Have just returned from a 2 wk break at the Grand Blue Sky. Having read reviews prior to going, complaining about the miserable reception staff. I must admit that given that they are your first impression of the hotel they could certainly have smiled a bit more. The reception area was nothing particularly grand. We have stayed in many 4/5 * hotels in Turkey and this was probably the worst. In it's defence I must say that the rooms were the best (very large, and with plenty of wardrobe and drawer space, huge balconies with clothes airers) and the views are to die for. However, a lot of British guests we spoke to had trouble with the steps within the complex, which their brochure had not warned them about. There are 90 steps just to get from the pool down to the beach. Also there is a steep walk down to the local Ladies' Beach and the promenade along the front.

We had no idea who the manager was, and even our rep said she was lucky if she saw him once a month. I just got the feeling that the majority of staff were left to their own devices and could have benefited from a bit more supervision.

We were staying on a B&B basis, but did eat at the hotel in the evening on 3 occasions. I had an upset tummy lasting for 2 days following our last visit. The food was unimaginative and rather repetitive, so we were glad that we were not All Inclusive. I did resent having to pay for bottled water when the All Inclusive's could go and help themselves from the fridge at will.

We had trouble with our mini-bar. We told reception that there was no list in the room stating what should be in the bar for our own reference. We didn't actually intend using the mini-bar at all, but just wanted it to keep our water bottles in. We were brought a list and the bar was checked, however when my husband returned to the room hr later another receipt had been left stating that we had used 3 cans. When we told reception there must be a mistake, the girl just tore the receipt up and told us not to worry about it. (I was left wondering how many times they had pulled that stunt!)

B&B guests were given a credit card to use for purchases on the complex. Receipts given were priced in Euros, but when you went to settle up at reception the bill had changed to Turkish Lira. The exchange rate could change daily resulting in bottles of waters being a different price depending on the day but there was no way to check the accuracy at all unless you wanted to spend hr with a calculator. (Who thought that one up)?

I then found that 8 of my sanitary products had disappeared from the bathroom over the course of 3 days. When I told the rep, who was appalled, I made it clear I didn't want anyone to lose their job over something so minor in monetary value, but she agreed to speak to the manager and ask him to speak to the room staff in general without pointing a finger at anyone in particular. However that evening as we got into the lift to go out, our maid put her hand on the lift doors to prevent them shutting and said she had been told that our room had complained that she had stolen items. She was understandably upset, wanted to know what was missing and said she would never take anything, as we were guests in her country. I must admit to feeling convinced but my husband explained that we had no idea who was responsible as there were other maids on her day-off and daily visits to check the mini-bar. It was incredibly embarrassing, and was angry at the manager's handling of the situation. We informed our rep of what had happened but no attempt was made by the management to apologise to us.

The lack of air-conditioning was another cause for complaints from several families. During our first week, it would go off during every meal-time which was great for the AI's but not for the rest of us who could possibly be in their rooms getting ready to go out. It would go off between 2-4am. which meant a very warm night. Then it was decided that by Turkish standards the weather was cooler so it wouldn't be on at night at all. Our rep intervened and eventually it was agreed that it would be on from 5pm - 3am. and that would be it for the day.

I certainly wouldn't return to either Kusadasi or the Grand Blue. The town itself was not as good as I was expecting from a port that was used by cruise ships. The hassling from shop-keepers was extremely tiring resulting in us buying less than usual as it was too much trouble to pause at many of the shops. On the plus side, our daughter who was holidaying at the same time but in Gumbet, came to stay with us for 2 days, and was surprised at how cheap the restaurants were in Kusadasi.

Holiday makers actually need to venture back from the tourist areas to find the real Turkey with their own shops and restaurants.

I came to the Grand Blue Sky resort with my husband and child. I had previously been in May to look for a holiday home, sucess the town grabbed me in. The hotel is a short walk from ladies beach, great for entertainment and a good day at the beach, hasslers you get used to them. as I can come often and you just have to ignore them. The dolmus was extremely handy and the centre was fantastic. Over all having a day at the hotel was great and the night out was even better. Plenty of pools and fun games and music for the kids as mine wouldn't leave the complex in the day. The hotel night life is great for some drinks and a laugh down at the show area which was hilarious at the sketch night. It's a great place for a quiet break and a fun holiday.

The area outside Grand Blue Sky is in the middle of being developed, so once your outside there's not a lot to do, ladies beach is only a short walk away. The dolmus ride into the main town was very frequent, they could spot a customer at 200yds followed by the beep beep of the horn, there driving leaves a bit to be desired. Only 1.5 million lira. If your looking for a nice hotel, good staff and facilities and do not want to travel round, Go Here.

Our 1st visit to Grand Blue Sky was so memorable we decided to visit again 2 years later. Big mistake, we hadn't noticed the ratings had gone down in our brochure - Take note: we went on our experience of our previous visit. The staff were grumpy and at times downright rude. The security staff at the gate examined any bag coming in for 'contraband' which they then confiscated. "Fair enough" you may say, but when a bottle of water was three times the price than the local shop you may change your mind? On discovering glass shards in my dessert the waiter gave a shrug and said he didn't know how it got there, he didn't do the cooking - and the Manager said if we didn't like it there we were free to go elsewhere. This unfortunately was the prevailing theme throughout our stay, even the Rep was cautious about what to say as she had been barred the week before we got there for daring to critisise a piece of metal found in a drink!
On the good side (yes, there is one!) the area is fantastic, clean and with the most courteous people you can find, who are genuinely interested in the English and their customs.