Reviews of Eagles Nest Hotel, Kalkan

When we arrived at the hotel we were stunned by the breath-taking view over the harbour which made up for the fact that the centre of Kalkan is about a mile away. We often would walk into the town and get a taxi back, especially at night (about £2). The exercise did us good because of all the wonderful food we ate although it would be a problem for anyone with a walking problem.



The hotel itself is very adequate although the rooms are quite small but who goes on holiday to sit in their room! The staff were extremely friendly and helpful both times we were there (and I never usually go back to the same place twice) which made the holiday even more enjoyable. There is a barbeque every night at a very reasonable price or there are restaurants in the town.



In the four weeks we have spent in Kalkan (two weeks each year), I don’t think we ever went to a restaurant where we didn’t enjoy the food (including the Eagle’s Nest barbeque). The food is excellent and very reasonably priced – some restaurants are more expensive than others and you get what you pay for but they are all very good value for money.



Mosquitoes can be a problem and so you really need the air-conditioning in the room but if you take an insect repellent it helps and also you can buy there a lemon-fragranced cologne which also helps to repel the mosquitoes and makes you smell quite nice, too! We brought back a couple of plastic bottles of it each time.



I really enjoyed my holidays in the Eagle’s Nest and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

Stayed here with my girlfriend in June of this year and was totally impressed.



The location is perfect, the views amazing and the staff so friendly - especially Adam!!



OK the rooms could be bigger but the views and nice service and pool/bar area made up for this. To be honest I don't think most people spend much time in their rooms on hols anyway.. Sleep, shower and a quick change!!



The food in the evenings was great too and at around £8 you really can't go wrong!!



I would highly recommend this place to anybody looking to experience the Aegean coast.

The hotel is situated on a cliff top about one mile from the centre of Kalkan. Views from all rooms are positively breathtaking over the bay of Kalkan. The rooms are a little small but well kept and very clean and the plumbing is good.



Both the pool and the bar are on the front of the hotel overlooking the bay of Kalkan.



Turkish Breakfast is better than average although a little more variety would be useful and the option of cereal would have been good.



There is a snack menu available during the day and the evening meal costs £8 per person - good value and good quality if you like meze and barbeque- we did but not every night. Food in Kalkan is superb, gourmet quality at a similar price to the hotel. Try the Sofra, Bezirgens Kitchen, The Fish Terrace but all the restaurants are pretty good. Take the time to hunt out the Paparazzi -very good for curry type meals and lovely people.



If you like boats you can hire a gullet with a crew for around £16 per day per person including food if you can get at least four people together.



I cannot praise highly enough the waiters at the hotel - really nice guys and very helpful and professional - in fact all the staff were.



The only down side for me was that you needed to take taxis to get into Kalkan and back - however at just over £2 per time it doesn’t exactly break the bank and the bar staff will order for you.



There is a "hole in the wall" (ATM) machine at the bank near the roundabout but it was not always working. Kas has more ATMs and it costs 5 Turkish Lira each way on the Dolmus and is a beautiful run and the buses run every half an hour.



No sandy beaches just a pebble one in Kalkan but super swimming terraces - IBOs in the centre of town is good and the taxi service there and back is free from the hotel. For sand - miles of it - go to Patara.



For a first visit to Turkey I was well impressed and I want to go back to Kalkan again.



Transfers to and from the airport were very good - we went with Jewel in the Crown.



TESEKUR EDERIM!



Trevor and Linda.

Have to agree £4 a day bit of a surprise - and a rip off.



Hotel man said it was Jewel In the Crown that refused to make it inclusive... either way a hidden charge as everyone wants air con in Turkey.



That extra £50 at the end puts me off Jewel in The Crown and the Eagles nest...

Our first visit to Kalkan in September 2004 was inspired through the recommendation of friends who particularly enjoyed the resort’s fine restaurants and well above standard menus and service.



We chose the Eagles Nest mainly for its stunning location and (free) boat service across the beautiful bay to the village. The hotel itself, however, is in need of a refurbishment programme. Rooms are small, so are balconies and bathrooms of poor standard. Public areas were very dusty and the main reception area was not, for some reason, in use. Room service was ostensibly available but not brilliant.



