This is a reviewof a package holiday to Phasalis Princess Hotel, Tekrova, nr Kemer, Turkey.
Booked through JMC - two weeks all inclusive in Jul / Aug 2002
16 of us in the party (aged 5 to 75)
The Phasalis Princess is a modern five star hotel right on the Turkish Med. The setting is fantastic with Mount Tahtali Dagi rising 2,375 metres to the West, the lush gardens of the hotel, with its palm trees and other greenery then splendid azure of the Med to the East. We didn’t expect an Art Déco interior, but Art Deco we got – right down to the cocktail sticks in the Lobby Bar. The main building is four storeys and we stayed in a ground floor room in the two storey annexey thing.
The hotel has all the facilities you could wish for. The centre piece is the large irregular shaped pool with its central bar, where you can actually sit in the pool whilst supping at one of a range of drinks on offer. There is a smaller children’s pool in the same area, but on the East side of the
hotel is a separate children’s pool complete with flumes and a waterside. There are a variety of bars all over the hotel – the popular “Captain’s Pub” is a themed pirate ship overlooking the children’ pool.
Sports are well catered for with free use of tennis and volley ball courts, a free first diving lesson on offer in the pool, fitness room, aerobics, table tennis, darts, banana boat.
There are also charged (at very reasonable prices) activities such as diving, parasailing, and jet-skiing which you can arrange from the beach.
Our room was fine, a bit on the small side, and storage space was a bit tight, but it was spotlessly clean and well appointed. The air conditioning worked well in our room, better than in others it appears.
They have a children’s club for the over fives, which in spite of the number of children in our party we didn’t use. There’s a mini disco which was hugely popular and if your ten year old can’t yet recite the birdy song in French then I guarantee that after two weeks at the Princess he will !
There is a main restaurant which is a buffet. The choice of food is good but cuisine is not the hotel’s strong point – it was ok but not brilliant. There are four other restaurants (Topaki “golden plate in a romantic setting”) , “Oriental” (Turkish?). Italian and Seaport (sea food), which you can book once each during your stay. We tried all but the Italian. The food was best at the Seaport and ambiance best at the Topaki. In fact Topaki was good, the food was pretty much the same as the buffet, but great setting and good service. Turkish wine is drinkable but not high quality . We got talking to one of the waiters who turned his nose up at the house wine and with a nod and a wink secreted us a bottle of “Special Cuvee”. We opened it with relish only to find it was just about the same as the house wine. The beer on the other hand was excellent and the cocktails worth the adventure.
In the evening there is entertainment and a dedicated outdoor amphitheatre for the purpose. This was great fun. The entertainment was not great, but with a full house, the holiday atmosphere and the effects of a evening’s boozing , even the corniest gag seemed hilarious. The audience was easily satisfied and the whole thing had an “end of term” feel about it.
The service is in the hotel is excellent – the staff are mainly young and Turkish, they are friendly and keen to chat to you.
Tips Do have enough cash ready for your entry visa at the airport. £10 a head (no discount for kids) . On the plane they said you could pay with cards – you can’t – be warned! And make sure the visa stamp they give you is in the currency you paid – or this will be queried by immigration.
Forget the “induction” by the tour operator – it just a sales pitch for the excursions they want to flog. Your time is better spent in the bar or the pool.
We didn’t like… They were a bit fussy with the rules and regulations – different bars and restaurants open and shut like orchids in the tropics. This was all a bit bewildering, hopefully they’ll be a night school course on this next year , because we certainly couldn’t fathom it all out. We did work out that the kids can’t get an ice cream before 3pm which put a new slant on “all inclusive” for me. Technically food is available all day – but at one point you are down to tired looking burgers and hotdogs, a little more choice would have been nice.
The sand is really gritty and not the stuff of castles – don’t forget your beach shoes.
Turkish Barbershop For the authentic Turkish barbershop experience forget the hotel hairdresser. Go out the main gate , just over the road and on the corner of the roundabout (if that makes sense) look for the sign saying “Rote Rose Kuafor” in red, then step downstairs for the best haircut in town.
You will be shaved, not once , not twice, but three times with a genuine “Sweeney Tod” cut throat jobbie. Relax and enjoy a couple of apple tea as they give you as good a trim as you’ll ever get down the West End. With a head and shoulder massage thrown in for free , then a good splash of 70 % proof lemon cologne (Doesn’t that hurt? – YES IT DOES!) Don’t blanche as dips the oversized cotton bud in meths and set light to it he’s only singeing your hairy bits. And all for 20 million lira (four quid).
Amazing haircut at an amazing price (bit short on chat though)
In short
Great hotel and great holiday. This was my first time in Turkey , but given the hospitality and standards I would love to return. The hotel is great, and if not quite up to five stars in all areas (cuisine / wine / general poshness) there are others in which it excels (range of facilities / cleanliness / good service)
I would certainly recommend Turkey and the Phasalis Princess in particular.
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Nov 3rd, 2002
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