Zinnar Hotel

We spent ten days here, and Mr Sirac made sure we had what we needed, from extra things to useful local information. He cleaned the rooms daily, and we often saw him working while we relaxed on the balcony. The views from every room and balcony were beautiful, and there was unlimited tea, coffee, and water. As three friends traveling without family, we felt comfortable and well looked after.

The room was clean, and the service we received was great. It’s in a wonderful spot in Mardin’s old city. One of my best trips in recent years.

The owners were friendly, and the views south over the flat plains are beautiful. It’s good value, especially since prices jump closer to the centre. Getting there means a 20-minute walk to the old town “centre” and a climb up a small alley with stairs, like much of Mardin. The discreet entrance is easy to miss. Inside, the rooms are spread over many levels of old stairs, with some set in caves, which gives the place atmosphere. The bathroom is simple Turkish style, with a handheld shower by the door. The water takes a while to heat up, but it does get hot. Wi-Fi reaches the common areas, though the thick walls keep it from the bedrooms.

We booked through Airbnb and paid the full amount in advance for a room with two separate beds. When we arrived, the staff, who spoke very little English, asked for more money because Ramazan Bayram was coming up and accommodation was in high demand. The room they offered was dirty, smelled moldy, and had leaking bathroom pipes. After an hour and a half of going nowhere with Google Translate, we were urged to leave and find somewhere else to stay.