Izmir Palas Otel

The room smelled so strongly of cigarettes that we couldn't stay in it. We spent the whole time outside on the balcony, with our luggage out there too, then booked another hotel about an hour after arriving. We asked to switch rooms but were told none were available. We used only the toilet and opened one room slipper, but the hotel had already charged us for two nights. They refused to refund the first night and wrote down our credit card number, saying they'd have to refund the second. We weren't comfortable with them writing down the number, and in the end they didn't refund that night either. The room was old and dated, with holes in the walls and a phone that didn't work. The balcony view was beautiful and the location was great, and the photos look nice, but I thought I'd researched the place well and got it wrong. If you don't want to smell like cigarettes, don't stay here. I rarely write bad reviews, but this was a terrible experience and I wouldn't recommend it.

The rooms were comfortable and nice, with a minibar at reasonable prices, and breakfast was great. When we first arrived, the front desk man wasn't helpful at all, and I wondered if we'd picked the wrong hotel. The rest of the staff were the complete opposite and made up for it.

The free valet parking was a nice touch, and breakfast was okay. My first-floor room had a good view of the sea and promenade from the balcony, but people walking along the promenade could see in, which felt uncomfortable. There was also noise from the restaurant below. The room's furniture was old and seemed due for renovation. The bathroom smelled, and the toilet seat felt oddly high even though I'm 190cm tall. The location in Alsancak, right on the waterfront and surrounded by bars and restaurants, is excellent.

The A/C didn't work, and reception told me I had to close the balcony. My room faced the street and was very noisy, and the breakfast was poor. The staff didn't smile, and they wouldn't accept the dollars I had. Thank God I hadn't booked all my days at Izmir palace hotel. If you want to ruin your holiday, book this hotel. Go to ALSNCAK District instead, where you'll find lots of nice, decent hotels, trust me.