K Gaskell
My second time here, but I risked the out-of-season timing and seriously regret it. Stayed 9th–16th April and it was a total shambles.
Main issue: the food. No idea what was going on, but all week things that were meant to be hot just weren’t.
Worst part? The last two nights they hosted an Asian conference and it was complete chaos. Hundreds of business folk showed up, but still only one food area open. Even in peak season I’ve never seen the buffet this packed. We couldn’t get a table at lunch or dinner on either day — ended up skipping lunch both times.
At dinner, the cooks couldn’t keep up with the queues. When we asked for a table, we got dumped in a random room a walk away from the buffet. No drinks either, since there was no table service and the drinks queue was ridiculous.
I actually felt bad for the staff — they all looked completely overwhelmed, a far cry from how relaxed and attentive things were when we first arrived. One of them looked like they were on the verge of walking out, that’s how frazzled they seemed.
It just felt like no one had told the restaurant managers they were hosting a massive conference. Completely disorganised.
So dont ever come “out of season”! Hosting large conferences at the expense of holiday makers when at half staff and services capacity is a major error.
Lovely Day
What an amazing little spot in the mountain, you walk down to the beach into the bay and the water is beautiful with many fish.
The rooms with the sea view are amazing.
The buffets are great, you just have to be on time or you miss out, because people love to stack on food and leave it on their plates.
I enjoyed the walks but if you have bad knees, are a bit older or in a wheelchair this is not the place for you as the way up from the bay is quite steep.
Overall a great experience.
J Ford
Don’t go here during off-peak. It’s a 2/3-star hotel at best. If you’re expecting 4-star service, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re used to 3-star places, you’ll probably be happy — but that’s the level you’re getting.
Info you might want up front:
The main white slide — one of the biggest attractions for kids — was completely out of order during our stay. No sign of it being fixed either, and nothing was mentioned in advance. Big letdown for the kids.
The good:
Staff were lovely, no complaints there — genuinely nice and helpful. Including when we complained, they tried to help.
The location is beautiful. Gorgeous views, nice beach, and our room had a brilliant view too.
The bad:
Off-peak season basically means the hotel runs at half-capacity for half the guests, yet still hosts full-scale conferences that completely overwhelm the place.
During our stay, a Korean delegation took over and ruined 3 days for us. We struggled to get food at lunch and dinner — tables either full or had no cutlery, and tracking someone down to get some was near impossible.
The business meetings also took over the indoor coffee area — nowhere to sit as conference attendees were camped out with laptops. One person hogging a table for six seemed to be the norm. One night, the delegation came in en masse and there was literally nowhere for hotel guests to eat. We ended up in the conference room, away from food and table service. Meanwhile, the buffet was manic, food kept running out, and staff couldn’t keep up.
All of this could’ve been solved if they’d just opened both buffet restaurants (which they do in peak season). It was really frustrating to watch it all fall apart.
Some coffee stations even had stale/rancid coffee — had a fishy smell (yes, that’s a thing, look it up).
Hot food was often cold. They seem to use pre cooked chicken thats cold, then combine it with hot sauces so looks hot but centre is cold.
If you’ve got fussy kids, there’s not much for them beyond chips and the desserts — which are all just weird marshmallow fluff things. Nonreal cream deserts. Food overall is definitely 3-star level, and that’s being generous.
One night they were serving donuts beyond usual fluff cakes— my son was so excited since he’d struggled with the food all week — but we couldn’t get a table. Had to go to reception to get one, which took 20 minutes, and by the time we sat down all the donuts were gone. No drink service either because the staff were totally run off their feet trying to clean up.
Honestly, the place just doesn’t seem prepared during off-peak. And when they throw in big conferences on top of that, it’s a mess.
Pouya moradzad
We had a wonderful stay at Pine Bay Hotel. The surroundings were stunning, the service was great, and the rooms were clean with efficient housekeeping. We visited in early autumn, and the weather was perfect, with a pleasant breeze that made the experience even more enjoyable.
The moment we stepped outside, we were greeted with an amazing view – a perfect blend of rugged landscape and the deep blue sea. I can honestly say you’ll never get tired of the view. The vibrant colors of nature will draw you in, and you’ll find yourself wanting to spend all your time outside, soaking it all in.
Service at the hotel was good overall, and the staff were friendly and professional. As for the food, it was decent, but it seemed to cater more to the tastes of German and Russian visitors. During our seven-day stay, we saw only a slight variety in the menu, though the selection of sweets and salads was excellent. Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were of good quality, and most of the common drinks you’d expect in a Turkish hotel were available. I’d recommend asking for canned or bottled soft drinks from the bar, as they taste better than the machine-dispensed options.
The hotel has several pools in different areas, including both outdoor and indoor pools, offering a nice variety. However, the outdoor pools were unheated during our autumn visit, and the cold water made it a bit challenging for our family to enjoy swimming. I’m not sure about the pools in the summer, so if that’s important to you, it’s best to check beforehand.
The evening entertainment was fun, though it seemed more suited for first-time visitors to Turkey or hotels like this. If you’ve been to Turkey before, you might find the entertainment a bit repetitive, as it was similar to what you’d see at other hotels. However, the kids’ programs were lively and full of energy, which is always a plus for families. If you’ve experienced hotel nightlife in Turkey before, you might want to plan something else for your evening. As for the disco, we didn’t see a separate area for it. Instead, the evening stage shows were converted into the disco. Despite the large crowd, not many people were interested, though it was still active late at night.
If you’re looking for a relaxed evening with friends or a partner, I’d highly recommend the Sunset Bar. The design of this space is exceptional, offering a luxurious and relaxing experience with a peaceful vibe.
As for the beach, there were plenty of sunbeds, and the snack bar offered a great variety of fresh food. You can also meet other guests at the beach volleyball area or enjoy water sports, which are available for an additional fee. The beach service was up to standard and met our expectations.
When we arrived early and went to check into our room, the first one we were offered didn’t have a view and had limited natural light. While it was clean and met the quality standard, the lack of a view was a bit disappointing for us. If having a view isn’t a priority for you, the room is fine. However, after discussing our preference for a sea view with the reception staff, they kindly moved us to a room with a fantastic sea view at a reasonable extra cost. The new room was spacious and had a wonderful view. Overall, the rooms were comfortable, and the air conditioning worked well.
The hotel definitely has a family-friendly vibe. There were many children, seniors, teenagers, and young adults staying there, and it seemed like a lot of guests were visiting with their parents.
I hope this review helps you in making an informed decision!
John Dwyer
Excellent hotel and staff are wonderful. Clean towels each day and great room seevice. The complex is quiet large so there can be a bit of a walk to get your rooms. If you have a sweet tooth, you will love the array of deserts on offer. A handy hint....avoid paying the €10 each way cost in to Kusadasi by taxi. Use the shuttle bus which passes the hotel entrance every 10 min or so and at a cost of only 50 cent per person. Drops you into the town centre. Just note the bus number 1 into the town and 1A back to the hotel.