Sonmez Hotel

I travelled with my sister and stayed at the Sonmez hotel in the first week of July. We stayed because we read fantastic reviews about the Sonmez (prior to the latest reviews). Well it lived upto our expectations, it was clean, friendly and the staff could not do enough for you. Jimmy (Ergun) was brilliant ensuring that we had a great holiday and his exclusive boat trip was beatiful. It was my sisters birthday while we were there and he brought me to a cake shop in fetehyie so i could get a birtday cake for her. The food i thought was beautiful with plenty to choose from snack menu and evening menu. I even liked it that much that I am going back there in Sept with my other half for a week. It is basic, but its clean, friendly and in a fantastic location with only 10 minutes walk to Hisaronu and a dolmus ride to the beach. I would recommend this place to anyone and cannot understand the poor reviews, but everyone has their opinion.

decided to go back to the sonmez after a 20 yr absence,this time instead of just me and my wife(then girlfriend) i brought along my youngest son as well,it'll be more than another 20 yrs before i go back to that dump again! Like a lot of people we met whilst staying there,we were under the impression that air con....(con is the right word here) and the fridge in the room were included in the price,i wasn't aware until one of the other guests tipped me off that they had been landed with £3 a day fridge and aircon charge,so i stopped using both after the 6th day of our 14 day holiday,ergun or jimmy fixit as he wanted to be called is a money orientated wheeler dealer,who's sole aim is not for the poor priso....guests who have to endure staying there. Like the morning he came round the pool one morning clapping his hands to attract the attention of the guests,he then made an announcement saying that he was your friend but would remind guests that the taking of food or drink of any kind into your room or round the pool would not be tolerated .and ended it by saying" enjoy your holiday," what was the point in having a fridge in the room then? The "staff" in the morning who served the breakfast all had a charisma bypass,no smiling faces,just "tea or coffee"said with a face as long as a fiddle,my son of 14 didn't want tea or coffee so he asked for orange juice, i couldn't understand why they asked me for my room number every time he got a glass of orange,i soon found out when i got the bill,he'd charged me nearly £20 for the privelidge,he said it was extra,i argued what do you expect a teenager to have for his breakfast.!!!! The rooms were disgusting,if you didn't hand your room key in ,then ask them personally to clean the room,then the room got left,the toilet paper bin got changed after 4 days,the bed's had got a bottom sheet on that barely covered the top of the mattress and bed springs that weer ready to come through,and like the previous other reviews,the bath towels were the size of bath mats,and replying to one of the previous reviews,cleanliness and basic hygiene is must regardless of budget status. After settling my bar tab,air con and fridge bill after six days,i then didn't buy another thing from him regarding drinks ,snacks etc on principal,that went for a lot of the guests as well. This place wouldn't put me off from coming back to hisonarou/olu deniz,which is amazing.the bars,shops and friendliness of the people,just don't go to the sonmez

We didnt expect alot because you get what you pay for but i do expect the basics or atleast whats advertised. The pictures on the Sonmez website are not the rooms we stayed in and are possibly from either a family room or the apartments.Our rooms were tiny, dirty and below standard. Rooms did have aircon but this is an additional £3 pound charge a day and not inlcuded as advertised on their website. We tried not to use it but eventually had to to get a decent nights sleep. A fridge was located in the passageway and not in our room. This could be moved into our room and used if you could find the space and again pay an additional £3 a day. There is no tea of coffee making facilities but if you want a ketlle then.....you guessed it £3 a day. The rooms were not cleaned daily and towels were either too small or infact floor mats. The showers dont work. They are either Scorching hot or freezing cold but you manage to clean yourself when the water changes from either hot to cold or the the other way round. The bar snack menu leaves alot to be desired although you could survive. The resturant has a really good looking evening menu but as we never ate there due to the experiance of the snack menu I wont coment on it but could only say that it is the same kitchen and staff. The other guests in the hotel were lovely but we spent alot of time around the pool telling our horror story's and bad experiance. All in all we all had the same opinion. We would never return!!! The hotel is in a lovely location and the beech and surrounding towns are easy to get to but there are other places to stay in the same area. The owners/managers are ok. Sue will not bother you cause she doesnt seem to get involved in anything. She seems to just do her washing and laze about the pool. If she does chat to you she is pleasant. "Jimmy will fix it" as he likes to be called seems to be focused on giving guests nothing for as much money as possible. All in all a poor show from the owners who should be trying to retain clients for future visits. You really need to watch your spending at the bar if you run a tab because we all found stuff on our tabs we never had. Best to pay cash everytime. Also there are no card facilities at either the bar or the resturant. The good bit. The pool wasnt bad and the beer was cold at an average price. To some up we would never return and this opinion was shared by most of the guests.

