Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels

chiangmaicharlies

For the cost, Turtle Beach is really 3 stars, but i enjoyed my one week stay and will give it 4. Many people complain about the birds which will be after your food during alfresco dining, but I liked the wildlife being there. The hotel is old and dated but so what! My room was big and comfortable with a great view. However. it was quite a long walk to the main areas; the hotel is well spread out. The staff and meals were good. I particularly liked the ice cream parlour, the swimming pools and room service. The beach was hopeless; lots of seaweed on it, and all the beaches on the south and east coasts of the island. If you want a good, clean beach, you have to go to the west coast which is mainly taken up with rich folks' homes . There is only ONE hot, small lift (elevator) to cater for all the rooms - terrible! Do take a trip round the island - well worth it!

Joy-Lina A.

The price-performance ratio at Turtle Beach Hotel is disappointing. While you can enjoy a buffet three times a day and book a table for à la carte dining in the evening (which was usually good), the buffet food itself left much to be desired. The potatoes, for example, were dry and soggy rather than crispy. Most of the staff were unfriendly and made us feel unwelcome. Finding a sunbed was nearly impossible as all of them were reserved with towels by 8 AM. When we asked about activities or a hotel plan, the staff dismissed our questions, and after searching for a while, we gave up. Additionally, activities listed on the daily schedule came with extra charges, which is unacceptable given the high cost of staying here. Another strange aspect was the “dummy receipt” provided for meals, showing what they supposedly cost, which seemed unnecessary and odd. The laundry service was outrageously expensive as well. On the positive side, the rooms were clean, and the reception staff were kind and helpful. However, for those wanting to explore the island, this is definitely the wrong hotel. Even for all-inclusive visitors, there are likely better options offering more value for the price.

Milena Bonio

We stayed at Tuttle Bay for five nights, and while many reviews have pointed out that the hotel grounds need updating, I won’t dwell on that as I understand renovations are planned for this year. Instead, I’ll focus on our personal experience as a couple, though I recognize this is primarily a family-oriented hotel, so our perspective as couple , may be a bit biased. Positives The hotel’s biggest strength is its staff—the service is truly excellent. The beach is stunning, and the food is of a very high standard. A standout moment was the New Year’s Eve buffet dinner, which was beautifully organized, with fantastic decorations that added a festive touch. A special highlight for us was our last night when we requested lobster. The chef prepared it perfectly, and while it came with an additional charge, it was absolutely worth it. Negatives The primary issue for us was the noise level. This is a very loud property, and as a couple seeking relaxation, we struggled to find quiet spaces during the day. The entertainment is repetitive, with 80s hits, Michael Jackson, and Bob Marley played on a loop. Daytime activities like karaoke and drumming are also excessively loud. The sound system is of poor quality, and while there are live performances in the evening, they’re often singing the same songs, too loud and, unfortunately, not very enjoyable. We had to be wearing earplugs at times during dinner. During a New Year’s Day event, there was a DJ playing more up-to-date Caribbean music on the beach, which was a refreshing change and much more enjoyable. I hope the planned refurbishment includes better sound systems and an overhaul of the entertainment program. We booked an ocean-view room but were initially placed in a room overlooking the restaurant entertainment area. The loud music made it unbearable. After complaining, we were moved the next night to a much quieter room on the other side of the property, closer to the beach. Another issue is the lack of sun loungers and parasols. Around the pool, there are only around 20 shaded parasols for a resort with over 140 rooms, and no dedicated adult pool. Children are splashing water, running and screaming everywhere, leaving little space for adults to relax. We opted for the beach, but it also has no parasols—just lounges with a hood that provides minimal sun protection. Loungers are placed close together, offering little privacy, and there aren’t enough of them. Guests start reserving loungers before 6 a.m., which is frustrating, however the beach here is absolutely stunning.

Lynne

We've just returned from 9 amazing days at The Turtle Beach Hotel & Spa. The location is just spectacular. Right on the beach, with amazing views, from all rooms, I understand. The 3 pools were very welcome in the heat. Very comfortable sun loungers all around the pools. There was never a problem getting a sunbed and fresh towels every day.

J. Nicole

I could not provide my input via the Marriott site because I was past the review period. The staff was amazing, friendly and I danced with my breakfast lady every morning! Other than that, I was not a fan. It’s not a big resort so not much to do. The rooms were okay but the beds were hard and the paint on the walls are yellow so it feels old. We had two rooms and the fridge did not work in either room. We called the front desk twice and no one ever came to fix it. Our kids had a great time but it was not to the adults standards. The food is good nothing to write home about. There was also an incident on day one of our arrival where our 4yo order a pizza, the pizza was delivered to him, 4yo ate a slice of pizza and the waitress returned to let us know she brought the pizza to the wrong table and had to take it. She proceeds to take the pizza to the back, then bring it back out and said the chef said it was okay. Of course’s we didn’t want the pizza after it was taken away and brought back. Also, there is no continuous service at the pools. They might come around once for drinks, another time with fruit but that’s it. The bar outside is not big, and there is no swim up bar. We go to Barbados annually but will not be staying at this resort again. We prefer to spend the money for the family to have a great time someone else.