Sakin Odalar

The peace, simple surroundings, thoughtfully chosen music, good food, and staff who seemed to care about their work made Sakin Odalar a lovely stop for us. We left very pleased and grateful to everyone working there. It gave us a chance to be by ourselves and relax in a setting that felt considered. I stayed one night, and most things were quite satisfactory, though not perfect. The road could be better maintained, and there was saltwater in the rooms. Some guests may have misunderstood what this guesthouse offers, and I don't think many of the negative reviews are fair. It helps to be clear about what you want from a holiday: if you expect constant service, this concept may not suit you. I think it's better to choose based on your expectations than to go looking for faults.

We chose these rooms hoping for a quiet, low-stress break, but came away more stressed than when we arrived. The beach and evening atmosphere were nice, yet the problems with the room and restaurant mean I won't return or recommend the place. The restaurant was a major disappointment. After 7 pm it is presented as a tavern, with prices two or three times higher than usual, but the food was well below average and service was very poor. With only four tables occupied, there was just one staff member, and even a glass of water took 10 minutes. We hadn't ordered a full meal, just three appetizers and a salad, but everything arrived an hour later. We were told everyone ordered at once. Nobody told us the kitchen closed after 10 pm, and when we found out, the response was that we should have said something beforehand. Customers should be told about the closing time. The route through the nature park is rocky and unpaved, and there's nothing nearby. If you haven't brought what you need, evenings could be difficult. In the rooms, the water was salty and chlorinated, so it didn't feel clean to use. They supplied water to rinse our mouths, but not enough. There was no phone signal, and the Wi-Fi didn't work. When we raised that with a restaurant waiter, the reply was essentially that these were quiet rooms and we shouldn't be so focused on our phones. Guests should be free to decide whether to use their phones. On our second night, both electricity and water went out and stayed off until morning. There was no air conditioning, and the fan ran until 2 am before its power was cut too. At 10 am we woke to ice being crushed at the bar, which didn't feel very quiet.

The food was a highlight, from breakfast and meals to the appetizers, and the kitchen impressed us with its range and the chef's skill. It's worth visiting for dinner as well as the beach. Furkan made excellent cocktails: tell him the kind you like and leave the rest to him. Ms. Aycan and Mr. Ahmet also made the holiday better with their hospitality and easy conversation. We loved staying in rooms that really lived up to their name during peaceful May. Being able to walk straight from the room into the sea felt like a special treat for anyone who loves the water. It's a great choice for a day visit or an overnight stay around Ayvalık and Cunda. We're already looking forward to returning in September.

The place is quiet and suited to relaxing, and Ms. Simay was helpful and sincere. Thanks to her and the other staff. Still, we had several disappointments. The Instagram photos presented as current were old, and the beach was stony and uncomfortable. We were told the rooms couldn't be cleaned every day, but the toilets smelled very bad, possibly like sewage. The menu prices seemed reasonable for a beach setting, though overnight guests might find them a bit high. A 20 cl bottle of rakı is 950-1050 in Cunda, especially, while here it was 1800. Breakfast on our first day felt careless and nothing like the pictures on the page. I mentioned the potatoes, but they weren't brought to us. I'd read reviews saying earlier guests got a plate of greens. Ms. Aycan mentioned it at the time but didn't respond; later, when I raised my complaint, she said they'd improve things on the following days. I understand now that they only provided what was needed when more guests stayed overnight. Even though we were the only overnight guests, our satisfaction could have been addressed or compensated for that day. It didn't feel right to have to seek compensation for a service we were already entitled to.