We (and other guests) considered that the £4 a day charge for air con was excessive - surely, in a place where temperatures can reach 40s it should be inclusive in the room price?



Bar service varied from good to poor depending upon who was on duty. We would urge visitors to insist on pay as you go at the bar - staff are reluctant to go along with this as it is easier to add on fictional costs at the end of one’s stay. This certainly happened to some of our fellow guests who didn’t keep their own tally.



On a positive note, however, linen changes were very good, beds were comfortable and the nightly barbecue was of good standard, if repetitive. The best thing about this hotel is the location, which makes up for many of its failings. Taxis to and from the village are cheap and plentiful - 95 percent of the drivers are honest and fair - just the odd greedy one. The access lane to this (and other) hotels and villas is rough with potholes and the road to the village is steep - with fast traffic at times. Steps leading down to the free ferry are not easy to negotiate for anyone not fit. The hotel could be so much better with some TLC but to be fair, the owner is evidently in hospital after a stroke, so perhaps it will improve for next season.



Worth noting is the fact that guests at the Eagles Nest (many of whom return year after year) are friendly and there was generally a very relaxed and happy atmosphere. Predominantly Brits (as is the whole resort) but quite a few Turkish families and the occasional French or Belgian party. The hotel isn’t ideal for children given its location and layout and many guests chose it for this reason.



We have travelled extensively in Turkey and found Kalkan to be the friendliest place, with local people welcoming and charming whether you are spending £3 or £3,000. Shopping is good overall: best buys are gold and silver, linen, cotton, handbags, ceramics. In sharp contrast to other Turkish centres, the sales staff will not hassle you - they have learned that tourists prefer to take their own time to browse without pushiness and haggling!



Restaurants offer an astonishing array of dishes including traditional Turkish, French classics, pasta, grills, fish and other seafood. Starters were quite filling and most restaurants produced freshly made pitta bread and dips - so beware of getting full before the main course arrives! We were impressed too, by the efforts made for vegetarians compared with restaurants elsewhere. Food was virtually all fresh, good quality ingredients and service impeccable. Prices are terrific value except for wine - which is very over-priced and not of good quality. Most restaurants offer rooftop terrace dining under the stars, which is very pleasant. Some provide entertainment too. In our view, of particular merit were Wendy’s Wine Bar and Restaurant, The Aubergine, The Arena, Ozalp (the first one to open its roof terrace), Alternatif and Daphne’s Fish Terrace. This is not to say many of the others are not excellent - we just did not have time to try them all! Just one small criticism of the terraces - tables are candlelit and it is a little frustrating not to be able to see one’s plate very clearly (even without a raki aperitif!)



We are certainly going back to Kalkan. Development is going on around the surrounding hillsides but must be limited because of the mountains. Building work is not allowed during the season. Many Brits are buying property in the area which is pushing some prices up but one can’t really blame anyone for wanting to spend more time there. We packed in most of the attractions within a day’s drive during our stay: among the highlights was the Saklikent Gorge, Yaka Park, driving in the mountains and visiting various lakes; hiring a boat with crew for the day to explore the sunken city of Kekova, the islands and coves. Swimming and snorkelling is a pleasure (though one may not swim or dive in the sunken city). Nonetheless, one may swim over Roman/|Lycian ruins. We would recommend chartering a boat with friends rather than go on the organised trips, which give one very little time to enjoy the experience. Diving is available from the village.



Kalkan has one actual pebbly beach, which is very well organised with sunbeds, parasols and beach service, loos, shower etc. Otherwise, swimming and sunbathing is from manmade platforms (beach clubs).



Entertainment is good if you are happy to enjoy a few drinks and some great music (rock, jazz, pop, Latin American, classical even).



During our stay the power, supply was interrupted a few times but this didn’t really cause much of a problem.



Summer temperatures can get pretty high here so it would not be difficult to burn without proper protection, especially at sea where there is that delightful - if deceptive - breeze.



Money will cease to be such a headache at the end of this year when the Turkish lira loses the zeros.