Hotel Efendi 23rd June - 07th July 2006

[geordiewoman]

Were in still Turkey time so have been up at silly o clock today!! Thought I had better get started on my review so here goes.

Flew into the old airport and had a smooth arrival, no problems whatsoever, although when I paid our £10 they nearly snatched it out of my hand!! All done with a smile though. Queues werent too bad and only waited about 15 minutes to go through passport control.

Very disappointed by Hotel Efendi and I mean in a big way. The room for me, hubby and teen was no bigger than teens bedroom at home, you imagine all 3 of us in there! Basic rooms, nothing fancy and not that clean either. If you imagine cleaning around things and not under them you may get my drift. Sheets and towels changed every other day which is awful when the towels given are the size of a newborns nappy! We bought our own after a few days of this. Air conditioning is free and very handy. Beds were like giant bricks with smaller bricks for pillows, incidentally only 1 pillow per bed. Balcony area was tiny and squeezed onto it was 3 plastic tatty chairs. Bathroom was basic, tiles with a decent working shower and plenty of hot water all day and night long. Pool area was ok, a bit shabby but the maintenance guy did do his best to keep the pool clean. One massive accident waiting to happen is that the hatch to the pool workings was left open the whole 14 days we were there with a drop of approx 7ft it could cause a child or adult some serious if not worse injury, this was just pure sloppiness as the hatch was left on the top. Inflatables were provided by the pool which was good. The lady who usually looks after the pool area was away for a few days this gave the young men from the bar/restaurant licence to bring all there friends and family into the small pool area and completely take over, they were rowdy and dangerous, made us wonder who actually was in charge! We were unlucky enough to be put into a room with the couple from hell above us and after 12 sleepness nights our tempers got the better of us, if only we had mentioned it sooner as we then got 2 nights of peace and quiet! Why dont they put these people on the ground floor!! If you use the adjoining bar/restaurant you are favoured if you dont you are pretty much ignored. We chose not to use Heaven and Maestro bar as every night it was empty so kind of speaks for itself really. Because of this when we had breakfast the staff in there were rude and you had to practically beg for a cup of coffee, other guests who used the bar/restaurant were greeted warmly etc. We found this amusing and especially when the bar staff would snatch away our breakfast plates before even asking if we had finished!!! Every morning this made us laugh as it got steadily worse as the days went on. Hotel Efendi is for the more lets say elderly holiday maker and highly unsuitable for anyone else, this should be re-named a resedential geriatric care home as if you so much as made a splash in the pool or attempted to have fun you were given looks to kill. Some of the most awful people we have ever met in our life stay at hotel Efendi so its nice to know that they are all in one area!! Overall we would never ever stay at this hotel again.

[redrhino12]

I feel really down in the dumps now after reading your report.
Sounds as though you had a terrible time at the Effendi.

But did you like the resort.
Where there any apartments and Hotels you would like to have stayed in.
Where any bars to your liking.
Did you shop till you dropped.
Sorry for all these questions and thanks for your honest report on the Hotel.

Gene

[shaz]

Thanks for your report Geordie woman, but just so that there is no misunderstanding for other forum members, We do not work with this hotel and this holiday was not booked through ICR.

Sharon
ICR Representative

[geordiewoman]

Hi Gene and Hi Sharon

Not so much a terrible time as how could you ever truly have that in Icmeler. We were greeted warmly and genuinely by the most fabulous people in the world. Someone once said that once you visit Icmeler you will be hooked and that is so true. Their warmth and kindness is second to none. Take a look at my overall view on Icmeler Gene, give me 30 mins or so to type it up.

Im glad that ICR do not work with Efendi, as we intend to book with you real soon!!! Sharon in Turkey showed us around the Captain Silver Apartments whilst we were there and the video on here does it no justice at all, they are wonderful. The spacious gardens, pool area and rooms did it for us and it was great to see before you book so to speak.

[sue]

which was the efindi

[haggis]

Maybe you should call it the Hotel OFFENDI

[geordiewoman]

I could think of more names than that haggis but we wont go there!!!! Very clever though!

[haggis]

We booked through ICR and stayed at the Blue Rainbow. It was perfect and although the rooms are ok for two people, my friend & his wife & 4 year old were a bit cramped. They didn't complain, but when it came up in conversation with ICR it was sorted immediately.

I think ICR is not so much an agency .. more like friends in Icmeler who make sure everything is ok for their clients. We would never book Icmeler through anyone else now.

[geordiewoman]

us too Haggis. When we were over there we went for a chat with Sharon and she was fab, made us very welcome and gave us prices for a holiday in 2007 which was a whole £500 cheaper than a very well known travel agent, just think of all the leather bags I will be able to bring back with that!!! Nothing was too much trouble for her and we met with her later that day to go look around Captain Silver Apartments as they are one of the few that have two bedrooms which is what we need for us and our teen and his pal. Great to see what is on offer before you book and I have to say we will never ever book with anyone other than ICR. What grabbed us was the private transfers from the airport were included in the price so no more 2-3 hours stuck on a coach. Like most we just use our accomodation for a place to rest your heads and a shower but we do like to be comfortable, some things you can put up with some things you cant.

[letmein]

i absolutely agree that everyone is entitled to voice their opinions because that is what a forum is all about.........we are never going to agree with everything because we all have different expectations!!!.....I must however say that the only thing i do disagree with is making generalisations....ie:Hotel Efendi is for the more lets say elderly holiday maker and highly unsuitable for anyone else, this should be re-named a resedential geriatric care home !!!!!.......

I am returning 2 weeks on Friday along with other members of my family and also my friends and none of us fit this description......in fact it will be our 4th visit in a year!!!!!.....whilst i am so sorry that you did not enjoy your holiday (and lets face, we all save blumming hard for it dont we?) I am also sorry for anyone else going who hasnt been before because they must be so woried having read this review.

My advise would be to go and see for yourself and make your own conclusion, you might be like us and abslotely love it! If you have any problems then voice your opinions straight away and hopefully it will be sorted. Finally i'd like to say it's the ONLY Hotel we have EVER returned to........cant wait for the 28th.....Efendi here we come.....love it.

[Colette]

Please keep all future discussions to Icmeler and not the differneces of opinions that have gone on

All future posts of this nature will will locked or deleted

Colette

[sexy_wee_girly]

I'm heading to the efendi in 2 weeks time (yay - holiday) and after reading some reviews am slightly worried. But being realistic will i be spending much time in there?! I think not - as long as i have a bed, shower and toilet then i'm happy.

[dotty]

.....and you could always move in with us at the Golmar!!!!!

[sexy_wee_girly]

Think there would be room for two more in there? ha ha - 2 weeks dotty

[dotty]

2 weeks exactly today!!! Yipeeeeeeeeeeee. Sure there'd be room for a wee one like you, not sure about Dar though. But as you said its only somewhere to sleep and shower, you're not exactly living in it 24 hours a day.

[Lynn m]

Hi Carrie

I wouldnt worry about the Effendi if I was you it is central for everything and was clean what more could you ask for.

actually it was the first ever hotel I sayed in Icmeler when I fell in love with the place 10 years ago.

Go have fun and enjoy

Lynn

6 weeks to go for me

[sexy_wee_girly]

I heard that the place had been refurbished so i'm sure it will be fine - my days will be spent lying round pool and nights will be spent in the many bars and restaurants am sure. I just want a place to sleep and to change.

How rude Dotty am sure Dar could sleep out in the balcony if need be - would maybe drown at the snooring!! (rude of me)

Oh i cant wait now - been trying to type this for ages but the phone keeps ringing - no phones for 2 weeks - woo hoo