If you are looking for the Turkish Fawlty Towers then look no further! We arrived at the Sonmez at about 4.30am and were asked to sit in the bar area. We soon realised that our room and another group's were not ready. We had to wait a further hour until we could make our weary way to our room. When we did it was an appartment, not the 2 Double Rooms we had booked and paid for. Ergon, or Jimi-fix-it as he refers to himself, said he would sort it out the next day. The next day came and we had to ask again and he said he was still sorting it. Another day came and when we asked yet again we were told he was going to ring the travel company to confirm what we had booked, despite us having shown him our booking documents. Another day came and still nothing so we decided to unpack and make the most of it, which I think was his plan all along. We got talking to the couple whose review is below and who had no room and were put up in a hostel down the road. We felt very sorry for them. They were treated abismally. In fact during our 2 week stay, all of the other guests without exception, that we spoke to were extremely disatisfied and disgruntled. Not a single person had a good word to say about the Sonmez or Ergon and Sue. Everyone ended up swapping horror stories about the place around the pool. Our apartment was OK but very budget/basic and quite dirty. Cleaning was hit and miss and superficial. A cleaner was sacked whilst we were there and it got even worse from there. We settled for just getting clean towels and had to insist they were bigger than handkerchiefs. All sockets were literally hanging off the wall with exposed wires. Fortunately our kids are no longer young enough to want to put their fingers in but be warned. The shower wasn't fixed to the wall properly so we had to hold it in one hand and wash with the other. The food was very inconsistent. We had a rubbish but expensive barbecue but the following week other guests said it was excellent and they got completely different food to us (even though the price was the same). We had a so called Sunday Dinner which was the worst meal we had throughout our stay. I had a black starfish-shaped thing on my plate that I eventually realised had been a Yorkshire Pudding before being cremated! In complete contrast my wife had the best meal she had anywhere, Chicken & Mushrooms in white wine sauce. She said it was absolutely gorgeous. Breakfast was terrible. We booked bed and breakfast so felt compelled to endure it. It consisted of trays of melon, tomatoes, cheese, bread, cucumber and black olives, which if people didn't cover with cling film ended up going stale in the heat and being shared with the flies. It was exactly the same every single day. Some people ended up asking for boiled eggs and the bread to be toasted just for something different, but you had to careful because Ergon would put it on your bill without you knowing until you came to settle. Overall Jimi 'Fix-nothing' was OK with us on the whole and an OK sort of bloke but he is completely obsessed with making money. We found Sue extremely aloof and dismissive. She had a permanent inane grin on her face and whenever we asked her anything she'd just tell us to speak to Ergon then walk away. She seemed to spend her days either hanging out washing or sat on her bum. The rest of the staff are very robotic and devoid of personality. They have 2 speeds, slow and stop. Ergon's brother Raman seemed humble and was pleasant enough but spoke very little english. The pool was excellent, clean and a really nice area. There are plenty of sun loungers so no one gets up at the crack of dawn to put their towels on. The bar area was nice too, though the pool table needs replacing. The guest are a great mix of English and Turkish and we met loads of really nice people. The small, family run complex has potential to be so much better, but its management and customer service would have to improve dramatically. It was like they couldn't care less if people came back or not. One day a huge group of Israely students descended on the place and spent the entire night running amock. Literally, running, shouting, screaming and thumping around throughout the whole night. Fortunately they left the next day. I don't think they actually all had beds so decided not to bother sleeping. Despite Sonmez's many shortfalls, our holiday was fantastic. Hisaronu is very lively at night, full of cocktail bars, shops and restaurants all lit up in neon. Oludeniz is a stunning place, though beaches are pebbly so get some pool shoes unless your feet are like leather! We will definitely return to Turkey, just not the Sonmez.

