Charisma De Luxe Hotel

Location is nice, but too bad that the hotel receptionist's service level and attitudes are really worst and rude! If you are traveling without a group, please think twice before you book this hotel.

By the well, I have to say a big thanks to one of the young bell boy named Canes. His English profiency level and attitudes is way better than any receptionist and even the manager! He can even solve the problem and understanding what we need as a tourist.

I had a truly disappointing experience at the Charisma De Luxe Hotel in Turkey. We specifically booked our room and called ahead to confirm that we would have a bathtub. However, upon arrival, we were given a room without one. When we called the reception to explain, speaking in English literally word by word, asking if we could change rooms or if there were any rooms with a bathtub available, they did not understand any English. Instead, they sent up a handyman, thinking we were reporting a bathroom issue. We were absolutely speechless.

After calling a fourth time, we requested someone who could at least speak basic English. To our surprise, the reception staff claimed no one could. Eventually, a bell boy named Caner came up and communicated with us fluently in English. Through him, we learned that no rooms with bathtubs were available unless we paid an additional 250 euros per night for a suite.

Here’s the problem:

It’s unacceptable to promise a bathtub initially and then not deliver.
For a well-established hotel that brands itself as 5-star, it’s shocking that no receptionist or phone operator can understand basic English, especially in a popular tourist destination. They couldn’t even comprehend the word "bathtub."
It’s baffling that a bell boy, Caner, had better English proficiency than the reception staff. The hotel management seriously needs to provide basic English language courses for their staff.
After these calls, the reception staff seemed to "mark" us. We realized this when we forgot our room card (the old-school kind that needs to be inserted to keep the lights and air conditioning on). When we went to the reception to request a new card, the staff member didn't greet us or smile. As well-traveled individuals who have visited at least 30 cities and stayed in many prestigious hotels, we know that issuing a new card doesn’t take long. However, she took her sweet time, dragging it out for at least 5 to 7 minutes. Whether or not she was marking us, this incident highlighted the poor efficiency of the reception staff.

Moreover, this hotel is stingy for a supposed prestigious establishment. Despite being one of the largest hotels in the area, they charge extra for additional teabags, which are typically complimentary. In all our years of travel and hotel stays, we’ve never encountered such a policy. This makes the hotel worse than a 3-star establishment.

The breakfast was alright and decent, with a pretty good range of breads, an egg station, olives, etc. However, the fruits were concerning. They served strawberries that seemed more than a week old, looking very un-fresh and bruised. The grapes were mixed with some that were rotten, posing a significant food hygiene concern, especially for children with lower immunity or travelers with weak stomachs.

From what I observed, there is a serious shortage of staff. Even though the breakfast restaurant wasn't busy, our used plates were not cleared throughout our 50-minute breakfast session. No staff were present to receive guests at the entrance, nor was anyone tracking whether the people entering were actually staying at the hotel. This means anyone could just walk in and eat breakfast.

The only saving grace of this hotel is its great location with a nice view. Without this, I doubt tourists would still come, given the low and poor service provided by the staff. If you have other options, avoid this hotel at all costs.