Charisma De Luxe Hotel

“ We liked this hotel. It is impressive both outside and in with plenty of marble apparent. We arrived during rain and there were staff on hand with umbrellas to make sure we did not get wet. Immediately upon entering one gets a panoramic sea view through the lounge windows. Check in was easy, the receptionist's English was good and everything explained. We had requested a twin room on a high floor and this is what we were allocated. The beds were comfortable and much wider than normal singles and there was a huge balcony overlooking the sea. During our stay we had no cause to complain. Yes, it would have been preferable if there were two chairs in the room rather than the one large armchair and the carpet was also beginning to look in need of replacement but these were minor things.
As the hotel is built on the edge of the sea, the main sunbathing deck is built out over the sea. We enjoyed the sound of the water lapping underneath. As it is west facing, the sun did not start getting onto the deck until about 9 a.m. and it was about 1030 before it covered very much all of it (this was mid-May). There were plentiful sun beds yet still a few guests reserved the ones that would be in the sun first even though they did not occupy them until much later. At the other end of the day the sun was on the deck until it set.

We stayed half board and found the buffet breakfasts and dinners good both in quantity, quality and variety. Desserts were outstanding. Staff throughout the hotel were all polite and friendly but the two ladies at the guest relations desk deserve special mention.

A pianist played in the lounge before dinner most nights but otherwise there was no evening entertainment. There was also nothing going on during the day which is ideal for a couple like us seeking a relaxing time but makes the hotel less suitable for families with children. Most of the clientele in May were in fact of the older generation.

The hotel is quite well situated for Kusadasi which is about 15-20 minutes on foot or just a few minutes on the no.1 Dolmus which stops right outside (cost 1.75 Lira each way). There are a few restaurants nearby but otherwise not a lot. A big disappointment was that the nearby yachting marina is totally private and not open to the public. The port with visiting cruise ships is a little further on.

Others have commented on the hotel's attitude to taking in food or drinks from outside. A notice on the counter says this is not permitted "for hygiene reasons" and guests will be charged hotel rates for anything they bring in. Hard to see how they could enforce the latter. Since the hotel offers room service, it is clearly not a matter of hygiene but more about money. A 1.5 litre bottle of water has a mark up of 500% over supermarket prices for example. I guess it's possible that if you walk in with the weekly shop or a bottle tucked under your arm you could be challenged but we found there was no problem as long as we were discreet about it. It does seem a petty restriction however and it's one the management should seriously reconsider.

All in all a very nice hotel suitable for a relaxing, comfortable holiday

“ Top Tip: If visiting Selcuk (easy to do - no 1 Dolmus to the terminus then cross the road and get the Dolmus to Selcuk - costs 6.75 TLY in total each way) visit the Temple of Artemis (free), EFES museum (8TLY) and the ruins of the Basilica of St. John (8TLY). Stop at St. John's Cafe just along from the museum for a light lunch. It's run by a charming Scandanavian couple.

“ Good location, walking distance to centre. Very helpful staff. Very clean.
Magnifisant sunset scene.

“ Top Tip: Urfa restaurant in city centre at the Back street near Karavanserai hotel is the best food.

“ Excellent Hotel! Fantastic service, staff were very helpful and very prompt in fulfilling requests. WIFI played up a little.

“ This was a fantastic hotel with wonderful staff who could not do enough to make our stay very enjoyable. The buffet breakfast was excelent but dinner perhaps not so good.so we did not use our half board as much as we would have liked. Over all a lovely relaxing holiday.

“ Top Tip: NO