Author: Igor
Barut Acanthus Cennet 5 Turkey Side is the name of the best hotel in Side! We share the reviews about the hotel, as we have been there in person.
“Barut Acantus is a hotel with red fish for breakfast, shrimp for dinner and aperole at the bar. But there are also disadvantages ... "- this is how my video review on YouTube begins. I'll start like this here, in the blog.
During all six days spent at the hotel, there was not even a minute when we were missing something. A hotel on the 1st line in Side with a perfect sandy beach and just excellent infrastructure - what more could you ask for? But a few moments still made me tense. Get ready, there will be many beautiful photos and sensible text: who is Acantus suitable for, is it worth the money and can it be an alternative to Max Royal?
Our trip to Barut Acanthus Cennet - why did you choose the hotel?
The hotel has a health certificate. It is safe to drive into it right now.
5 * Barut Acanthus Cennet in Turkey belongs to the Barut chain of premium hotels, of which there are only 13 units in the country - both in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Aegean.
We were already in Side a year ago and therefore, returning this season, already knew what Acantus would look like - we had previously stayed at a nearby hotel. Many times we passed by him and "with an open mouth" looked at the well-groomed territory, sun loungers - not just plastic folding beds, but whole beds made of wood! - and waiters serving watermelons and cocktails right on the beach. Then we dreamed, and a year later, unexpectedly for ourselves, we found ourselves on these sunbeds :)
I have not been to hotels like Max Royal in Belek (only Max in Kemer is more expensive), but in Barut Akantus, judging by the reviews of tourists in 2020-2021 and our conversations with guests, there are many regulars “from there”. Because one hotel cannot accommodate everyone, while other worthy options that have opened this season can be counted on one hand. According to the main indicators, the hotels correspond to each other's class, but ours, Acantus, is already 2 times cheaper!
By the way, here, in Side, there are also a couple of Baruts - we reached Barut Hemera (it is cheaper and easier) and Barut Arum (good and also with a lower cost).
We have long wanted to try the "real" Turkish ultra all inclusive. So that without pathos, without gold and "chocolate rivers", but with European style and quality. Barut Acanthus did not disappoint us at all, we got exactly what we expected.
Before the trip, we studied all sorts of hotel reviews for 2019-2020 and chose the ideal 6 days-5 nights for us on Online Tours. There are two more aggregators on which I compare prices for tours (about them a little below), in our case it was cheaper on the first. Anex tour became the tour operator - simply because of the convenient flights, there in the early morning, back in the evening.
Prices for hotel Barut Acanthus Cennet
To make it easier, I will calculate all prices for 5 nights - if you need more, go to the aggregator sites from the section below and enter filters for 7-14 days.
Turkey is obviously unprofitable for independent travel, unless you plan to a) Istanbul and b) drive a car around the regions. Now I went to RoomGuru and once again looked at the prices per night in our hotel, if you go "savage" - from 23,000 rubles even in October. And this is at a discount, the usual price is from 40,000 rubles per night. Horror!
- At the same time, the price of a tour from Moscow to Barut Acanthus Cennet in October 2021 on ultra all inclusive is from 102,000 rubles for two for 5 nights. This is 20,400 rubles per night: with flights, transfers and insurance included!
For such a hotel, it's really oh-oh-very good value. As far as I looked, this is the minimum price for Acantus. But you don't have to take my word for it, you'd better check it yourself :)
In the same Max Royal in Belek, you can buy a tour only from 230,000 rubles for 5 nights.
Well, as we understood, they are very similar in class, just in the Royal there is a surcharge for chic and "hype".
In the season, starting in May, tours to the Barut Akantus hotel start from 125,000 rubles, and in the summer - from 160,000 rubles for the same period. Therefore, if you succeed, I advise you to choose autumn or early spring for a stay at the hotel (and the price is cheaper, and you can swim in the sea).
We figured out the prices and how to fly profitably, now I will collect below the services where we usually look for and buy tours (not only to Turkey, of course).
Where is the best place to look for tours?
Without further ado, I highlight three tour search sites - the same as Aviasales and Skyscanner in the world of airline tickets:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
Over the past 7 years, we have booked through each, and somewhere several times. In Barut, a cheaper tour was found on Online Tours (there, according to the link, a discount of up to 3%). And about Travelata in general, a whole review article was written in the blog.
