I had the epiphany while staying here that I've fallen into three different "types" of traveler at different phases of my life. First, there was the American family road tripper phase, staying at Wyndham and Choice properties on the freeway along the way to theme parks and the Grand Canyon. We ate at Denny's and hit the motel pool every night, and we were happy kids! Then, there was the backpacking phase, staying at hostels and poshtels and guesthouses where accommodation existed mainly as a place to spend the night and perhaps socialize, but the property was never the destination. Then, I became a Flyertalker, a miles and points obsessed status-whore addicted to the special feeling I get waiving my Platinum Elite card or checking into the Conrad executive lounge. Antalya resorts (even "flagged" ones, as I learned at a Crowne Plaza last year) simply do not cater to any of those traveler subcultures that I've lived in, and thus I realized that I need to adjust my expectations if I'm going to enjoy vacationing here. There's no suite upgrade to be had for holding a co-branded credit card nor is there a business center or a pile of fluffy pillows and towels in the closet. They all have policies that seem bizarre if you're not accustomed to package resorts and all-inclusives, like stinginess in exchanging towels (which people seem to think they can use to claim a sunbed for an entire day by putting out early in the morning!) and prices quoted in far-away currencies. But there are also some amenities that are actually quite charming and nice, like "mini-clubs" (translation: daycare) and "animation" (translation: live entertainment). And, at least at Alba, all-inclusive really did mean all-inclusive with the exception of a few arcade games, which were priced comparably to Atlantis Bowling in Istanbul.
This property targets the European, and perhaps especially the German, middle and working class, and that was reflected in the dining and other amenities provided at the hotel. It's not five stars by international standards, probably four in reality or at least a solid 3.5. There were some Iranians there, however, which is not surprising given that we visited near the Persian new year. The staff mostly struggled to speak English and often greeted me in German, even when I tried to use elementary Turkish with them. It wasn't a big issue since my wife is fluent in Turkish, though I could see it irritating other guests. (The omelet chef really didn't comprehend me requesting it "domates-siz" - though that could have just been his surprise that I don't eat tomatoes at breakfast!)
The food is tasty and of decent quality, though it was far from luxurious. For example, their a la carte fish-and-chips at the poolside bar was frozen fishsticks. Oh, and the a la carte Asian restaurant served the worst curry I've ever had - I'll just dismiss it as a bizarre failed attempt at Turkish-Thai fusion. I was surprised that there was no simit at breakfast, but, again, for a three to four star it was fine. Most of the main entrees were fairly good, including the pide station at lunch and dinner. The dining room is not luxurious - it's a family oriented property, and that can be a good thing when traveling with the in-laws' kids.
Overall, the Alba Queen was a great value for the price we paid (about USD $60 per night via Cheaptickets.com US after a generous promo code). We are seriously considering another trip next year. Like other places in Antalya, most people seem to book through and arrive with the help of an European bricks-and-mortar tour operator like Thomas Cook or TUI. The idea of using such an agency in the age of Kayak seems counterintuitive to me, though enough people out there are using them that I wonder if we really save money by booking our flights and transfers separately. read more
