Destan Hotel

3 readers found this review helpful

We were expecting the worse after reading reviews. However our worries were unfounded. Hotel staff were pleasant and friendly at all timmes of day and night. Rooms clean. Bed linen and towels changed regularly. If people want 5 star facilities then they should pay for 5 star facilities. The only complaint we have is that there isn't much storage space but for 2 of us we managed by using the spare bed to put our suitcases on, a bit of a problem if more than 2 in a room and I have to agree that the frontage to the hotel could do with spucing up somewhat, but overall a great holiday and we will go back.

6 readers found this review helpful

My girlfriend and I have just returned from Hisaronu after an eleven night stay at the Destan. I really feel that we must defend the bad reputation that this hotel seems to have acquired. This review is completely honest and accurate based on our stay there.
After reading some of the reviews, we really were expecting the worst. We had one of the budget roof rooms, which are apparently the worst in the hotel. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Although the room was quite dark with little daylight, (having only a small triangular window) it, along with the bathroom, was very spacious. I have read a review stating that someone banged their head on the ceiling when they sat up in bed in the morning but I am 6’7” and I didn’t find this a problem, the room was also big enough that we could have moved the bed and still had plenty of room.
The inlet pipe to the toilet cistern did have a small leak, but so did the toilet in the Gatwick Travelodge and that cost us £57 for one night. The shower however was fantastic and very powerful, the downside being that it was only hot in the evenings due to solar panel heating.
As for the staff, they were all friendly but most spoke limited English. Veysi the barman spoke very good English, so any problems go to him if no reps are around. Regarding previous reviews, we only saw one of the staff drunk and this was at 1.30 am when he wasn’t working, and he was friendly and amusing, not causing any problems. As they work very long hours for very little money, (Veysi worked everyday 11am to 2-4am depending on how busy the bar is) we had no problem with this... In fact, I only had two drinks accepted from the barstaff the entire stay. We have read reviews stating that staff were aggressive to guests but after being told (by another guest) of a drunken guest deliberately trying to initiate a fight and the professional manner in which the situation was handled I find this hard to believe. We were woken up once but this was by inconsiderate guests returning drunk and the hotel cannot be held responsible for that.
Although we didn’t eat at the hotel, the food looked very good, as was all the restaurant food at the resort. We were never pressured into eating there either. Basically, we would have a drink at the bar before eating out and mostly when we returned at night.
We spent most of our days in Oludeniz but did spend a couple of days at the hotel’s pools which were both very clean.
In summary, if you want to find fault with the staff and this hotel, you will find it. But if you go with reasonable expectations and don’t expect The Ritz I think you will be pleasantly surprised. From our experience if you are polite and courteous to the staff, you will be treated likewise. Also, learn a few basic Turkish words, please, thank you etc. This goes down very well the locals and you will get treated with more respect.
If like us, all you are after in a hotel is a shower and a bed then the Destan is more than adequate. If however, you want more luxury then maybe it isn’t for you. Just for the record I am 43 and my partner is 30 and we are both professional people. I mention this just to clarify that we are not ‘chavs’, then again, nor are we snobs. We both agreed that we would not hesitate to stay at the Destan again. We paid a total of £628 between us for our holiday of which £109.20 was for our accommodation and breakfast (less than £10 per night). If you paid substantially more than this don’t take it out on the Destan, blame your travel company, as they will be the ones who have pocketed the difference.

2 readers found this review helpful

Have stayed in the Destan three times and have never been disappointed. Always plenty of hot water and the rooms are clean. We have been to Hisaronu 12 times and we like the destan because it is only 100yards from the nightlife and the shops. If you are looking for a Hotel with entertainment and lots going on then the destan isnt for you. We loki the fact that no one pushes you to stay in the hotel. The breakfast are typically turkish but are ok. We have been told that thisn hotel is being done up next year so ther could be some changes but we will still go there.

hotel rooms were clean but staff were not very friendly or helpful at all,pools were lovely,but i wouldnt recommend the destan to anyone,10 of us went and we felt uncomforable with the unfriendly atmosphere.id go to turkey again but not the destan ever again..for anyone going to hisonaru dine at delboys.best restaurant fantastic food friendly staff.frst class.

1 reader found this review helpful

After reading alot of very bad reviews me and my girlfriend were expecting the worst from the Destan. We arrived early in the morning and we were surprised that the rooms were very clean and all the staff from the bar staff to the housekeeping were friendly. The food and drink from the bar is very well priced. Breakfast consisted of boiled eggs, cheese, cornflakes, salami and bread typical holiday breakfast. The only qualm i would have about the hotle is taht they dont let you bring food or drink in from outside or else they confiscate it, so you have to sneak it in ;). The location of the hotel is superb it is right next to all the bars, clubs and restaurants