This shambles of a hotel that 'Jimmy' and Sue are supposed to be running is something any holiday maker will want to stear clear of! When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by Jimmy who sat us down in his restaurant and told us there was no rooms available for the first night we had booked in so he would take us down the road in a old banger of a car and check us into a hostel! The room we were moved too was tiny and had no air conditioning. As it was for only one night we just got on with it and made no more fuss that day! Jimmy said he would pick us up the next morining at 10am and we would have 5 rooms to choose from! 10am came and went and there was no sign of Jimmy or anyone else! We decided to make our own way back to the hotel at 11am and let Jimmy know what we thought of the shambles he had created for us so far! We had come on holiday for a nice relaxing break and this Cowboy Jimmy was fast turning it sour! We got there and he was still in bed! He finally got up and it was 1pm before he got us checked into a room that was even more basic that the hostel we had stayed in the night before and we had no hot water in the room for our entire stay! In the time we waited for the room we discovered there were 4 other couples waiting for a room and had been in the same situation as ourselves the day before. There was one couple who had waited 2 days for a room and were furious with the rep and Jimmy, which was understandable. He had told them the same lies he told us and he carted them off down the road to the hostel in the banger of a car just like ourselves. It was getting hilarious! The shower in our room was a dribble of cold water that we just had to deal with because I didn't want any more dealings with 'Jimmy The Con Man' as it was a waste of time! As it was the second day and we actually had a room we felt quite lucky compared to some of the other situations we had listened to from other holiday makers. The rep too was useless as we were waiting to be checked into a room and he was sitting at the pool bar waiting for someone to tell him what was happening! He actually told the couple who had waited 2 days for a room that you get what you pay for so you shouldn't expect much from the Sonmez. As the holiday progressed and we spoke to people around the pool we found out that nearly everyone checking in to the hotel, from England, were being sent down the road to the hostel, or put in Jimmy's front room until he could sort something. This happened day after day as we watched new people turning up the hotel and going through the whole experience and it mainly down to Jimmy checking in large amounts of students and constantly over booking the hotel! It was beyond a joke and he should not be getting away with this! The treatment and organisation of this place is appllaing! People going on holiday should not be subject to this kind of treatment! Jimmy, the hotel owner, is certainly not to be trusted! The area of Hisaronu and Oludeniz is fantastic, the Turkish people are great and you will have a great holiday just stay well away from the Sonmez so it does not spoil your experience!

We stayed at Jimmy and Sue's first time and met some lovely People mainly from England who had been visiting this place for years so it really had a nice family feel to it. As some of the reviews have mentioned the rooms are fairly basic but you get what you pay for and its only a base to stay anyway. Its only 15 mins away from Hirasonu and you can walk into town at night or if you prefer the dolmus stops right outside and takes you directly to the beach. The owners are down to earth People and tried their best to accomodate any requests. The pool was nice and clean and food was ok. The resort itself is lovely, although a shingle beach, but sea was warm and 98% English staying there. Lots of restaurants and bars and the Turkish People are warm and friendly and will do anything for you, We only stayed a week and recommend anyone to stay here if on a budget.

