Which Is the Best Barut Hotel? Six Barut Resorts Compared
Six Barut resorts across Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts — and the differences that actually change your holiday, explained by the people who contract them.
Published 1 August 2026 · Last contract-checked 1 August 2026
Barut is one of the few Turkish hotel names British holidaymakers recognise before they've booked anything. People arrive at us already knowing they want a Barut. What they usually don't know is which one — and the differences between them are much bigger than the shared name suggests.
We sell six: four in Side, one in Lara, and one on an entirely different coast — Didim, on the Aegean. This guide explains what separates them, including one difference that sits on the booking page in plain sight and that almost nobody explains.
What this guide covers. These are the six Barut properties currently in the GoToBeach programme for British package holidays; Barut operates others that we do not sell. We also explain BAYOU Villas below, which is Barut's premium villa concept rather than a stand-alone resort.
The short version
Families with young children: Barut Hemera for baby equipment and an established family setup, or Anda Barut Collection for the newest family facilities and adventure park.
Couples and mixed-age groups who want polish: Arum Barut Collection or Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection — both walkable to ancient Side, both quieter in feel.
The most complete Antalya-area resort: Lara Barut Collection, with the shortest airport transfer of the six.
The newest, on a different coast: Anda Barut Collection in Didim — Aegean rather than Mediterranean, and a Bodrum flight rather than an Antalya one. Check flights from your airport before you set your heart on it.
The value entry point: Barut GOIA — newest refurbishment in Side, but read the board basis and beach note below before you book it.
How we know this
We contract these hotels — we don't just resell them
GoToBeach negotiates directly with Turkish hotels rather than buying allocation through a bed bank. That means we see the contract: what is actually included in the board basis, which room categories exist and how many of each, what the child policies really say, and what changed from last season.
That is a different vantage point from a review site, and it is why this guide leads with things like board basis and beach access rather than with photographs of the lobby. Those are the details that decide whether a holiday matches what someone imagined.
Nothing in this guide was written by the hotels, and nobody paid to be included or ranked. Where a property has a genuine drawback, we say so — you will find several below.
First, the difference nobody explains
Five of the six Barut hotels we sell are Ultra All Inclusive. One — Barut GOIA — is All Inclusive.
Those two words look almost identical on a booking page and they are not the same product. In the Barut concepts we currently contract, Ultra All Inclusive generally provides a wider selection than standard All Inclusive — typically a broader drinks list, more à la carte entitlement and longer service hours. The exact drinks, à la carte rules, minibar contents and opening times vary by hotel and by season, and hotels do change them between contracts. Ask us for the current concept sheet for the specific hotel and dates you're looking at rather than assuming.
Neither is better. A family who eat at the buffet, drink beer and soft drinks and spend the day in the pool may notice almost no difference and save a meaningful amount. A couple who want to eat à la carte four nights out of seven will feel it immediately.
The question to ask yourself
Will you use the à la carte restaurants, and do you drink branded spirits or cocktails? If yes to either, the Ultra All Inclusive hotels usually work out better value even at a higher headline price. If no to both, GOIA is the sharper deal. This is the single most useful thing on this page.
Second: Side, Lara or Didim?
Four of the six are in Side, one is in Lara, and one is in Didim. This is a bigger decision than which hotel. Side and Lara both sit in the Antalya area on the Mediterranean; Didim is on the Aegean, several hours north-west, and you fly into a different airport.
| Side | Lara | Didim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | Antalya (AYT) | Antalya (AYT) | Bodrum (BJV) |
| Transfer | Around an hour | Roughly 15–20 minutes | Around an hour |
| Sea | Mediterranean | Mediterranean | Aegean |
| What's outside | An ancient Greco-Roman town — amphitheatre, Temple of Apollo, harbour restaurants | A modern hotel strip; Antalya city and Kaleiçi old town a short drive away | Didim town, plus Didyma and its Temple of Apollo a short drive away |
| Best for | Anyone who wants to walk somewhere in the evening | Short transfers, young children, city day trips | Newest resort product; quieter, less developed coastline |
If you are travelling with a toddler, the Lara transfer is worth serious weight. An hour in a coach at the end of a flight is a long hour. If you want to walk out of the gate into somewhere with history and restaurants, Side wins comfortably. Didim is the choice if you want something newer and less trodden — but check your flight options first, because Bodrum departures are less frequent from some UK airports than Antalya.
