Cumbalıca Hotel

We were content with our stay and had a wonderful time in Çeşme, a city that’s easy to enjoy with or without kids. As a more conservative family, we’d suggest visiting off season if you want to avoid crowds, tiny swimsuits, and partying. I’d personally recommend a different place to friends, and we probably won’t book this one again. Still, if you want a simple, safe place with nice staff and can live with the drawbacks, it may suit you. Book online, since that value made more sense for this kind of hotel. I feel 3.5 stars is more appropriate. We came off season on May 20th after checking many similar hotels. Cumbalica Hotel had the most consistently good reviews among seafront options, and the online price was excellent. The staff greeted us warmly, but told us only two rooms would be available, so we’d need to switch after one night. We briefly viewed them and booked because they looked clean and spacious, with a seafront location. The decor was simple and beachy, with a small boutique feel. The rooms were like mini apartments with kitchens, clean, free of cigarette smell, and stocked with enough linen for four people. We faced the sea and had sunlight all day, so it felt more like an apartment than a hotel room. The location had lovely sea views, little shops and restaurants nearby, and was a 7 minute drive from gorgeous Ilica Beach. It was 10 minutes by car from Alacati and the Marina. Since it was off season, it wasn’t busy or congested. We felt safe, with no loud music or nighttime partying. You could rent a lounge chair and umbrella for 200 lira to sunbathe by the sea. The main problem was cleanliness in the bathrooms. The shower hadn’t been properly cleaned, especially around the edges, and looked like it had only been given a quick clean between guests. That made me question whether corners had been cut elsewhere. Fixtures also need attention: the shower handle wasn’t secure, some pipes were rusty, and both bathrooms leaked from the shower or toilet. I had to use towels to keep the floor from flooding. The pools weren’t at the hotel itself, but at another hotel about 100 meters away. There were two, one thermal and one regular, but only the warm thermal pool was open. The other had half its water drained and looked like it had been sitting for a while, which made the pool area seem unclean. There’s a small beach cove right in front of the hotel, but it had some trash and got crowded during the day. It sounds nice to have it right there, but sharing it with dozens of people wouldn’t be fun. The walls were thin, so loud guests would be easy to hear. We paid an additional 100$ for the whole stay, even after telling them the online price was lower. The manager said we had nicer rooms and that the price was higher for that reason. Second floor rooms lacked privacy because people on the street could see right into them. The curtains weren’t good enough to close at night, which was uncomfortable. The third floor room was more private and had a balcony. After driving around and checking names of other hotels, we found we could have booked a higher rated place with more amenities for the same price by staying a little farther inland. We noted those options for next time.

The staff were very kind and helped with everything. The place was clean and organized.

The staff were warm, attentive, and quick to help with our questions and requests, which made us feel valued and comfortable. This small, nicely furnished Cumbalıca had a lovely sea view and peaceful surroundings, and the room was cleaned every day. Coming back to a tidy room after exploring was a nice part of the stay. The decor was simple, with nice paintings on white walls, and the furnishings had thoughtful details that made the place feel cozy and welcoming. Breakfast was another highlight: there was plenty of variety, the food was delicious, and it was a great start to the day. We had a truly delightful stay, and I’d gladly recommend this charming place to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway.

Tuğba hanım handled a late-night toilet problem really well. After 10 pm, she couldn’t fix it herself, so she called maintenance and then offered us another room. We took it, and I thought that was exceptionally good service. The hotel’s been around a long time, which I love, and it’s been updated without losing its historic feel. It’s across from an area with wonderful beaches. Breakfast was at the lovely sister hotel a block away. I’d recommend staying here for a holiday.