Lara Barut Collection

If you want to be in the sea soon after landing, Lara Barut Collection has an obvious advantage: sources put Antalya Airport at around 10 to 13 km away. For short breaks and late arrivals, that distance genuinely matters.

The hotel sits on the beach in the Lara–Kundu area and is open all year. It has around 470 rooms, with standard rooms, family rooms and suites.

What defines it for us is dining variety. Under Ultra All Inclusive, the main buffet is joined by Turkish, seafood, Mediterranean, local, barbecue, pizza and sushi options, which keeps menus fresh on longer stays.

The sandy beach is about 200 metres long, with a pier. The Spa & Thalasso Centre has a Turkish bath, a thalasso pool, massage and treatment rooms, two saunas and a steam room, a good reason to choose it if you enjoy seawater therapies.

Children have kids' pools, playgrounds, a kids' club and services for babies.

What should you weigh up? Lara's hotels line a single strip of coast and beaches tend to be short; 200 metres for about 470 rooms is on the tight side. The official site lists a seven-slide aquapark, with opening dates and hours that vary by season; families wanting a bigger slide park will find Delphin Imperial's fifteen slides a step up.

It is not the place for families who want a huge slide park or for those wanting a secluded, nature-filled setting.

Nearby, Concorde De Luxe is a similar size (about 400 rooms), equally close to the airport, and has an aquapark pool with slides. Crystal Centro Lara is a smaller alternative with a simpler room set-up.

Being open year-round and near the airport makes it a sensible choice for a few days of spa and rest in winter. The most comfortable swimming months are usually June to October. In July and August, Antalya's humidity adds to the heat, so indoor time around midday helps.