Papillon Ayscha

Very nice hotel with excellent staff, everyone is very nice and helpful. Food and beverages were great. Pool area awesome. There is plenty of things to do to kids and to adults. Vacation came out much better expected.

We travelled from Scotland via Manchester, England during the October School holidays to Papillon Ayscha. We have stayed at many hotels in Turkey already, most recently Liberty Signa in April.

We were unlucky to get rain half the week, but the hotel was quite good with the wet-weather programme.

A few negative points to get out of the way first and then I'll move onto the many positives:

• The breakfast buffet isn't up to much. Eggs were often cold, especially since they are served from the outside food court and you have to walk quite a bit from the egg station over to the bread, so if you want eggs on toast then most likely either your toast or eggs will be cold by the time you sit down. There wasn't really any variety in the buffet day to day, so the same old thing every morning. A lot of the food including omelettes were unseasoned and tasteless. No personalised omlettes, only a mass produced omlette cut into pieces for everyone. The pancakes and waffles were good though. There was no alternative a-la-carte restaurant for breakfast either.
• Lunch and Dinner buffets were better but again lacking variety and the same problem with it being quite spaced out and cold food by the time you sit down. There also isn't enough indoor seating so for those who don't like to dine outside in the colder months will need to wait for a table inside. We never had to wait more than 5 mins though, although there's no staff coordination so its a bit of a free-for-all to scramble to a free table as soon as you see a family leaving, meaning you also need to wait for the staff to prepare the table for you. This wasn't a long wait though. Overall the food was not a patch on our earlier visit to Turkey this year (Liberty Signa in Fethiye). The main reason for this was lack of variety in the buffet, no a-la-carte breakfast option and no fresh pasta station in the buffet.
• Bar service was mostly slow and rarely with a smile. The Martini bar is predictably the best, but again the bar staff do not seem to enjoy their job and seem rushed and harassed, probably due to lack of staff which I will get onto. The pool bar was also always only 1 or 2 staff max serving, even at busy times which meant a bit of a wait. The beach bar was the slowest service, often having to wait 10 mins to get your drink, as again, there was only 1 person serving. Lounger service with QR code ordering was possible but again it was hit an miss, twice when we ordered our drinks never arrived so we stopped bothering. In other hotels we have been to they have fridges next to the bars where you can help yourself to soft drinks, water and beer. Most of the time this is what we are drinking during the day so why not have this to avoid queuing at bars?
• Overall the drinks were not very good. They do have a cocktail menu but they are all made using cocktail mixes which always end up very sour. They do look good though. The quality of spirits however were good, with known brands such as Smirnoff and Gordons used without having to ask. It was nice to not get a cheapo-bulk spirit when getting a cocktail or a spirit with mixer. The exception was again in the martini bar when on a couple of nights I asked for an espresso martini and it was fantastic, very well made.
• Snack options were limited. Ice cream during the day was just Algida ice-lollies. The ice cream at the buffet was OK but it was quite gummy and unpleasant texture-wise.
• The indoor pool is not serviced by any sort of bar service so on those rainy days you had to sneak cans from the mini bar into the poolside. They should have a self-service fridge of cans and plastic bottles (obviously no glass for safety reasons.
• There was a lack of drinks service at any bar. I.e. no waiters to take your orders. Meaning when relaxing at night after dinner you still had to go up and wait in a queue for drinks.
• The mattresses in the rooms were absolutely horrible. They were far too soft like a cheap foam, no support whatsoever. I slept terribly as I have back problems and need a supportive/firm mattress.

Now for the positives:

• The main pool and slide pools were fantastic. Not warm as such but they were heated to 27-28c and therefore you could stay in them without getting shivers. They also weren't too warm for the weather (outside temp was 22-25C on the week we went) meaning that you didn't feel extra cold when leaving the pool. I think the temperature was just right. One complaint though was that after the stormy weather they didn't have any staff cleaning the pools in the morning so there were a lot of pine needles and debris in the pools which wasn't nice to see when swimming. The water slides were good also (nothing too exhilarating but not boring either), but the times of these were a bit unpredictable, sometimes opening up to 30 mins after the stated time, especially after lunch.
• The indoor pool was a great size with plenty of loungers and was a god-send on the rainy days, giving the kids something to do. The spa area though was pretty small, and the turkish bath was always crowded with kids, which I don't mind as I have my own kids, but some parents just let their children play and splash in all the sinks and let their kids drop the metal dishes on the floor. Not exactly a place to relax. The steam room was never hot enough so not even worth sitting in. Not enough steam. The sauna was pretty small and was always croweded with mainly Russian guests who seem to have competition on who can pour the most water on the coals. Not considerate of other guests who aren't used to such high temperatures whatsoever.
• The a-la-carte restaurants were well worth the extra charge (if you have kids under 6 as they eat free). The cover charge for adults is very reasonable at 10-15 euros per head. We ate at the Far-eastern and the Turkish restaurants. Both absolutely delicious. The sushi in particular was very good and fresh, and the turkish Mese plentiful and delicious. I ate far too much both of those nights!
• It was nice to have fresh Gosleme at the beach, although the meat for the Gosleme seemed to be of quite poor quality and was full of gristle.
• The Lobby and the Martini bar were absolutely stunning in terms of decor, very high end feeling.
• We very much enjoyed the live music at the martini bar, all the bands and duos were very skilled musicians. The sound quality was also excellent.
• All the desserts in the buffet, in the a-la-cartes and at the patisserie were very good.
• The rooms were very clean and the bathrooms were modern and the showers were very powerful. The turquoise-green decor was a bit dated though.
• The entertainment was very good at night time. The Beijing acrobats show in particular was fantastic.

