"I Feel the need to write a review about our 2 weeks stay at the Turunc Premium (end Sept 25) especially for anyone who may be looking at this Resort just now. Although some guests seem happy enough, we certainly won’t return, and this is only due to the Food situation and nothing else. I will also briefly comment on some negative things that I have seen in other reviews which we did not find a problem with.
We are a retired couple from Scotland (young at Heart and usually last to leave a Party). We have stayed in over 60 All Inclusive Resorts throughout the years (many in Turkey)
We always read reviews on varied Sites before booking a holiday, with our interests being cleanliness and although we are not fussy eaters, we do expect a reasonable and varied selection at the Main Restaurants, and at least the food to be at an acceptable temperature and an occasional menu change throughout our stay which is always 2 weeks.
When we booked the Turnuc Premium May 25, the majority reviews were good. We do ignore the odd negative reviews that you find about all Resorts, however between May and Sept something must have drastically changed in the food department – for the worse.
Here is our review positive & negative – decide for yourself to consider or ignore.
Tui booked 2-week holiday 18 Sep – 2 Oct 25 my Wife and I
We took the Tui provided Minibus from the Airport which had 2 drop offs at Icmeler then the mountain road to Turunc where we didn’t see anything as it was dark but no problems on route. Its just quite a hike from the Airport (over 2 hrs).
Saved £5 on check in at 0300hrs😊. Had to lug our suitcases from the Minibus into Reception while a male member of Staff stood and watched. Was given our room No 3406 with key-cards and told the Lift was at the end of the corridor, so onward with all our luggage into the lift and got off at 3rd floor – up and down 2 corridors but no room 3406, then noticed all rooms on this 3rd floor started with a 2 so back into the Lift to try 4th floor where we eventually found our room, knackered and sweating by this stage. Ok so not really a major problem for us but the first time this has happened. Positive part of this – I saved a Bellboy Tip, but it did leave us thinking what is the rest of this hotel going to be like.
We had a Side Seaview room 3406 that was right at the Pool end of the Hotel which had a lovely view of both the mountains and the sea. The room was spacious and clean with separate Toilet, Sink and Shower areas, and the Shower was fine. Small but adequate Balcony for two people to sit. Only issue with the bed was the rough style Cover as a sheet which just fitted and no more. After 3 days we asked if we could get a proper sheet which we did, which was left folded on the bed to fit ourselves – not a problem and the sheet made a big difference. Every day from then the bedding was stripped and left folded on the bed for us to make up, which we did have a laugh about until one day the sheet disappeared (maybe someone else got it😊). Anyway we were happy with this room.
The Kettle Tea/Coffee station was adequate. The Fridge is stocked with some soft drinks on arrival, but I think you may have to pay for any refills, again not a problem for us as we don’t like the canned soft drinks. You will always get bottled water top ups in the room included.
First day – slept in till nearly lunch time due to our previous long day but still managed to find 2 sunbeds at the pool and repositioned them onto the large area between Pool and Bar where we settled most days. We did have a look at the beach, which was quite crowded, covered in Parasols and not too clean looking underfoot but Parasols are not for us as we like the Sun. We did spend 2 days on the Jetty which was fine but a bit of a walk to get a drink and then get back onto the Jetty without spilling. (an extra step added to the Jetty would be good). This Beach Bar only serves Beer and soft drinks (no Spirits) but you can get spirits at the Pool Bar and take them down, that’s where insulated mugs come handy. This also becomes the A la carte on certain nights. On some nights when the A la carte was closed we got drinks from the middle Bar and sat down there at the promenade which was quite nice.
All the Staff are fine, but the Lobby Bar staff are very nice along with the entertainment girls and the lady who makes the omelettes and the A la carte Staff (who I think sometimes serve in the Lobby Bar)
Overall, the Hotel is very clean with well-presented areas, we never had any issues there.
Drinks are not the best but that’s quite common among All Inclusive in Turkey, we just buy 2ltrs (Vodka & Rum) on aircraft and take a few empty miniatures from home then refill in our room to top up our Bar drinks. I found the Beer to be ok. It’s what we expect so again, no issues there. Only tried a couple of Cocktails but they weren’t to our taste so cant really comment on them.
NOW FOR THE FOOD – worst Turkey 5* AI we have experienced, and we are not fussy eaters, although I have read that some people like it. I can’t fathom how they can say this unless it was prior to June 25 where things appear to have been better either that or they are part of the management team in disguise. We did hear there was 3 changes of Head Chef since June so there is something not quite right there.
