Destina Hotel, Ovacik, Turkey
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Destina Hotel Reviews
" Where do I start ?
We... "
Where do I start ?
We had been looking forward to our holiday all year. Spotted good reviews on the Green Anatolia, in Ovacik, and booked on a half-board basis.
All's well so far.
But as we arrived at Dalaman airport we were greeted with a sealed envelope. On reading the letter we were informed that we were not going to be staying at the Green Anatolia because it was full ! We were been sent to another hotel called the Destina, which was 70 yards or so away from our original destination.
So we arrived at the hotel, after tyravelling most of the night, at 6.30am. Firstly, they weren't expecting us but on production of the letter, we were given a room. I thought it wasn't too much to ask for a nice cup of tea or coffee as I was 'gagging' for a drink, but I was told that there wasn't any hot water, cold drinks, bottled water available until breakfast at 8am. A great start.
So a quick hours sleep, no shower because there wasn't any hot water in the system either, and down for breakfast. The food selection was poor and although it improved slightly towards the end of the week, the standard was down for (depending where you looked) this 3 or 4-star hotel.
If you're a chicken lover, you'll be in heaven. there wasn't a lot more. Jams were nicely spread out to make it look like there was a better selection, but on closer inspection, it was the same every day.
As for the beauty parlour, massage section, shop, entertainment and internet, there weren't any!
Local spirits in this all-inclusive hotel, were limited to just vodka and gin. The beer wasn't that good either. Snacks were available for an hour a day and you were restricted to one choice: Cheese slice and chips one day, pancakes another, and pizza another. No free ice creams or similar things.
The rooms were very basic but clean and the view, ours was a bush that separated our room from the next hotel's swimming pool , was nothing to write home about. There was no point going to bed before 11.30pm as there was no way you would get to sleep.
The pool area was adequate but few used it. Saying that, the hotel was rather empty and was an obvious spill-over venue where holiday-makers were sent. Not only Brits as, later in our stay, four Poles arrived after being told that the very nice Olu Deniz Beach Club was full. they weren't impressed either.
Having arived early on Sunday morning, the final straw was on our final day, the Saturday. We were informed that if we stayed for lunch, we would be charged 15 Lira each (approx) £7. It really wasn't worth it and was just another penny-pinching plot.
In fact, Brits there, who had been booked with XL, the company who went bust while they were there, were forced to pay £25 a day each, for the duration of their stay, to the hotel before they were allowed to leave, even though they had paid their holiday in full before departure. Not only that, but they also had to find £40 to £50 for transfers back to Dalaman airport, something they had also paid for in advance.
Imagine having paid £800'ish for a week's holiday, only having to stump up another £400 or so to get out !!!
In all fairness, our 'reallocation' wasn't down to the tour operator as they explained that overbooking happened all the time. This is maybe something that the Turks ought to sort out once and for all if they are to expect people like us to return.
The hotel manager explained that it was the first year that his hotel had been open to tourists other than Turks. He has a lot to learn but had obviously not learned anything during the summer. Other reviews of the Destina back me up on what I am saying.
The plusses
Billy's Bar at Olu Deniz was out of this world and well worth a visit. Boat trips are good if the sea is calm but don't, as I did, book with the first person you see over there. Our two trips averaged £12 each.....some on board had paid just £4 !
The people are very friendly and the selling is not in your face as it was the last time we visited Turkey (four years ago) in the Altinkum area.
The minuses
There was nothing to do at all at the hotel, something they have to work on for next season.
The food was poor and very basic. We never saw lamb once in the week we were there, a meat I thought was going to be as common as chicken. How wrong I was.
There was no assistance available at the hotel, and the hotel mini bus remained static for the whole week, whereas other hotel seemed to have a bus down the very steep hills to Ovacik itself.
Everything seemed to be done on a very low budget and my wife regularly commented on being watched by the orange juice police ! The toaster was smaller than the one in most people's kitchens and most breakfasts we just didn't bother queueing.
Conclusion
We might return to Turkey but certainly not to the destina, although it wasn't our choice in the first place.
And if my wife cooks chicken for the Sunday roast tomorrow, a divorce WILL be on the cards !
We had been looking forward to our holiday all year. Spotted good reviews on the Green Anatolia, in Ovacik, and booked on a half-board basis.
All's well so far.
