Sun, Sand, and Smiles: Rixos in Kemer for Families

We've been to Turkey a gazillion times, and I'm not kidding when I say Tekirova has become our go-to spot for a family beach vacation from Europe. Flights are relatively short, there are loads of daily flights during the season, the service is top-notch, and you can find hotels to fit any taste and budget. Plus, the all-inclusive and ultra-all-inclusive options are a total winner for a Russian like me.

I mean, what's not to love? Tekirova's got pristine beaches, pebble beaches, small hills, orange groves, and pine forests. The climate's more pleasant than Belek or Antalya – the air humidity's normal, so even the scorching heat's tolerable. The pine trees growing in abundance fill the air with the intoxicating scent of pine needles.

Here's the thing, though: there aren't any exciting excursions nearby. You've got fishing at a trout farm, horseback riding in the hills, and strolls through Tekirova itself, and that's about it. The other excursions are off-site. But if you book a great hotel, like the one I'm about to rave about, you'll have plenty of things to keep you occupied without leaving the premises.

The one major drawback of Rixos in Kemer? The size of the room numbers. They're relatively small. We actually had to squeeze in three of us in a standard room, and it was a real squeeze. In a two-bedroom room, there's more space, but still.

Now, let's talk food. It's honestly pretty great. They've got an amazing diet-friendly buffet with tons of rice dishes, soups, steamed and roasted veggies. For traveling families, this is a total lifesaver. I love being able to feed my kids decent, homemade food on the go instead of burgers and fries. Of course, they're also available, but where's the fun in that? They always have a variety of meats, poultry, fish, Turkish dishes, Chinese cuisine... I mean, I was spoiled with wok, my hubby with grilled fish and seafood. There are tons of fresh veggies, an insane amount of salad dressings, cheeses, honey, jam, desserts, ice cream (an entire ice cream room, no joke!) and, of course, baklava and lokum. The only downside is that their baklava isn't quite up to par – I mean, I've had better in Istanbul, and it's a real bummer every time.

As for drinks, they've got plenty of options from the usual cola and fantasy to various juices. And if you're looking to get a little tipsy, they've got a range of local drinks, whites, reds, rosés, whiskey, tequila, rum, vodka, rakia... and any cocktail you can think of, plus limoncello, and so on.

But here's the thing: on our repeat visits, we've sadly observed a decline in the quality of the food and drinks here. They're scaling back the variety and replacing it with cheap alternatives, and in some cases, they're just plain out of certain ingredients. And don't even get me started on the muddying of the mojito – they're using lemons, but sometimes they forget the mint

SERVICE

You know what? The service here is top-notch. Another example of this is replacing the Turkish staff with their colleagues from the former Soviet republics. I'm not against our brothers, but when they're unprofessional, lazy, and always slacking off, it's a problem. We'd just choose the tables with Turkish staff, and let's just say it wasn't the most politically correct thing to do, but it was the truth. These guys know their stuff, they're friendly, welcoming, smart, and lightning-fast with their service – and for a small tip, they'll treat you like royalty. Tipping is, of course, a big part of life in Turkey, so be prepared to show your appreciation.