Palmin Hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

I stayed in the Palmin from June 5th until June 12th this year.My Boyfriend and I(20&19)had an amazing time. On arrival I was a bit worried about leaving the bell boys to take our luggage but i shoild not have worried they are so professional. The food & Drink is expensive in the Hotel but the food in my opinion is worth it, the breakfasts in our opinion were a let down but it didnt bother us. The staff were fantastic so friendly and had great English so we could have good conversations. I did not once find the staff to be intrusive as some describe. Outside of the Hotel Bar street is a must go but not until 12 or as it is expensive to drink. Nice places to eat are planet yucca and Saray again they seem expensive but 2 mains and 2 drinks were the equivalent of 25euros so quiet good. The Dolmus is so handy you need Bus no.1 or 5 but ask as most will bring you to Palmin for just 2 Lira each.Taxi from Bar street are about 20lira so Dolmus is much handier but if you haggle the driver may do it for less. The market is an experience, but be patient as it gets overwhelming. I would return to the Palmin in a heart beat, we were treated like royalty in my opinion.

6 readers found this review helpful

Just back from a week in Kusadasi and have to say we were really disapointed with the Palmin Hotel.
Firstly the big sign out front saying no food or drink can be brought in to the hotel? this was taken to the extreme, with the staff bringing up our dinner one night and checking the water bottle we had on our dressing table to make sure it was the same label as the shop downstairs. This is absoluetly crazy carry on. I appreciate that they want you to spend as much money as possible in the hotel, however their are times when walking up the hill to the hotel you might purchase a bottle of water in a nearby shop to have the security staff glare at you walking in with a bottle of water "not purchased on site". The staff were unfriendly and very rude. We asked for 2 diet coke's one night and a glass of ice - our fridge was broken and our water was not cold. they refused to give us a glass of ice and said when we bought another two glasses of coke they would give us another piece of ice in the glass. Everything in the hotel was double if not triple the price downtown, for example lilo's had to be bought in the hotel shop. The hotel shop didnt stock 2 litre bottles of coke etc so a glass of coke had be bought each time.
the breakfast I couldnt fault or the cleanliness, the pool is great also. the hotel itself is fantastic, however the staff are rude - to the point when asking for a bottle of water in the pool bar - the bar staff just grunt - what do you want? we spoke to many people in Kusadasi and all of them said the same thing. The palmin is known to be a "prison". Once you eat & drink the whole time in the hotel everything is rosy - venture away from this and you are treated so rudely. We spoke to another couple who stayed in the sister hotel - The seapearl I think it was and they said their bags were actually checked after breakfast to make sure they hadn't taken an orange or something!
They were also pushy for you to take a hotel cab outside the door and got quite cross when you jumped on the dolmen. Would never stay in this hotel again - it really put a dampner on our holiday. it is ideal for families who stay in the hotel & I imagine they would treat you differently if you were eating all 3 meals there and drinking every night in the bar, however from our own experience, if you are venturing outside the hotel at all - you receive a very very different service!
Again, loads of kids activies and the food was always really nice - loved the pool , the rooms etc, but the rules......... very crazy stuff !

5 readers found this review helpful

Me and my family visit turkey, kusadasi every year. We began staying at the sea pearl but one year decided a change. It is one of the nicest hotels i have ever stayed in. Forget all this about harassment etc. yes they wish for you not to bring outside food and drink in but if you have it in your own personal bags they will not check. The staff were amazingly friendly and always stay in touch. They are always up for having a laugh like the irish. Yes the prices of hotel food is a bit costy for dinner but never did they make us feel bad for chosing to go out as the entertainment would usually be on when we got back, ready to join in.

3 readers found this review helpful

Never had any inclination what so ever to go to Turkey, but all I can say now is that I am a convert.
Had always holidayed in the posh part of Crete in a villa away from the crowds.
But cannot believe how well we were treated in Kusadaasi,we stayed in the Palmin Hotel,and to tell you the truth it is actually embarrassing the way in which you are treated, the Turkish people cannot do enough for you we will definetly be going back a.s.a.p.

5 readers found this review helpful

I want to thank the all the staff for a most plesant stay. They where always ready to help with any request.
I met the head chef and this gentleman was very courteous and his staff produced wonderful food. The dining staff kept the dining areas very clean and never left dirty dishes linger on our table. The staff at the pool side dining area where always very pleasent and where excellant in there job. The reception where very professional and any request from us was dealt with very quick and correctly. They entertaining where also very professional always had smiles. We have stayed in a lot of hotels and this hotel is run for the comfort of it's guests, spot less clean and with a staff that know there jobs