What does the hotel look like?
Acanthus is very stylish and fresh! I literally rested with my eyes - no pomp like domes, gold leaf and crystal chandeliers. The hotel was designed in European style and relatively recently - in 2016.
On a note: This is how Acantus has stood in its place since the 80s. Until 2016, it was a four star hotel wildly popular for its budget price and good food. In 2016, it was demolished, the current Acantus was rebuilt, a star was added - and brought to a new level of quality.
The hotel is small, which I really liked, and the territory consists of:
- two residential 4-storey buildings,
- between which there is a huge pool with a bar
- and several bungalows with a private pool.
A nice feature of Acantus is that the buildings are designed in such a way that of all standard rooms the sea is perfectly visible! In the video on YouTube, I show everything clearly - I will leave the link at the end of the text.
To the beach from the room to walk 2 minutes maximum: the hotel is located on the 1st line. Believe me, there is no better beach and entrance to the sea in the city of Side - at Acantus ideal swimming area! The beach area is wide and long, divided into 3 sections, one of which is for adults only. Comfortable sun beds, made of wood and with a foam mattress; there are singles and beds for two. The umbrellas are of high quality, they protect from the sun.
Rooms - we lived in standard - spacious and tasteful... It is interesting for me to have a look at other works of the architect-designer Acantus, because I did not expect this from Turkey. Of the pleasant little things with the number are:
- welcom-gift in the form of a rahatlukum box,
- free and refillable mini-bar with water, soda, juices and beer,
- bathrobes and slippers
- and - the coolest thing - a beach bag, super-quality (one per room, an additional one can be bought for 20-25 euros).
Clue: if silence after 9pm is important to you, you need a room with a view NOT the pool. The animation, although it lasts until 23:00, is audible decently.
Acantus adult oriented... It is more suitable for retired tourists, families with babies and young couples with a romantic attitude. Please note that there is no infrastructure and entertainment for children who have already crossed the line “I crawl until I walk”. Basically all guests are 30+ and we were the youngest (excluding babies :)).
They settled us early, at the reception they went to meet us, and already at 8 am we were in the room (as we arrived early). But I had to check out exactly at 12:00, because the next guest was checked into the room. But even having made a check-out, you can use everything on the territory of the hotel until departure, so this does not cause big problems - you take your bags to the reception and walk, eat, swim.
Is Acantus good for travel now that security requirements in Turkey's hotels are increased? I answer with confidence: yes! Feels like Acantus is an example of how preventive measures should be implemented. I will not describe here what exactly the hotel does - you can read about this in our review of holidays in Turkey now - but it is clear that it is treated with full responsibility.
All inclusive in Barut Acantus - did you like it?
About food.
Buffet. I will say right away that everything is included in the Acanthus Cennet Barut Collection - 10 out of 10. During a week of rest, you can never repeat the dishes, and the buffet - its variety and quality - is quite consistent with an elite hotel in Turkey.
By the way, our neighbor mentioned that the food in Acantus is not worse than Max Royal, we will believe her :)
- Every morning - red fish, with every meal - freshly squeezed orange juice. I've even noticed gluten-free bread.
Dinners - themed, we got to the Chinese evening, Italian, seafood. There were king prawns, crabs, ravioli, and gilthead. Despite the "new rules of the game" after the opening of borders and a glass-covered buffet, this change did not disappoint me. On the contrary, "poking" with your finger saved you from an extra several thousand calories :) Seriously, the safety and sanitation have become even better, because before you no one put this spoon dozens of times and touched this fig (yes, in the hotel in August-September they serve figs).
Alcohol ... it's hard for me to judge, but I'll leave a photo of the bar, you can zoom in and see what's there. And so - many different cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, a large selection of wines (Turkish). There is even aperol and non-alcoholic champagne.
What made me VERY happy was the coffee shop and pastry shop! There are all kinds of cakes (the cheesecake is really tasty, not chemical), and home-made chocolate and sweets, and Turkish delight, and homemade ice cream. Coffee does not reach the highest level, but it is quite pleasant to drink, and there is an option on soy milk!
