Gloria Golf Resort

Built in a vast wooded area separated from the beach by a serene river, the luxurious Gloria Golf Resort Belek feels exclusive and relaxing. Its large manicured lawns look more like picture-perfect golf fairways than hotel gardens, with mature pine trees and colorful flowers lining well-tended grass areas. It is a large hotel with over 500 rooms, but the expansive grounds and many low buildings allow for a quieter, more relaxing feel. Guests tend to gather around the main pool during the day, but the atmosphere, though lively, is not as bustling as one might expect of a family-friendly all-inclusive. For those who prefer the sea, a long wooden bridge over the river connects the property to the beach, where rows of loungers, a pier with a small bar, and a separate area with beautiful cabanas offer plenty of space for relaxation.

First opened in 1997, the Gloria Golf Resort Belek is the oldest of all three Gloria properties in Belek, but thorough yearly renovations keep it looking fresh and elegant. Of the three, it is in the middle of the pack in terms of luxury. Interiors are decorated in a soft neutral palette, and wood and stone accents, polished beige floors with darker inlays, and classic furniture make common areas stylish and classy. Huge windows, plants, and a mix of unassuming contemporary and traditional art on walls give them a more approachable feel.

There is a clear focus on families and children at the Gloria Golf, with one of the best kids’ and teens' clubs in Belek, a child-friendly program with special foods and toiletries, and babysitting services. However, the hotel also owns three outstanding golf courses right across the street, making it a natural pick for golfers as well. This mix of golf and family is common in Belek. Another top pick in the area with this focus is the Sueno Hotels Deluxe Belek, which features two golf courses and a stunning 24-hour kids’ club, a movie theater, two pools, and plenty of sports areas for teens. The more expensive Regnum Carya Golf Resort & Spa Resort is also an excellent option, with another two golf courses, a full kids’ club with plenty of activities, a large game room, and an adventure zone in the gardens. Those looking for something in the same price range as the Gloria Golf may want to consider the Papillon Zeugma Relaxury. The Crystal Tat Beach Golf Resort & Spa is a cheaper, less luxurious option offering discounted rates at the Titanic Golf Club. 

Gloria Golf Resort is located on a two-way local road that runs parallel to the sea and connects all resorts and golf courses in the Belek area. There is nothing within walking distance other than the hotel’s three renowned golf courses and a few other beachfront properties, but there is a public bus stop right outside the main entrance of the Gloria Golf. Renting a car or taking a taxi may be a more reliable and simpler way to go places, though. Belek, located about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, is home to a few restaurants and shops. The historic city of Side, known for its impressive Hellenistic and Roman ruins and cute seaside cafes, is about a 45-minute drive away. Driving to Antalya and its many historic sites -- including Hadrian’s Gate and the Yivliminare Mosque -- also takes about 45 minutes. The hotel is a 35-minute drive from the airport. 

Rooms at the Gloria Golf Resort Belek are elegant and upscale, with streamlined decor in neutral tones, large windows opening onto furnished balconies, and blond wood paneling. Rooms would be a tad too uniform were it not for the striking art displayed above the bed in every unit. Large, colorful paintings of everyday objects or scenes give rooms a playful, contemporary touch that stands in stark contrast with the classic furniture and the soft palette. All units are equipped with free minibars (replenished daily), electric kettles, smart TVs, electronic safes, and central air-conditioning. Wi-Fi si free and reliable throughout the property, and DVD players are available on request. 

Bathrooms are clean and contemporary in all units, with oblong sinks over beige marble-like counters, scales, and an array of toiletries. Rooms in the main building have sleek walk-in rain showers with glass doors, while units in the Garden and Family Suites sections feature shower/tub combos. Some suites have jetted tubs. 

Family Suites feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and are housed in a separate building with its own pool and snack bar. Villas are stand-alone buildings set in a serene wooded area overlooking the river and away from the bustling water park. All of these units have parquet floors and spacious living areas. All but Gloria Villas also feature a small kitchen area with a coffeemaker and a microwave, and Owner units have their own private pool (heated in the winter), and private butler and maid services. 

