Kalkan Regency Hotel

We had a very relaxing time during our week at the Regency (booked with exclusive escapes who were great). While not a flashy or overly stylish (in the 'design hotel' sense) 5 star resort hotel, the Regency excels in amazing, intimate service and ambiance. The rooms are simple and clean, all with balconies. The views from the pool amazing. With only 38 rooms the hotel strikes a balance in enabling peace and solitude while also providing an environment in which you can interact with other guests if you wish to. I like peace and quiet but also don't like isolated places - the Regency is perfectly located just a 10-15 min walk into the lively, laid back town. So many guests we met were repeat visitors. The hotels owners are ever-present and welcoming - they really seem to care about the guests. We even took a trip to their mountain farm - where a lot of fruits/veg for the hotel are grown. Overall, one of the most relaxing holidays I have had. Definitely recommended.

I stayed at the Regency for two weeks in June and cannot praise it too highly. Not only is the hotel maintained in pristine condition but all the staff there, from the utterly lovely manager Ahmet to the waiting staff, chambermaids and gardener, are tirelessly cheerful and welcoming. This is largely true of everyone you meet in Kalkan, but the Regency personnel do make guests feel totally at ease. I think not much more can be said about the Exclusive Escapes web site than has already been said – no wonder it has won so many awards. It is a real boon being able to choose your room based on clear internal photographs and 360 degree panoramas showing the view you will get from your (microscopic I’m afraid) balcony. The rooms are somewhat on the small side, but are adequate. The curtains are heavy, lined, interlined and capable of blocking out every scrap of light so you will sleep untroubled sleep and not be woken up by the first rays of daylight. The hotel is set in a stunning position and the views from the upper terraces are terrific. Our first impression was slightly spoiled by the fact that behind the Regency there is a derelict hotel in a very dilapidated state and this makes for a shabby contrast to the immaculately maintained Regency building. Not a lot they can do about that though – except maybe buy it! The Regency pool is excellent and there is never a problem with getting a sunbed. While we were there, however, a heatwave kicked in during week two and I actually found it better to hop on the (cheap and frequent) dolmus to Patara beach where the sea breezes – although hot – provided some relief. Food at the Regency is superb, and contrary to comments elsewhere no more expensive than the better quality restaurants down in Kalkan town. Because of the sheer quantity of restaurants in the town, however, most Regency guests eat elsewhere in the evenings which can mean that the beautiful restaurant lacks atmosphere and this is a shame because there is probably no finer view in Kalkan. In terms of eating out, the best meals we had (apart from at the Regency itself) were at both the Korsan restaurants – the Fish Terrace and the Korsan Marina. Also worth a short taxi ride is Guru’s on the Kas road for its excellent value and service with a smile. On the subject of food, the Regency breakfasts deserve a special mention – an excellent selection to please everyone. Even this non-breakfast eater could not resist the freshly baked bread rolls and was even persuaded to indulge in an exceptionally delicious Scotch pancake on one occasion. I don’t think my waistline could have withstood too much more temptation! There are restrictions on children staying at the Regency (I think it’s no under 14s other than in July and August) which makes for a very pleasurable holiday for those without kids wanting to avoid an enforced share of other people’s offspring. In terms of travel arrangements, we opted for the Saturday Gatwick flight via Excel Airlines and experienced no delays whatsoever. Those who arrived on the second week had a four hour delay which was not Excel’s fault and the rep said that this was the first time that flight had encountered any problem since they started running it. In actual fact I would have welcomed a delay of several days on the return leg thus allowing for a longer stay in Kalkan! Yet another lovely touch is that on the day of departure all the staff line up in the reception area to wish you a safe onward journey followed by a ritual involving throwing water at the wheels of the mini bus. You are then transported reluctantly back towards Dalaman with the Regency staff standing there smiling and waving thereby leaving you with a very clear reminder of just what made your holiday quite so special – the people.

