Destina Boutique Hotel

The pool and garden make the hotel feel really welcoming, and our room balcony looked out toward the sea. We could feel the breeze, with plenty of markets nearby as well as cafes and restaurants. The hotel itself was spotless, nicely decorated, and the staff were great. Breakfast was fresh and tasty, though a little smaller than we’d had at other Turkish hotels. We had a lovely stay and only wished we could have stayed longer.

It’s close to the water, with stores and restaurants within walking distance, but what I liked most was the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Everything was clean and well cared for. One evening, to our surprise, the Turkish manager played Russian and other songs on the guitar. If you’re ready for a change from all-inclusive hotels, this place could suit you well.

The rooms have their own outside entrance, which is handy when you’re sandy from the beach and don’t want to walk through a lobby. Ours had a back patio, plus a hairdryer, fridge, safe, small TV and AC. Bath towels and beach towels were provided, and Turkish breakfast was included. There’s a well-kept pool with chairs and loungers, and several nicely decorated spots around the hotel to relax. The host and service were warm and welcoming. The beach with clear water is very close. Highly recommend it.

We spent a week here. The staff were kind and helpful, and Ilica beach is close by. Cesme and Alicati are about 10-15 minutes away by bus. We paid for a room advertised with a sea view, but could see only a tiny sliver of water, so that description felt like a huge exaggeration. The room was small and very basic, nothing like the booking photos. There was little furniture, with chairs in place of bedside tables. Breakfast was modest, repetitive, and the coffee wasn’t good. The hotel wasn’t too expensive, but we definitely wouldn’t return. We stayed in July 2019. Cesme itself is a nice little town, but the municipal beaches were very dirty and had no toilets, showers, or changing booths. We found the public beaches really poorly maintained, so in our view a stay there only makes sense at a hotel with its own private beach, such as a Sheraton.