Kaju Beach Hotel

It was really quiet at night in my room at the back. I also appreciated the blackout blinds.

After a hard trip with my two children, we finally got to the hotel. I wish we hadn't. The so-called reception was covered in cobwebs, dust, and dirt, and that was before I even saw the rooms. I never got to see them because they said we had no reservation. I called the number I'd booked through, and staff there contacted the hotel to sort it out, but it still wasn't resolved. In the end, we didn't stay, and our money was refunded. The receptionist casually gave a ridiculous explanation: "The girl at reception quit, I didn't see your email, I can't keep up with everything." Thank goodness we found a clean, decent place afterward and had a wonderful vacation. It was a relief they wouldn't let us in, since they claimed we had no reservation. Another family was there too and got a room completely different from what they'd booked, and just thinking about that makes me furious. It may have been the most frustrating hour of my life 😒.

By the time we left, everyone who'd stayed seemed to be laughing at their own misfortune. Some people skipped check-in and asked for refunds; when we talked about adding another night, people were saying, "May God save us." We had booked 2 nights as a group. We didn't like the room at first, but figured we could manage since we couldn't find anywhere else. Things got worse by the minute. The cupboards and drawers were filthy, the shower drain was clogged and clearly uncleaned, and the refrigerator didn't work. Breakfast was supposed to start at 8, but by 8:30 most things were gone, nobody replenished them, and what remained wasn't fresh. One friend made his own tea. When we asked about the beach, we were told it was a mix of sand and pebbles, so we planned to wear sea shoes. There was hardly a beach at all, just seaweed and a patch that could fit at most 10 people. It wasn't even a hotel beach: men were fishing a couple of steps away, and people of unknown identities were swimming. The pier was rusty all over, with broken stairs. The hotel interior looked like it hadn't been cleaned for months, cobwebs everywhere. I didn't trust swimming in the pool at such an unhygienic place, though others were using it. The young staff by the pool were working hard and never seemed to sit down, but management was clearly the problem. We never saw anyone cleaning rooms, corridors, or the hotel. People said a celebrity's manager came and couldn't stay in the room, so slept on a sun lounger at night. I've stayed in very cheap places and very expensive ones, and none were this dirty or indifferent. Friends, don't waste your money, your time, or the vacation you only get once or twice a year.

I spent my holidays here for two years in a row, 2022-2023, back when the hotel was called SHAYNA BEACH HOTEL. The name has changed since then. Sinan was there, a versatile employee, as was the late Uğur abi. I was very sad to hear that he had passed away. The hotel belonged to two elderly ladies, and they had a disabled black dog. It was fantastic when I visited, so I'm saddened to see its current state. I hope it ends up with people who appreciate its value and manage it accordingly.