The expectations of the comments on this website where nothing to what we got on arrival !! For starters, we where welcomed by the couple, Jimmy & Sue they seemed very nice on first glance. Not helpful at all on second thought. For me due to the fact that I have allergies , this was not received well by Sue & was shrugged off, resulting in no food at this hotel, although we had paid for a B&B. No alternatives where offered !!. If you like to party until dawn then this is the perfect spot for you, however this is not to our taste & was kept up most nights until at least 7am !!! The ONLY good thing about this hotel is the location, 5 mins walk to Hisaronu town where all the magic happens, lovely resturants, bars, shops & great people. Pick another hotel as there are many more to choose from in this area.

We were not told anything about the hotel when we arrived, such as what we were allowed from the menu being half-board, how they would bill for all our drinks etc - we had to figure it all out ourselves. There was much confusion amongst the staff when we told them we had paid for half-board, took about two days before we all understood what was what! We didn’t have our room cleaned for a few days as we did not know that we had to leave our room key on the bar each morning and no-one bothered to tell us. The restaurant staff were very helpful and friendly but unlike other reviews we did not particularly warm to 'Jimmy fix it' (as the owner likes to be known!) otherwise known as Ergun. A big fight erupted one night in the hotel restaurant between Jimmy and his staff which got nasty (we left before finishing our meal) the physical fight continued and lead to the police being called, the next day none of the staff apologised to ANY of the guest which we thought was VERY poor and unprofessional. This incident created some uncomfortable atmosphere plus all the staff behaved like nothing had happened the next day which we found quite bemusing. The bedrooms/balconies were tiny, we stayed in 2 different rooms - until we settled on one that was at the back of the hotel. The bedsheets don't stay on the bed as they are too small for the beds. You get what you pay for at the end of the day, if you are aware of this then Im sure you will enjoy your stay. The other guests were very friendly. Plus points - The swimming pool was very clean and the food was great, good traditional turkish food (just what we wanted) One week was long enough and we were glad to be getting home.

We have been visiting Turkey for the past 15 years now and have stayed at the Sonmez several times. My wife and myself have stayed with Ergun and Sue, we have taken friends to stay and also our daughter and grandson have stayed there, and all have been equally impressed. We have also taken friends, one of whom was in a wheelchair, and Ergun had wooden ramps made so we could get up the steps with the chair. Whatever you ask for at the Sonmez if they can get it for you they will. The only reason why we haven,t always stayed there is the prohibitive cost of the flights at times, it is cheaper to book a package.The atmosphere is a family one, the pool is clean and has a nice bar area. The rooms have just been redecorated and very clean. And the restaurant serves nice food, Mehmet the chef is very good. The location is midway between Fethiye and Olu Deniz and is a bit cooler. The Dolmus stops outside the hotel and there is also a nice 15 minute stroll down to Hisaronu village, with bars and restaurants on the way down. But transport isn,t a problem anyway. If there is someone available at the hotel they will jump in their car and give you a lift. We are going again this year possibly Aug/Sept. We would recommend the Sonmez to anyone you will be well looked after.

I have stayed at Sonmez a few times now and each time has been better than the last. Ergun and Sue, the owners, are the friendliest people i have met abroad and do everything they can to entertain you and make sure you are enjoying your holiday. What you will find is that the hotel doesn’t need to advertise heavily with tour operators as they have mass amounts of people that go back year after year because the place is that good. Generally with an age group of 30's plus but we still had a good time. Although it is not a massive complex it still has everything you need to enjoy your holiday. The pool is a good size and very clean, they have both apartments and rooms which are ample size and very clean. Fantastic pool bar with friendly staff, pool table, large sat tv etc. Great location, only a short walk down to the main town of Hisoranu (packed full of bars, restaurants, clubs etc) with regular Dolmus (minibus) to Fethiye and the beautiful Oludeniz beach. The restaurant is brilliant to be honest, and im fussy with food. A lot of variety and no dish disappoints.