Botanik Gol Evleri Resort

The setting and the staff were really nice, and the location is hard to beat. The place looks amazing, and the concept is great. You can eat at the connected restaurant if you want to stay close, though the food we had was bland and came without seasoning. The prices feel a bit high for that quality, but the location partly makes up for it. There seems to have been a lot of investment in the appearance, less so in the infrastructure. The room’s fuses kept tripping about every two hours, switching all the electricity on and off and waking us up. I got only an hour and a half of sleep the first night. It was high season, but we didn’t see any foreign tourists, just locals. Expect plenty of traditional and cultural touches during your stay.

The drive through the mountains is a little steep, though manageable, and well worth doing. Once there, the lake and mountain views are incredible. You can take them in from the rooms, the pool, or the hotel restaurant. Breakfast had lots of different things to try, and the staff were very friendly.

Two nights ago we had dinner here, and the company made it such a fun evening. Our favorite waitress, Rausa, was lovely, and chef Aytekin kept smiling. We enjoyed the food and the music, and left the lake grinning. Tessekkur ederim, guys!

If you want somewhere quiet, away from noise, politics, crowds, and traffic, Botanik House is a good fit. It’s deep in nature, with green mountains and fresh air all around. The houses are handmade, mostly from wood, from the furniture to the restaurant and staircases. Our room was clean, the air conditioning worked, and we even had a swing at the house. The food was tasty, the service was good, and the staff were smiling, which matters to me. There’s also a pool that’s suitable for children. I’d say around four days is enough for a relaxing holiday here. The views over the lake are lovely. It’s open all year, and I imagine winter could feel romantic, especially around New Year’s or Valentine’s Day. The price is a bit expensive, but I think it’s worth it. The one thing I didn’t like was the number of insects and bedbugs.