Dickmann Elite Hotel

We knew we’d booked a very budget hotel, but still weren’t prepared for this. The three biggest problems were the dirt, the food and the beach. The rooms are relatively new and are about the only good thing here. Other reviews may say the hotel is okay and the rooms are nice, but nothing seemed to get cleaned, either in the shared spaces or guest rooms. We spoke to many guests, and not one said their room had been cleaned during their 11-15-day stay. I’ve attached photos of the dirty pool area and kitchen. Plates with bits of food left on them were routinely put out at the buffet. The high chair stayed dirty for five days straight, and when I asked for a rag, I was ignored. If something breaks in your room, heaven forbid the air conditioner, nobody will fix it. Whatever the price or star rating, a hotel has to be damn clean. The furniture can be old, but it should be clean. The food was the second big letdown. We knew it was an extremely cheap hotel, but there was practically no meat at the buffet. Often there was some strange ground-up thing like half a sausage, disgusting in smell and taste, which nobody seemed to eat. Once, half-raw meatballs were put out. Breakfast’s only hot option was always boiled eggs, with no omelettes, porridge or casseroles. There were no sweets and no children’s menu. My one-year-old couldn’t eat anything, and neither could the other children over 7-12. You’ll definitely be hungry. We didn’t see a single satisfied guest in the restaurant, Russian or foreign; everyone was cursing. The beach situation was a hassle too. Tour operators give incorrect information: the hotel has no beach of its own at all. By arrangement, guests are taken to either the Selenium Hotel beach or Dolphin Beach Club. Transfers go at 9:40 and 10:40, and return at 4:00 and 5:00 PM. That may work for young people, but with children you can’t avoid missing lunch, so it’s completely unsuitable. To get back, you need to pay for a taxi or rideshare, or walk 25-30 minutes over rough ground. Side’s main beach is 7-10 minutes on foot from the hotel, divided among beachfront hotels and restaurants. You can get access for a fixed price of $2.50-3 (or 15 lira), including a sun lounger and umbrella. There’s a small, roughly meter-long bare stretch between the hotel beaches where you can squeeze in free, but I found that very uncomfortable. A third choice, if you end up here by chance, is a public beach 20 minutes away on foot with plenty of space, where you can choose whether to rent a sun lounger. The receptionist can show you the route on a map. Getting to the sea is a real hassle, and this “vacation” isn’t worth the money.

The food alone was enough to put me off. Breakfast was just olives and cheese, the bread seemed five days old, and clean plates were hard to find. It even felt as if partly eaten food was being served again. The rooms were not cleaned, towels were not replaced, and neither the TV nor internet worked. The furniture was old and falling apart. The place was disgusting and nothing like its description or photos. Staff seemed nervous and unfriendly, dismissed criticism, and would not help sort out room or housekeeping problems. I wouldn't recommend going there. It could ruin your mood and vacation.

I had a good vacation, and I think the mood you bring with you matters too. The staff were nice to me: Manager Simbad, assistant Karina, and the other guys all tried to help. You do have to ask, but there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone will judge how well they do for themselves. The food is ordinary, but we're not there just to eat! There are downsides at every hotel, so don't worry too much about them. Be kinder and more easygoing, and focus on the sea, the air, and enjoying your break. It was my first time at this hotel, in September, and I knew I was going to a 3-star place. Of course there were some problems, but I still had a good time.

Ugh, I wouldn't recommend it. Everything was so dirty you couldn't touch anything, and the food was cold and poor. The staff didn't speak English and wore street clothes. Drinks were powdered, and the cocktails were no better, even though the place is supposed to be all-inclusive. Worst hotel I've ever stayed in.