Boyalik Beach Hotel & SPA Thermal Resort, Чешме, Турция

- absolutely amazing view - quite good food - comfortable bed - spa area - unfortunately most of the staff doesn't know English - 5star Hotel doesn't provide shampoo, hair conditioner, shower gel and body lotion - that's unacceptable. I was told to use the tube with some liquid on the wall - for all purposes. - 5star Hotel charges extra for tea during dinner - that's extremely weird, but what was even more weird - after I've agreed to pay and asked to assign this payment for my room number, since I didn't have money with me (sorry, didn't expect that I'll have to pay extra for the tea having purchased a package with a breakfast and dinner) - the waiter didn't get my idea and kept chasing me insisting on payment right away (he didn't manage to explain - again showing no English knowledge at all).

Immaculate, indoors and out. Great location between Çesme and Alaçati, respectively £4/£6 in a taxi, very speedy service, or use the Dolmus being only 50/75p! Range of breakfast items, particularly fresh fruit, was super. As a modern languages teacher, I have recourse to 5 languages. I felt the lack of communication outside of Turkish made things run less smoothly. Apart from the lady on the Public Relations desk, the general everyday people working there had very, very little of any European language to converse in. Everyday niceties, small questions and friendly chat were not possible. As a 5-star hotel, the Lobby Bar isn’t the most inviting, looks more like a café. Normally I would have sn apéritif at the bar before going out to dinner, but it wasn’t engaging in any way. The restaurant lacks comfort, and was noisy and had a hectic feel to it, particularly at breakfast, with guests bumping into each other. Would have been nice to have towelling gowns in the rooms, for after showering, whilst getting ready, and not having to dress immediately. I like the ‘idea’ of its Eco- friendly policy, where it states, if you want linens changed, let them know. However, this didn’t occur, ours were changed daily, inspite of them being perfectly clean. Sunbeds, by beach and pool, at 5 star level, I would expect more comfort. It hurt, when lying on your front, on your knees, feet, chest etc. Quite painful at 61, with arthritis, with no cushion/ mattress.