All in all, a nice experience. It would have been better if the weather was better but that's not the hotel's fault. I've subtracted 1 star as it didn't feel like a true 5 star based on the negative points I've shared above. We would consider returning if some of these were addressed.

We stayed at Papillon Ayscha for 10 nights in October with our two daughters, aged 6 and 4. Having enjoyed several family-friendly all-inclusive holidays previously, we’ve got plenty to compare it against, and I can confidently say this was one of our favourites.

There were a couple of disappointments, which I’ll explain, but overall we had a fantastic holiday. The food, facilities, staff and particularly the entertainment were excellent. We’d absolutely return.

Accommodation – Select Family Swim-Up Villa

We booked a Select Family swim-up villa, which was spacious, comfortable and ideal for our family. The girls slept on sofa beds in the lounge, giving us a separate sleeping area, and housekeeping was very good throughout.

One thing worth mentioning for parents is the security of the doors. The patio doors leading to the swim-up pool had an excellent locking system, giving us peace of mind that the children couldn’t simply wander outside.

However, the main entrance opened directly into the lounge where the girls slept, without an additional childproof lock. This would have been reassuring with younger children.

Pools, Aquapark and Beach

The hotel has an excellent selection of swimming pools, and despite visiting in late October, the main pools and children’s swimming areas were warm enough to enjoy.

The aquapark and waterslides were excellent, and our girls loved them. We also generally found it easy to get sunbeds without needing to reserve them ridiculously early.

The grounds were attractive and beautifully maintained. The beach was perfectly nice, although we personally preferred spending our days around the pools.

The Swim-Up Pool Heating Issue

This was our biggest disappointment and something worth explaining for anyone considering a swim-up villa outside the summer months.

We paid approximately £900 extra for our upgraded accommodation, partly for the additional space but also because we wanted a swim-up pool that we could enjoy in October.

The hotel’s specific Select Family Swim-Up Pools webpage advertised a heating system, which was an important factor in our decision.

A few days before travelling, we discovered information suggesting these particular pools might not actually be heated, so we began questioning this with the hotel and our booking provider.

It subsequently became clear that the Select Family swim-up pools don’t have heating facilities at all. During our stay, the water was simply too cold for our children to use comfortably.

I wouldn’t ordinarily expect an unheated pool to be warm in late October. Our frustration was that heating had specifically been advertised, influencing our decision to pay for the upgrade.

We continued discussing this with Guest Relations during our stay, particularly Makbule, who was extremely helpful and understanding. She genuinely did everything she could to assist and arranged some complimentary dining experiences as a goodwill gesture, which we appreciated.

Although the underlying issue couldn’t be resolved, I wouldn’t want our disappointment to reflect negatively on Makbule or the Guest Relations team.

We still loved the villa, and the unused swim-up pool didn’t spoil our holiday because there was so much else to enjoy.

We’re pursuing the misleading information separately with our booking provider, so I don’t feel it would be fair to let that affect our overall rating of the hotel.

My advice would be to get written confirmation of the heating arrangements before paying extra for a swim-up villa in October.

Food – Excellent Quality and Plenty of Choice

The food was one of the strongest aspects of the holiday.

The main buffet offered a very good selection, with consistently excellent quality. Some dishes became a little repetitive over 10 nights, but there was always plenty to choose from.

The Chef’s Touch dishes were particularly outstanding and well worth trying.

Finding an indoor table during busy evening periods could sometimes be difficult, but just ask a member of staff. They were always happy to help, and tables were cleared and turned around incredibly quickly.

We never actually used the main buffet for lunch because the alternatives around the resort were so good.

The gözleme near the beach were excellent. Another favourite was getting a burger and chips from the beach buffet area, then filling the tray with a selection of other buffet food to share as a family back at our poolside sunbeds. Absolutely ideal with two young children!

We also had an outstanding lunch at the Mexican restaurant. If we’d discovered it earlier, we’d almost certainly have visited more than once.

À La Carte Restaurants

We really enjoyed the à la carte restaurants, with very good food and excellent service.

A special mention to Arif, who looked after us brilliantly during our visits. He was attentive, friendly and a real credit to the hotel.

One small observation concerned the children’s menus. On our first two visits, the girls received a main course only, while the adults enjoyed five or six courses. It seemed a little harsh that the children weren’t offered a dessert!

I mentioned this in the feedback questionnaire after our meal, and interestingly, on our third visit to the Italian restaurant, the girls were offered dessert. I’m not sure whether this was standard practice there or a response to our feedback, but it was appreciated.

