Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Hi, can anyone help clarify something please? I just read a review on another site about the hotel Elif which gives a good report of the hotel, however the report goes on to say the holiday was 'absolutely ruined' by the 'down right abusive, nasty, forceful, in your face' staff from the bar. The review said the bar was run by someone other than the hotel owners, and reported that the hotel staff were 'great'. Another reviewer said that they were also unhappy with the bar staff, and said the only way out of the hotel was through the bar

We don't mind friendly banter, and in other Turkish resorts have never felt threatened or overly hassled by restaurants/bars. Is there a BIG problem with hassle in this hotel? If so, is the bar leased out or is it run by the hotel owner?

The reason I ask is this - if we have to walk through the bar every night to go out, and if we are overly hassled each time, we are likely to dig our heels in and refuse to drink/eat there out of principle (I'm all for banter - but my holiday's not going to be spoiled by anything more aggressive). This, I'm sure, will make us look extremely aloof and unfriendly, therefore if the hotel owner and bar staff are one in the same we'll end up upsetting the hotel staff. If this is the case we'd be better off trying to change our holiday accommodation. If the hotel and bar staff are completely separate, I can live with upsetting the bar staff

On the other hand, are the reviews I've read an unfair summary of the situation. The two reviewers visited this summer (May and July).

Here's a link to the reviews:
http://www.holiday-truth.com/holiday_truths/hotel_reviews/1026/Elif%20Hotel/

sorry ive just returned from elif hotel it was a nightmare the bar staff are horrid .the hotel and staff were great very very pleasent but sorry our holiday would have been a lot better if this bar was not there dont go to the turkish night it is not worth the money although the entertainment was ok if im honest the food was naf the drinks are over priced and they are fond of making big misstakes with bills extra 10 to twenty lira type we had a hell of a time iwas told one day to f\\\\\\\\k off out of the hotel if i wasnt going to spend my money in the hotel i could go on and on but im very upset still about this i would not return to this hotel while the bar is run like this

sorry i didnt answer your question the bar is leased from the hotel but the bar staff are also in charge of the pool area although during the day its not really a problem .drinks in the super market across the road are a fraction they sell coke frozen water etc and small bottle coolers that keep you drinks cold in your room by the pool the exit from the hotel is though the bar .
the staff are all over you on your first days but soon turn when you leave for evening meals /walks etc
one night a man and his wife eat dinner accross the road in the amor restaurant the elif bar staff were really put out and the man ended up being a bit naughty and hand bags at dawn springs to mind we eat out well out of the way but they know where you have been

The last two Augusts we have stayed there and have not experienced much hasslingto the hotel guests, maybe only slightly. Im wondering if now that there is no more hassling allowed out the front of the restaurant that the only way to hassle anyone into eating there is to do it from inside the bar as you pass through. The staff i hear seem to be pretty much the same so maybe this is why the hassling seems to be a lot worse. We (7of us) go in August again this year, and normally over the 2 weeks use the bar for lunch about 8 times, evening meal about 4 times and have a few drinks there every night so if the hassle becomes aggresive it will be their loss as we also meet other friends who also go the same time as us it will be easy to find another watering hole nearby.

Does the Elif have a hairdryer in it?

no, but i never need one cos ive no hair

damn more luggage

I really like the Elif as a hotel but have always found the bar staff a bit pushy but this year they were quite rude it has changed hands. We ate a snack there most days and had drinks during the day but like to go out in the evenings and try other places which they didnt like even though we had spent a good deal during the day last year there was a little gate that you could nip through and not pass the bar but it has been closed off this year so no choice but to pass them. The turkish night is their favourite they hassle you from day 1 to put your name down for Wed night I told them I dont like to plan ahead on holiday just take each day as it comes. Just go past them and tell them you have arranged to eat elsewhere and dont let it spoil your holiday cos the hotel is very good and in a great spot I wont let it stop me going there just have to not let it bother you.

Oh dear Hamish, it sounds like you really were put off by the bar staff at the hotel.

After reading the replies, I don't think I'll be changing hotels. We rarely want to sit around the pool we prefer the beach, so as long as the hotel staff are different to the bar staff, I think we can live with it.

Listen to me, I'm already on the defensive, and I already sound like I'm not going to be eating/drinking there. I think we'll take a leaf out of your book Lucy, we won't let them spoil our holiday, and if they hassle too much we just won't bother stopping for anything - we'll just pass through.

