Ela Excellence Resort, Belek, Turkey

The Review

If you've ever dreamed of a holiday where you actually get to switch off - and I mean properly switch off, book in hand, cocktail in the other, zero interruptions - Ela Excellence in Belek is it.

We went as a family of four during October half term, me, my husband and our two kids aged 10 and 5, and genuinely couldn't fault a single thing. The resort is enormous but it never feels overwhelming. Everything is just beautifully done.

 

The Rooms

We paid a little extra for a sea view room and I would absolutely do it again. The rooms on the other side of the hallway overlook the trees - peaceful and lovely in their own way - but you cannot beat watching the sun go down over the sea from your own balcony. It's the kind of upgrade that genuinely adds to the experience rather than just being a marketing upsell. If you're booking Ela Excellence, get the sea view. That's my only upgrade recommendation - everything else the standard all inclusive package covers is more than enough.

 

The Food

Honestly, outstanding across the board. Every single restaurant. We particularly loved La Sofa but there genuinely wasn't a weak spot across the whole resort. What also really impressed us was arriving late at night after a long travel day and discovering that Ela Anatolian is open 24 hours. The main buffet restaurant had already closed but we still sat down to a proper, lovely dinner on arrival. That kind of detail makes a huge difference after a day of travelling with kids and it immediately set the tone for the whole stay.

 

The Pools

In October only one pool is heated which was absolutely fine for us - the kids were in it for the morning and then disappeared off to kids club, leaving the adults to migrate around the quieter villa pools dotted around the resort. A word of warning though - those villa pools are cold in October! Worth knowing before you plan your afternoons. If you're not a beach person like me, you'll find your spot easily enough. We spent a lot of time on the pier which was genuinely lovely - calm, scenic and a great place to just sit and watch the world go by.

 

The Kids Club - Where the Magic Happens

I cannot hype this up enough. The kids club at Ela Excellence is genuinely one of the best I have ever encountered and I say that as someone who has travelled a lot. Both of my children are completely different ages - 10 and 5 - and both were absolutely obsessed. My 10 year old didn't want to leave. My 5 year old was the same. The activities, the facilities, the staff - all of it was exceptional. It catered brilliantly for the age gap which isn't always the case.

What this meant in practice was that my husband and I spent most of our days doing something I haven't done on a family holiday in years - absolutely nothing. We found our spot by the villa pools, ordered cocktails and stayed there undisturbed. I actually finished a book. If you're a parent you will understand exactly how monumental that is.

 

The Spa and Wellness

The spa at Ela Excellence is beautiful and the wellness offering is seriously impressive. I snuck in a sound bath session one morning which I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did - it was genuinely one of the most relaxing hours of the whole trip. The honest truth is that with two kids and a packed resort to explore, we barely scratched the surface of what the spa offers. Which tells you everything about how much else there is to do - and also gives me a very good reason to go back.

 

The Personal Concierge

Every guest at Ela Excellence gets their own dedicated concierge reachable via WhatsApp throughout their stay. You message them to book restaurants, arrange activities, request spa sessions - anything you need. No queuing at a desk. No trying to track someone down. It sounds like a small detail but it completely transforms the experience. It's the kind of service that usually only comes with boutique or ultra-luxury properties and it made the whole stay feel genuinely personal.

 

Bottom Line

This is the holiday you book when you want everyone in the family to be genuinely happy and you want to actually come home feeling rested rather than exhausted. The kids are entertained and looked after. The adults have space and quiet and great food and multiple pools. The service is impeccable throughout. I would book it again tomorrow.

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Interested in booking Ela Excellence or something similar for your family? Get in touch and I'll find you the best deal available - sea view room included.