getting children involved, organising activities and making sure everyone was having fun.
Her energy and enthusiasm were fantastic, and it was obvious that she genuinely enjoys what she does. The girls really enjoyed spending time with her.
DJ Arda was, again, really polite and fantastic at choosing the right music to entertain everyone and get the atmosphere going. He certainly knows how to get people in the mood!
Taha was another member of the team we met for the first time this year. He was constantly getting everyone involved while remaining polite, friendly and energetic at the same time.
Alex spent a lot of time arranging the football — which was probably a little too energetic for me! 😂 — but he was always polite and helpful. He also clearly has a very kind and caring side, which was lovely to see.
And then there's Murat — amazing, comical and simply a joy to be around!
Final Thoughts
After three visits, it's fair to say that Aska Lara continues to go from strength to strength.
There is always something happening, the facilities continue to improve, the food is excellent and, most importantly, the staff genuinely care about their guests.
For us, the staff — and particularly the entertainment team — have become a huge part of what makes our holidays here so enjoyable.
The fact that the girls have already been asking when we're coming back probably tells you everything you need to know!
Visit number four is already booked, and we genuinely can't wait to come back, see everyone again and make some more memories.
After three visits, something else has become very clear to us — the staff at Aska Lara stop feeling like hotel staff and start feeling like family.
You come back, they remember you, you pick up where you left off, and there's a genuine warmth that makes returning feel like coming home rather than simply going back on holiday.
That's something you can't put a price on, and it's a huge part of why we keep coming back.
Aska Lara has become a really special place for us, and we're already looking forward to seeing everyone again.
See you all soon! 🇹🇷❤️"
