The Toprak's Pansiyon

We chose this guesthouse online on our first visit to Sığacık, while tired from a tour, and our inexperience showed. A mother and daughter run two places in Kaleiçi. We were given a large room because we were a family, but a closer look showed dusty, dirty mosquito nets and very poor hygiene elsewhere. It seemed like appearances were all that mattered. Similar places are better kept and include breakfast. The one good thing was their recommendation for La Dude Restaurant.

We'd booked by phone after seeing the positive reviews and paid a deposit, but arriving exhausted from our trip, we found a room that smelled of mold and cigarette smoke and reminded us of a truck driver's hotel. The upstairs alternative wasn't any better: toilet marks on the lid, hair on the pillow, and yellowish grime on the duvet. It was filthy, so we had to leave and find somewhere else. We later learned those online reviews dated from the previous owner's time. A really bad experience. TERRIBLE!!!

The location is perfect, but I absolutely can't recommend the rooms. When we first turned on the tap, a little brown water came out before it ran clear, so we brushed our teeth with bottled water and were afraid to wash our faces. Black dust covered the floors, and the towels were so stiff from washing that we couldn't dry our hands with them. The air conditioner made the room smell disgusting as soon as it was switched on. We booked without doing our research, and the place feels like a breeding ground for germs.

The room and furniture were clean, and the rate, 1950 TL for two nights, was quite reasonable. We were two friends staying in Sığacık Kaleiçi, where the location is great. Still, the room felt too cramped for two, especially with luggage, and it was hard to move around. The toilet seat was broken, the shower head sprayed water everywhere, and the sink was too small to wash our hands and faces. The woman who took the reservation was rather surly.