The Arkin Iskele

We had a peaceful holiday since the hotel wasn’t overcrowded during our stay. The food was varied and tasty, with something for everyone. Arkin Iskele Hotel has spacious, clean rooms, amazing pools, and a beautiful beach right beside it. The sand is fine and the sea entry slopes gradually. I’d definitely recommend it!

The worst part was the cockroaches. We found small ones in the bathroom at night and another in our room on the 3rd floor. For such a new hotel, that suggests a major drain issue. Guest services sanitised the room after I reported it, but we saw another one. They were small, thankfully, but still made our skin crawl, and we were scared to go into the bathroom every night. Guest services fobbed us off and did nothing to make us feel better. They offered to move us to a slightly bigger room, but we couldn’t be bothered since it wasn’t worth it for a bath when I’d still be uncomfortable about the drain issue. There was no other goodwill offer. The hotel itself is stunning and great for kids, with amazing water slides and a kids water park. The buffet was large, though the food and cuts of meat could have been better. More chicken breast dishes, please. I also found it ridiculous that there were no inclusive restaurants for a hotel costing 500-600 per night. Having the buffet every night isn’t what you expect at that price. I wouldn’t return, even though it’s the best hotel in the area. It was convenient while doing IVF in Famagusta.

The service was consistently kind and helpful, and staff seemed eager to handle requests. Everything was very clean and well maintained, which made for a welcoming, comfortable stay. The food had plenty of variety each day, and I honestly enjoyed every dish. The desserts were especially good. Rooms are spacious, the minibar is restocked daily, and bar staff come around the main areas, pool, and beach. There was no trouble finding sunbeds. The kids’ club and water slides are a little far away, but shuttle buggies make the trip manageable. Poolside and beach snacks were somewhat limited, though it hardly mattered given the quality and choice at the main meals. One major plus for us was the absence of the usual “cultural enrichment” from a certain nationality, known for arrogance and inappropriate behavior and, in recent years, taking up space in many Turkish hotels. I can definitely recommend Arkin Resort Iskele for its service, food, cleanliness, and the care that made my stay so enjoyable.

The main shortcoming was guest relations. The large group of ladies there gave me no information about the concert or the need to book in advance, then acted as if they knew nothing, even though I have screenshots of our messages on my phone. Their corporate “we will pass this on” response doesn’t work compared with other teams. There’s also a little lack of organized evening entertainment, though the beach bar has cozy concerts. Aside from guest relations, everything was flawless, and I’d recommend the hotel and definitely come back. The rooms are clean, and you can use the pool and beach any time of day without reserving sunbeds. Bar service was absolutely fantastic. Adem is in charge of the restaurant and its staff, well done!