Ala carte restaurants. On the territory of Acantus there are 3 a la carte restaurants, open only for dinners from 7 pm and where you need to make an appointment in advance:
- Italian Lavanta,
- international Safran,
- and seafood Roca.
You can walk in them as much as you like - it's free.
Hint # 1: there is also a beach a la carte restaurant Maison Plage - it is open from 8:00 to 22:00, no appointment. We often dined there (Acantus pizza - fire!).
Hint # 2: in the Roca restaurant from 13:00 to 15:00 you can eat sushi and rolls, without an appointment.
Hint # 3: "For the convenience of guests" the hotel has a mobile application where all activities are scheduled and through which they are recorded in ala cards (moreover, three days before the desired date). But this is unrealistic. It is unrealistic to book a place, they fly away in an instant, there are too many guests! It is safer - and less convenient - to guard an employee at the guest relation counter from 8:50 in the morning and make an appointment through them.
About entertainment.
Animation is not Acantus's strong point. Everything is adjusted to the contingent. Of course, the hotel has a spa (by the way, upon check-in, they give a welcome 10 minutes of massage for free), a fitness room, an indoor pool, table tennis, water aerobics and yoga - to have fun during the day.
For the evening - an hour and a half program on the stage at the bar: dancing, live music, etc. After 23:00 the hotel goes to sleep. Of entertainment for children, only a children's room.
The official website of the Barut Acanthus Cennet is baruthotels.com.
Well, if you need to ask something, you can try to write to [email protected]
Our review of Barut Acanthus Cennet Collection
The main advantages of the hotel lie not only in its high-quality design and decor, and "filling", but also in its location. Not far away (within walking distance) are the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the amphitheater, where many come on excursions - and if you choose this hotel, you can come on your own. Along the beach there is a long-and-innaya embankment, so long that we never reached the end.
There are no large cities nearby, unless Manavgat is 20 minutes away by dolmus (local minibus).
The hotel itself, in my opinion, is fully consistent with its status and price. But there were disadvantages, I talked about them in my video on YouTube, and I will mention them here:
- The problem with the sun loungers. The fact is that they are occupied from early morning - literally from 6:00 along the pool and on the first line on the beach there are no longer free sun loungers, all are covered with towels (and the people themselves, of course, went to fill up their room).
- Rarely, but there is a strange attitude from the waiters and bartenders. As if they are tired, and you are annoying with your request.
- Well, as already mentioned, places in ala carte are sorted out in a minute. Now this is a more acute problem, because because of the pandemic, seats have been reduced.
While we were at Barut Acanthus Cennet Collection in Side, I was not lazy and shot a video for our blog on Youtube with a review and feedback about the hotel, so I recommend:
Briefly: the pros and cons of the hotel
By cons:
- Fight for sunbeds!
- It's hard to get into the ala carte.
- Bad burgers in a beach restaurant, don't take it :)
- Premium rooms of a swim-up bungalow (with its own pool) experience the same above problems, and pay an order of magnitude more.
- Quite a high price for the hotel.
- Lack of children's animation.
Why are tourist reviews mostly positive about Barut Acanthus Cennet Collection? That's why:
+ Minimalistic yet stylish design of both the hotel and the rooms.
+ Fresh and not shabby (he is 4 years old).
+ The best beach in Side! Clean, sandy, with a gentle entrance to the sea.
+ Comfortable sun loungers and quality umbrellas.
+ In a pandemic, he takes all security measures seriously.
+ Russian-speaking reception and guest reception.
+ No children, hotel for seniors and young couples.
+ Delicious food at the buffet.
+ Unlimited visits to ala carts.
+ The interests of everyone are taken into account: there are 16+ zones both in the restaurant and on the beach; there is a hall “without mobile phones”; there is gluten-free bread and soy milk, and for vegans, the hotel is ready to come up with something on request.
In general, I am very pleased with the Barut Acanthus Cennet hotel and would definitely come back again. I hope my text and video reports will help you decide whether to go to Acantus. Monitor and compare prices for it on aggregators - Travelata, Level.Travel or Onlinetours - and I wish you the lowest price! :)
