Turkish holidays on the Aegean Sea in Kusadasi
We rested at the Sea Pearl Hotel as a couple in August 2019.
Flying with Pegasus. There was no free water(
It was a night flight, it took 1.5 hours from Izmir to the hotel. The representative of Tez Tour talked about the sights of the city of Kusadasi and about excursions that you can go on.
We arrived at the hotel at 6.30. Soon we had breakfast and waited for check-in for about 3 hours. They gave cards for beach towels, you could relax on the sun loungers by the pool or in the green area. After we gave $ 20, they immediately gave the key to room 610 on the 6th floor with a beautiful sea view with bright sunsets and a piece of Ladies Beach.
The air conditioning worked in the room, the shower did not clog or leak, soap supplies, coffee and tea were replenished every day, bed linen and towels were changed daily. There were no animals) Wi-fi in the room at times caught, in the hall, dining room, throughout the territory there was a normal connection. The safe is paid, $2 per day. Bottles and glasses of water were placed in the minibar to cool, which they took on their own in unlimited quantities in the dining room and hotel bar.
We got to the holiday of Eid al-Adha. There are no complaints about the food: it was varied, every day there was something new from soups, vegetables and meat and fish. I was able to appreciate the taste of real large ripe nectarines, I ate plenty of figs, which were served almost daily. There were watermelons, melons, plums, peaches, apricots, grapes, oranges. From local alcohol - wine white, red. I liked the red one more, we ordered mixes with ice from vodka-gin and liqueurs, sprite. Beer is so-so. There were coffee machines in the dining room and near the pool. During the day, waiters served burgers, french fries, and cola on the territory of the hotel. The only thing I missed for breakfast was baking(
I gained 2 kg. . . I think now, is it necessary to take all inclusive in Turkey? )
Near the hotel there is a swimming pool, visually divided into several zones: a small one for children; for parents with children, gradually deepening; for animation, water aerobics, sports games, where the depth is one and a half meters.
Once you could see almost all the vacationers together when an entertaining foam party was held. I think not every hotel can boast of this! )
Near the pool, vacationers often occupied sun loungers with towels in the morning, and they themselves went to the beach. Therefore, after lunch it was problematic to find a free place by the pool.
Before arriving at the hotel, I read reviews about a bad hotel beach, which is far to go.
But the devil is not as scary as he is portrayed! ) At 8.30 a hotel shuttle bass was driving to the beach, which is designed for about 25 people. Everyone was welcome. The shuttle returned at 12:30. There was always a place for everyone. Sometimes we walked back and forth if we were not satisfied with the time of departure. The shuttle timetable can be seen in the elevator and when leaving the hotel. To the beach about 10 minutes! Ups and downs, but along the picturesque streets! It was interesting to watch how large Turkish families gathered in cottages on wide balconies under awnings and umbrellas and calmly talked and drank tea.
The hotel beach is narrow, sun loungers are close, in 4 rows. We were lucky, coming at any time, we occupied 2 sun loungers by the sea. This beach is one for three hotels, plus sun loungers for money. Very crowded!
The entry into the sea closer to the Sea Light Hotel is sandy. Slippers are not needed. We used the shower and toilet on the beach in the Sea Light part of the hotel. On the beach, on the rocks, they watched how they fed gluttonous gulls with fish and flocks of fish with bread.
On the famous Ladies Beach, which is 7 minutes from the hotel, there were a lot of locals. . .
. . . that's why we went there to the embankment only in the evenings, drinking real Turkish coffee.
The same children's animation was held at the hotel. After it, you could watch various shows and dances, listen to live music. Many thanks for the wonderful performance of the songs to the Turkish guitarist who sang on August 18!
It was not in vain that we visited the spa. We warmed up in the sauna and Turkish bath. We enjoyed peeling, foam and aroma massages for the whole body. There was also a face mask. The whole thing took over 2 hours. We paid $30 per person.
According to the rules of the hotel, the room must be left at 12.00. Our flight was at 23.50 and we wanted to extend the room until the evening with a surcharge. But due to the full load of the hotel, we were refused. Although the suitcases were waiting for us in the hotel lobby, we had a great time near the pool and in the green area for relaxation, used the shower, had lunch and dinner.
About excursions
On the Ladies Beach embankment we bought excursions from a Russian-speaking Turk. His tours were much cheaper than Tez Tour, but the quality was very mediocre.
We swam on a big boat ($15 each) towards Milly Park, swam in bays with the clearest, but cool water.
In my opinion, there were no Russian speakers on the double-deck boat, except for us. It was very uncomfortable to listen to Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish speech, and feel the continuous cigarette smoke from all sides. In the bays where you could swim, 2-3 boats gathered at the same time, it was crowded on the shore.
After an unsuccessful Anglo-Turkish excursion to Pamukkale ($35 each), we realized that we would have to go to this interesting place again someday. The journey took 3 hours there and back. 1 hour 20 minutes bathing in the thermal springs of the Thermal Hotel Pam and lunch. Water and drinks for money. 1 hour 40 minutes in the heat to see the ancient city of Hierapolis, travertine and Cleopatra's pool. The guide only needed to sell as many tickets to the Cleopatra pool as possible, he barely moved, everything happened very slowly, constantly waiting for something.
In the evening, after our claims to the seller of excursions from the Ladies Beach embankment regarding the organization of tours in Russian, the next excursion ($ 40 per person) purchased in advance to Ephesus, to the Temple of Artemis, to the house of the Virgin Mary and the mosque was with a Russian guide Victoria. Interesting and understandable! Near the house of the Virgin Mary there are springs with holy water. Take bottles with you to pour water.
There is also a wall of desires where you can attach your note with desires.
The tour included obligatory shopping tours to the jewelry, onyx and ceramics shops.
For excursions, I advise you to take 1.5 liters of water with you per person.
We took a taxi from the hotel to Milly Park. We sunbathed on the third, greenest beach, then we stopped at the second and first beaches. Everywhere nature and the sea are gorgeous! The water is much cooler than near the hotel beach. In the sea - medium and large pebbles. Aquashoes are a must!
On the way back we stopped at the cave of Zeus. We couldn’t swim because there were an awful lot of people during the day. I advise you to go first to the cave, and then to Milly Park.
We went to the center of Kusadasi on our own by minibus (6.5 lire for two people one way). We walked along the embankment, by the fountains, were on the Bird Island, in the fortress, went to the Caravanserai.
It's a pity we didn't have time to go to the Greek island of Samos.
In the last few days, there was a strong wind in Kusadasi, forest fires started somewhere. When we were traveling by bus to Izmir, we saw a glow and smoke in the distance.
I felt the August heat only on excursions, and on the beaches and near the hotel there was no such heat, a refreshing breeze blew. Thanks to the Aegean Sea, the city of Kusadasi and the Sea Pearl Hotel for the warm welcome!
