We first went to Olu Deniz last Sept / Oct and really loved the area.
We don’t normally go back somewhere twice - especially in a short space of time (there is a huge world out there just waiting to be discovered!) However - for a two-week holiday in the sun to a place that is so friendly - it just can't be beaten. I spoke to lots of people who feel the same way…
My husband and I stayed here at the end of May / start of June 2007.
We paid 209 and booked it November 2006. This included 2 weeks b and b, flights and return transfer. When we arrived we were the only guests - a lot of other places were also very quiet. The most guests that seemed to be there at anytime during our stay were 8 - including
us. This was mainly due to it being right at the start of the season.
We stayed in the 'newer' block - furthest from the mosque (which yes
- you can hear but after a day or so we were sleeping through it).
The staff were fantastic - very friendly and very funny. Hacki and Dolmus (please excuse my rubbish spelling!) were the main staff that we had contact with as they dealt with reception / bar and some of the breakfast stuff. We also had some translated conversations with Mehmet - they guy who tends to the grounds (has a very placid dog called Max who seems to sleep all day!).
Only ate at the hotel in the evening once - on our last night as we were being picked up at 7pm. The food was excellent and all the veg was straight from the well-stocked garden (we saw it being picked!).
Breakfasts (served 8 - 10am) were of the usual Turkish fare. The bar
stocked the usual and had a good ice cream selection and sold large bottles of water – 2 lira, large efes 3.5 lira. As these were value for money, in turn it made us maybe have a few more drinks in the hotel than we would normally do in a hotel bar before we went out for the night...and a few more when we came back!
Rooms were basic (no tv, phone or fridge - but were certainly big enough and met our needs). If there had been a fridge to chill beer in in our room we probably wouldn’t have had Dolmus still up at 3am on several occasions whilst we had 'one for the road' - which always turned in to several for the road and I managed to earn the nickname
'Alcoholic Lady’! From our balcony we had a wonderful view - could see the sea and the mountain. We didn’t need a/c till our 2nd week.
Did the usual boat trips and also did a 'sunset' cruise. We were thinking this would have as many folk on it who would be on a daytime
boat trip - not so! Again - very quiet - due to the time of the season - there were myself and my husband, 3 other passengers, the captain and the chef on a wee boat. It was a very funny experience and because of the size of the boat we were able to have a quick diversion to where there were some dolphins swimming about. If you are going on a sunset cruise though - check out the drinks prices before you book. A small efes on board this one was either 4 or 6 lira - cant remember which.
Went diving again with European Diving Centre - we booked and paid before we left and got a buy one get one half price offer. So we did two days diving with them - again - can highly recommend going with these guys. Most places in the area only seem to do two dives a day - but they do 3 as standard and are a very professional 5star IDC centre. It ended up working out at 12.50 per dive per person and 20 between us for our equipment for the two days diving.
Anyhow... back to the hotel....I know there are some negative reports on here but please don’t let that put you off - this hotel is excellent. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to the Morina Hotel. Its location is ideal - set back from any noise, with stunning views and amazing staff.