There was a couple of exceptions - One consistently good meal was the Omelettes at breakfast by the nice Turkish Lady. The A la carte restaurant was also ok, but you don’t get any complimentary visits like other AIs where you usually get 1 visit per week. You must pay 10 euros each however you may be lucky and get a complimentary visit if you have previously emailed to say it is a special anniversary. We had a meal there on 2 occasions which is down by the promenade and was quite nice with good service and obviously all drinks are included so no issues there. It was only open 2 or 3 nights a week when we were there. Price wise – ok.
The reviews you may currently read, mention a lot of the food being cold or lukewarm – they are all correct. I had to use the 1 available microwave for every evening meal in the Main restaurant which is not ideal for potential health risk reasons, especially with reheating rice or chicken (which I didn’t take). The Main Restaurant is open from 7pm till 9pm – We went in at 8pm and went for Soup but found it nearer cold than warm. I pointed this out to a Chef who was close by, who just said the heating water was at the correct temp. I asked him to take a taste which he refused. Unsure what type of Chef refuses to taste their own food. There are 2 different soups on each night – Another night at 8pm one of the soups was finished (the one I wanted) I thought I will leave it 10 mins and go back as it will probably be refilled. Back in 10mins the inner bowl had gone so getting refilled I thought but no - never refilled that night.
The outside cooking area is part of the Main restaurant and prior to evening meal start at 7pm, the hot food was on display in their containers at around 4.45pm hence stuff getting cold (see photos with time stamp ). I tried Pasta which was cold not even Luke-warm – so off to the microwave again (and there is usually never any sauce to accompany the pasta). They also pile any additional cooked food on top of the cold stuff so not very health conscious. Chips are not worth looking at unless they have just been dished up from the fryer (on top of cold again), The meant to be hot chicken is often cold. When we did bring it to the attention of Guest Relations about the cold / luke-warm food we were told that it was better for your gut – I gave up then.
Some of the main courses in the main restaurant are often unrecognisable and far from presentable. Perhaps they should spend more time with main courses and less on the colourful deserts.
I read some reviews that say there are a lot of lovely restaurants in the village which is correct, and we do eat out at times when on holiday, but you should not have to in order to have a decent meal. We found the ‘CAN‘ Restaurant on the promenade just along from the hotel to be excellent quality food and service but for 2 starters, 2 steaks 1 beer and 1 wine you will be around £60-£70. They are mostly all similar prices although I did read one review that said they found places that were £25 for 2 meals and 2 drinks (must have been takeaway kiosks)
Well, that’s enough about the food.
Now about Some Reviews I have read.
I read reviews complaining that there are no toilets on the pool level – that’s correct, however, you just need to pop down a short flight of stairs to the open-air Snack Bar and Restaurant to find very spacious and clean toilets, not any further than walking from your sunbed to the pool Bar. If on wheelchair there is a sloping pathway to all floors. I found no issue with the toilets. I have read someone's review about people peeing in the pool which is not the Hotels fault just pure laziness with some people if they are doing that but we had no reason to suspect this.
Other reviews complaining about too many rude Russians (which I am not a particular fan of in general) however, I found no issues with them during our stay in fact we had drinks late one night with a couple. I think the apparent rudeness of some (not all) is due to the environment and Country they have been brought up in. There are good and bad everywhere, including the UK.
I noted some complaining about no bottled water at the Pool/Beach – not sure what that’s about as there are fridges where you can help yourself to ideal small cartons of water or just get them from the Bar.
Some reviews mention the scary trip up and down the mountain. We took a water taxi into Marmaris one day then later caught a Dolmus to Icmeler It then changed to heavy rain later in the day so we took a taxi back (you can also catch the Dolmus) Although a high twisty road the views are great, and the drivers are well used to it. We also had the return to the Airport with our Tui Minibus during the day again no problem there, just a lengthy trip. The worst part with the distance from Airport on return journey is that you get picked up about 5hrs before your flight time.
Turunc village is a few minutes’ walk from the hotel front door and feels very safe and friendly and no pushy shopkeepers. Some nice Pubs with ‘Vanilla’ being our favourite although we did visit others which were also nice.
Well, that’s it for the TURUNC PREMIUM – This is the first mainly negative review I have given on any Hotel / Resort, but this is only because of the food situation when we were there, so make your own assumptions from it but we certainly won’t be back. For those who have already booked I hope they have made immediate necessary improvements regarding the food so that you can have a nicer experience and good holiday."
