Garden Termal Otel

We visited during the COVID-19 period and stayed four days and three nights. The hotel is in Karacasu, south of central Bolu. There aren't many attractions nearby, since the main draw is the thermal water rather than entertainment. It has ten hut-style rooms, picnic spots for BBQ, a small restaurant, and simple play areas for children. To me, it seemed aimed more at medical tourism than at a vacation. The building shows its age in several places, especially in the rooms, though it's still maintained. We booked a family suite. The main room had a small TV, mini fridge, king-size bed, and a long sofa that could be used as a bed. A second room had two separate beds and a clothes closet. The private bath with a fairly large tub for thermal water is the main selling point. The main room was adequate for our needs, but it clearly needs maintenance on the paint, furniture such as the closet, hanger, and desk, and the bed. The internet was very weak in our room. The second room was humid and needed a lot of work. We had booked the suite for the kids, but ended up all sleeping in the main room and didn't use it. The tub is the best part, since you can use the thermal water whenever and as much as you want. It's big enough for four adults and one child. The bathroom itself is old and needs maintenance, so you can enjoy the water more than the bathroom. This is a thermal-water treatment hotel, so don't expect luxury facilities. The price was reasonable too, around 1700TL for the whole stay with breakfast. Basic toiletries are provided, including towels and Turkish bathrobes. Breakfast was good, a classic Turkish spread with a diverse selection. It was the same fixed menu each morning, with lots of homemade items such as honey and kaymak. We didn't have lunch or dinner at the hotel because the menu wasn't very varied or appealing, but you can bring food in from outside. I believe a family runs the hotel. The staff were very nice and accommodating, and spoke very basic English. I'd recommend it for a short treatment visit, but suggest choosing your room carefully.

It's a perfect place for families and couples, and I loved it. The atmosphere is very calm, so it might not suit friends who want to make some noise.

It's a hot-water swimming pool used for physical treatment. The water comes from the mountain and contains special elements said to treat bones and skin.

The location is perfect, but the place needs improvements and new management. Breakfast options are limited.