Elite Hotel Darica

The gym was usable, though several machines looked like they needed repairs, and I couldn’t find clear opening hours. Staff said it closed at 9:30 PM, which felt early. Wi-Fi reached the room, but it was so slow I could barely use it. The breakfast was mostly cold cuts and pastries, with little choice, and the coffee corner only had instant coffee with milk in small cups. That didn’t feel like five-star quality. The location is the hotel’s best feature. The rest of my stay was disappointing for a place advertised as five-star. My room was tiny and smelled bad despite being non-smoking, and it stayed much hotter than outside even with the AC running. The view seems to depend on luck, yet rooms with and without a nice view cost the same. I asked twice to change rooms and was politely told, “We can’t do it right now.” The bathroom drain didn’t work properly, the toilet amenities were sparse, and the in-room safe was broken until someone replaced it. The room had Nescafe and tea but no creamer, and only two small water bottles. Staff seemed surprised when I asked for more. English communication was difficult with most staff, and the service felt below standard. I offered to pay extra for a sea view upgrade, but was told that wasn’t possible because I’d booked through an agency. The manager was consulted after I pressed the matter, but she spoke only Turkish and refused in an unfriendly way. Given the high price, I expected better room conditions, food, service, comfort, and Wi-Fi. The location is great, but the rest didn’t justify the cost.