The six hotels
1. Barut Hemera — Side (Kumköy)
Ultra All Inclusive · around 3km from Side centre · beachfront
The family hotel of the group, and the one we book most often for households with children under ten. The Bary Star kids' club runs a proper supervised programme, the baby equipment list is unusually complete — cots, sterilisers, high chairs, baby food — and there are six pools including a kids' pool with slides.
What makes it work for couples too is that Barut has carved out adult space rather than letting children run the whole site: there is a quiet adults-only pool and an adults section within the main restaurant. Drinks are ordered to your sunbed by QR code, which sounds like a gimmick until you have three children and no free hands.
Worth knowing: the family rooms are typically one room divided into two sleeping areas rather than two separate bedrooms with a door between them. If you need a door — because a baby sleeps early and you don't — ask us and we will check the specific category before you book.
2. Arum Barut Collection — Side
Ultra All Inclusive · around 3km from Side centre along the promenade · beachfront
Arum sits in the Collection tier, which Barut created in 2019 for its three most polished properties. It is a mid-sized resort — around 330 rooms — with six pools including a heated indoor pool that keeps it usable well outside high summer, and a seasonal pier that is one of the most photographed spots on this coast.
The beach has a dedicated adults-only section, and there is a walkable promenade into Side, which is the thing guests mention most in feedback.
Be honest about this one: the sea entry is stony in places. It is a sandy beach, but the water's edge has rock, and small children will want water shoes. Guests who don't know this in advance are disappointed; guests who bring shoes or simply swim from the pier are not. The pier operates seasonally, roughly April to the end of October.
3. Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection — Side centre
Ultra All Inclusive · walking distance to ancient Side · beach a very short walk from the hotel
This is where the whole company started. The Barut family opened a 36-room hotel here in 1971; the site was rebuilt from the ground up in 2015 into the current five-star resort, and it moved into the Collection tier in 2019.
Its advantage over the other Side properties is position: you can walk into the ancient town for dinner instead of taking a taxi. For couples and for grandparents travelling with adult children, that changes the shape of the week — you are not committed to the hotel every evening.
It is the most grown-up in feel of the Side four. Families are well looked after, but if your children want a waterpark and big nightly production shows, this is not the one.
4. Barut GOIA — Side
All Inclusive · around 15 minutes' walk from Side · beach by complimentary shuttle
Formerly Barut Sunwing Side Beach, GOIA reopened in 2024 after a full renovation and a rename. Every room was redone, along with the restaurants, bars and show areas — so the rooms are among the newest of the Side properties, and GOIA is usually the sharpest-priced of the six.
Two things you must know before booking. First, the board basis is All Inclusive, not Ultra — see the section above, because it matters. Second, and more important: GOIA is not on the beach. The hotel runs a frequent complimentary shuttle to its own beach club, which has a snack restaurant and bar, but you are not walking out of your room onto the sand.
For a couple or a group who spend the day around the pool and use the beach twice, that is a non-issue and the price difference is real. For a family who want to be on the sand from ten until four with a toddler and a bag of gear, the shuttle becomes the defining feature of the holiday. We would rather tell you now than have you discover it on day one.
5. Lara Barut Collection — Lara, Antalya
Ultra All Inclusive · roughly 15–20 minutes from Antalya airport · beachfront
The largest and most complete of the Antalya-area properties. It sits on a very large site in Güzeloba on Lara's sandy beach, with an on-site waterpark of seven slides, lagoon-style pools split into family, adult and children's zones, a thalassotherapy spa and Turkish hammam, and a dining operation running to more than ten restaurants.
The clever thing about it is the zoning. Big resorts usually force families and couples into the same spaces; Lara Barut is laid out so that the two can genuinely coexist. The transfer is one of the shortest among the five-star Lara and Kundu beach hotels we sell.
Worth knowing: it is usually the most expensive of the six, and the site is large enough that the walk from some room blocks to the beach is a real walk. If mobility is a factor for anyone in your party, tell us and we will request a block accordingly.
6. Anda Barut Collection — Didim, Delice Peninsula
Ultra All Inclusive · Aegean coast · around an hour from Bodrum airport · beachfront
The newest property in the group and the only one outside Antalya. Anda opened in 2024 on the Delice Peninsula near Didim, on a very large site, with 547 rooms plus fourteen villas — a build on a scale Turkey has not seen much of in recent years.
It is laid out in three zones rather than as one resort: a Community Zone with the main pool and buffet, an Adult Zone with its own pool, bar and restaurant, and a Family Zone with the aqua park and clubs. The Cutara Madventure Park is the standout for children — waterslides, a mini roller coaster, bumper cars and sports courts — and there are separate baby, kids' and teen provisions. There are two beaches, one facing sunrise and one facing sunset.
