Sapanca Fitos Bungalov

The pool temperature and central location were the only parts we liked. We don’t plan to come back because the stay didn’t meet our expectations. We were cold all night, even with the air conditioning running, as the room had no other heating and it wasn’t enough. There was a persistent bathroom smell, the bathroom outlet was broken, and a motor-like noise outside kept going day and night. It woke us several times. The inner door also wouldn’t work, so despite the place being described as “fully secure,” only the garden gate could be locked. The tiny house was extremely cramped, with one bedroom and an L-shaped sofa. That sofa was old, worn and very dirty, with stains we couldn’t identify. The blankets were dirty and smelled bad. The towels looked dirty despite being washed and were very old. Overall cleanliness was poor. There wasn’t room for a table and chairs, so we had to eat breakfast outside in the cold. Breakfast itself was inadequate, and the pancakes arrived raw inside. The kitchen area was tiny, with a single-burner heater and a rusty fridge that leaked water from the freezer. The coffee machine and Turkish coffee were a nice touch.

The location is the one thing this place has going for it. We ended up walking around Bağdat Street instead of swimming or sitting in the dirty room, so at least we got to see more of the area :) We stayed two nights in October, and I regretted what I paid. The place is run very amateurishly and doesn’t seem worth the price. The welcome was poor, with no proper reception service. Our room was really dirty. There was just one L-shaped sofa, and it smelled awful, especially the sweat-smelling cushions. Upkeep was lacking too, with open gaps between the materials used around the room. There wasn’t even a basic tea or coffee maker, and lots of kitchen utensils were missing. They seem to have heating for the pool, but it didn’t actually get warm enough for us to swim. You could see the air temperature and lack of steam in the picture.

The room was clean overall, but it had a strong musty smell that made it less comfortable. With such limited facilities, I don’t think the price is justified, and we wouldn’t choose this business again. Our main letdown was the heated pool. It was nowhere near the promised temperature. Staff checked it and gave technical explanations, including “Ministry approval,” but it still wasn’t comfortable to enjoy. We also wanted to barbecue, but the grill they gave us was so dirty and neglected that we couldn’t use it. They had forgotten the kindling and brought it when we asked. Still, charging extra for charcoal after the total room rate was quite surprising.

The house was so lovely that we didn’t want to leave after our two-day break. We especially liked the design, decor, kitchen utensils, bathtub and heated pool. Thanks to the owners and everyone who looked after us. This will be our first choice from now on 🌸