Sultan Palas Hotel

I can confirm the high opinions held of this hotel by other holidaymakers. It is quiet, well-maintained and the standards of service are impeccable. I can recommend the half-board, as the evening mezzes are of very high quality and use local produce, much of it grown in their own garden.

I struggle to find anything to criticise about the hotel, and in fact the only point they could improve on in my view is to provide fresh orange juice for the breakfast buffet instead of what tastes like squash. Also, there was fluff under the bed and they need to get the room cleaners to see to that. But overall, these are very minor points and we had one of our best holidays ever, staying at this hotel.

Peace & Tranquility!

Our search for a small family run Hotel in Dalyan revealed a hidden gem.

The Sultan Palas Hotel was recommended to us by friends of friends – you know how it is - and we discovered that several guests at the Hotel had stayed there before. When we were told of the past history and sympathetic improvements it all added to the feeling that we had gatecrashed a private house party.

Our expectations were exceeded – the photographs on the website don’t do justice to this idyllic hideaway and the 20 minute trip cruising along the beautiful stretch of river to Dalyan on the Hotel boat just initiated the relaxing start to our holiday.

We were cautiously dubious about booking a hotel on the opposite side of the river to Dalyan but this was part of its charm and tranquillity. Everything went smoothly. Nothing was left to chance - from ease of booking in the UK to being met on our arrival at Dalman Airport then being whisked off to the Hotel by the energetic all-rounder Jelal who takes charge of the leisurely boat service and the plush minibus transporting guests back and forth from the riverside right to the Hotel door.

Nothing was too much trouble for the dedicated and friendly staff who welcomed all guests like old friends. Our room was spotless, the pool and gardens delightful and the food, hospitality and personal touches way beyond our expectations for a small hotel of this nature. We couldn’t fault it. It was fantastic value for money – and I’d recommend you have the Half Board option!

We’ve returned home to the bleak British summer with batteries recharged and though we make it a rule not to revisit the same hotel, Dalyan and especially the Sultan Palas is a now a special place for us and we will definitely return.

We just hope that it doesn’t change.

An extraordinary holiday in Turkey.

Early in 2007 we came across an advertisement in the Probus Magazine for the Sultan Palace Hotel in Turkey. On ringing the English contact number for details, Elaine, a charming and very helpful lady, informed us that the only way to get to the hotel was by the hotel boat.

The hotel, set in the foothills, is 10 minutes’ boat ride up the river from Dalyan and is owned and run by Frank and his wife Ozden. The hotel has 26 suites and is set in beautiful gardens and has two large pools and a circular children’s paddling pool. Elaine stressed that if we were after crowds, discos, and noisy night life this was not the place for us.

Tranquillity, peace and quiet is the order of the day here.

My wife Pat and I decided that this was the holiday we were looking for. So, in October, we arrived at Dalaman Airport after an easily arranged local flight from Bristol. We were met and whisked off by private taxi (if this is the way to describe Turkish driving!) and after about 30 minutes we arrived at the river and were taken to the hotel via the Sultan Palace Hotel boat. What a civilised way to arrive!

What a difference to being herded like cattle onto a coach and spending two or three hours stopping to drop other people off before eventually arriving at your destination. This boat runs 6 times a day to Dalyan so you are not isolated unless you wish to be. A late night in Dalyan is no problem as a phone call to the hotel swiftly brings their boat to collect you.

Dalyan is a lovely old town built a few miles up the delta of the Rive Calbis. The main feature of the delta is the reed beds. The whole area has been designated as a nature reserve by the Turkish Government and is the home of 120 species of birds and other wild life, including turtles. The film, ‘The African Queen’, was filmed here in 1951.

A ‘must do’ trip is the 40 minute boat-ride meandering through the reeds to a beautiful 3 mile stretch of sand known as Turtle Beach. It is one of the last breeding grounds of the Loggerhead Turtle that hatch out at night in October and November. The beach is closed at night to protect the turtles but it was fascinating, in the morning, to see dozens of holes in the sand and thousands of little footprints where the tiny baby turtles had scurried to the safety of the sea. Returning from the beach our public boat broke down and we were towed back by a boat called the ‘Titanik’!

Not to be missed is a boat trip to the large fresh water lake and the sulphur springs and mud baths. We opted to hire a private boat for the afternoon, arranged by the hotel. We were picked up at the hotel jetty and spent a magical few hours expertly gliding in and out of the reed beds with Uzel at the helm. His expert local knowledge and a smaller boat enabled us to get close to a variety of wildlife, including kingfishers, egrets, herons, cormorants, and baby turtles. More energetic guests can use the hotel’s complementary bicycles to cycle around the lake or explore the countryside.

For the historically-minded Dalyan is within walking distance of the ancient town ruins of Caunus. Across the river, dug high into the cliffs, are ancient tombs, not accessible to the public, but looking spectacular from the town. Further afield are the world famous Ephesus and Pamukkale.

For anybody looking for a relaxing holiday with a difference (costing no more than a ‘run of the mill’ package holiday) this is it. Pat and I believe that there are too many new places to be explored, and have never made a return trip, but we will make an exception and definitely return soon to the extremely friendly Sultan Palace Hotel.

Pat Broom