Worth knowing: this is Aegean, not Mediterranean, and you fly to Bodrum rather than Antalya. Check flight availability from your airport before you fall in love with it. Didim is also a less developed resort than Side — that is the appeal for some guests and the drawback for others. If you want a lively town within walking distance, this is not it.
What is BAYOU Villas?
You will see the name BAYOU used alongside Barut, and it causes more confusion than any other part of the group's naming. It is worth clearing up, because guests sometimes think they are booking a separate hotel.
BAYOU Villas is Barut's premium villa concept rather than a stand-alone resort. It is the top tier of the room list, not a different address. BAYOU Villas Lara sits within the Lara Barut Collection experience, and BAYOU Villas Delice Peninsula forms the villa accommodation at Anda Barut Collection, where fourteen villas line the seafront with private pools.
What that means practically: booking a BAYOU villa gives you the space, the privacy and the private pool, while you still have the resort's restaurants, pools, spa and kids' facilities on the same site. You are not cut off from the hotel — you are staying in the best part of it.
Villa numbers are small at both properties and they are the first thing to go for peak weeks. If a villa is what you want, it is worth asking about availability well before you would normally book.
Side by side
| Hotel | Resort | Board | Beach | Transfer | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barut Hemera | Side (Kumköy) | Ultra All Inclusive | Beachfront | ~60 min | Young families | Family rooms are divided areas, not two closed bedrooms |
| Arum Barut Collection | Side | Ultra All Inclusive | Beachfront | ~60 min | Mixed groups; adults-only beach section | Stony sea entry in places |
| Acanthus & Cennet | Side centre | Ultra All Inclusive | Very short walk | ~60 min | Couples; walking into the ancient town | Limited waterpark appeal next to the family-led resorts |
| Barut GOIA | Side | All Inclusive | By complimentary shuttle | ~60 min | Value; newest rooms | Not beachfront; narrower board basis |
| Lara Barut Collection | Lara | Ultra All Inclusive | Beachfront | ~15–20 min | Full resort; shortest transfer; waterpark | Highest price; large site to walk |
| Anda Barut Collection | Didim (Aegean) | Ultra All Inclusive | Beachfront, two beaches | ~60 min from Bodrum | Newest resort; zoned for families and adults | Bodrum flights; quiet resort town |
Transfer times are approximate and depend on traffic and the number of stops on your coach.
So which one?
- Toddler or baby in the party? Lara Barut for the short transfer, or Hemera for the equipment and the kids' club. Both work; the deciding factor is usually how your child copes with a coach.
- Two adults who want good food and somewhere to walk? Acanthus & Cennet first, Arum second.
- Teenagers? Lara Barut for the waterpark, or Hemera for the entertainment programme.
- Watching the budget but want the Barut name? GOIA — provided you have read the board basis and beach notes above and they don't bother you.
- One big multi-generational booking? Lara Barut or Anda, because the zoning at both means grandparents, parents and children can each have the holiday they wanted.
- Want something new that your friends haven't been to? Anda in Didim — provided Bodrum flights work from your airport.
- Want a private pool and villa space? BAYOU Villas, at either Lara Barut or Anda. Ask early; there are very few.
Practical notes
- Flights: the five Antalya-area hotels are reached via Antalya (AYT), with direct flights from most UK airports through the summer. Anda in Didim is reached via Bodrum (BJV) — fewer UK departure points, so check yours before choosing it.
- When to go: May, June, September and early October give you the heat without the peak. July and August are hot and full. Several of these hotels open around the start of April and some facilities are seasonal — pools, piers and beach clubs do not all run year-round.
- Booking: Turkey packages are held with a deposit of £60 per person. The balance is due 12 weeks before departure.
- Room categories: swim-up rooms, family categories and sea-view allocations are limited at every one of these hotels and go early. If a specific category matters to you, book it rather than hoping for an upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Which Barut hotel is best for families?
Barut Hemera in Side is the most family-focused of the group, with the Bary Star kids' club, a strong baby equipment list and a kids' pool with slides. Lara Barut Collection is the alternative if you want a waterpark and the shortest possible transfer from Antalya airport — around 15 to 20 minutes rather than an hour.
What is the difference between Barut All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive?
