Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa

Plenty of sun loungers around the pools and wasn’t difficult to get any as not many people would come down early to reserve their beds. However all members of our party got infections in wounds or bites from the pool water. So much so, my husband had to go to the hotel doctor as he is a type 1 diabetic as infections are more dangerous for him.

The hotel was heavily populated with Russians which the hotel highly catered for and given preferential treatment, leaving everyone else feeling second best. I spoke to a couple who had been going there for 9 years, they informed me that the hotel had recently been taken over and agreed with me about the preferential treatment and said that the level of service standards had dropped and that they were never going back there again now.

There were very few staff members overall who were really friendly but did find guest relations staff helpful when needed.

The main restaurant is chaotic. There is no front of house to seat you so it was a free for all to find yourself a table in a busy restaurant. Our daughter is disabled and a wheelchair user so it was stressful walking round and round looking for a table. The staff were not interested in helping us. We complained to guest relations and they arranged a table to be reserved for us in the red room every night moving forward which was helpful. There is a lot of food to choose from, however it didn’t really change in choice, so food options were pretty much the same everytime. Breakfast was that poor, we didn’t bother having breakfast again after the first day.

The bubbles restaurant is 24/7 but you have to sit in there to eat; you cannot take food away which was annoying when we arrived as couldn’t leave the children in bed on their own.

We ate at the dome bar most days for lunch. Some staff are more attentive than others. Some days we would sit down which the waiter clearly saw, but just stood there rather than coming over with menus or taking a drinks order. It felt like we had to come across borderline rude to get their attention and service sometimes.

The a la carte restaurants were pretty quiet every night. This is because you have to pay €25 per person service charge for the pleasure of dining in them, hence why the main restaurant is always chaotic. Never before have we had to pay this in other hotels we’ve been to before - that is not ultra all inclusive service!

We witnessed on three separate occasions children vomiting around the pool/ bar area.

All the adults in our party suffered with bad stomachs throughout the holiday. To begin with I put it down to over indulging, however after the first few days we stopped eating and drinking so much yet bad bellies continued and all had diarrhoea the last few days of the holiday. At one point, my son, sister in law and myself all suffered with sore throats, headaches and temperatures. I still have a sore throat a week later from returning.

The water slides were ample, although I felt I expect the area to be bigger from looking online. The slides are open from 10-12 and then 2-5; but annoying they weren’t open all day.

The beach was nice with plenty of sun beds. They also had a beach wheelchair for my daughter to use which was great.

The pier was my favourite place. They had sun loungers on there but would get snapped up quickly, so you need to get there early if you want one. There is also a bar there which we would enjoy a late afternoon drink watching the sun go down and would be the highlight of my day.

The rooms were cleaned to a good standard but they were pretty poor at restocking the mini bar and fridge everyday - it would be roulette what you would get. The cleaners also kept leaving the fridge door open which was extremely unhelpful as we needed to keep medication in there.

Daytime entertainment wasn’t very exciting. Very minimal compared to other places we’ve been. Night time entertainment not great either; much of a muchness most nights in the amphitheater and lots of miming rather than people actually singing. Any entertainment at the dome bar was hard to find a table and staff not willing to help you.

Not allowed to play cards in the reception area but can everywhere else…

We celebrated my daughter’s 8th birthday whilst we were there. We decorated her wheelchair with balloons and she wore a birthday badge. Not ONE member of staff wished her a happy birthday or anyone else in passing for that matter. The people in general were unfriendly! Everywhere we’ve been to in the past (Greece, Cyprus) the staff would always make a big fuss of her and bend over backwards for her and this would be everyday. I just felt very sad for her not receiving this is level of treatment.

The spa overall was nice. However, one day my daughter and her carer went to use the jacuzzi and was greeted by a poo in it!

On our last day, I asked if we could keep our room on as we had a late flight; was told our room was being occupied straight away. So I asked if there was a courtesy room available as my daughter needs to access her medical equipment throughout the day. Was told we had to pay €150 to keep the room til 8pm. I asked if we could have it complimentary as a gesture of goodwill considering my daughter’s circumstances, but the hotel manager point blankly refused. I thought this could be a chance for the hotel to slightly redeem itself, but no. Summed up the holiday really!

This is the first time we’ve been to turkey and it will most certainly be the last. I’m not sure if it was just the wrong hotel or belek, Antalya in general. Bad experience overall and worst holiday ever.

Had a great time. Very big resort, quiet and relaxing. Awesome food, very clean. Beautiful beach. Our kids loved the kids club and all the activities for them. Very raccomanded for families.