9 readers found this review helpful

We stayed in the Palmin for 2 weeks in June 2009, this was my 5th time to stay in this hotel, and I have NEVER had any hassle or bother from any of the staff, the hotel is totally spotless and beautiful, the only bad point this time is that we didn't get the pool view we always got before but I think this was a mix-up between the tour operator and the hotel, apart from that we had no complaints, in fact we're heading back again in 2 and a half weeks.
The rooms are spacious and cleaned every day, the pool is huge and very well tended too and the staff are all so friendly and courteous. Even from the very first time I was there 5 years ago, when I wasn't a familiar face, there was never any hassle, we came and went as we pleased, never got any strange looks or questions. I hear they are strict about people taking in food and drinks but all you need to do is have a large beach bag with you if you are intent on taking stuff in, we eat out all of the time, go exploring in the centrum and you will find so many cheap little places to eat, the traditional Turkish restuarants are fab, I recommend Dedem K its a family run place at the top of Bar St near next door to Jimmys, cheap and delicous!!
As already pointed out, the Dolmus stops right outide the hotel and there is honestly one of them every 2-3 minutes and its about 2 Lira to the centrum!! So cheap, the taxis run from outside there too and they will offer you good prices to go to the centrum esp if theres a group it might work out the same price each as the Dolmus, but I love the little bus as I love looking around the place on the journey.
The hotel is great in our opinion, and I am sure that some people really have had bad experiences but please do not let this worry anyone going for the first time, the good outweigh the bad here, and we have always came and went as we pleased without any trouble!! Enjoy!!

4 readers found this review helpful

I went to Turkey for the first time last August and i had the best time of my life , Staff very friendly and advised us where to go at night , saray restauraunt is the best food in kusadassi and the hotel food is not the best but still it fills a gap . The entertainment is a kinda tacky but funny at times ,Go max , sisi ,eddie and alex YEE HAW !!!!!!!!!!!!! anyone who stayed there will know what that is about , the market on a wednesday is crazy but you get better bargains in the shops , Im heading to the Palmin Hotel again on the 30th of may this year ,

5 readers found this review helpful

We went to the Palmin for the first time this year and yes will be back. The hotel is excellent, spotlessly clean and excellent value for money. We wanted a base to explore kusadasi. And we had a ball,
The Palmin hotel is a great place to stay and I would go back in the morning. The hotel itself is large, modern and has loads of facilities. It also has to be the cleanest hotel I have ever stayed in. The staff are all so friendly and helpful.A good Restaurant to go to saray’s
We did not get any hassel from staff at anytime.
The Rep Orlagh was very professional (the best rep ever)
Went on loads of day trips Savish was a great guide (Ephesus great trip)
see you all again durning the year. We are already planning our next trip.
Alison & Cathal

7 readers found this review helpful

Anyway, just a couple of examples we encountered over the week.
* Confiscation of all drinks/foodstuff at the hotel door by security men
In town we heard that the hotel is notorious among locals for the way that it forces guests (inmates, more like) to buy their own overpriced supplies of bottled water.
And I can tell you from personal experience, that it's not much fun standing around in the 40 degree heat while a fat bouncer type searches your bags and steal your drinks.
* Spying on guests.
The management of the hotel take an almost obssessive interest in the activities of the guests - after all you're their meal ticket. If you don't spend enough during your
week's stay the hotel loses money, staff get laid off.
Every time you leave the hotel you will notice 2 or 3 personnel around reception keeping on eye on you. The place is dotted with cameras.
If you are spotted taking a taxi into town in the evening expect to be questioned why you're not dining at the (frankly horrible) hotel restaurant.
* Women beware
A group of girls staying at the same time as us told us they were made feel intensely uncomfortable by the unwelcome attention of staff around the (filthy) hotel pool.
* Tip...or else.
If you don't tip the maids expect your bed to remain unmade, toilets uncleaned, towels not replaced.
* Complaint..at your peril.
If you've got any complaints...best to keep your mouth shut - or expect to get a mouthful of abuse, harassment, threatened expulsion from the hotel.
Most of the staff speak some degree of English, but suddenly switch to speaking Turkish among themselves during any disagreement with guests.
* Tour company
If you've got a grievance don't waste your time complaining to Sunworld - they're totally in cahoots with the management of the hotel, colluding in the various
carefully devised rip-offs that the hotel have setup. In fairness the tour rep seemed genuinely intimidated by the hotel management.
* Clientele
Kusadasi is rapidly gaining a reputation as an alternative to the Costa Del Sol for what can only be described as "dodgier" holidaymaker and expats from Ireland.
If you're happy rubbing shoulders with extended families from inner city Limerick then the Palmin is a great venue.

2 readers found this review helpful

my partner and i travelled to kusadasi in sept 08 for one week, staying in the palmin hotel.overall we thought that this hotel was excellent and very clean. we were staying on a bed and breakfast basis and thought that the breakfast, which was continental, was lovely. there was everything from fresh breads, omlettes, fruit, sausages, eggs (both boiled and scrambled) and much more. however, the only fault that i would have is that the bar snacks and a la carte were not very good, especially for a 4 star hotel. we ate in the a la carte the first night and down the town every other night; in which i would mention for those who like steak and chicken to visit the saray resturant, as it was by far the best meal we had. the staff in the hotel were excellent and very friendly, as were the cleaners. our room was cleaned every day with fresh sheets, towels etc. the pool area was nice and relaxing with plenty of space but we did find that the hotel was a bit expensive. for example a box of pringles was over 7 lira!!! the hotel is ideal for families and couples on a relaxing break, i wouldnt recommend it for young groups. entertainment was ok, a bit boring but the music was good. we would definately go back.