Stayed in August 2004 and have been back bi-annually since... Simply the best hotel you could ever wish to stay at, exceeded every possible expectation. This was our first stay as a family at a hotel rather than a private luxury villa and we were not let down. The location is beautiful with views across the bay, the pool stunning, and superbly maintained, with plenty of loungers etc.etc, alongside comfortable shady spots and a mini-library for those wishing to stay out of the sun. The hotel is small enough so as to never feel crowded and the staff treat you as friends. I have never come across such friendly and hospitable people, who go out of their way to ensure you have a relaxing break. The food is simply outstanding, although it is very pricey now no doubt thanks to the hotel's transfer over to "exclusive escapes" (previously it was used by tapestry holidays and thus renovation and increases in prices have occured to live up to the "exclusive" part!) but the views from the outside dining area across the bay and the town at night are stunning. I would particularly recommend the regency's bbq night - which is a veritable banquet of meze's and superb fresh local food. The staff go out of their way to make it a special evening, placing candlelit tables around the pool and floating candlelit flower displays on the pool. Simply magical. A 5-10 minute walk takes you into the town which is very pretty to wander at night - a lot of the restaurants are very touristy, and you will end up paying the same as you do at the regency, and quite frankly, the food at the hotel is unbeatable. In town either eat at the small, local places, or stay at the hotel. My only caveat is that Kalkan is developing fast - go soon before the area gets spoilt. Hopefully as the regency is a little way out, it will remain a retreat! Watersports are available in the town as well - we used Blue Marlin who were great. The regency is a perfect retreat, you leave feeling so relaxed, and the people working there are simply wonderful. I couldn't recommend this place more if I tried.

this year i went to the kalkan regency with my best friend and her family and it really was the best holiday i have ever been on in my entire life. the food was amazing, the staff were friendly and we became very good friends with the owners son and spent alot of our holiday with him. the hotel was immaculate and had fantastic views of the mountains, town and sea. Kalkan has a very relaxed atmosphere and great nyt life. i especially loved this holiday because it not just a drinking holiday or just a holiday to relax, you can make it either or both depending on what you want from a holiday. i would recomend this resopt to people of all ages and dont believe a bad word anyone has to say about it. and i personally think it the best hotel i have ever stayed in and cant wait to go back again and again! xx

Stayed at the Regency mid June, with Exclusive Escapes, had the top floor room nearest to reception 301 I think. The view from there is great, the room is fine beds very confortable, easy chair is confortable. The room is not large but we moved the smaller pieces of furniture around a bit and we had lots of space. The bathroom is good been recently refurbished. You have to try not to have your shower at 'peak' times as there is less water especially hot, but thats just part of being in Turkey. The food is very good and the chef does a great job. We didnt have anything that wasnt up to scratch. We ate there quite a bit and I think its value for money. It was my husbands 50th and they baked him a cake and all the staff came out and sang we hadn't even realised that they knew. The staff in general couldnt be faulted they worked very hard and it all ran like clockwork. Ahmet the manager was particularly good and extremely pleasant to all guests taking a genuine interest in them and how well they were enjoying their stay. The family who own the hotel are also warm hospitable people. The pool is kept in tip top shape and is large and inviting. We were a little unlucky with the weather as it was a bit windy with a rough sea while we were there. Our trip on the motor cruiser was cancelled and the gulet cruise considerably shortened. It was very chilly and windy on the dinner cruise so I probably wouldnt go again in June. It was fine during the day but got a bit too chilly to be outside some nights. We had some beauty treatments also, manicures pedicures and facial as well as the hammam. All were very good value. The facial took an hour and I can honestly say my face has never been so clean not a blocked pore in sight. The girls never rushed and the receptionist came and chatted as her English in excellent she was the same age as my daughter so it was interesting to hear about her life in Turkey. Kalkan itself comes across as friendly, you run the gauntlet nightly of restaurant owners calling to you to come look at the menu but again thats part of Turkey. Most of the restaurants are excellent and I rate Turkish food as better than just about any other country. Its probably best not to head for the most obvious restaurants as the ones a little more hidden are a bit cheaper and try a little harder. The hotel wont usually recommend restaurants as it would no doubt be bad form to do so. Other guests will but youll find everyone likes a different one. When we went there were no children at the hotel which was great for us as ours are grown up, however the hotel does accept children at other times. It was lovely and peaceful around the pool and I read lots of books. There is a shelf where guests can leave books they have read so there is usually something there if you run out. Exclusive escapes did a good job, but the mini bus which took us to the hotel was an old one and very unconfortable. We felt that because we hadnt been before we got a lot less time with the rep who definately looked after her return guests. They even went on trips that we didnt know about. There are also big discounts on trips etc if you use them repeatedly. I have no problem with that but one or two people made a point of saying that their day out was either free or costing them a lot less than us. All in all a great place for a chill out relaxing holiday with great food.