1 reader found this review helpful

Just arrived back from the destan after 2 weeks off hell. We first arrived at the hotel to find the entrance was like a run down cheap bar with lasers and lights shining everywhere. We got to the reception and the receptionist gave us our key and showed us to our room. On arrival we noticed that the roof was rather low, so low in fact that when i woke up each morning i would bang my head as the wooden, roof slanted down to the bed. It had occurred to me after 2 days of being in this room and having not seen anyone on our floor, that we were in a converted loft area of the hotel which was used only when other rooms are full. However, I decided to take this one on the chin and not complain because of the pain of moving things around when moving to another room.
Then things got bad. One morning 3 days into the holiday i was woken by a number of scratching sounds as the roof was made of wood and easily made sounds. I looked up at my open suitcase to find a rat happily destroying my clothes. I then new that all the sounds i could hear above me were rats. I approached the reception and let the guy know of our unwanted guests. "you see the mickey mouse", was the reply i got as the young receptionist laughed in our face and refused to call in pest control or to even move us rooms. Eventually we got one of the receptionist to follow us to the room where she says she sometimes sleeps when working a long shift. She admitted there was a bad rat problem in the roof and that she has seen many of them. Eventually we managed to get a meeting with the hotel manager. A long haired guy slightly resembling a horse. He again refused to move us rooms and told us to go away. Having a family member living there was a big help. My aunty and my dad who speaks a little turkish as he's iranian both went to see the manager as we were powerless and there was no way my girlfriend was going to stay in that room again. As soon as the manager was aware were part muslim, even though I'm not into any religion at all, he moved us rooms. No improvement though, however no rats!
The stains on the walls where mosquitos had been squashed were not cleaned off, there was the mould that was growing out of control by the sink in the bathroom, which i suspect is caused by the air con leak from this weird looking pipe coming out of a hole in the wall. The shower leaks that bad that you really have to shower fast or risk sleeping in a swamp of mould and dead mosquitos. Towards the end of the holiday we just decided to not complain anymore and try and enjoy some of the sun which we will no longer see now we are back in england. Packed and ready to leave we left the room to go to the transfer bus only to be shouted over by the receptionist that said we owe them £10. I owe them???? they owe me alot more i can assure you. Why i asked. "you checked out late and we have been calling you for days to let you know of the check out times". Thats funny, we don't have a phone in our room! refusing to let us leave by standing in our way, i was forced to pay the money. The holiday ended and i was the happiest i had been for 2 weeks. I beg anybody to not stay here, if you have booked it, change it. There are much better choices, and its cheap for a reason just remember that!

1 reader found this review helpful

Having just returned home from the Destan I would like to say if you have booked look forward to your holiday we had a great time and would love to go back. The staff the pool were great the rooms are basic but clean and comfortable, always hot water towels changed everyday we loved it. Its well placed near the bars and shops but tucked down a side road so not too busy or noisy. When you book make sure your not booking the loft rooms which are cheaper request the balcony rooms theres not much price difference.

After booking the holiday 10 days before we went, I read the reviews on the hotel destan and expected a holiday from hell! After a shakey start when we first arrived at 4.00am (mainly due to english drunken guests trying to bring drinks back in to the hotel) we had a fantastic holiday! The staff where really friendly, organised games of water polo, darts, karaoke competitions etc and couldn't do enough for you. The bedroom was small but clean and the maids cleaned every day, often leaving fresh flowers in the room. The breakfast was what you would expect abroad but we really enjoyed it. The hotel is right in town with plenty of good fun bars and restaurants. The meals at the Green House (2 mins from hotel) and cocktails in Alfresco (2 mins again from hotel) were lovely and again, the staff there were lovely. I felt I had to write a review about the hotel, for all the people who have just booked a holiday at this particular hotel, take no notice of all the bad reviews, you should have a fantastic time, I will definitely go back there again!

Just returned from 1 week at the Destan Hotel. I was a bit worried about what to expect as I had seen some bad reviews and I had not been to Turkey before. However holiday was fantastic. I was travelling with 2 daughters aged 18 and 6 and we all agreed we had made a good choice with this hotel. Yes the rooms were basic and could possibly do with some updating but they were clean and adequate. The breakfast was typical Turkish and not to my taste but great snacks were available in the pool bar and were very affordable. The pool area is really lovely, great for kids and adults alike with the added bonus of another pool which was very quiet if this is what you preferred. All in all very good for such a small price. The staff could not do enough for you, extremly helpful and friendly but not too in your face. Give it a try I am sure you will not be dissapointed

i stayed at the destan for two weeks with my family, my parents, sister and younger brother, and we all had an amazing holiday!! the swimming pool was quite big, and was never over crowded, and plenty of sun-beds. The food was not very expensive, and they didnt make you feel under pressure with any payments. the staff were so friendly, we often stayed at the bar in the evenings, playing cards with them, dressed up in cowboy hats and funny ears, they work hard to keep you happy, but have fun at the same time, socilising with all the guests, and try to get everyone involved with games ect. our rooms were cleaned everyday! and even our pj's were folded and put on our pillows, the rooms were also quite big. there was so much to do, just a miniute walk from the destan was lots of bars, resturants, and shops!! (shops were still open at about 12, wich was great as you could work on your tan through the day, and shop at night, when it was cooler!! we stayed by the pool mostly, but they have a huge market on a tuesday, and the beach is just a short bus ride away, definatly worth it, the sea is quite salty but unbelivibly clear, so take a snorkel!! also there are lots of different trips, i would recomend the mud baths, that was great fun!! we also often ate out in the town for dinner and staff would always ask how you are and would remember you the rest of your holiday. you would also hear the calling from the mosks, for parayer all through the town, wich was nice as you were seeing more of the culture of turkey, and as hisaronu is in the mountains, you get to see a lovly sunset while having dinner, as well as that coll breeze everyone loves. I met quite afue people who said they regularly come back to the destan once or twice a year, and i would too, it was one of the friendlyst places i have been, we were all sad to leave, and we will definatly be going back!! xxx