Aspawa Hotel in Pamukkale

Beware – Scam Experience as a Solo Female Traveler I stayed at Aspawa Hotel in Pamukkale and while the place itself is clean and the older couple (mother and father) running it are genuinely kind and warm, my experience overall was deeply disappointing and frustrating – especially as a solo female traveler.

The issue started with their son Osman, who handled my shuttle booking. He knew I was traveling alone and told me he had already paid for my shuttle in advance during the reservation process. He then insisted that I pay 800 lira in cash to him directly. I clearly told him I was low on cash and preferred to pay the shuttle driver myself, but he pressured me to pay him, claiming it was already settled.

When I got into the shuttle, the driver came with a card machine, asking for the actual payment – which turned out to be only 425 lira. It was then I realized Osman had lied to me and scammed me for almost double the amount. The driver was honest and transparent, and it was clear Osman had never paid anything on my behalf.

What made it worse was the way Osman treated me , he was dismissive and showed zero respect which felt even more unsettling given I was traveling alone. It’s already challenging being a solo female traveler and having to deal with this kind of behavior makes it even more difficult.

Unfortunately, this experience overshadowed what could have been a peaceful and pleasant stay. Female travelers especially, please be cautious. Trust your instincts and don’t hand over cash unless you’re 100% sure of the arrangements. I wish I had followed mine earlier.