Common hotel problems in Side Turkey: bugs, AC issues, check-in delays

One way to speed up check-in: give a small tip to the greeting staff member right when handing over your passport. Also, the hotel has a manager (mentioned by name Sofia) who quickly resolves issues — e.g., missing beach towels were delivered within 5 minutes after contacting her directly.

Before official check-in, guests cannot connect to the permanent Wi-Fi or log into the app needed for the QR-code ordering system (for food/drinks), which can be inconvenient if you arrive early and wait long for a room. However, wristbands and temporary Wi-Fi are usually issued right away, and the main restaurant offers food without needing QR codes.

Complaints about bedding: no blankets in the room, rough waffle-weave sheets, and upon request only scratchy fleece throws were provided. Sunbeds are also in short supply and packed tightly together; renting a private pavilion costs around 60 euros.

During periods of overbooking, guests may be temporarily placed in a separate building outside the main hotel grounds — a cramped room, missing towels and a pillow (had to wait over an hour), no soap or toiletries, and weak water pressure in the sink. Also reported: sunbeds must be claimed as early as 5am or none will be left, and the dining hall runs out of table seating.

Rooms may have very few electrical outlets — for example, only 2 outlets in the room and 1 in the bathroom for a family of three. If you have multiple devices, it's worth bringing a power strip.

A new warning appeared: the hotel reportedly had a fire the day before, and the building was significantly affected. This means guests may end up staying during repair works, so changing hotels in advance may be worth considering.

There are also newer reports on check-in: when rooms are available, guests are often accommodated before the official time — examples mentioned check-in around 8:00, 10:00, and immediately after wristbands were issued. Room-location requests may also be honored if sent in advance through a travel agent; moving to the main building can require an extra fee.

In May, large cockroach-like insects (matchbox-sized) were spotted in a hotel restaurant bathroom. Reception initially dismissed it as 'nature' but sent staff to treat the area. No such insects were found in the rooms themselves.

At check-in, a promised third bed turned out to be a folding cot. Only after firmly insisting — despite initial rudeness from the manager — was a proper bed brought in. The hotel also tried to temporarily move guests to a different property for a night.

Sural Garden hotel in Side stands out positively: clean rooms, friendly staff, and good food. Recommended as a reliable alternative when choosing accommodation in Side.

A broken AC unit is a serious issue in summer: in one hotel, it reportedly went unrepaired for an entire week. Sleeping without AC in Side during summer is nearly impossible, especially with children.