All of my holidays to Kalkan regency have been fantastic! I love this hotel and it has become my second home. The staff are always more then happy to do anything they can for you. Some I have become such good friends with I stay in touch all year round. This year was my 3rd time staying at the Regency and I still love it and will most certainly be going back! Everyone I have met at the Regency have been there before or are planning on going back the next yr. I really have nothing bad to say about this Hotel at all! I would definitely recommend this hotel to people of all ages.

Being a lover of the Greek Islands, I thought I would give Turkey a go just for a change. Unfortunately it was probably the biggest mistake I have ever made. For a start, the brochure described the Kalkan Regency as one of the best hotels in the mediterranean. It doesnt even come close. Luckily we were in a villa for the first week. The second week was spent at this hotel. We had paid extra for one of the suites at the hotel but the jacuzzi bath was broken for the whole week. When advising the rep of this it was like talking to someone who didnt speak your language. The hotel itself was fairly pleasant but nothing compared to the likes of Katikies in Santorini or the Elounda Beach in Crete. Then to top it all a 29 hr flight delay which Exclusive Escapes just didnt want to know about on the return. Exclusive - certainly not, Escape - thats what the reps wanted to do when there was a problem. It gave me a bad impression of the country and I am sure thats not what it is like - maybe I will give it another go one of these days but not in this resort or hotel.

Last year I returned with my parents to the Kalkan Regency for the 3rd time. After our first holiday we booked again to go the following year just 2 days after our return to the UK. After that we felt nothing would compare but we waited till last year before returning a 3rd time. Some staff had left and others had joined the Regency Family. Nonetheless the core staff were still there. Here the excellence shows as they remembered us and welcomed us like old friends. Nuri and Masuda and the rest of the staff were as attentive and as welcoming as ever if not more so. At the Regency everything is kept in pristine condition and everything is tended to with the utmost care. Nothing is ever a problem and service is 5* if not over that. We feel so relaxed there that it is hard to leave. The Regency is a beautiful hotel, the surrounds are stunning. It is a hotel which stands out in my memory for the best holidays I have had. Kalkan is a a seaside town with lots of beautiful scenery and gorgeous views. Ratings: 5* Location 5* Hotel 5* Service 5* Staff 5* Amenities What else can I say other than I have had the TIME OF MY LIFE whenever I have stayed at the Kalkan Regency. I reccommend it all the time and my parents and I would never hesitate about going back....Last year I said at dinner on our last night in Kalkan that although I considered that holiday to be my last family holiday (having turned 19 this year) that if they ever planned to return to Kalkan in the next few years they HAD to count me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We stayed at the Kalkan Regency for two weeks in June 2005 courtesy of Exclusive Escapes. Their website is excellent – you can see each room, the views etc. and book the whole thing online. Their brochure is equally impressive with some gorgeous photographs. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. As per the London review, we flew out of Heathrow on a private charter. At the other end we were directed to the air conditioned mini buses quickly and smoothly. The owners and staff met us on our arrival with a drink and a reasonable supper. The hotel room was very clean and had tea and coffee facilities, along with complimentary still and sparkling water every day which was a nice touch. However, the room had a huge bed and heavy soft furnishings so it felt quite dark and cramped. It wasn’t too much of a problem as we spent most of the time outside. The hotel was kept really clean throughout our two week stay including the toilets, pool and other public areas. The hotel staff are among the nicest we have ever met, particularly Ahmet who is always polite and charming … a real gem to have around. Most of the staff are friendly without being pushy, helpful without being cloying. The hotel breakfasts are great … lots of variety, fresh fruit, omelettes and such like made to order. We had several lunches at the hotel and whilst the menu was a bit limited if you just wanted something light – it was freshly prepared/cooked and well presented. We found that the food in the evening was not so good, and it’s quite expensive by Kalkan standards. However, their barbeque evening was good value for money and the food was good. We went on the complimentary gulet cruise which was a wonderful, leisurely day out. It’s a large boat and a limited number of people so there was loads of room. The food was simple, but well cooked and presented. We stopped off at the sunken city which was very interesting. We also went on a day trip on the Deluxe Motor Cruiser which was great fun. We did a couple of overland trips which were good value for money – again, small numbers and a dedicated guide who was extremely helpful and professional. Kalkan is a short walk from the hotel down quite a steep hill. Once there, you have to go up and down hills to look at the various shops and restaurants which may be a problem for anyone with limited mobility. It has loads of restaurants - you are really spoilt for choice and everyone has their favourites. We liked a small restaurant called Coast because of the atmosphere, staff and views. We tried various others including the Olive Tree mentioned by the London reviewer. We thought it was OK but found the staff to be a bit too obsequious for our liking. In the end, it comes down to personal preference. In keeping with many Turkish resorts we’ve been to, we found that you get hassled when walking around – everyone wants you to come into their restaurant and some are more persistent than others. If you stop to look in the shops, particularly the jewellery shops, they can be very persuasive. However, it’s not as much of a problem as other places we have been to. The airport on the way home was a complete nightmare. There are huge queues both inside and outside the airport due to luggage checks. Once inside, it’s ok but nothing special. Overall, it was a really good holiday and we would recommend the Kalkan Regency and Exclusive Escapes.