In the Barut concepts we currently contract, Ultra All Inclusive generally provides a wider selection than standard All Inclusive — typically a broader drinks list, more à la carte entitlement and longer service hours. Exact entitlements vary by hotel and season. Of the six Barut hotels we sell, only Barut GOIA is All Inclusive — the other five are Ultra All Inclusive. If you plan to eat à la carte or drink cocktails, the difference is worth real money.
Is Barut GOIA on the beach?
No. GOIA has its own beach club reached by a frequent complimentary shuttle, with a snack restaurant and bar, but the hotel itself is not beachfront. It is around a 15-minute walk from Side. If being able to walk from your room onto the sand matters to you, choose one of the beachfront properties instead — Hemera, Arum, Acanthus & Cennet, Lara Barut or Anda.
Which Barut hotel is closest to ancient Side?
Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection, which sits in the centre of Side within walking distance of the ancient town. Arum is around 3km away with a promenade walk into town, and Hemera is a similar distance in Kumköy.
Is the beach sandy at the Barut hotels in Side?
The beaches are sandy, but at Arum the sea entry is stony in places and water shoes are recommended — or you can swim from the pier, which runs seasonally from around April to the end of October. If barefoot sea entry is important for small children, tell us and we will steer you to the right property.
Which is the most luxurious Barut hotel?
Lara Barut Collection is the largest and most complete of the Antalya-area properties, with a seven-slide waterpark, a thalassotherapy spa and hammam, and more than ten restaurants. In Side, the Collection-tier properties — Arum and Acanthus & Cennet — sit above the others in finish and service. Anda in Didim is also Collection-tier and is the newest of the six.
Are Barut hotels adults-only?
None of the six we sell are adults-only, but several have dedicated adult areas. Hemera has a quiet adults-only pool and an adults section in the main restaurant, Arum has an adults-only section on the beach, and both Lara Barut and Anda are zoned so that adult and family areas are separated. Anda goes furthest, with a dedicated Adult Zone that has its own pool, bar and restaurant.
What is BAYOU Villas?
BAYOU Villas is Barut's premium villa concept rather than a stand-alone resort. BAYOU Villas Lara sits within the Lara Barut Collection experience, and BAYOU Villas Delice Peninsula forms the villa accommodation at Anda Barut Collection, where fourteen villas line the seafront with private pools. You book a villa but use the resort's restaurants, pools and facilities as normal. Numbers are small, so ask early.
Which airport do I fly into for Anda Barut Collection?
Bodrum (BJV), not Antalya. Anda is on the Delice Peninsula near Didim on the Aegean coast, around an hour from Bodrum airport. It is the only one of the six Barut hotels we sell that is outside the Antalya area, and Bodrum has fewer UK departure points than Antalya — worth checking before you settle on it.
What is the difference between Barut Hotels and Barut Collection?
"Collection" is Barut's upper tier rather than a separate company. In 2019 the group moved three of its properties — Arum, Acanthus & Cennet and Lara Barut — into the Collection segment, which sits above the rest of the portfolio in finish, service and dining; Anda, which opened in 2024, is Collection-tier too. Barut Hemera and Barut GOIA are full five-star hotels but are not Collection-tier. BAYOU Villas is something different again: Barut's premium villa concept inside Lara Barut and Anda, not a stand-alone resort. It is a useful shorthand, though it is not a substitute for reading what each hotel actually offers.
Can I book a Barut hotel with flights and transfers?
Yes. All six are bookable through GoToBeach as ATOL-protected flight-inclusive packages under licence 11211 (Caria Holidays Ltd), with flights from UK airports, accommodation and resort transfers in one booking. See our Turkey holidays for the full programme.
Not sure which Barut is yours?
Tell us who's travelling and your dates, and we'll recommend the right resort before recommending the right hotel. ATOL-protected flight-inclusive packages under licence 11211.
Call +44 208 211 00 01 Email hi@gotobeach.co.ukGoToBeach is a Mediterranean and North African holiday specialist focused on five destinations we know personally: Turkey, Greece, Malta, Morocco and Egypt. ATOL-protected flight-inclusive packages under licence 11211, Caria Holidays Ltd. Trading address: 12 Savoy Parade, Southbury Rd, Enfield EN1 1RT. This guide was written by Raşit Eti, GoToBeach's Contract Manager & Destination Specialist for Türkiye. Board basis, facilities, opening dates and room categories are set by the hotels and can change between seasons — please confirm the specifics with a GoToBeach specialist before booking. If you are reading this after publication and believe any detail has changed, please email us at hi@gotobeach.co.uk.