Though best-known for its excellent golf courses, the Gloria Golf Resort Belek is also an outstanding option for families. Its kids’ club is one of the best in Belek, with indoor and outdoor pools, golf putting strips, dozens of daily activities, a playground, a sports hall, a movie theater, ball pits, and sleeping rooms for babies. There is also a special program for teens, including group sports and video games. Children can have lunch at the kids’ club at no extra charge, and special meals can be prepared in the on-site kitchen both by the staff or by parents. Kids can also take part in the activities held at the beachside art studio, or play in the Fun Jungle, complete with climbing walls and tunnel crawls. The Fun Jungle is free for Family Suite guests, but extra for all others. The small on-site zoo features ponies, hens, chickens, rabbits, and flamingos, and access is free for all guests. Babysitting service (for a fee) and baby toiletries are also available on request.

On top of the pools at the kids’ club, there is a large family-friendly pool in the central part of the property, as well as another kids’ pool, and a water park for adults. The Family Suites section has its own outdoor pool as well. A heated indoor pool with large windows and a kiddy section is a good alternative for rainy days. Daily activities such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi, step, games, and water polo are available daily, but while some of the most active ones are held in or around the pool, the atmosphere is generally not too loud. 

The hotel’s upscale 8,600-square-foot spa is also a major highlight. There is an adult-only area that all guests can use free of charge, complete with a marble hammam, two types of sauna, a steam bath, and a relaxation room with a waterfall and soft music. A wide array of massages and treatments are available for a fee, including shiatsu, facials, aromatherapy, and anti-aging and caviar treatments. A beachside pavilion offers outdoor private or coupes’ treatments. 

The hotel’s excellent fitness center offers a wide array of cardio and strength-training machines along with personal trainers and a number of classes There are also four tennis courts on-site, two of which have floodlights. 

The conference center has several flexible meeting rooms, a spacious pre-function area, and a coffee break space with catering services.

Unlike most resorts in the area, the Gloria Golf has not one but two main buffet restaurants, which allows for a more relaxed atmosphere. Food at both gets excellent reviews, with a wide array of Turkish and international dishes served for all three meals, and fresh orange juice available at breakfast. Several show cooking stations serve fresh grilled meat and veggies, as well as eggs and pancakes in the morning. Anatolia is the largest of the two buffets, with a big dining room and a spacious outdoor area overlooking the main pool. 

The hotel also offers an array of a la cartes serving a wide range of world cuisines, from Turkish to Asian and Italian. The sushi bar is particularly popular among guests, and the riverside snack bar has a good selection of pizzas, along with other small bites, fresh fish, and drinks. Not all a la carte restaurants open every day during the winter. 

The all-inclusive package at Gloria Golf Resort Belek covers drinks and food 24 hours a day, and dinner once in each a la carte restaurant per week. Villa guests can eat and drink for free at any of the other two Gloria resorts in the area, including neighboring Gloria Serenity and Gloria Verde. All other guests can spend the day at the hotel’s sister properties (there’s even a free shuttle connecting all resorts) but all purchases are an extra charge. Half-board rates and 24-hour room service are also available.

The Gloria Hotels Group is known not only for its upscale properties but also more widely for its excellent golf courses, all of which are located right across the street from the hotel. Two of them are 18-hole championship courses, and there is a smaller nine-hole one right next door. Both the Old and New courses were designed by Michel Gayon, but are each unique in their layout. The Old Course is the most challenging of the two, with long and narrow fairways lined with pine trees, and a par-5 first hole. The New Course, however, is shorter and more open, which makes it suitable for all types of golfers. The nine-hole Verde Course is good for warming up or practicing specific techniques.

All three courses share a large driving range for up to 100 golfers, an 18-hole putting green, and a gorgeous clubhouse complete with a a lovely restaurant and bar, a pro shop, and lockers for men and women. The golf academy has several professional coaches, over one hundred golf carts, and 500 trolleys.