Inistepe Resort

Each day of the week we spent at the Iniştepe complex seemed worse than the one before. We'd agreed to rent a house a month and a half ahead, but when we arrived they said the real estate agent hadn't paid the deposit and there was no reservation name on the property. We couldn't reach the agent. Then we were told another, lower-quality house was available for 50 lira more per day, so we were pushed into taking a place in the complex that didn't match the photos. The pictures showed only the best parts of different houses, put together to make the complex look better. The house had insects everywhere and no decent, clean cookware. The bathroom and toilet were tiny and filthy, with the ventilation blocked. We had to switch on the water heater inside a cupboard, where insects could get in. There were no tables or chairs; they tried to find some in empty houses or borrow them from occupied ones, and in the end we had to ask a neighbor for a table and chairs for dinner. The hill down to the beach is long and steep, so you'll need strong legs. Broken pool tiles caused small cuts for my friends, so we stopped using it, and the loungers were broken. The complex's guard dogs are a danger, especially for families with small children. The nearby markets were convenient, and the only mosque in Women's Beach is close. The setting wasn't bad for a barbecue at home. There are washing machines in the houses too, though I wouldn't use one unless I had to. That's about the best I can say.

Friends, do not come here. The site, and even the Women's Beach area of Kuşadası, felt like a waste of our hard-earned money. The dealings between the staff and real estate agents seemed like a gang operation. One staff member said, "One dog doesn't bite another," meaning the staff are one dog and the agent is the other. We arrived around 12:30 PM and were told they hadn't received our deposit. After a huge argument, they kept us outside with our suitcases until 6 PM, then raised the price above what we'd agreed. We watched them do the same to four other people at our door. The business is a disgrace. The house was dirty with no cleaning supplies and insects everywhere. When we tried to report problems, there was arguing and no solution. It was moldy, the toilet had no ventilation, and putting it in the shower made the bathroom a nightmare. There was a frying pan but no forks or other cutlery. The Women's Beach area felt needlessly expensive, with shopkeepers offering poor quality. Everything seemed focused on taking more money while providing a low-quality holiday. One sign, for instance, said 1 TL was 5 euros when the euro was 7 lira. The tourists were the only nice thing, but you can find them everywhere. Don't come with family or friends, you'll regret it.

Stay away from this place in Kuşadası. The owner seemed pleasant at first, but after that became so obnoxious that you could get into trouble at any time. Nearly all the room's furniture was damaged or faulty. The stovetop leaked gas unless you were careful, the air conditioner couldn't be switched on or off, and the western-style toilet ran like a fountain all day and night, keeping me awake until dawn. The bed base tilted at about 30 degrees, assuming you could sleep on it. The owner demanded payment as if guests had caused all the damage. If you don't stand up for yourself, she'll take money from you for nothing. The employees seemed too busy trying to please their boss to respond to unfair treatment. The owner is also affiliated with one of the three major parties.

My family and I arrived by bus, carrying all our suitcases, only to be told the villa we'd rented was occupied and had to be vacated. After two hours, we learned that the people staying there had been scammed by real estate agents and weren't going to leave. They moved us into an awful apartment for one night and said we'd be taken to the villa the next day. Two hours later, they came back and said we had to leave the apartment or the police would come, and claimed they'd found us another place. But once we'd left, there was no apartment and no staff. That same evening, the day we arrived, we were heading home by bus with our bags. What a shame. People work hard all year and look forward to a five-day holiday, and this is what they were put through. A complete disappointment. If you want to protect your mental and emotional health, don't choose this place.