Viking Star Hotel

Our family booked four rooms, and two had to be changed on the second night because the bathroom stench was unbearable. The whole hotel smelled like sewage, as if raw sewage was constantly being poured in and out of the toilets. Of the six rooms we had in total, including the two replacements, only one bathroom lock actually worked. The rooms all had locks, but most didn't function. Amenities were poor, and the outdoor pool was full of cardboard, leaves, insects and other debris. Off-season isn't an excuse for a five-star hotel to let its pool become a junkyard. The food was atrocious, barely edible. We ate out every day despite choosing all-inclusive for convenience. We tried dinner on our second-to-last evening, and the chicken kebabs were raw and bloody. When we told the restaurant manager, he laughed and said, "So what?" We have it recorded on our meta glasses. Very little was included in the all-inclusive plan: ayran, whiskey, "special coffees" like Irish or Baileys coffee, fresh juices, and cocktails all cost extra. WiFi was only free in the lobby, not elsewhere in the hotel. If you're expecting an all-inclusive holiday, don't book here. Even if you just want somewhere to sleep while exploring Turkey, your money would be better spent at a three- or four-star hotel. We didn't sleep comfortably here either. I can't see a reason to stay when better-quality hotels, including many four-star ones, are available. Save your time and money.

This place is okay if you want a basic hotel in a central location and don't mind a "kind of all inclusive" setup. I prefer taking care of my own food, so cheap all-inclusive isn't for me, though I've stayed here many times because of arrangements organized at the hotel. The sunbeds are comfortable. Pool snacks aren't varied or appetizing, mostly fries, nuggets and overcooked burgers. The rooms are basic, with no kettle and only a minibar. Shower temperature swings from burning hot to freezing in seconds. Animation could be better. Most waiters aren't very helpful, but a few who've worked here for years are fantastic, especially the long-haired blond woman during main meals and a few of the men. The head chef is great too.

The excursions were excellent, especially the Turkish Maldives, but if your trip starts early you can't get a beach towel before 9 a.m. When staff are asked for a solution, they just shrug. The hotel's own "beach" was a letdown too: you get there along a dirt track, and it's surrounded by rusty caravans, worn fake grass, cheap plastic chairs and a single table. The "Viking" sister beaches were off limits to us. This was advertised as five-star on Loveholidays, but it doesn't come close. I've stayed in better three-star places. Rooms had no tea or coffee, WiFi was free only in a small lobby, and the TV had just two English channels. We arrived to three pillows between two people, apparently the standard. Our view was of the car park and bins. We were moved after other guests checked out, but still had the same pillow problem. The walls were so thin we could hear neighbours snoring two rooms away. Later, another guest knocked because we were supposedly too loud playing UNO. Hot water was unreliable, swinging between freezing and scalding, then gone entirely on checkout day. Reception told us to use the spa, which wasn't ideal when we had packed and were checking out. There was only one room key per booking, whatever the number of guests. The minibar held only water. No iron was available for a quick press, just a laundry service with a three-hour turnaround. The buffet was bland, repetitive and lukewarm, with endless olives, cheese and mystery meatballs. There were no glasses on the tables or drinks waiter. The man at the hot counter refused our request for fresh fries. The included à la carte meal wasn't available because the restaurant was closed for the season. I got stomach cramps every time I ate there, so we ended up eating out, which we hadn't budgeted for. The lobby has a "TripAdvisor Winner 2012" plaque, and it feels like that's the last time the place saw real investment. Staff seemed tired and disheartened. It's a worn-out hotel with poor amenities and uninspired food, and the marketing is misleading. This is more like a struggling three-star than five-star luxury. Management should stop overselling it. We won't book Viking again.

The service, hygiene, and food were all awful. The chicken was so undercooked that I took it back to complain. The restaurant manager brought me to the reception manager, who said, “everything is ok.” The photo I uploaded shows how dangerous that chicken looked. Nobody seemed to care. The food had no quality or variety, and I’d give it minus five stars. This place is a waste of money, with nothing five-star about it. Avoid it.