Overall, the à la carte experiences were excellent.

Drinks and Bar Service

The drinks selection was excellent, with a good choice of premium drinks and consistently attentive service.

The bar staff were friendly and efficient, and the quality of drinks and service was impressive throughout our stay.

Papy Kids Club – Fantastic for Families

Papy Kids Club was excellent and one of the biggest reasons we’d return.

There always seemed to be something happening, from organised games and activities to clowns, magician shows and other entertainment.

Our girls can take a while to warm up to organised activities, but they really enjoyed themselves. Children who love joining in could probably spend most of the day there without getting bored!

The staff were enthusiastic and friendly, and the girls particularly loved the mini disco every evening, especially getting up on stage to dance with the animation team.

There was one unfortunate incident on our final day.

Our six-year-old had been told she’d won one of the organised games and would be invited onto the stage that evening to collect her certificate. We’d also asked whether her younger sister could accompany her and were kindly told this could be arranged.

Unfortunately, neither was called onto the stage, leaving our eldest absolutely devastated.

I’m not sure whether there was an administrative mix-up. To be fair, both girls had already received lovely T-shirts, medals and bags for participating in the day’s activities, which was a very kind gesture.

It was simply a disappointing ending to what had otherwise been a fantastic experience with the kids’ club.

Evening Entertainment – Absolutely Outstanding!

This deserves a special mention because it was probably the biggest highlight of the entire holiday.

The evening shows were genuinely the best we’ve ever experienced at a family all-inclusive resort.

The standard was exceptional, with fantastic dance performances, circus-style acts and some genuinely thrilling moments that had us on the edge of our seats.

The production quality, performers and variety were all incredibly impressive. These weren’t simply your typical hotel entertainment shows.

We looked forward to them every evening, and the combination of the children’s mini disco followed by the main performances worked brilliantly for our family.

If you’re visiting Ayscha, don’t miss the evening entertainment. It’s outstanding!

Staff and Service

The staff throughout the resort were exceptional.

From the restaurants and bars to housekeeping, entertainment and Guest Relations, we consistently received friendly, attentive service.

There were occasional minor language barriers, but nothing that caused any real problems. As a British family, we felt very welcome.

Special thanks again to Makbule in Guest Relations and Arif in the à la carte restaurants, who both provided excellent service and helped make our stay memorable.

The staff are a huge asset to this hotel.

Visiting in October – Would We Recommend It?

Absolutely!

We had some terrible weather during the first few days, which understandably affected some outdoor entertainment and activities.

However, once the weather improved, we enjoyed lovely warm days and made plenty of use of the swimming pools.

We were particularly impressed by how much remained operational so late in the season. Almost everything appeared to be available, including the aquapark, restaurants, bars and children’s entertainment. There was certainly no feeling that the hotel was winding down for winter.

A couple of minor observations:

We only came across packaged ice creams during the day rather than scooped ice cream or Mr Whippy-style options. It’s entirely possible we simply missed them!

Also, the little shop within the resort was ridiculously expensive. Snacks, toys and pool inflatables were all very overpriced, including imitation Pringles! I’d definitely recommend bringing any pool toys or inflatables your children might want rather than buying them there.

Our Top Tips for Families

• Check swim-up pool heating carefully. The Select Family swim-up pools weren’t heated, despite the information we’d seen advertised. Get written confirmation before paying extra.
• Don’t miss the evening shows. They were the best we’ve experienced, and the mini disco was brilliant for younger children.
• Try the Mexican restaurant for lunch. One of our favourite meals of the holiday.
• Make use of the beach buffet. The gözleme were excellent, and we loved filling our burger-and-chips tray with other buffet food to take back to our poolside sunbeds.
• Try the Chef’s Touch dishes. Consistently outstanding.
• Ask staff for help finding a buffet table. They were always happy to assist during busy periods.
• Give Papy Kids Club a try. There was so much going on, even for children who take a little while to settle in.
• Bring pool inflatables and toys from home. The hotel shop prices were extremely high.
• October is still a great time to visit. Almost everything was operating, and we enjoyed plenty of swimming once the weather improved.

Overall – Would We Return?

Without hesitation.

Papillon Ayscha is a fantastic family resort and provided one of the best family holidays we’ve had.

The food was excellent, the drinks and service were first class, the facilities were fantastic, and the evening entertainment was genuinely outstanding.

Most importantly, our two girls had a wonderful time, which is ultimately what matters most to us when choosing a family holiday.

We felt the holiday represented very good value for money overall, particularly considering the quality of the food, drinks, entertainment and service.

The swim-up pool issue was frustrating, especially given the cost of the upgrade, but it didn’t overshadow everything the hotel got right.

If we returned in October, we’d happily stay again, although we’d probably reconsider whether the additional cost of a swim-up villa was worthwhile at that time of year.

Five stars from us, and a hotel we’d happily recommend to other families.

Thank you to everyone at Papillon Ayscha for a fantastic holiday. We hope to return!