Crystal De Luxe Resort & Spa

Compared to most all-inclusive resorts in the Turkish Riviera, the Crystal De Luxe is compact. The property is set on just under four acres of land and its 356 rooms are housed in a single U-shaped building wrapping around a central courtyard home to the main pool and its 24-hour bar. This makes the hotel a little more friendly and snug than most other properties, but it doesn’t mean there is less to it than to its neighbors. Daily entertainment, pools, a water park, a kids’ club, and a long list of other amenities are all offered at the Crystal De Luxe, but at a smaller scale. To some, the biggest downside of this hotel is that it is not directly on the beach. Indeed, guests have to cross a street and a small garden to reach it, but there is a traffic light to help with crossing, and there is generally little traffic.

The vibe at this resort is lively and even a tad too loud sometimes, especially when the pool games are on in the morning and the early afternoon. At night there is live music at the pool bar and performances at the amphitheater. In the colder months everything is taken indoors, and evening shows are conducted by the in-house animation team instead of professional musicians, singers and performers. Common areas -- and especially the lobby -- have elegant decor that draws heavily on the wood. Some details, such as the patterned armchairs in the front desk area, or the older-looking terrazzo countertops in the buffet restaurant feel somewhat generic. But the overall style is classic and polished throughout, with wall paneling, ceiling moldings, exposed stone accents, and gleaming marble-like floors with brown geometric patterns. The outdoors have a more stylish yet causal vibe, with wood patio furniture, lots of plants, and plastic loungers under long, white awnings around the main pool. 

The Crystal De Luxe offers great value for money, but those looking to stay right on the beach may want to consider the similarly priced Fame Residence Kemer & Spa, which has a lovely spa and spotless rooms, many with full sea views. The Limak Limra Hotel is also directly on the beach and has bigger pools, but can feel a little overrun with children at times. Also popular with families, the Akka Alinda Hotel offers a similar experience, but many guests complain of lack of variety at the main restaurant. 

The hotel is centrally located in Kemer, a small city known for its nightlife. There are several other resorts nearby, but the area directly south of the Crystal De Luxe is packed with vacation rentals and private homes. During the day the only foot traffic around the hotel is guests walking to and from the beach, which is located right across the street. There, the property has a few dozen loungers, a wooden pier, and a bar all packed into a small area. In the evening the area is a little busier, with locals and visitors alike on their way to three popular nightclubs located within a block of the hotel. There are also several beach bars and restaurants nearby, but few shops can be found within an easy walk of the hotel. The nearest airport is a one-hour drive away. 

Rooms at the Crystal De Luxe Resort & Spa are generic but cheerful, with simple blond wood furniture enlivened with turquoise and fuchsia accents in bed runners, throw pillows, and chairs. Caramel-colored carpets with dark brown patterns are a little bland, but help keep the noise between floors at bay. All units are spacious enough to fit at least a double bed and a twin, along with a long desk and an armchair. Twenty of the hotel’s 356 rooms have bunk beds, and 41 units have connecting doors for families or groups. Each room is equipped with central air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a safe, an electric kettle, and a lightly stocked minibar (replenished daily). The hotel claims free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, but it can be spotty or even inexistent in rooms. Bathrooms are clean and contemporary, with beige and chocolate brown tiles, wall-mounted hairdryers, and a few basic toiletries. Suites have jetted tubs, but all other room types have showers. 

In all rooms, large windows slide open onto small balconies furnished with two chairs and a low table. Many have views of the central courtyard and the sea in the distance, but others overlook either the next-door resort or the street. Those facing the pool and the bar get noise during evening shows, and light sleepers may want to avoid units closest to the nightclubs across the street.

The hotel’s main pool is located in the central courtyard and features dozens of plastic loungers under white awnings. Towels are provided free of charge once per stay and can be changed for a small fee. There is also a small water park with three slides and a couple dozen loungers, and a cute kids’ club with a plunge pool and a playground in a separate area adjacent to the main deck. Daily activities are held around the main pool during the summer months -- including fitness classes, games, and competitions -- and there is live music at the pool bar in the evening, as well as professional shows at the amphitheater. In the winter, the only pool available is the heated indoor one by the spa. It is spacious and appealing, with big windows, an exposed stone wall, an area with massage jets, and a few loungers.

The spa is one of the hotel’s highlights. It is decorated in a soothing brown and burgundy palette, with lots of wood and stone accents and Asian-inspired details. Guests get free access to a sauna, a steam room and a beautiful Turkish bath, but all treatments and massages are extra. There is also a small but well-equipped fitness center and a tennis court. Lighting and equipment are extra.

The hotel also features a large game room, complete with two bowling lanes, several pool tables, and a handful of coin-operated arcade machines for all ages. A large ballroom with separation screens and audiovisual equipment is also available on-site, and there are two other boardrooms for smaller meetings or events. 

The main restaurant serves a varied buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a large dining room with outdoor seating. Dinners are particularly busy during peak season, but they generally don’t feel as chaotic as at some other all-inclusives in the area. In addition to the buffet, all guests get one dinner per stay at any of the hotel’s three a la cartes, which offer Italian, Turkish and Mexican cuisine. 

The lobby lounge and the 24-hour pool bar are the only ones serving snacks, but there is also a small bar at the beach, and a nightclub with local and imported drinks. 

The all-inclusive package includes 24-hour food and drinks, but some imported liquors are extra and are not served through the night.