Orkide Hotel

Orkide Hotel - 3 star ...... we don't agree!

We booked our holiday through Barrhead Travel who stated that some of their operatives had stayed at the hotel and that it was lovely and we wouldn't be disappointed.

We arrived in Turkey to discover that we didn't realise we had to have an English £10 for the Visa, Scottish notes were not accepted.

On arrival at the Orkide hotel, the first impression was inspired by the tiny road with the rubbish skips and litter. Based in a little side street the entrance to the hotel and the reception area did not inspire much more confidence.

The room was tiny with very little furniture and a very basic dirty decor, the room just passed as reasonably clean. The bathroom was tiny and very old and basic compared with other places I've stayed, the shower didn't work properly, again it wasn't very clean. The room resembled a hostel room- it is that basic! In fact it looked very similar to a very basic cheap hostel that I stayed in Paris.

Over the two weeks that we stayed in the hotel, we wondered if our room was actually being cleaned - our bathroom and room seemed uncleaned for 2 weeks and all we were apparently given was fresh towels.

Facilities- NO fridge, TV with NO English channels, Just under £100 for 2 weeks non-refunable safe and air conditioning use. TURKISH BREAKFAST, NO external telephone.

The Pool area however is immaculate. Restaurant food is snacks only finishing at 10pm only suitable for lunches i.e. chip roll. The staff are friendly.

THE HOTEL IS BASIC, ROOMS ARE UNCLEAN, FOOD IS SNACK VARIETY ONLY THE ONLY SAVING GRACE IS THE POOL AREA.

I would not under any circumstances recommend this hotel to anyone unless they are made aware that it is so very basic! This hotel is in no way a 3 star property and the travel agents should be ashamed to describe it as such.

Upon discussing my views with the rep, I was informed that a 3 star hotel in turkey may be equivalent to 2 stars anywhere else in the world. Having travelled around Egypt and Jordan in 2 and 3 star hotels plus europe in 3 stars which were far superior and cleaner with better facilities I cannot see how this comment was correct.

My other major complaint and one I hope people take notice of. I enquired about half board and fully inclusive holidays and was informed that wasn't advisable in Turkey as it was so cheap to eat out that paying for that type of holiday would be a waste of money! This is not always the case as it was reasonably expensive eating out every lunch and dinner in turkey plus all the drinks since NO Fridge in the room.