Onyria Claros Beach & Spa Resort ★★★★

The Onyria Claros Beach and Spa Resort is nestled in the middle of Özdere Claros Bay. It is one of the most beautiful bays of the Aegean, on the west coast of Turkey, where it almost meets the Greek island of Samos. It occupies the side of a hill leading down to the bay, right to the sea front, and everywhere you look is water. Indeed, there are four pools and the speciality children’s pool, beautiful water features dotted around the grounds, and the sparkling blue Aegean Sea as the lovely backdrop to the scene. We arrived late in the afternoon and the children started as they meant to go on, by heading straight for the children’s swimming pool. This left the adults free to check in at leisure in the plush reception hall and explore our rooms.

The rooms are cool and clean, with dark wood furniture and pretty blue Turkish-patterned bedspreads. We both had balconies overlooking the sea and all the modern conveniences we needed such as a minibar, hairdryer, safety deposit box and TV. The bathrooms were spacious, with a nice set of toiletries. After a rest and freshen-up break, and having gathered and dried off the children, we went out to explore. There are so many eating places to choose from, it was difficult to decide. We could dine in the dining hall with bright white tables and chairs surrounded by pretty Turkish screens and decorations or al fresco overlooking the beach and the sea. There was also what seemed like an endless supply of pool bars or beach bars. We decided in the end on the Piscis restaurant serving fresh fish, a firm favourite for the children as well as the adults, on a beach-side terrace. The food was good, and the scenery beautiful: we watched the dusk gather over the sea, and the stars come out, and all the water of the resort glowed gently as the evening lights came on.

Over the next few days the children experienced what was for them a real holiday of a lifetime. There were lovely pools with great views, a really impressive kids’ pool with an adventure pirate ship, snorkelling in the shallow waters of the bay and a huge funfair-style water park where there are lots of different water slides and rides. There is a kids club divided into different age groups where you can leave small children with trained staff and a range of activities for them like archery, volleyball climbing area and trampolines and lots of indoor entertainment – even a kids’ cinema club.
While all the children’s activities were going on, my daughter and her husband relaxed by one of the pools with a book and a cocktail in hand. My daughter and I had sessions in the spa – my favourite place – where there is a range of treatments and facilities like the traditional Turkish bath, indoor Hydrotherapy pool, Jacuzzi, private hammams, aromatherapy, a steam bath and a sauna. We certainly were spoiled for choice and after a relaxing session in the Turkish bath, we enjoyed relaxing in the Zen-style Spa Lounge with a freshly made vitamin drink.

There was so much to do for all of us, we almost didn’t want to leave and explore the area, but we did dedicate one or two days to a lovely boat trip and some sightseeing / shopping expeditions. All in all, with the children so well catered for, we all got exactly what we wanted from the holiday and returned home relaxed, rested and looking forward to returning to another all-round family treat!