Grand Hotel Faros

We needed a comfortable bed and somewhere to leave our things while we worked, and the hotel did the job for the money. The rooms were small, dated, and well worn, but adequate. The pool was good. Reception staff and the dinner manager were wonderful, and the evening food spread was, too. Breakfast might not suit every English guest, but there was enough, and our so-called “egg man” cooked omelettes and fried eggs to order. Some staff were charming, though we had to seek out the ones who really spoke English. A few seemed to claim they could until it became clear they knew little beyond “yes,” “no,” and “over there.” We did wish there’d been more ice for vodka and Red Bull before dinner. And be warned, I used to criticize Brits for piling their plates high, but then I saw Turks take five desserts and even a whole loaf of bread, leaving half of it rather than cutting slices like everyone else.

We booked four nights, but left after the first one and cancelled the rest. The noise was so bad at night, with no sound insulation and doors slamming because they wouldn’t shut properly. Staying would have spoiled a big part of our holiday. Luckily, we found something really nice in Marmaris afterwards. I’d never return here. On arrival, the woman at reception kept answering the phone while helping us, so check-in took ages. Our room hadn’t been cleaned, and we waited another 30 minutes for that to be done. The hotel felt outdated, noisy, and dirty. Wi-Fi barely worked, staff looked at us as if they wanted us gone, and breakfast had no taste. The pool looked more or less okay, but I didn’t get to try it since it closed at 6pm.

The food was barely edible, with limited choices and what seemed to be leftovers from earlier days reused in other dishes. The rooms were poorly maintained, and I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. Some staff were nice, but male staff made inappropriate, creepy, unprofessional comments. Even asking to use the pool table, or requesting certain food, drinks, or services, always came with an extra charge. In May the weather was good, with a bit of rain, and the markets had nice things. They were a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute bus ride away. I wish someone had told me that before I booked, so I thought I should let others know.

The food was good, though it was the same each time, and the staff were nice. Getting to the beach was a drawback: it’s 1.5 km away, around a 30-minute walk or 10 minutes by bus. The hotel’s minivan gives free access to its private beach only three times. Towels and sheets were dirty from the start, and they never came to change them.