Ethesia Hotel Reviews

Had a lovely week. Did not like being hassled into resturants. Shops hassle to buy goods. Very friendly people. Hair done very cheap; a lovely young man. Turkish evening lovely: lots to eat, drink low in price. Village life very interesting: lot to see, lunch lovely. Wine tasting. Tour guide very good: explained all about the way they live. Hotel very clean: family run very friendly, helpful. Boat trip good but park near rocks, climb over. I stayed on boat. Food lovely again. Friendly staff. Had great night at Captain House. A disco: 60's music (too loud for me). Will go again soon. Can't wait.

We stayed at the Ethesia Hotel for two weeks. The hotel is very smart and very clean. All the rooms are carpeted as are the accommodation passages. This makes the place very quiet. None of that scraping around of chairs from the people above you and echoing allyways. The rooms are adequately furnished and very clean. Loads of hot water at whatever the time of day. Best of all was the air conditioning. Really nice to come back to after a hard days slog, sunbathing.

The hotel has an excellent pool and is in a lovely setting with the gardens falling away down to the beach. It seemed that on most days despite the numbers of German, Dutch and Bulgarian guests there was always a sunbed available. All the staff (particularly the reception staff) that we came into contact with were friendly, helpful and polite.

The food in the hotel is good. The cold buffet had a comprehensive selection always beautifully presented and there was always something hot on the menu to suit us. If I had any criticism of the food it would be that from an English point of view. it wasn't, at all. Breakfast is there purely for continental guests, so no fried eggs. or beans, bacon etc... Loads of plain yogurt, salads, cold meats, olives etc...There were however hard and soft boiled eggs available every morning and on odd mornings some rather red, leathery looking frankfurter type bullets. The guard dog at the hotel next door loved them. Cereals (Cornflakes) were available. We did not see at any time a seperate menu for kids. I can only assume that the children of our European neighbours do not go in for beans, chicken dinosaurs, chips etc... In general we had no problem with the food choice.
Fear not though for their is hope, since during the afternoon there is the service of pizzas, hamburgers, delicious pancakes, ice cream from 3-30 to 4-30 and melon from around 4-30. Truly scrumptious.

The entertainment team at the hotel work very hard indeed and there is an excellent kids club. The evening entertainment might not always be your cup of tea but you can't fault the team for enthusiasm and after a couple of days it becomes infectious and you find yourself joining in the crazy games and crazy pool dancing.

They say the worst is kept for last well here goes. If you expect to get even mildly squiffy from the drinks they serve in your all inclusive package then forget it. We have stayed in many all inclusive hotels and have been on all inclusive cruises and the drinks at the Ephesia Hotel are without doubt the worst and weakest drinks with the poorest choice we have ever known, anywhere. Whether or not this is an active policy of the hotel or of the lack of training of the bar staff I don't know.

If you stick solely to beer and wine then you are ok (Efes beer is nectar) but if you fancy getting a little tiddly on anything else (locally produced or otherwise) then forget it. My wife and myself are not old red nosed soaks by any means but we do, like thousands of others enjoy a few nice drinks before retiring. You know what I mean, it relaxes you and gets you ready for the old Egyptian PT etc... Well friends,this is denied you by the Ephesia Hotel. If you fancy TASTING a brandy or a vodka or a gin etc... go up the road and PAY for it. You will at least taste it and enjoy it. Ephesia may be 4 stars but they don't get it for the drinkies believe me.

On balance and all in all we had a good holiday and if ever they do a package to the Ephesia Hotel where you can have a discount if you choose not to have the included (ho ho )drinks then we would take it and return. Alas we felt that this issue spoilt what would have otherwise been a cracker. To all you members of AA out there and others who have taken the pledge,you will find the Ephesia will be right up your street.
Cheers!