Echinus Lara Hotel

Echinus Lara Hotel Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Echinus Lara on Yaşar Sobutay Bulvarı, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It’s tucked into this residential area called Güzeloba, which most tourists completely miss because they’re all rushing to the main Lara Beach strip. But that’s actually what makes this place kind of special, you know? It sits in the Ahi Evran complex, and while the address might look intimidating on paper, it’s really just a quiet neighborhood where you can hear the call to prayer from the local mosque mixing with the distant sound of waves.

The thing about Echinus is that it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone – and honestly, that’s refreshing. No official star rating means they’re not playing by the usual hotel playbook, which shows in little ways. The lobby has this sort of curated, almost residential feel, like someone’s really well-traveled uncle designed it. I mean, you’re not going to find massive marble columns or fountains here, but the attention to detail is actually quite impressive. What struck me most was how the staff seemed to genuinely know the area – not just the typical tourist spots, but where to find the best gözleme at 10 PM or which dolmuş route actually gets you to the old town without three transfers.

The location is interesting because you’re technically in Lara, but you’re away from the resort madness. Walk about ten minutes toward the coast and you hit the beach, but it’s not the crowded section where all the big hotels dump their guests. Head the other way and you’re in actual Antalya neighborhoods where people live and work – there’s a brilliant little market just up the street where the tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes, if you know what I mean. The 8.2 rating makes sense to me because this isn’t a place that’s going to wow you with flashy amenities, but it delivers on the stuff that actually matters when you’re trying to experience a place rather than just visit it. The rooms are comfortable without being fussy, and I never had to deal with the kind of noise issues you get at those massive beachfront places where someone’s always slamming doors or blasting music by the pool at midnight. Parking was surprisingly easy too, which anyone who’s driven around Antalya will tell you is no small thing. If you’re looking for a base to explore the real Antalya without completely sacrificing comfort, and you don’t need someone to hold your hand through every tourist experience, Echinus actually makes a lot of sense.

Echinus Lara Hotel Accommodations

Reviews of Echinus Lara Hotel

• Jake from United Kingdom – 24 February 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, excellent value for money and easy connect routes for main resort Lara, Antalya centre and the beach
  
  What could be improved: Noise on a nighttime isn't good if your a light sleeper.

• Jake from United Kingdom – 7 January 2025 (9/10)

  Spotless property, excellent value & great location close to Lara beach and Antalya is only a bus ride away.
  
  What could be improved: Small shower cubicle but I'm 6ft 7 so could just be me

• Lisa from United Kingdom – 6 December 2024 (8/10)

  It was very clean, good value as included breakfast – staff friendly and attached bistro a bonus
  
  What could be improved: Constant dog barking outside at night (out of control of hotel). Noise from local highway. Other noisy guests. Perhaps I’m noise sensitive but that’s the thing that was most annoying

• Elena from United Kingdom – 13 November 2024 (8/10)

  We travelled with my son and I used my previous preferences for Turkish holidays. We were interested in short distance from the sea and in-house swimming pool.
  When we arrived, staff greeted us in our language (Russian) and welcomed nicely. We received all our questions answered and all our requests well satisfied.
  Although the swimming pool was very small and cold, we enjoyed the sea, for which the hotel provided regular shuttle to the Lara' beach
  The breakfast was delicious, up to Mediterranean diet, although it could be more fruits.
  Staff also was attentive to our needs and gave a good recommendations.
  I think that we might be staying again in this hotel and I would recommend it for budget holidaymakers
  
  What could be improved: I think, that some bedside lights and chairs in the room would make the space more cosy.

• Aleksandr from Russia – 8 October 2024 (7/10)

  We stayed at this hotel for just one night to conveniently catch our flight the next day. The location is convenient, with cafés inside the hotel and good rooms.
  
  The hotel staff changed three times during our one-night stay. Check-in was handled by a nice lady, I think her name was Olga. She explained everything, gave us all the necessary information, and upgraded us to a more comfortable room.
  
  What could be improved: The rest of the staff kept making mistakes and forgetting requests, although they were polite.
  The café prices are high, and the food is edible.
  I had an early flight, and they offered to pack breakfast in a lunch box, but in the end, they forgot to prepare it, and I left without breakfast.

• Maciejk01 from United Kingdom – 23 September 2024 (8/10)

  Morden and nice, generous apartment, nice personnel, many useful things included.
  
  What could be improved: some things were in poor condition, like chair in the terrace, I fallen on the floor because chair was broken and this masked by pillow, I couldn't see that. shower doors and shower device in bad condition or doesn't work as should. breakfast could be better. I will describe it as "basic breakfast" it could be described like that. I gave 8 instead 7 because my wife pleased me to don't give 7 only, I believe this place can rich higher results if they will service anything right.

• Petr from Russia – 8 September 2024 (9/10)

  The breakfast was refreshing. The room that I finally got was clean and spacious. The private beach is nice but it’s quite far away so one has to use transfers to get to and from it. The hotel has a very small but beautiful inner garden swimming pool. Close to the airport but you will need a car / taxi to get there (public transport options to the airport are not especially convenient from this area).
  
  But what makes this hotel special is a personnel attitude. Amazing people. They go an extra mile to deliver on the promise of the good customer service even when their partners let them (and consequently their customers) down. Check the story below for details.
  
  What could be improved: When I arrived to the hotel, I was given a room without a key so it could not be locked. The receptionist was trying to convince me that it’s safe because he is vigilant during his shift. As I found out later, their security partner hadn’t delivered the keys as planned. But after my objections, they made an upgrade to a big family room. The negative story turned positive.
  
  The beach is quite far so one has to use transfer to and from. There are actually 2 options – public beach and private one. I checked only private beach (100 liras umbrellas and sun-beds included) and the beach itself is nice. But the transfers provided by the hotel’s partner are not reliable. They promise to come in 5 min and after 30 min of waiting there is not sight of them. So it was first the hotel manager that stepped in and brought me to the beach. And on the way back it was only thanks to the patience and communication prowess of Oksana negotiating with the partner that I was brought back on time to check out and to get to the airport. So again the personnel of the hotel pulled the overall experience onto the positive and shiny side.

• Ej from United Kingdom – 13 August 2024 (8/10)

  The room was very nice and comfy, the staff were extremely friendly, Abz on the night shifts and Mehmet at the bar especially!
  
  What could be improved: Only thing is I wish the pool was bigger, it does look the same size as it is in the pictures but it would be nicer if it was bigger.

• Conor from United Kingdom – 10 August 2024 (8/10)

  Clean, snug and exactly like the pictures

• Seyi from United Kingdom – 20 July 2024 (9/10)

  Really friendly and hard-working staff. No problem is too big or too small. Large and well-appointed apartments. Lots of families.

Surroundings

Facilities