Orka Village Hisarönü

The staff really made the stay: they were always smiling and tried to help, even when their English was limited. The hotel photographer went out of his way to make families, especially the kids, feel welcome. I also had a laugh with staff when I offered to pay my bill in hugs. The setting has great views of Babadag, and Hisarönü’s strip is handy. Right around the hotel, though, it’s wasteland. We saw stray cats and dogs, and even a wild boar, which was pretty cool. Hisarönü itself is expensive now, with the days of £5 sunglasses and cheap meals gone. One useful tip: the local Migros is cheap, so stock up on big bottles of water for your room. If you want a quiet, zen-like break, this probably isn’t the spot. Music plays all day, every day, with a club soundtrack by the pool. The guitar-style covers in the mornings and evenings were gentler and easier to listen to. During the day it’s fun if you like a poolside rave, but not if you want an afternoon nap. The pools are busy and lively, with only the odd peaceful moment in the morning. There’s smoking around the pool too. The no-smoking rule seems more like a suggestion, though I’m not sure if it only applies while you’re in the pool. As non-smokers, we found all the smoking a bit much. The pool bar uses a tab system, which is handy, but keep an eye on the bill. Prices can seem steep and don’t always make sense. Some children’s meals, for example, cost more than the adults’ meals. Our room was advertised for four, but it would be a squeeze for a family of sardines. It had one double bed, one single, and a chair bed with a thin, camp-style mattress. The sheets and pillows had seen better days. The bathroom wasn’t as fresh as we’d have liked, so I gave it a quick wipe-down before my wife noticed, mirror included. There was room for two, maybe three if you’re close, but we were constantly doing the “excuse me shuffle” to get across the room. The buffet was decent but predictable. After a week, you know the drill: the same red sausages and cheese on everything, even breakfast. Other guests seemed worried the food would run out, so the queues turned into a full-contact sport. I half-expected someone to sprint past me for the last sautéed vegetables. We booked a boat trip through TUI, which uses Focus Tours. The trip itself was great, but the transfers were rough. The first driver was fine, though the “Mercedes Sprinter with no roof” made us wonder if we’d signed up for Top Gear, Turkish Edition. The return driver was another story. He drove about half the way with the handbrake on, then rolled us backwards into traffic when the bus broke down. The overheated brakes wouldn’t hold us on the hill. He got it started again and coaxed it up the hills in first gear at about 5mph. I still had the seat imprinted on my backside. Funny now, terrifying at the time. The rooms are sold as big family rooms, but really aren’t. Service gets four stars from me because the friendly, helpful staff save the place. The hotel’s location is useful for the strip, but Hisarönü costs a lot these days. If you’ve read this far, you’re doing your research, which is a good move. Holidays matter, especially when you’re on a budget, and the wrong choice can sting. Hope this helps you weigh it up. Sorry I didn’t take many photos.

We had a lovely two-week holiday, but the room was filthy. There was blood on the toilet seat the first night, the area around the sink taps was disgusting, and the bedside table needed a proper scrub. I definitely won’t stay here again.

We really enjoyed our stay. The location is fantastic: a ten-minute walk takes you to a lively town full of bars, restaurants, and shops for all sorts of needs. The staff were always smiling and happy to help, and there was a DJ playing by the pool. The entertainment team had loads of energy during the day. Our room was roomy, with a small balcony and a large walk-in shower. Towels were changed daily, and the room was cleaned every two days, with fresh sheets too. Reception was open 24 hours if we needed anything. We were half-board and couldn’t fault the food. Breakfast had omelettes cooked fresh while you watched, plus a huge choice of bread, cereal, fruit, juice, cold meats, cheese, and cakes. Dinner was amazing every night. We arrived on Sunday to a roast buffet with various meats, and the barbecue night was delicious, with lots of meat cooked just right. The range of food surprised us all. Lunch at the pool bar was great too, with plenty to choose from. A great holiday.

We stayed for two weeks from May 14th 2024. The first week was great, but the hotel got much busier in the second week and cleanliness started to slip. We went four days without clean towels until we spoke to reception. They hosed down the pool area each night, but didn’t sweep or mop it, so rubbish was still there the next day. Sunbeds and tables with umbrellas weren’t cleaned during our two weeks either. The restaurant floor was dirty at 8am, with bits of the previous night’s food still on it. I think they need more staff.