But as we arrived at Dalaman airport we were greeted with a sealed envelope. On reading the letter we were informed that we were not going to be staying at the Green Anatolia because it was full ! We were been sent to another hotel called the Destina, which was 70 yards or so away from our original destination.
So we arrived at the hotel, after tyravelling most of the night, at 6.30am. Firstly, they weren't expecting us but on production of the letter, we were given a room. I thought it wasn't too much to ask for a nice cup of tea or coffee as I was 'gagging' for a drink, but I was told that there wasn't any hot water, cold drinks, bottled water available until breakfast at 8am. A great start.
So a quick hours sleep, no shower because there wasn't any hot water in the system either, and down for breakfast. The food selection was poor and although it improved slightly towards the end of the week, the standard was down for (depending where you looked) this 3 or 4-star hotel.
If you're a chicken lover, you'll be in heaven. there wasn't a lot more. Jams were nicely spread out to make it look like there was a better selection, but on closer inspection, it was the same every day.
As for the beauty parlour, massage section, shop, entertainment and internet, there weren't any!
Local spirits in this all-inclusive hotel, were limited to just vodka and gin. The beer wasn't that good either. Snacks were available for an hour a day and you were restricted to one choice: Cheese slice and chips one day, pancakes another, and pizza another. No free ice creams or similar things.
The rooms were very basic but clean and the view, ours was a bush that separated our room from the next hotel's swimming pool , was nothing to write home about. There was no point going to bed before 11.30pm as there was no way you would get to sleep.
The pool area was adequate but few used it. Saying that, the hotel was rather empty and was an obvious spill-over venue where holiday-makers were sent. Not only Brits as, later in our stay, four Poles arrived after being told that the very nice Olu Deniz Beach Club was full. they weren't impressed either.
Having arived early on Sunday morning, the final straw was on our final day, the Saturday. We were informed that if we stayed for lunch, we would be charged 15 Lira each (approx) £7. It really wasn't worth it and was just another penny-pinching plot.
In fact, Brits there, who had been booked with XL, the company who went bust while they were there, were forced to pay £25 a day each, for the duration of their stay, to the hotel before they were allowed to leave, even though they had paid their holiday in full before departure. Not only that, but they also had to find £40 to £50 for transfers back to Dalaman airport, something they had also paid for in advance.
Imagine having paid £800'ish for a week's holiday, only having to stump up another £400 or so to get out !!!
In all fairness, our 'reallocation' wasn't down to the tour operator as they explained that overbooking happened all the time. This is maybe something that the Turks ought to sort out once and for all if they are to expect people like us to return.
The hotel manager explained that it was the first year that his hotel had been open to tourists other than Turks. He has a lot to learn but had obviously not learned anything during the summer. Other reviews of the Destina back me up on what I am saying.
The plusses
Billy's Bar at Olu Deniz was out of this world and well worth a visit. Boat trips are good if the sea is calm but don't, as I did, book with the first person you see over there. Our two trips averaged £12 each.....some on board had paid just £4 !
The people are very friendly and the selling is not in your face as it was the last time we visited Turkey (four years ago) in the Altinkum area.
The minuses
There was nothing to do at all at the hotel, something they have to work on for next season.
The food was poor and very basic. We never saw lamb once in the week we were there, a meat I thought was going to be as common as chicken. How wrong I was.
There was no assistance available at the hotel, and the hotel mini bus remained static for the whole week, whereas other hotel seemed to have a bus down the very steep hills to Ovacik itself.
Everything seemed to be done on a very low budget and my wife regularly commented on being watched by the orange juice police ! The toaster was smaller than the one in most people's kitchens and most breakfasts we just didn't bother queueing.
Conclusion
We might return to Turkey but certainly not to the destina, although it wasn't our choice in the first place.
And if my wife cooks chicken for the Sunday roast tomorrow, a divorce WILL be on the cards !
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Right Travel
as we walked into the destena we were plesently suprised we arived in the early hours of the morning. we got to our room wich was very clean the shower was one of the best we have ever had.We went for a look round the hotel it was very clean when we had our meal they were a bit repetative but for the price you couldnt complane but you get those who cant help it they want to pay skeggy prices and get the world infact it was cheeper than going skeggy over all it was great for the price we would defanitly go back for a cheep holliday for a week any one thinking of going just go its great for the price dont listen to all the moaners
Advice: small but nice
Activities: baech and the mountains