Doridas Hotel

Hasan, the owner, and his friends were lovely. They gave me plenty of suggestions and showed me around during my two-night stay. I left very satisfied. If you’re looking for somewhere to unwind, Doridas Hotel is a good fit.

The best part for us was the location near the National Park, with beautiful bays nearby, the Cave of Zeus reachable from the hotel, and a supermarket close by. The hotel’s own products weren’t especially expensive. We paid 900 TL a night, though, and it didn’t feel like good value for a budget stay, which is why we’d come on a budget-friendly two-night trip in the first place. There was also loud music and plenty of noise from the neighboring hotel. The family running the hotel were friendly and engaging. There’s no private parking, but you can park right outside the entrance. The rooms and furnishings are very dated, and our double bed was two singles pushed together. We asked to move after one night, and the staff were very helpful about changing rooms. There was air conditioning, but no refrigerator, and in summer we really missed having cold water. The bathroom had a shower curtain instead of a cabin. It did have shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap. Breakfast was about a 5/10 for us. It was the usual cheese, olives, and little jam boxes, with a limited selection and no hot options such as potato menemen. The open buffet helped make it more filling, and we appreciated the manager’s generous offerings. There’s also a 1.5-meter-deep pool out front, but we didn’t see anyone using it and didn’t choose to swim there.

The staff were helpful, the rooms were nice, and the hotel is well placed near the national park. Breakfast was good and thoughtfully prepared, and the price was reasonable. I also appreciated being offered a chance to swim and leave my things there on the day I checked out. There are some things to know, though. The blankets in the wardrobe smelled strongly when I stayed two years ago, so I left them alone. I noticed the same smell this year, though it was milder, and still didn’t use the wardrobe. I think the blankets need checking. The parking area in front could also be better organized. The neighboring hotel played poor-quality music late into the night. With the doors and windows closed, it came down to a manageable level, but sitting on the balcony wasn’t really possible. I’d planned to stay four days and cut it to two because of the noise. Güzelçamlı is for people who like peace and quiet. Anyone looking for noise can go to Çeşme anyway. Thank you.

The management handled the pandemic-related disruptions this year in a thoughtful, solution-focused way and tried not to inconvenience anyone. I’d happily pick this hotel again next time, and I think it could become very popular in future seasons. It’s an older place, but it was very clean. Don’t judge it just by the first impression. Once I’d spent a night there, the comfort and coolness changed my mind. The garden is lovely and shady, and sitting there in the cool air was so refreshing. The hotel is also close to the national park and the sea. On warm summer nights, it stays cool enough that, for the first time, I slept through the night in a hotel without air conditioning, with just a light blanket. I’ve never had a more comfortable, uninterrupted, restful sleep. Many thanks to the management for making the atmosphere feel so warm and family-like.