Hotel Lykia Botanika Beach and Fun Club

The resort is situated in the Fethiye region of Mugla province; about 45 minutes drive from Dalaman airport and only a few kilometres to the centre of Fethiye (the town). The chic marina village of Göcek is also a short drive away.

Lykia Botanika Beach & Fun Club is open from the end of April until October.
WIFI connection is available free of charge in the lobby and by the pool.

Although Lykia Botanika is a four-star hotel, bear in mind that Turkish four-star standards are not always compatible with what British guests may expect from such a rating. The resort is an all-inclusive one, with a total of 195 rooms set out on 40,000m² of land. The simple lobby is the gateway to this resort that doesn't try to be something it's not, however the service from some of the front office staff wasn't the most helpful or attentive we experienced.

The hotel rooms are found throughout seven three-storey blocks - white buildings fringed with bougainvillea and complemented by attractive gardens. Apart from the beach, most of the hotel's facilities are in the one spot, so it is very easy for guests to find their way around.

A large pool is flanked by plenty of sun loungers, while a small aqua park lies between the pool and the main restaurant. An outdoor stage only steps from the lobby is used for evening animation, and is also surrounded by a handful of small shops selling resort wear and pool toys, etc. On the far side of the pool, the health and wellbeing areas; massage rooms, sauna, a Turkish bath and various relaxation areas are simple and clean although they would benefit from a renovation to refresh their look. Guests may also hire a space with private Jacuzzi, plunge pool and mini Turkish bath.

Other facilities include a large, well-lit fitness room (during our visit it was in bad shape and "not ready" so we hope that it has since been tended to), ping pong table, and kids' club with shaded play areas and sandpits.

The 195 rooms at Lykia Botanika are divided into three different categories: standard rooms (95), family rooms (75) and suites (10), each with a pool or garden view. Rooms are fitted with the usual; individual air conditioning, mini bar, balcony/terrace, telephone and safety deposit box however there is a 12 Euro weekly charge to use the latter. The standard rooms are spacious but appear dated and would benefit from renovation. Rooms feature tile floors, pale lilac walls and simple furnishings (including 1 x queen and 1 x single bed), while the smallish bathrooms are not very well lit and are slightly worn around the edges in places. The family rooms meanwhile consist of a standard room connected to an additional room containing two sets of bunk beds (therefore four beds).

The resort operates on an all-inclusive meal plan and there are two restaurants on-site; the main, open buffet restaurant and an à la carte restaurant, plus two snack bars, one poolside and one beachside. The restaurants are situated in the same building; the main restaurant on the ground floor and the à la carte restaurant on the second floor. At the time of our visit, the open-air à la carte restaurant, which serves a fish menu, was not yet in service. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the main restaurant is simply decorated (brick walls, timber ceilings, canary yellow tablecloths) and features a separate room where the buffet stations are found. The variety at lunch is reasonable, with plenty of salads but no hot dishes - some guests may be surprised at their exclusion, even if it makes more sense to eat lighter, cold dishes on a hot summer's day.

The beach at Lykia Botanika is a good five to ten minute walk from the main area of the resort. However, the difference is that guests wander down a private trail, taking them through a lush oriental sweet-gum forest. The beach is about 300m long and features dark, pebbly sand and a handful of small trees near the water's edge. There are small waves and its secluded location means it is relatively calm. Underneath a large pergola, neat rows of wooden sun loungers face the sea, overlooking nearby islands. There's a snack bar which transforms into a beach disco at night, while the usual water sports are available (non-motorised are free), as are a range of boat trips and night dives. There is no lifeguard supervision (pool area only).

RHP