Looking for a hotel where the whole family can enjoy a carefree holiday with all-inclusive meals, childcare, entertainment and water slides? I’ve taken a look at the TUI BLUE Tropical in Turkey for you (October 2019). It opens on 25.7.2020.
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Is the TUI BLUE Tropical a good family hotel?
Ok, I have to admit, I don’t have children. Can I even judge what a good family hotel is? At least we all remember a time when we thought ice cream was a balanced meal that could happily be had three times a day and where slides were a day-filling activity. Those cravings will all be satisfied here and adults will also have fun at TUI BLUE Tropical.
Where is the TUI BLUE Tropical located?
The TUI BLUE Tropical is located in Sarigerme Bay on the Turkish Aegean, about 2 km from the small town of Sarigerme. Dalaman, which is the nearest airport, is just a 20-minute drive away – a boon for parents with overtired and hungry children. The hotel has more than earned the name Tropical with its many palm trees and colourful flowers. The hotel grounds are truly huge and include several pools with slides, a pond with wedding pavilion, the long wide beach, tennis courts and plenty of green space in between. Between the hotspots of family activities, on the other hand, the walk is short: restaurants, kids club and pools are not far from the two-storey residential villas.
What room types are available at the TUI BLUE Tropical?
All rooms and suites have a clever room layout so that parents have their privacy but are always close to the children. This ranges from a visual room divider between the two sleeping areas to a separate room with a funny window facing the living room. All units have a bathtub (suite: bubble bath), balcony or terrace and the sleep sofas for the kids all have proper mattresses. Bring the little ones’ favourite shows on DVD, there is a DVD player in every accommodation unit! 10 rooms at the TUI BLUE Tropical are also barrier-free.
For those whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs
When it comes to food, you have several options, depending on the time of day. I checked out the lunch buffet in the main restaurant and by the pool. At the pool, there are grills, hamburgers and other kids’ favourites to eat, as well as plenty of fresh salads. The Turkish cuisine has produced such delicious food, children don’t even realise they are eating healthy vegetables. In the main restaurant, there is a buffet in the morning, at noon and in the evening, so that at first you are almost overwhelmed by the choice. I am at least as fussy as a toddler and even I was tempted by quite a few dishes that I felt sorry for only having one stomach. The food at TUI BLUE Tropical is very international, like the hotel guests. There is everything from chicken nuggets with chips to pasta and Indian food. But I’m afraid that your kids will leave the main courses when they see the dessert buffet. By the way, there is a lowered children’s buffet where kids can fill their own plates according to their taste.
Ice cream and pancakes till they drop
In the afternoon, a stand offers fresh pancakes, ice cream and frozen yogurt. From a child’s point of view, this is probably the only “restaurant” the hotel needs. Unfortunately, the stall was not yet occupied when we passed by (damn!!!), but there were already a few kids printing around nearby and couldn’t wait. Parents will have a hard time telling kids that they need to eat some “decent” food, too, with what’s on offer! But don’t worry, the kids will have such a good time in the pool or Kids Club that they’ll soon be hungry for a proper main meal again.
You have kids who don’t like the food or who throw themselves on the floor screaming? No problem, no one rolls their eyes here. The staff at the TUI BLUE Tropical talk to the little guests with the patience of a saint until all is right with the world again. For me, that’s the mark of a very good family hotel.
How many restaurants does the TUI BLUE Tropical have?
The TUI BLUE Tropical has a total of 6 restaurants. In the evening, there is a huge buffet in the main restaurant and a choice of 4 à la carte restaurants offering grill specialities, Turkish, Italian or Asian cuisine. One visit per week to the speciality restaurants is included in the all-inclusive offer. My special tip is the “Taverna”, where the table is set in Turkish style with many delicious “Meze” (starters) and everyone helps themselves to their heart’s content. So everyone finds something they like, can try something unfamiliar and it’s super sociable.
What does the childcare at TUI BLUE Tropical look like?
The children are looked after in four different age groups 6 days a week for several hours.
