etrusek
14.07.04, 12:35
The Phasalis Princess is a modern five star hotel bang 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 Déco we got - right down to the cocktail sticks in the
Lobby Bar. The main building is four storey 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 flume 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, apparantly better than in some of the others.
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 be able to!
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 realy posh setting
and very 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 a pleaseant "end of term" feel about it.
The service is in the hotel is excellent - the staff are mainly young and
Turkish, they are very 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 - be
warned - you can't !
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. Having said that I did sign up for the trip to the Turkish bath , an
experience never to be forgotten and probably never to be repeated! If being
manfully manipulated by some young Turk of dubious orientation is your thing
then this is twelve quid well spent. But I would suggest boning up on the
Turkish for "My arm's not supposed to bend that far" before venturing to far.
There wasn't much we didn't like about the holiday but...
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 out at the time. 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 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 - so don't forget your
beach shoes.
The Turkish Barbershop - a must for the gents...
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 sets light to it he's only going
to singe your hairy bits.
And all this for 20 million lira (four quid). Amazing hair cut , amazing
value, bit short on chat though.
In short
Great hotel and great holiday. This was my first time in Turkey , but given
the hospitality and high 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 / top service)
I would certainly recommend Turkey and the Phasalis Princess in particular.
Michael Owen - London
