Emel Pension

The owners, Metin and Evelyn, and their staff are great. Rooms are basic but super clean, and the food is excellent, so there’s no need to look around for somewhere to eat. It’s also right by the national park, with a 20-minute walk to the first sandy beach. This isn’t the place for a holiday full of music, noise, and excitement. Bring a few books, and ask about creative writing, yoga, and other activities.

We were very happy with the price and quality and glad we stayed. We booked four rooms for our family from 30AUG-01SEP. The setting on the slopes of a green hill is lovely, with pine, olive, and pomegranate trees all around. The garden is large and thoughtfully landscaped, and even with many guests, our family could easily find a semi-private spot. It’s a 3-minute walk to the cave and 8-10 minutes to the beach. Nights were quiet, and we were lucky enough to see foxes, boars, and hedgehogs visit the garden after dark. The service was friendly, helpful, and easy to communicate with, and breakfast was superb. A couple of things that would be nice additions are bottled water in the room and towel drying racks on the balcony.

The only small downside was the cost of drinks and dinner. A 0.3L beer was 3€ (~20TL), and dinner came to about 15€ (~100TL) per person, which seemed pricey compared with other places nearby, even though dinner tasted really nice. My boyfriend and I had a great time at Emel Pension. After an exhausting bus ride, we got a warm welcome, and relaxing in the garden was perfect. Breakfast there was very good too. The staff were friendly and flexible. They offered excursions, but we didn’t join one. Our room was clean and had a nice little balcony.

The family running the pension are wonderfully hospitable, and the staff have been with them for years, some for decades. Together they create such a warm, welcoming atmosphere that we didn’t want to leave. Thank you so much, Evelyn, Mettin, Özgür and the Team! We’ll be glad to come back. It’s an elegant little boutique hotel, decorated with traditional elements and architecture. The big, beautiful garden feels peaceful, with plenty of shade and privacy, and we rarely ran into other residents. Olive trees grow at the far end, and their olives are served with meals. Breakfast is served among the flowering bushes and trees, and everything was delicious. The products were homemade or bought from neighboring farmers. The pension sits beside the huge Milli national park, so greenery surrounds it. A shaded walking path leads down to the sea in just five minutes. Several small beach restaurants serve drinks, lunch, sunbeds, and dinner at sunset, with stunning views.