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- Baby club for children from 0 to 2 years (for a fee)
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- Children’s Club for children from 3 to 5 years
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- @611 for children from 6 to 11 years
- THE HANGOUT for young people from 12 to 15 years
TUI BLUE Tropcial’s rooms are lovingly decorated and I could see from the expression on the children’s faces that it is a lot of fun there. They do handicrafts, play, dance and try out new things. The youngsters have a separate area in “The Hangout” where they can chill and withdraw from “embarrassing” parents and siblings. Of course, there is vital wifi there too, as there is throughout the hotel grounds.
For the little ones, there is a well-equipped “baby lounge” where parents can change diapers, breastfeed and play with their babies. Here you look after your children yourself.
The childminders at TUI BLUE Tropical are exceptionally well trained to Scandinavian standards and speak several languages. Your children are really in good hands here. You can easily register for childcare via the BLUE App. In the BLUE app, you’ll find all the information you need about opening hours, the programme of events, the food on offer and much more.
What does the entertainment at the TUI BLUE Tropical look like?
Children will not be bored outside of the Kids Club childcare. The TUI BLUE Tropical organises activities, such as games or sports activities, in which the whole family can take part. So you can spend maximum quality time with your offspring. During the day, the fluffy mascots come by and dance around the hotel grounds with the children. For many kids, this is the highlight of the day! Anyone who thinks this is silly will be proved wrong in the afternoon at the latest. Then the evening entertainment programme begins at family-friendly times in the amphitheatre of the TUI BLUE Tropical. It’s fascinating how, despite the different nationalities among the guests, a programme is put together that takes everyone along and overcomes language barriers. There is singing and dancing, cheering and puzzling, and at the end everyone goes to bed happy and satisfied. Well, the adults still go to the “Chill out Bar” and enjoy the time for themselves with a cocktail or a glass of wine. The beauty of all inclusive is that it makes the holiday so wonderfully relaxed and parents have one less thing to worry about.
What is the beach like at the TUI BLUE Tropical?
The hotel grounds are located directly on the wide beach of Sarigerme, which is sandy-pebbly and accessible without barriers. In our opinion, it is one of the 5 most beautiful beaches in the Dalaman region. You’ll find plenty of sunbeds and parasols and, above all, it’s peaceful and quiet here, because many guests can’t escape the pull of the TUI BLUE Tropical’s leisure facilities or have grown attached to the pool and rarely stop by the beach. This is a pity, because the view of the bay and the offshore Baba Island is beautiful. A nearby water sports centre offers catamaran rides, stand-up paddling and much more.
Is there a spa at the TUI BLUE Tropical?
No decent hotel in Turkey is complete without a hammam, and you should definitely try one. Get rubbed down on the warm stone until you feel like a shiny new car 😉 There’s also a sauna and indoor pool, and plenty of beauty treatments and massages. If you want to relax in the sun by the pool, there’s a relaxation pool separate from the hustle and bustle. If you’re more the active type, no problem: a well-equipped gym and professional fitness classes and sports courts await you. There are also cosy daybeds on the hotel grounds, which you can book with or without on-site culinary services.
Who is the TUI BLUE Tropical suitable for?
For families, the TUI BLUE Tropical is a true holiday paradise. Would I go on holiday here as a childless couple? No, it’s too busy for me. I would prefer the TUI BLUE Seno, which is located in the same bay and is a deeply relaxed holiday dream for adults. Also highly recommended is the TUI BLUE Sarigerme Park, which is located between the other two hotels and has the most beautiful beach of all. The hotel is a super all-inclusive hotel for families, couples and solo travellers.
TUI BLUE Tropical or TUI BLUE Sarigerme Park?
Both hotels offer all inclusive and childcare that the kids will rave about long after the holiday is over. I would say that at TUI BLUE Tropical, everything revolves around children even more and the family experience is at the forefront of the entertainment and activities. At TUI BLUE Sarigerme Park, on the other hand, children are also entertained in the kids’ club, but parents treat themselves to a visit to the spa in the meantime. Everyone organises their holiday according to their preferences, the audience is much more mixed. For smaller children, the Tropical is certainly the better choice. In general, however, families are just as well off at Sarigerme Park. Read the reviews and decide for yourself.