We have just returned from a week at the Regency and cannot stop recommending it to our friends. We booked early with exclusive escapes to get a pretty good discount and the booking staff were great. Not only do you choose your hotel, but the room you want to stay in! We picked a room overlooking the pool and the bay - not the biggest room we've stayed in, but very well presented, clean, comfortable, and had stunning views. Getting There Flights are through BMI from Heathrow and take 4 hours, but there's no in flight entertainment which can drag a bit. A 2hr minivan drive takes you from the airport to the hotel, arriving at the hotel at around midnight. The Hotel We were greeted by the hotel staff with a cocktail and light supper which was nothing less than fantastic - the best tomato soup I've ever had and a selection of meze to follow. The hotel is family run and has a great atmosphere. The chef is very good and the poolside lunches / terrace dinners are great, but evening meals can be a little expensive compared to in Kalkan itself. Kalkan The town at Kalkan is about 10 minutes walk from the hotel and has more restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Typical prices for two of us with wine was around £30-£35 for 3 courses. Nearly everywhere we ate was very good, especially Korsan, by the Marina and the roof terrace of the Olive Garden in the main town. Our 'bad' experience was the restaurant called Aubergine as the service was slow and let it down, but the food was still OK. Being two hours away from the airport, Kalkan does not attract the normal package holidayers, meaning the town keeps it's charm and is not overrun with pubs and clubs catering for the egg and chips style tourist. The locals are all very friendly and we didn't get hassled at all, even when shopping for the odd 'real imitation' bag. Trips The Kalkan Regency have bought a big yacht from one of the other hotels, and a free day trip was included in the price of our stay. The trip was brilliant and very relaxing, although the sea was freezing if you needed a dip to wake you up. The only other trip we did was kayaking over the sunken village. DO NOT DO THIS TRIP. The transfer is over two hours and the rowing is hard work and just resulted in arguements from clashing oars. Despite the pictures, there is nothing to see because it's all underwater. Save your money for a treatment at the Hamam back in the hotel. Bad Points The only letdown for the whole holiday was the airport coming back. Each bag is security screened before you go into the check in, meaning there was a big queue to get into the airport which led to an hour delay. Once inside, there's not a lot to it. The Duty Free shops are all priced in Euro's with a not-too-good exchange rate for Turkish Lira. A second terminal is being built for next year which should help. Overall, the holiday was great for a relaxing week away and we would definitely consider going back. Exclusive Escapes and the hotel staff (especially Ahmet) did everything they could to make it special and they certainly succeeded - Highly recommended!