Kamelya Selin Luxury Resort

A mid-sized hotel with a big beach: that is the equation behind Kamelya Selin. Around 275 rooms share a private beach of about 500 metres, so finding space on the sand is unlikely to be a problem.

The hotel is in the Çolaklı area of Side and belongs to the Kamelya Collection group. According to the hotel, Antalya Airport is about 55 km away and Side town around 5 km. The board is standard All Inclusive rather than Ultra, and the hotel stays open all year.

There are eight room types, including garden- or sea-view rooms, family suites and a small number of suites. For guests who want a calmer atmosphere than the giant resorts, the scale strikes a good balance.

Grandee is the buffet restaurant, joined by a Mediterranean à la carte restaurant, Fika Coffee Lounge and Palm Snack Bar. To be honest about it, that is a single à la carte option. If you like trying a different restaurant each night, the choice may feel limited.

The aquapark has adult and children's pools and slides. Santis Spa covers about 1,000 m², with a pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a Turkish bath and a gym; treatments are charged.

Who should look elsewhere? Diners wanting a wide restaurant line-up, and anyone who wants nightlife close by; Çolaklı is quieter than central Side.

Barut Hemera is closer to Side and includes more restaurants, but its beach is about 80 metres. Side Star Elegance is bigger, at around 510 rooms, with five à la carte restaurants.

The long beach keeps things comfortable even in the July and August crowds, though the midday sun is harsh then. June and September balance sea and air temperatures nicely, and the sea is usually still swimmable in October.