Moonlight Hotel

First opened in 1994, Moonlight Hotel draws European backpackers and couples on a budget with ultra-low rates, a nice pool, and a convenient location near the beach and many restaurants, bars, and shops. The outdoor areas are pleasant, especially the pool and the restaurant, and the small spa (opened in 2017) is a great addition. But renovations are long overdue, and frayed, heavily stained hallway carpets, worn tiles, and maintenance issues plague the hotel. 

The atmosphere here is quiet but friendly, and the neighborhood is lively at night. Most guests head to the beach after breakfast, but the pool is a fairly popular spot for sunbathing as well. During the day, the street -- which leads straight to the beach -- gets some foot traffic, and the hotel restaurant is a good spot for people-watching. In the evening, the many bars and restaurants across the street turn up the volume of their speakers, and the block fills with tourists arriving for dinner and drinks.

The Moonlight has some of the lowest rates in the area, but there are a few better options for just a little bit more money. One of them is Parador Apart Hotel, a mid-range property with apartment-style accommodation, a pleasant pool with slides, and a similar location within easy walking distance of the beach. The all-inclusive Eftalia Aytur Hotel is also due for renovations, but features a wider array of amenities -- including a spa, a fitness center, and several dining options -- and is a better pick for families. Travelers with a bigger budget may want to compare rates at the Savk Hotel, located right across the street from the beach in central Alanya. 

Moonlight Hotel is located on a lively boulevard lined with restaurants, bars, and shops popular with tourists. The stores, selling mostly beach gear and T-shirts, stay open late, and although there is some loud music in the evening at some of the restaurants, the noise generally stops before midnight. There is a long, pebbly beach just down the street from the hotel, where guest can rent loungers and umbrellas for a fee. There are no major attractions in the immediate vicinity, but Alanya -- known for its beautiful hilltop castle, striking caves, and hopping atmosphere -- is just a 15-minute drive away. The city of Side and its extraordinary archaeological sites, charming seaside cafes, and many shops are about a 70-minute drive from the hotel. The nearest major airport is in Antalya, about two hours from the hotel, but the smaller Gazipasa Airport, served by just a handful of airlines, is a half-hour drive away from Moonlight Hotel.

The hotel has 38 rooms, all featuring balconies overlooking either the pool or the street. Decor is basic and generic in all, with a few mismatched pieces of furniture, and old off-white floor tiles. Beige walls with white moldings and cute black-and-white wallpaper with flower designs above the bed add some style to the rooms, but the many maintenance issues somewhat obscure the nicer touches. Our room had broken light switches, bare bulbs in ceilings and walls, and stained curtains, sheets, and towels. The furniture had definitely seen better days as well. In-room amenities are equally basic and old, and include a small tube TV with one English channel, two in German, and one in Russian, and an air-conditioning unit, which is sometimes charged separately from the room rate. Wi-Fi is never included in the price, and although each floor has its own router, the signal was weak in some areas of our room. 

Bathrooms are probably the least appealing part of the rooms. They’re small and have cleanliness issues, in particular the showers, which have dirty tile grout, haphazardly applied silicone around the edges, and moldy screens. Hairdryers are modern and good, though, and basic toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo, and hand soap are provided. Towels are thin and frayed, and some of ours had stains on them. Some guests have complained of the lack of hot water in the morning, but although it took a while to come on, we did have some in the end. 

The hotel has a pleasant outdoor restaurant with a few tables and a flat-screen TV. It opens for breakfast and dinner, and the shaded areas are a favorite among local men to sip tea in the morning. A small, basic buffet consisting of tea and coffee, bread, butter, jams, fries, and eggs is available when there are more than 15 guests in the hotel. Breakfast is not included in the standard rate. 

The pool is small but attractive, offering a separate kiddy section under an awning, and a couple dozen plastic loungers. It opens seasonally (usually between May and October) and has no bar, but guests can get drinks and food at the restaurant, which is right around the corner. 

Opened in mid-2017, the spa is contemporary and has a sauna, relaxation area with loungers and dim lights, a Turkish bath, and three massage rooms offering a long list of treatments. Use of the spa is an additional charge, but there are packages that include some massages.