Colette, you're such a girly - hairdryers Actually I'm glad you asked, I know to take mine now

Just spoken to the brother in law, he was there 2 weeks ago, he did,nt have any hassle at all, well nothing out of the ordinary, he has been going to Icmeler for 8 years and its water off a ducks back to him, if they don't take a polite no thank you he just blanks them, he spent a bit of time around the pool,but went across the road to buy bottles of water because it was cheaper than the Elif.

Tony

Ploease avoid this hotel like the plague. We have just returned from this hotel and I can honestly say I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Hassle is not the word - it completely ruined our holiday. The hotel staff (receptionist, cleaners etc.. are an exception - these are very nice people and do not hassle anyone). The bar/ waiter staff (you have to enter end exit the hotel via the bar each time) are awful. I have visitied Turkey many times and know you get hassled but this had to be the worst. The bar staff were so rude and aggressive and constantly mithering us on the beach, in the street, shouting up to our balcony. They just wouldn't take no for an answer. They event took us to their section of the beach each day so that we would buy our drinks from them. Followed us at night to different bars and clubs. We heard one of the bar staff (Rhami) punched more than one girl during our stay. We loved Icmeler and will go back in september but won't go any where near that hotel.

I planned to stay in the Elif because my brother in law reccomended it, he only came back from there last month and said he didn't have any hassle that was above normal for Turkey. I ma now staying in the Blue Rainbow which is supposedly the sister hotel to the Elif, are the staff the same at both bars or are they seperate items. I can take a lot of hassle but not when it starts to be threatening or abusive, I then feel I have to do something about it. ( not that I have ever been hassled to that point ) I suppose we all have our own threshhold of whats acceptable and how we handle the situation in the first place. Some of the regulars to the Elif will know better if the hassle is worse than previous years or maybe with so many people complaining ICR might make a few discreet enquiries, just a thought.

Tony

Whilst we are ALL entitled to our opinion of a certain place can we not post hearsay on the forum.

Thanks

Col

Great !!

only 19 days to go till we arrive there

hope theyve had the hint by then because i cannot see people stopping there to eat or even having a drink there if thats the way theyre going on.

Scorpioto has a good point

I suppose we all have our own threshhold of whats acceptable and how we handle the situation in the first place

I really don't think I'm bothered about swapping hotels if the hotel staff are as nice as everyone says (plenty of time if I wanted to - 57 more sleeps). We like to finish a night off with a drink at a bar close to the hotel (if not in the hotel) so if the bar staff situation gets too much we'll simply ignore em, send em all to

Coventry and drink somewhere else. It needn't come to blows - surely!

vicco wrote:Scorpioto has a good point

I suppose we all have our own threshhold of whats acceptable and how we handle the situation in the first place

I really don't think I'm bothered about swapping hotels if the hotel staff are as nice as everyone says (plenty of time if I wanted to - 57 more sleeps). We like to finish a night off with a drink at a bar close to the hotel (if not in the hotel) so if the bar staff situation gets too much we'll simply ignore em, send em all to

Coventry and drink somewhere else. It needn't come to blows - surely!

correct they will only spoil it for themselves as i will certainly not be intimidated into using the bar

To be honest last time I was in Turkey (Marmaris) I found the first day or two we got a lot of hassle once they get to know you they didn't bother so much it was more friendly banter after that. I don't think I could be intimidated into any sort of violence if it got too much I would just have a friendly word in their ear.

Tony

Loads of negative post on this subject. Vicco - I'm sure you're big enough to look after yourself - hope the negative comments don't spoil your holiday.

Just thought i would mention that i have just booked for the Elif hotel again (my 4th visit there) even though i have read things on this forum, only came back 3 weeks ago, please remember the hotel is a seperate buisness to the Restaurant. The hotel staff are really lovely and so is the hotel.

When we arrive again in 39 sleeps! i will have a friendly word with the restaurant staff about the hassle, we do not have to eat or drink there it is choice where you socialise of an evening.

Some of the staff have changed but i know Ilyas would be upset to find out that due to the hassle from his staff he will loose custom.

Hi Pauline,
I am sure that a lot of people would appreciate you having a word about the hassle,We have booked for the Elif 29th june 2008, I know it is a long way off, but the recent comments are a bit worrying.We will probably check things out when we get to Icmeler this Sept.

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Denis.